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Aussie Ladies - Where do you get your good quality basics from?

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

I brought some cheap T's from SES a little while ago, the fabric felt nice at the time but a few washes later they are all pilling and the fabric has stiffened up alot (cant expect much for $7 I suppose!). So where do you get good quality basic items from?

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from stringy

Megan

Believe it or not, Jay Jays have some really reasonable tees (am wearing one at the moment). I buy them there as they are the only place that sell XXS but I've been really pleased with how they've held up so far- no piling or stretching (I've washed them 5 times ish now).

I got 2 scoop neck short sleeve tees for $15- their camis are also this price and hold up well with repeated washing (I've got a couple that I've had for several seasons and they are still great). They also make extra long camis which are great for layering.

anne

Veteran

Good question - and good to see Megan's answer too! I am always looking out for extra long stuff

Megan

I also really like Portman's stretch tshirts....but I always wait until the end of summer when they are at the outlets for $5 a shirt! They wash up REALLY well.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I wish I knew the answer to this too!

I can say that I tried an Ezibuy t-shirt and was disappointed with the thin nature of the material - a couple of washes and it was stretched and warped (not happy, because it was expensive); same for Crossroads (although at least these were cheap); Target is sometimes ok. I'd have to agree with Megan that the stretch t-shirts I bought from Portmans (no more than $10 each) have lasted quite well. Still, if anyone has a definitive answer to this, it would be so useful to know!

Does anyone know about Katies/Sussan's/BigW/Reserve (Myer brand)/Esprit/Jeanswest brands?

Megan

I have a Myer top (from Miss Shop- their own brand) that has lasted for AGES and is fantastic. It's a wrap top and I HOPE that they have the same ones this year!

Mum bought stretch tanks from Big W as stocking fillers last year and they've been surprisingly hardy. I find Esprit stretch BADLY (but the guys ones hold up well for some reason?) as do Jeans West.

Not sure about Katies/Sussan's

An

I'd love to know the answer to this question also! I have always found Espirt tops to be really good but they are expensive. I also like Sussan's. I've had some good and some really terrible ones from Target. I haven't been very impressed with Ezibuy in the past but I've just bought some from the Capture basics range and so far they seem good but they've only had two washes.

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Personally I have gone right off anything from Target - I think they are over priced for what you get and I really dont like that cheap feeling ribbed T-shirt material they use. I find that it always bags out over the boob area after a while and just looks revolting. I love anything with viscose or lyocell in it because they have such a soft feel and always tend to wash well. I've got a Country Road T from E-Bay a while back made from Lyocell and it has just worn so well. Katies & Jeanswest T's are usually made from the ribbed material, Sussans have been cotton/lycra in the past.

Why does there seem to be such a big gap in the Australian market between things that are cheaply made or are so expensive! I might have to haunt out E-Bay for a while for some bargains since their retail prices are about $50 for a basic T!

stringy

Veteran

I like Portmans, Jeanswest/JustJeans and Esprit for basic tees. I've got a striped tank with a lace trim from Esprit that's 7 years old, no pilling or stretching at all. They do tend to cost more than Target or Ezibuy or Big W, but they last long enough that the cost per wear is worth it to me. The fashion tops from the same places vary a bit in quality though, sometimes they're great and others they're thin cotton or nasty polyester that gives me static cling to everything.

I've also got 2 Living Doll tees from David Jones this year that seem to be holding up well, but I've only had them for 6 months so I'm not really done evaluating them yet.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Yes, a VERY good question!!

I'm like you Karen - I like a T to have some viscose in it - I just find they wash and wear so much better. And agree on the SES quality... but hey, for $7 they are still fun LOL

I do like my portmans tops, but seeing as we have no clearance stores of any nature here at all (oh except a Rivers Clearance Store), the best I can get is their regular sales - and that still makes them a relatively expensive purchase.

I have a couple of things from Sussans and have been happy with their quality, but I've only ever bought wovens, so can't comment on their knit items - but again, I find them a bit exxy for me.

Big W I have a couple of knit tops from as well now I think about it! They are washing and wearing well, but the seams aren't dead straight anymore - do you know what I mean - when they kind of get a bit skewed to the front/back? Its not at all that noticeable, but just something I notice when I iron...

We do seem to lack a consistently good, fairly priced, basics store here though in my opinion!

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Another person who'd love a good answer to this question. No real ideas here either. Most of my singlets/camis are from Target (a few seasons ago). I have some luck with their longs-sleeved tshirts, but not as foolproof.

I wish there was somewhere that season after season you could pick up basic layering singlets/tees/LS tees in a range of colours. Is that too much to ask?

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if it's worth looking further afield seeing as the US dollar is sitting at $0.96 at the moment - I think Gap was already ruled out but I dont know about the quality of any others?

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

I was in K-Mart today and they have some really nice tops in there right now that have viscose or modal in them and seem really nice and soft.

An

I bought some Jag tops from Myer the other day which are really nice. One is Viscose and the other Tencel. They are pricey but Myer had 20% off so worked out not too bad.

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Thanks An - I had never thought of Jag and the fabric sounds nice.

stringy

Veteran

Oh yes, I can't believe I forgot Jag. I've bought tees and casual cardigans from them and they last for ages - another one where they're a bit pricey up-front but the cost per wear is great. Definitely keep an eye on that brand when the Myer sales are on.