UNIQLO: Uniqlo clothing review: Testing spring styles from the popular Japanese brand

Testing Uniqlo spring styles. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. As a team of shopping editors, we admittedly do a lot of shopping and product testing. We've been busy testing the best clothing brands in Canada and beyond, covering Oak + Fort , KOTN , lululemon , Aritzia , Everlane , Sezane and more. Our work is far from over though. Uniqlo is a popular Japanese brand that's a relative newcomer to the Canadian market. It first opened in Toronto in 2016, and currently has 29 stores across the country. Luckily, they also have a dedicated online store in Canada in case you can't get to one of those stores in person. Now that spring has arrived, I decided to test some of Uniqlo's newest styles - all of which ring in at an accessible price point (all items in this list cost less than $60.) I tested seven spring styles from the brand and ranked them below in order of my most to least favourite. Ranking my favourite Uniqlo spring styles Linen Blend Easy Pants Mini Striped Short Sleeve T-shirt Cotton Relaxed Ankle Pants Denim Premium Linen Shirt Linen Cotton Shorts Linen Blend Barrel Leg Pants Premium Linen Skipper Collar Shirt Details on my Uniqlo rankings Note: These days I fall between a standard size small and medium, depending on the brand. I opted for a medium in all of the following items based on the size guide and the fact that as a Japanese brand, I've found that Uniqlo tends to fit a little smaller than clothing from most North American retailers. Linen Blend Easy Pants Wearing the Linen Blend Easy Pants. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca These Uniqlo trousers have quickly become my go-to for a casual outfit paired with a graphic tee or oversized sweatshirt on cooler days. They're a stylish step up from leggings or sweatpants , but don't sacrifice comfort - my number one priority when getting dressed. I love the lightweight linen blend fabric, which still feels substantial enough to wear in early spring thanks to the cotton and rayon combination. The elastic waistband has an adjustable drawstring to tailor your fit, and they have pockets. A rare bonus: these pants are neither too short nor too long for my 5'4" frame. Price: $40 Material: 51% rayon, 32% linen, 17% cotton Sizes: XXS - XXL Rating: 10/10 Mini Striped Short-Sleeve T-shirt Wearing the Mini Striped Short-Sleeve T-shirt. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca If this list has reinforced anything for me, it's that I'm a sucker for a stripe. This T-shirt is a wardrobe classic, but with a cropped silhouette that makes it feel fresh for spring. I've mainly been wearing it with jeans and overalls, but I can see myself reaching for this top when the weather warms up and pairing it with denim shorts or a tiered maxi skirt . Since this top is so fitted, I appreciate that it has some stretch. It's breathable, comfortable and is also available in solid colours. Price: $20 Material: 96% cotton, 4% spandex Sizes: XS - XXL Rating: 9/10 Cotton Relaxed Ankle Pants Denim Wearing the Uniqlo Cotton Relaxed Ankle Pants Denim. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca Consider these your "not-quite-jeans jeans." The indigo wash might trick your brain into thinking they are jeans but trust me, they're not. They're more like if jeans and sweatpants had a baby. Cute, comfy and easy to wear. These pants are made from a super lightweight chambray fabric that, while comfortable, doesn't offer any stretch since it's 100 per cent cotton. These pants are only available in one length, so if you're tall, you may find them quite cropped. I'm not crazy about the look of the elastic waistband, but everything else about these pants is great. Price: $40 Material: 100% cotton Sizes: XS - XXL Rating: 8/10 Premium Linen Shirt Wearing the Uniqlo Premium Linen Shirt. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca I love an oversized button-up and have one in just about every colour. It's my favourite piece, because they can be dressed up or worn casually depending on the styling. Pair this 100 per cent linen top with trousers for a polished look, or with jeans for weekend wear. I also love to layer a linen button-up over an activewear bodysuit in the summer, so it's safe to say I'll be getting a lot of mileage out of this top. It's perfectly lightweight, breezy and chic. It does wrinkle easily, but that's part of the appeal of linen. Price: $50 Material: 100% European-grown linen Sizes: XXS - XXL Rating: 8/10 Linen Cotton Shorts Wearing the Uniqlo Linen Cotton Shorts. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca Don't let the trouser-like look of these shorts fool you. They offer the best of both worlds with a pleated button-front and a waist that's elasticated at the back for comfort. It's still a little too chilly in Toronto to wear them outside the house, but these shorts check a lot of boxes for me. They're made from natural fibers (a cotton/linen blend), have a longer inseam that prevents chafing and an A-line silhouette that doesn't tug at the hips and thighs. Price: $50 Material: 50% linen, 50% cotton Sizes: XXS - XXL Rating: 7.5/10 Linen Blend Barrel Leg Pants Wearing the Uniqlo Linen Blend Barrel Leg Pants. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca If you're looking to dip your toe into the barrel-leg trend, these pants could be a good place to start. The barrel silhouette isn't as pronounced as other pants that I've tried (see my jeans paired with the striped tee) and they fit more like a relaxed taper cut once on my body. Unlike the other pants on this list, these have a much more tailored look that makes them office-ready. I work from home and prefer more relaxed styles, but I've worn these pants on a date night out and will reach for them again for more dressy occasions. I'm knocking points because the off-white shade is unlined and slightly sheer in the back. However, the other three shades are darker and shouldn't have this issue. Price: $60 Material: 43% rayon, 34% linen, 23% polyester Sizes: XS - XL Rating: 7/10 Premium Linen Skipper Collar Shirt Wearing the Uniqlo Premium Linen Skipper Collar Shirt. Photo by Postmedia/Kate Mendonca Of everything I got from Uniqlo, this was the only item on the list that didn't fit well. The billowy cut felt way too large, and I thought the length hit me at an unflattering place. If you're between sizes like I am, I'd opt for the smaller size. That said, I'll likely still hold onto this top as a coverup to wear at the beach or by the pool this summer. I like that it's made entirely from linen, with a soft and smooth finish that feels more expensive than it is. Price: $50 Material: 100% European-grown linen Sizes: XXS - XXL Rating: 5/10 Shopping Essentials , a category written by research-obsessed shopping fanatics, is now on Canoe.com . Explore in-depth product reviews, expert recommendations and exciting collaborations - plus get behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and trending products - learn more here or sign up for our newsletter . kmendonca@ postmedia.com instagram.com/kate.mendonca