Packing for any trip to the UK is, more often than not, a bit of a gamble. You just don’t know what the weather will be doing – bar December when it’s likely to be darn cold.

‘Summer’ can come as late as September and traveling in Europe in June definitely doesn’t equal bathing suits.

What I’ve lived in this time, especially in rural France, has been Uniqlo’s striped boat-neck long sleeved T that comes in a mass of colours. I had two on almost constant rotation: predictable Breton blue and white…

and another one in a grey and white stripe. Coupled with boyfriend jeans, navy converse trainers and one of Uniqlo’s really rather awesome feather-filled body warmers that roll in to a ball the size of a small papaya – absolutely perfect for packing – and you’re all set, whatever the weather.

Uniqlo Singapore has currently sold out of these staple pieces I can’t get enough of (I bought both my tops and my black ultra light down gillet from here around Feb). A very similar variation of the    boat neck top is currently available through the US Uniqlo store here (the colourways are rather dodgy though, except for the classic navy and white). An identical gillet can be found here.

I have been told they will be reappearing in Singapore towards the end of the year.

(Note to UK readers: the gillets are available in stores nationwide, but the boat neck Ts are sold out.)