Lara, thanks for your history info. I remember as a kid going to an outlet mall (we lived in a small town, so that was a really special treat), and the stuff in the store was just stuff that hadn't "made the cut" for the regular store. Maybe a hem was a little crooked, or maybe the fabric had a bit of discoloration, etc. But the faults were not bad enough that the item couldn't be sold and worn. So I was a little confused about why outlet stores have stuff made expressly for them. It seems a little odd.
I did call the WHBM outlet store, and they told me that their stuff is less dressy and less embellished than the regular store's stuff but still of the same quality. I suppose that could be true, as adding lots of rhinestones and decoration would be labor intensive and therefore would up the price. But I was a little suspicious when I called the BR Factory Store and they told me that their items use different stitching and ways of constructing the garment. I asked if that meant that the BR Factory garment wouldn't have as much longevity, and the SA said no, that's not necessarily the case. But I am skeptical. It sounds to me like they are taking shortcuts in sewing seams, which is going to lead to the garment wearing out quicker.
Interesting that your take on things is that consignment is better than outlet. I shall keep that in mind! Food for thought.
