https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:48:07 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better/page/2#post-2300087 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:23:53 +0000 rachylou 2300087@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good article, Roberta. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2300078 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 15:28:17 +0000 Roberta 2300078@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just read an article this morning on why and how things are not made as well now as opposed to 20 or even 10 years ago: </p> <p><a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23529587/consumer-goods-quality-fast-fashion-technology" rel="nofollow">https://www.vox.com/the-goods/.....technology</a></p> <p>One thing that really struck me is that for all of our robots and machinery and technology, most articles of clothing are still made almost entirely by hand. And every one of those details we've discussed takes the time and energy of a person. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2300062 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:43:08 +0000 Zaeobi 2300062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Karie<br /> Any time I flip a garment in-store here to look at the fabric tags/ seams/ lining/ opacity etc, a sales assistant pops up to tell me the price lol. Without fail - &amp; without me asking! I think they just assume that's what I'm looking for - it doesn't seem to occur to them that I could care about anything else </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2300059 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:35:02 +0000 Zaeobi 2300059@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although you can indeed find surprisingly great clothing at lower priced retailers, one of the biggest caveats is the lack of consistent quality control. </p> <p>This is why I try* to shop fast fashion places (like H&amp;M and Zara) in-person instead of online - there's no guarantee that a print will ALWAYS line up at the seams, or that the sizing will be the EXACT same in every garment. The 'tracing' cutting methods mean I can receive 2 items with the same size label, but one is 2 inches smaller than the other (which makes a big difference when you're cusp petite - don't have enough real estate to fudge my measurements, lol!) </p> <p>*I say 'try' because I'm often sized out of clothing here (even if a retailer usually stocks all sizes of a garment in the west, here they often keep just a handful of the larger sizes), so I'll often see a garment in-store but then need to order it in for my size... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2300023 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 03:35:15 +0000 SarahD8 2300023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of my indelible memories from childhood is begging for overpriced clothing at some mall retailer and my mom saying, “that’s just two straight seams up and down the sides!” Anyway i often catch myself saying the same thing in my head looking at expensive, minimally constructed items on offer now. Mom was right! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2300006 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 01:53:36 +0000 Karie 2300006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As someone who sews, I appreciate a well made garment. A few days ago I was in a local boutique and spotted a beautiful, well made dress. The hem was finished with lace ribbon!<br /> So many places that were once hits are more and more becoming misses (J Crew, Gap). Some have remained consistent (Talbots), and some that I never expected much from I now expect even less (Old Navy).<br /> Too bad websites don’t post pictures of the underside of garments so we could see how they’re constructed w/o having to go into the store! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299986 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:34:44 +0000 kkards 2299986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes to learning how to feel and inspect a garment, . yes to getting well made “stuff” from fast fashion brands…I’ve found good and great at all price points. IMO bridge brands are often great, but can have some issues with quality. Fast Fashion are often poorly made, but can have some real gems, and high street/mall brands are the most uneven. I can’t say that i have a lot of experiences with true “designer”, but my limited experience has been pretty positive.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299981 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:43:07 +0000 Isabel 2299981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>G star looks AMAZING. thanks ! &nbsp;Hits a lot of notes for me.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299979 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:36:18 +0000 Angie 2299979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Isabel,</b> read this. Easier!&nbsp;</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2020/12/09/spotlight-g-star-raw/">https://youlookfab.com/2020/12.....-star-raw/</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299975 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:06:05 +0000 Isabel 2299975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jussie, excellent point. Especially since brands have become inconsistent.&nbsp;</p> <p>Angie....thank you. : ) &nbsp;I've never heard of G star...going to look it up.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299973 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:22:23 +0000 Angie 2299973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ETA:</p> <p>I'll add Talbots, G-Star, and Brook Brothers to your list. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299972 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:21:05 +0000 Angie 2299972@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Isabel!</b> SOOOO lovely to see you post. And astute info too. Nodding along to every word. Thanks!