Ask Angie (and others): Consistently Quality Brands - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie (and others): Consistently Quality Brands

Roxanna

Veteran

Hi Angie and all,
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am realizing that I really adore my quality items and am starting to get very frustrated with bad quality and its pervasiveness. Things I bought from stores like Zara and Banana Republic ten years ago are still in pristine condition, but things bought last season from the same stores are already starting to look worn. I loved the recent YLF post about quality and will be sure to look for these details when shopping. My question is: I know that you have to examine each garment individually to inspect for quality, but are there certain brands that deliver quality consistently? I don't mind if they are expensive; I'm starting to realize that less is more in my case. So far, I find that things by Rachel Roy Signature , Pink Tartan (popular Canadian designer), m0851 (small Montreal brand), Sandro and some Theory items have lived up to my quality expectations, but not much else. I'd love to hear other brands that people find consistently deliver quality (especially if they are available in Canada!)

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

abc

Veteran

White House Black Market. Not many people on the forum rave about this store but I've been quite happy with the quality of all of the items I've bought there, though most of it skews toward the workwear capsule.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Ha, Theory was the first that sprung to mind. I don't have access to any retail brands that are consistently high quality, but am curious to hear what others say.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Fashion-y, or more practical? On the practical side, Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, Lands End (not the stuff in the Sears stores, from the catalogs), Duluth Trading, Carhartt.

I've never had any problems with Garnet Hill's self-branded stuff (they sell other brands too). Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Eileen Fisher, most of the Nordstrom house brands - Caslon, Sejour, Halogen, etc. Classiques Entier. Asos's house brand is surprisingly well-made for the price. Cole Haan. I've heard good things about La Canadienne and Blondo boots.

Everlane runs too small for me but I've heard that they do a good job monitoring their supply chain, since ethical small-batch manufacturing is their thing.

Gaylene

Veteran

Judith and Charles (formerly Teenflo) have never let me down. Same for Comrags. And Matt and Nat vegan bags actually convinced me to quit being such a snob about only buying real leather--although every time I get into a m0851 shop, I want to pull out my credit card. The quality of their vegan bags is better than a lot of the leather bags I see in the shops. Mackage for coats also has been good to me and my La Canadienne boots seem indestructible.

Generally, I find that small, local brands from Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto to be quite dependable when it comes to quality. The items aren't inexpensive, but they seem to offer much better value if you want to build a smaller, high quality wardrobe.

And, weirdly, my $8 Joe Fresh cotton T-shirts seem to handle a summer's worth of laundering without fading, stretching, or falling apart. I'm lucky to get a good fit in the "standard", no frills, version made of substantial cotton, so I usually pick up 4-5 in the season's trendy colors. Once cold weather arrives, I re-purpose them as rags for washing the car and other household duties. My splurge is usually less than $40 if I use a coupon, and I get a lot of mileage out of those T's, so I guess that counts as a quality buy.

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

Laura, I've been wanting to try Everlane but they have yet to cross the border. Now that Nordstrom is here, i will check out some of their house brands.

Gaylene, you read my mind I have a few pencil skirts from teenflo that are cut impeccably - I whave been meaning to check out their new incarnation. Also I have a Comrags dress that I love - I thought they closed shop though? I haven't checked out Matt and Nat bags (like you, i'm a bit of a bag snob) but I will be sure to now. I love La Canadienne but was a little hesitant on Mackage as it was getting so hyped, but I might give it a look.
And Joe Fresh - who would've thought? Good to know. Roots is also good for quality casual wear.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Not only does Comrags still exist but you can order online.

I would second Gaylene's suggestions, for sure.

I don't own one, but Smythe jackets are also supposed to be great. Not cheap, but not shoddy, either.

Ditto Canada Goose coats.

I like the quality of most Club Monaco items.

Anonymous

! second the Blondo recommendation. I don't have any of their boots, but I have a few pairs of their shoes.

I have purchased a few items from Lands' End (online) and Pendleton this year in hopes of better quality and longevity.

Does anyone know about Sundance? Since it was mentioned in another thread, I thought I'd ask.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah. I like this topic. These clothing brands have yielded consistently good quality in my stye life:

Theory, Club Monaco, J.Crew coats, Smythe, Burberry, Boden, Danier, Soia & Kyo, LAMB, Reiss, Karen Millen, Alexander Wang and Anne Fontaine.

Footwear is another story.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

EF has really held up really well for me in terms of clothing;
Adea as well, even though I don't find their fabrics to be odour resistant, which means they get less wear;
Wolford for tights; and
Camper and Fluevog for shoes.

kkards

Veteran

i'd add Equipment silks.
and i'd second abc's WHBM, athough i will say that i only own pants from that brand.

rachylou

Veteran

N-O!

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks everyone for your input!

Suz - thank you! I love the Comrags site! Smythe is on my list for when I save up

Angie: I too love Club Monaco but have found their knits hit and miss as of late. J crew coats - thank you! Will try those out. And how could I forget Soia & Kyo? I have one of their coats.

Bettycrocker - I will look at Pendleton!

Kkards - do Equipment silks live up to the hype? I always thought them a bit thin, but I've never owned one.

Abc - will keep an eye out for WHBM.

Rachylou - what is N - O?

Jennifer

Roxanna - FYI, although Nordstrom just recently came to Canada, I've actually been ordering from them online for a while. They are one of the very few US retailers that actually do a good job of online sales to Canada. I have never had to pay exorbitant shipping fees or duties on a Nordstrom shipment, and they set out all the taxes and duties up front, before you pay, so no surprises. I have had excellent experience with both Halogen and Classiques Entier for work wear and would not hesitate to order either brand from Nordstrom again, despite the crappy exchange rate at the moment. In fact, I am wearing a Halogen skirt right now, and when the new spring colours come out, who knows, I may order another.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jennifer, I don't get it. I thought shipping to Canada from US stores like Nordies was exorbitant - and we have just had a thread about that - all over again - from our Canadian forum members. What has changed?

Jennifer

Hi Angie - usually it is. I won't order from most US retailers. But for some reason, Nordie's seems to get the formula right - at least that has been my experience. I haven't been on the forum in the past week so may have missed a discussion on this if it is really recent - but my experience with ordering from Nordie's has been consistently good, taking into consideration the fact that yes, I do still have to pay duties when I order from them, and yes, that sucks. I guess it's just that whatever shipper/agent they use is applying the charges properly and not in the free-for-all manner that some other retailers do (ahem, Ann Taylor, I'm looking at you).
But maybe others have had a different experience than me, and now I'm off to find a recent thread about this....

rachylou

Veteran

Hehe. *Curmudgeonly grumble.* I haven't found any brands that have consistently delivered according to my quality expectations. I mean, well, I'm sure it would ruin the drape and everything - but it still appalls me that Theory does unlined suits for example. And yes, it's true, my memory is covering four decades now... but I remember! If I want to come back forty years later and buy a new wine glass in the Colleen pattern - I expect it to be the same thickness blah de blah blah blah... If it isn't the same, it isn't the same.

Style Fan

Veteran

I echo Angie's recommendations. I like Burberry, Smythe, Fidelity jeans, some Theory and my all time favourite Sarah Pacini. Sarah Pacini is very artsy and edgy and I have a few of her pieces. Love her stuff. It is dangerous for me to go into that store in Montreal.

My parka is Lole and has held up for ever. I wish it hadn't because I want a new one.

Lole is a Montreal firm and makes great gear for Yoga, etc.