I Wear Uniqlo’s Cashmere-Blend Heattech Under Everything
During the warmer half of the year, I work, sleep, and eat in Uniqlo’s mini-tees. They’re made of a smooth blend of cotton and spandex that hits right at my waist, making it the ideal pairing for jean shorts and cotton poplin skirts. It’s right about now, though, that its extra-short, fitted sleeves stop cutting it in these decreasing temperatures and I swap in its softer, warmer long-sleeve cousin, the cashmere-blend Heattech tee.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Uniqlo’s Heattech is by no means a secret. At the Strategist, it has a spot in our “Winter 100” and currently holds the title of “best affordable women’s long underwear,” with co-signs from stylists and the founder of underwear brand Richer Poorer. More often than not, in-the-know New Yorkers wear the brand’s whisper-thin original Heattech under their black work pants and cashmere sweaters on especially cold days. I’ve had my own set of the thick Ultra Warm long underwear for a few years now, which I typically reserve for skiing when I don’t mind a little extra bulk to keep me from freezing. So, when I popped into Uniqlo for a break from one of last year’s cold fronts, straight to the Heattech section I went. It was then that I learned about Uniqlo’s thinner, softer, and dare I say even a little sexier cashmere-blend Heattech line. According to Uniqlo, this one is slightly warmer than the original — you can wear it down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but I’ve used it as a bottom layer when it was below freezing — and it is made of a similar blend of acrylic, rayon, and spandex. The polyester you’ll find in the original Heattech, though, is swapped for cashmere. (There’s a whole 9 percent in there, to be specific.)
That day, I left the store with a new (to me) cashmere-blend Heattech top in gray (and some Heattech socks for my Raynaud’s-stricken toes). To say I didn’t take it off until I returned to Uniqlo the next week to buy a second one would only be a slight understatement. On the skin, the shirt is so thin you can barely feel it, but simultaneously it’s warm enough to wear as a pajama top on the coldest of winter nights. I’ve since worn it with jeans to house parties and under cashmere sweaters to the office. It even has the same cashmere composition as Intimissi’s Gen-Z-loved boatneck top for less than half the price.
I typically wear an extra-small in tops, and this one feels roomy in that size, with fabric long and stretchy enough that I can slip the sleeves over my hands and tuck the torso into my pants when I’m shivering. Considering how often I wear these, I feel confident saying that they hold up in the wash (I air-dry them afterward). I’ll be taking advantage of the newly expanded color range ahead of our first snow. The off-white, called natural, and very festive red are calling me — and, perhaps, the new additions to my lineup will help me better justify just how much I wear this top.
More long underwear we love
New! You can now save this product for later.
Natural-fiber long underwear for the plastic-free. It’s our Best in Class pick too.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
These tees are warm, breathable, odor-resistant, and our favorite stylish long underwear.
More From The Strategist
- Hark, the Advent Calendars Arrived (Very) Early This Year
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- 63 Things You Should Never Buy Full Price
- The Strategist Fall 100
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.