&nbsp;</p> <p>This old post might be of interest too:&nbsp;</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2015/01/20/how-to-assess-clothing-quality/">https://youlookfab.com/2015/01.....g-quality/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299971 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:19:45 +0000 jussie 2299971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And online shopping has made it a lot harder…. How can you tell whether the item is going to be quality or not? Thankfully larger websites have reviews, these are incredibly helpful.<br /> It can work the other way too, online pictures often don’t do the well made, beautifully fabricated clothes justice! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299964 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:43:07 +0000 April 2299964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I, too, am a sucker for great quality, beautiful linings, buttons that can hold up to, you know, buttoning and unbuttoning.</p> <p>Anyone who's ever shopped secondhand or vintage gets to know quality from dreck pretty quickly.&nbsp; And I join those who are irate when pricy items are not well-made.</p> <p>Isabel's mom - keep on seamstressing!&nbsp; You're a vanishing and valuable sort. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299960 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:23:04 +0000 Isabel 2299960@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lesley...what a great point ! People had to make their own clothes. Or least mend. &nbsp;And they knew how to knit and crotchet too.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dee....yes ! &nbsp;I forgot about the Gap. You're so correct about them. &nbsp;I remember getting AMAZING gabardine wool blazers there years ago.<br />We've gone through a phase of "hauls" . &nbsp;And this mentality of not wearing clothes often. So people didn't want to pay a lot because they had to buy the next thing. So it became a race to the bottom to meet theose prices. People also started only buying on sale. It almost killed Ann Taylor. &nbsp;No one wanting to buy their products at full price.&nbsp;</p> <p>You bring up a great point about H&amp;M...at first glance some of it may LOOK good. But when you put it ON, the lining ( if there is one ) or the lapels may not lie flat. &nbsp;And so on.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299958 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:08:21 +0000 Dee 2299958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maybe it was the price point of the blazers I saw at H&amp;M recently but to me these were so poorly made. No lining and buttons, cheap fabric, and the interior trim of the lapel kept exposing when on. I remember a blazer I bought there about 6 years ago that was much better quality.</p> <p>The Gap was at one time a fairly reliable place for some quality basics, but now it can be a real hit or miss.&nbsp;</p> <p>Such a struggle to get decent quality at reasonable price points these days with so many companies forcing designers to cut quality in order to keep prices low. It has me very reluctant &nbsp;to give up any of my old quality pieces for fear I wont find another as good. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299951 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 20:51:47 +0000 Isabel 2299951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sally , YES !!!! People think that only expensive items are "worth" tailoring. Absolutely a well made item that is ( or even a pair of pants of Walmart that aren't &nbsp;) are WORTH the effort to FIT you. &nbsp; Years ago I read that Jennifer Aniston has her T shirts tailored ! &nbsp; I have always felt that's part of the " quality " budget.&nbsp;</p> <p>I used to "tailor" my boot shafts. I used to have skinny legs. And there was a fabulous Italian cobbler in Boston that would take the shafts in and sometimes lower heels when possible.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jonesy, that's a great point I hadn't thought of ! &nbsp;</p> <p>Rachy, LOL ! &nbsp;We can't get so hyper focused on details that we end up naked. LOL &nbsp;I'm not going to trounce around in our little town in the woods with a Burberry coat because the seams all match up ! hahahahaha</p> <p>Suntiger, BINGO ! &nbsp;I once spent A LOT on two high end merino wool sweaters at Bloomingdales and they were DREADFUL. &nbsp;Yet the merino wool at Uniqlo is amazing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Carla, that would be one way to show it off. &nbsp;LOL. &nbsp;But don't you love taking off a jacket and having a flash of ribbon or great finish. Boden used to do this sooooo well. ( I haven't bought from them in quite a while I don't know if they still do it. )&nbsp;</p> <p>Stagiaire, I find very few things in clothing to be really consistent anymore. It's relatively easy in modern times to switch factories or suppliers etc. At least pre Covid.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299947 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 20:38:23 +0000 Lesley 2299947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Granddaughter of a seamstress and a tailor here! Would be interesting if we learned that many of us are descendants of people who made clothes. Maybe hearing the mantras all the time as we grew up turned us into people who think about what we wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299945 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 20:34:48 +0000 Jonesy 2299945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with you! Another factor for me is that high-quality natural fibers in loose cuts don't require as much maintenance (washing/dry cleaning), which is also a win in my book. For example, I recently acquired a blazer that's a mix of wool and cotton, with a little poly (for durability, I would guess), with an all-cotton lining. I wore it three times in a week as part of my holiday travel capsule, and each night I would simply hang it up and the wrinkles, etc. would come out on their own. Easy peasy!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299934 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 19:34:05 +0000 rachylou 2299934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My grandmother was a seamstress. She must have said things to my mother, because I have my mom’s voice in my head expressing her disdain for when these things are not done. They’re not really articulated in my own mind, just instinctive flinches that pop up on their own… I had a memorable argument with a Neiman’s saleswoman when my mouth did its own talking once… lol! