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Last week, I stumbled upon an unexpected delight that turned out to be my best purchase of the year. Before this, I didn’t realize how incomplete my life felt without it. Ironically, my discovery came from my own lack of preparation during a chaotic moment—leading me to what I can only describe as Wardrobe Nirvana.
Let’s take a step back to set the context. I must confess I’m terrible at packing for work trips. If it’s a casual holiday, I’m fine, but introduce a formal dinner or an important meeting, and I fall apart. I end up packing mismatched clothes, forgetting how to dress myself properly, and pulling out items from the depths of my wardrobe that rarely see the light of day.
This packing struggle extends beyond trips. Even simple outings can become fashion dilemmas if I feel pressure to look good. On the contrary, I can effortlessly appear stylish during a mundane errand, like grabbing milk. But give me a high-pressure event, like a red carpet, and I look as if I’ve time-traveled from the late nineties.
This week, I truly outdid myself with poor packing choices. Although there are bigger problems in the world, my suitcase contents led to inconvenience after inconvenience. I found myself needing to detour for socks, suffering in a cashmere roll-neck sweater in warm weather, and packing uncomfortable trousers.
Amidst prepping for a busy book tour, I neglected to pack basic essentials like a comfy bra or a casual vest top. I was heading straight from home to a drinks event at my publisher’s, and then dinner. Rushing, I hit the road in my usual cozy travel ensemble, completely forgetting to include these necessities. My oversight became clear the next morning as I searched for my travel outfit and realized I had only a roll-neck and an uncomfortable bra to wear to a meeting.
Desperate to solve this clothing predicament, I had just eighteen minutes to find a suitable bra and a vest top. Miraculously, the first shop on Regent Street I walked into had exactly what I needed—the Uniqlo Ribbed Sleeveless Bra Top. This top turned out to be a brilliant find: a vest top with a built-in bra that offered both comfort and shape, eliminating the need for traditional bra straps.
The top was so comfy and provided such great support that I wore it to my book signing event that night. It beautifully smoothed out my silhouette, even under other clothing. The Uniqlo bra top solves various wardrobe issues, like finding a bra that fits under vest tops without unsightly straps. I opted for a medium size for comfort, although I could have worn a small. I chose a color that Uniqlo calls “brown,” though it looks more like khaki to me. This vest top is incredibly versatile with jeans, under a suit jacket, or paired with weekend loungewear. I can’t help but wish Uniqlo would expand their color options.
If you’re interested, you can find the Uniqlo Ribbed Sleeveless Bra Top online. My new book, “How Not to be a Supermodel,” is also available and has become a Sunday Times Bestseller—perfect if you enjoy an engaging, humorous read.