2024 Review - Favorite Brands

Irina

As in previous years, I bought mostly from three brands this year:
Massimo Dutti, Cos and Uniqlo. This year I liked jeans from Cos, they have never fit me before. I needed to replace some of my old ones and bought it there. Almost half of my Cos items were bought resale. At the same time, I bought only one Massimo Dutti item second hand. It seems that COS is more popular on the second hand market. I should keep it in mind for the next year. Both Cos and Massimo Dutti are my sources for the contemporary clothes. I shopped some collaborations from Uniqlo and also bought a few basics. Merino wool and cashmere are decent there and not expensive.

I bought one item each from Banana Republic and Everlane. Just not my style anymore and I’m not that interested in them.

I buy a few designer items (or try to) each year when I can find them on a discount. This year it is GANNI and Zadig & Voltaire, Allsaints. All are outside of my comfort zone, one being too young for me, another is a bit too “punk rock”, and the last one is more dark boho than I wear. But all work so far.

I also found a couple of pieces by rag & bone and Vince, brands that l like too. A pair of Vince pants was bought second hand.

My only “wild card” is a linen blend kimono style top in apple green color, a bit darker IRL. Unfortunately, still has tags on it. I like it but couldn’t find an occasion to wear it. Maybe I should try to dress up for some holiday dinners. But it looks that I fell into “imaginary life” trap.

Are you still with your chosen brands? Do you like exploring new ones?

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3 days ago

Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Interesting, Irina! It's good to have go-to brands, AND keep an open mind to explore new ones, IMO. You're doing just that!

We overlap with COS, Rag & Bone, Ganni, Vince and AllSaints

I have to run, but will be back to yak about my favourite brands later....
.

3 days ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Very interesting Irina! I see tons of donated items and agree that COS, Massimo and Uniqlo are among the best value for money. Ganni, which I like in principle, actually does a lot of polyester, which I find surprising. I think of them as print heavy too. BR has some quality fabrics. Zadig and Voltaire seems a bit overpriced to me and I am not sure it deserves to be in a higher tier than the others above. I love to see designer pieces and assess their quality but obviously that happens less frequently. But does happen! I won't make a novel of this though .
*all of the above are observations from the pool of donated clothing, not from retail experience

3 days ago

Roberta

Veteran

Your post really made me think. For decades, my go-to's were Talbots and Boden. The two brands seemed perfect complements; Talbots could get a little boring, and Boden could get a little zany. Both brands are still very well made. But since I retired, all of that has changed.

I now buy mostly casual clothing, which led me to LL Bean and Loft. I love Cos designs, but they're a little out of my price range, so I only buy one or two things there each year. I also really love Desigual, but only buy one or two things there each year. Both of those brands don't have stores anywhere near me, so I must shop online if I want to wear them. My neighborhood thrift stores do not run to that kind of quality.

3 days ago

Dee

Veteran

My favorite brands this year have been:
Simon's Contemporaine - knit wear, denim skirt
Uniqlo- knit wear, hoodie, socks. Also bought 2 Uniqlo skirts second hand.
Levi's- jeans
Mango- barrel jeans
The Gap - corduroy jeans
Muji - top, socks
LL Bean - tops
With the exception of Mango, these are all brands that I've bought in the past, they suit my casual style, and I'm relatively happy with their quality.

3 days ago

Irina

Veteran

Angie, thanks.

Jaime, I always check a tag inside of any garment. Even higher end brands produce an odd polyester or acetate thing. BR does have nice fabrics but I find their styles are not for me, something is often off.

Roberta, interesting about Talbots and Boden. I was in Talbots a few times when we had a store here and bought a very nice blazer there years ago. But it always looked to me like an older cousin of JCrew. I might be wrong. I also buy things that are casual but mostly from the same brands.

Dee, yes to Muji! I have a store near by and bought some linen garments there but keep forgetting to check them more frequently.

3 days ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting observations and comments from others, too! I love COS designs and also Massimo Dutti, but never buy at COS and almost never at Massimo Dutti -- COS because a lot is black or in colours that don't work for me, and it is hard for me to get a fit (mainly because I can't try on in person and can't order -- it requires a city visit for me to figure it out.) Massimo again because the colours often aren't right for me -- though I have had more luck there in the past and do keep my eyes open. I like their clothes.

Did you get your second hand items online, Irina? I am curious about the process. I am imagining that you know your size pretty well in these brands. Once I know my size and the fit, I can do the ordering -- but until and unless I've had a good long in person try on session in a store, I don't feel confident about it. It's doable with Massimo Dutti, though, because I can order and return, whereas that is not an option for me with COS.

I love your kimono top and hope you will find a way to wear it!

This year has been a weird shopping year for me. Weird, because most of my purchases came from two stores I had not ordered from in years! And ironically, they are two that do not work for you. Everlane I bought 2 shirts, curve jeans, and a sweater there. I also bought pants and 3 essential type sweaters from BR! (Much to my surprise, I will add. I haven't liked their stuff for the past few years -- but got lucky with these items which are all wool and/ or cotton/silk and very nice quality. )

I also bought several items at Anthropologie. While the pieces from Everlane and BR and more essentials (if you can call a red sweater an essential, ha!) the ones from Anthro are "fun" statement type articles. Silver belt, print velvet shirt, flocked pants, pleather pants.

I also got the odd piece elsewhere -- Bloomingdales for cashmere, Allison Wonderland, a local Canadian designer for a skirt, Rails top on sale, an All Saints top. And jeans and a skirt from Zara.

3 days ago

Irina

Veteran

Suz, I bought my second hand items on Poshmark. I rely on the measurements provided by sellers and on a general idea how a brand fits. But it is hit and miss. I had to resell a couple of Cos items that I didn’t like on me. Fortunately, it is not too difficult.

I order Massimo Dutti online, I return to the only store we have here. I could mail it but it’s faster. The store has a limited inventory and ordering online works for me. I have never ordered anything online from Cos because of duty charges are insane.

Our big Anthropology store on Queen West is closing down. I don’t buy from them but it is sad to see them go. I don’t know if we have any left.

3 days ago

RobinF

Veteran

I love your style so it is interesting to see what your favorite brands are. I was wondering the same as Suz, as far as how you go about shopping second hand. I also use Poshmark and have pretty good success but not 100% so I tend to stick to less expensive items. I do love that I can get exact measurements from the sellers but was surprised that that doesn't always translate to a perfect fit.

I haven't resold items that don't work for me but maybe should start doing that.

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