If you follow me on Insta, you know that my latest obsession has been Ulla Johnson. I would love to be able to purchase UJ new, but I find that price-wise and sustainability-wise it’s best for me to purchase it used. So I’ve been stalking the RealReal and eBay and wow I’ve found some good stuff. And they were all at least half price or less. And by purchasing UJ secondhand I really got to see the quality of their clothing and how they’ve held up. And I have to say, it’s pretty darn good!
If you’re not familiar with UJ, they make their clothes all over the world. But they work with craftsman and artisans, while ensuring they are treated and paid fairly. You can also read more about the woman behind the brand here. In some ways, UJ stuff kind of reminds me of Ace & Jig, but more my style. I really like the silhouettes of her designs. The items I’ve picked here are waaay more on the simple side of things because some of her stuff can get pretty out there IMO (like this one or this one).
So my first purchase was this top from eBay. I’ve been jonsing for a puffy sleeve top and even though it’s more like a bell sleeves I love it. The high collar and eyelet fabric details are awesome, and even though the black is a tad faded from use it’s still holding up beautifully. There’s no snags, holes or fraying. The zipper works smoothly as it should . And in general, the top is made well, which is expected for something that probably originally retailed for a a couple hundred dollars. This top was made in India.
My next several purchases from Ulla Johnson came from The RealReal. And even though I liked the jumpsuit and the frilly sweater, I didn’t love them so I sent them back. Again the quality was top notch. But the styling was almost too much for my mostly minimal closet. Though I do have to say, if you’re looking for unique and stand-out pieces, you can’t go wrong with Ulla Johnson.
Also for reference I’m a medium in their tops. I’m usually a size 4-6 on top, but I think their sizing runs a tad small so mediums work best for me.
The next item I tried was new was this Philo sweatshirt from Shopbop and it was the item that originally turned me onto Ulla Johnson. I saw it over on Insta and became obsessed with it. But I didn’t want to pay the full price at first ($195 for a sweatshirt!). However, I decided to let myself try it for my bday and I’m glad I did. The quality is awesome and I loved the fit. But again it felt a little over the top for my usual simple style. I didn’t think I could pull it off so I sent it back, and I’m glad I did because I haven’t really thought about it since.
I also tried out Ulla Johnson shoes (this was purchased from The RealReal), and have found that their sizing runs narrow. So unfortunately, though these shoes were super cute I had to send them back. I think if you have normal to narrow feet, you can probably go TTS. Otherwise you’ll have to size up.
And the last item I purchased before I finally got this UJ habit under control was this Bettine Pullover, which I got over on the RealReal for less than half the price (it’s the short sleeve cotton black pom pom sweater I’m wearing in the first pic up top). This might be my most favorite item of them all. The sweater is really well made and quality of the thick cotton knit is top notch! I’ve only owned a Misha and Puff cotton sweater for my baby, but I would imagine the quality of the UJ sweater to be similar to a Misha and Puff popcorn sweater. It really is that good (as it should be for $350 retail!). This sweater was made in Peru (where I find a lot of great knits are made).
Anyway as you can see I’m quite the fan of UJ and I’m especially a fan of finding UJ secondhand. The quality of UJ clothing means it is made to last, so finding it used is no big deal. This isn’t a fast fashion find that’s going to fall apart on you. If you’re interested, you can find the current selection of Ulla Johnson clothing on the RealReal here. And eBay is also another great place to stalk some preowned UJ.
Have any of you guys tried UJ before and what do you think?