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299928 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 19:27:11 +0000 Isabel 2299928@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, I remember many of those items well. &nbsp;I agree that it is hard to part with items that have been useful, beautiful and loved for a while. Particularly when the brand has become less consistent AND you've built a core style with those pieces.</p> <p>I love Zara and so does my daughter. &nbsp;It has a real European flare to it ( maybe because it's Spanish ? LOL &nbsp;) and fashion forward. &nbsp;My daughter has a few pieces. The details in the pieces are really great ! "elevated " basics through interesting details. And they're not disposable clothing. &nbsp;But also not built for longevity either. &nbsp; A good medium. &nbsp; : )&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299922 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 19:08:12 +0000 Anonymous 2299922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good reminder to check the inside of garments for those details, at all price points! Higher $$$ are not always well made, and "cheap" things can be better than expected. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299820 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:51:05 +0000 Sally 2299820@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish I had your eye for quality but I guess we all recognise when things fall apart after a couple of wears they have been sewn with as much care or recognise the feel of cheap fabric. I have been surprised by how durable some cheap stuff is. I got a utility jacket in a thrift shop. It is top shop but with minimal detail which is how I like it so won’t date easily. I bought for $3 three years ago and I’m still wearing it. I will often thrift shop good quality and get it fixed or modified to my body by a tailor. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299818 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:46:33 +0000 Carla 2299818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well written, Isabel! &nbsp;I always get a heart flutter when I discover a garment has matched plaids, or a jacket is lined so beautifully that you could wear it inside out </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299817 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:42:47 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2299817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I learned to look for certain labels, so appreciate lists like this, because of course quality of a fand can rise and fall.<br /> One of the first items I ever got at H&amp;M was insulated pants for my son, who wore them several times a week for a couple of years. They were beautiful and tough as nails right til he outgrew them </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299816 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:37:10 +0000 Suz 2299816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So interesting that you saw higher quality than expected at H&amp;M, <b>Isabel</b>!&nbsp;</p> <p>I have Zara items in my closet that have lasted a decade. And are still fashionable in addition to being durable. (Sarong shorts, I'm looking at you.)&nbsp;</p> <p>Funny...my 21 year old was talking today about their friends, who patronize Shein. I have not shopped there myself, and won't, on principle...but have (as you see from the above) patronized Zara. And will probably continue to do so, from time to time.&nbsp;</p> <p>I agree that Boden items are typically well made. I also agree about J. Crew -- the quality is far less reliable in the last 4 years or so.&nbsp;</p> <p>Having said that, I have J. Crew items that are really impeccable, even from recent seasons. Below are some of my long-lasting and exceptionally well made items. Some (like the long field jacket, circa 2016) are starting to show their wear, but they are SO excellent I can't bear to let them go! There literally is no replacement!!&nbsp;</p> <p>I've had other items (and still have) from the same company that simply do not compare. Some I send back straightaway; some I keep and use for two or three seasons. But it's these stylish winners in beautiful fabrics that keep me going back.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299815 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:17:28 +0000 Isabel 2299815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Indigo. That will make my mom so happy. &nbsp;: )&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299814 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:07:43 +0000 Indigoprint 2299814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well said! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299802 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 02:39:26 +0000 Isabel 2299802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I completely agree with you. Shein has a lot of issues though.. And they are built on the principle of "disposable." &nbsp;Many of those pieces are one once or twice. &nbsp;They don't hold up well at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also not a fan of H&amp;M and Forever 21. &nbsp; But at 20, I have to let my daughter decide and hopefully come to the "better " &nbsp;or quantity conclusion on her own. &nbsp;: )&nbsp;</p> <p>And that is really so personal. I needed &nbsp;more clothes when I worked and travelled a lot. Even when my kids were little and I was a SAHM, I needed different but a greater quantity than I do now since they have become independent and I'm retired.&nbsp;</p> <p>but one thing is consistent : &nbsp;I think clothes shouldn't be disposable.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/quality-vs-qualitysome-thoughts-on-better#post-2299799 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 02:30:46 +0000 Jaime 2299799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have to admit I sometimes see SHEIN items at the thrift store that look much higher quality than I would imagine. I don't pick them up on principle and also imagine they are covered with lots of dangerous chemicals (cheap clothing is typically covered with a lot of toxic preservatives). But I do agree you can see high and low quality across the board - and that print matching is always a good sign. </p>