Well you know I am a big Zara fan! Totally agree that it is pretty questionable for jeans, but I have found a lot of pieces there new, on sale, and second hand that have stood the test of time. Gap is terrific for jeans. The local Topshops don't seem to carry their higher end stuff, but sometimes it lands in the world of second hand and looks good. H&M, overall, looks the cheapest to me - combination of bad material and cheap stitching, but again I think there are different levels and I am looking at the lowest. I have thrifted a few COS pieces and look forward to visiting a store one day!

I hear ya, K.M., for a long time my budget was such that anything bought not in the thrift store was high end. I also can't wear Zara, which is disappointing because I like some of their jackets and shirts. Nothing ever fits me there, so I've stopped even bothering to go in the store.

I'm not sure that every cheaper store is necessarily fast fashion, either. Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 all aim for a lot of change in their stores, and have new items out practically constantly. Other stores have followed suit to a certain point to stay competitive, but I don't think that for places like Target or even Old Navy, the changing stuff is their primary focus. ON sells plenty of basics and a lot of styles that stay the same for several seasons and even years.

I don't consider GAP and Banana Republic to be "fast fashion." To me they are mid-market retailers. I think of Zara, H&M, F21, and Target as "fast fashion" in that their clothes are very inexpensive and not necessarily made to last.

That said, I adore Target and some of my favorite, longest-lived pieces have come from there. In particular I'm thinking of my beloved black sandal booties (going strong after three summers and three re-heels) and a black cotton blazer I bought and wore multiple times a week until it no longer fit. Oh, and my red cotton blazer from H&M is a giant wardrobe workhorse!

You really never can tell.

To me Zara is fast fashion because they get stuff from design room to sales floor fast, not because they're inexpensive. In terms of materials and construction, I think it really depends. H&M I find easy on the wallet, but likewise fast. And also F21... You know, I've had quite a few pieces from F21 that went out of style before they got raggedy. F21 sweaters pill up fast, I'll say that, but they're also always the sweaters I love to wear most. I find them soft and cozy.

I find myself telling myself that I like fast fashion because you don't want to be spendy on something you don't want to do long... but honestly, I keep all my stuff a long time. If I like it, I like it. And it *is* econo-enviro bad to wear once and toss.

I just shop everywhere and buy what I like, and what appears to be reasonably well made. I've had good luck at F21 both with fit and better quality, and they do seem to be catering to a wider age range (I do see other women my age in the store and trying on clothes. I don't have good luck with Zara, out of all the items I've tried from them I've only kept one top and one skirt, and I had to alter the skirt.

My Gap jeans are like a Timex watch - they take a licking and keep on ticking. Although lesser quality, Old Navy Diva's fit me really well, as do other ON items. I've also had good luck with some of the brands Macy's sells, and the same goes for JCP (especially Joe Fresh).

I consider Gap, J.Crew, BR, and some of Macy's to be mid-range retailers. Whether at the high-end, mid-range, or low-end piece of the pie, I don't mid trying it all.

I quite agree. So long as the finish is acceptable for the price-point and expected longevity of the piece, that's fine by me. On the other hand, "thrown together" is unacceptable at any level.

I mostly shop at mid-range retailers like BR and Gap. Also ON and Kohl's for my DD. I ordered some stuff from Modcloth; and while what I bought from there is not top quality, it's on par with the above-mentioned stores. All of my dress pants are from Express, and are very good quality. My RL stuff is really nice, I have to say, but I would not have been able to afford the pieces had the prices not been significantly marked down. Lastly, I bought some really nice stuff (like some NYDJ jeans) from Nordstrom, which is about as high end as I go, and not that often.

I think I do well with my purchases. I have a mostly casual lifestyle, and what I buy to wear to work also works for weekends. In addition, there are some outfits that are for more dressy occasions and for when my DH and I are invited out to dinner (business).

I so totally agree with Ms. Mary...I don't consider Zara, BR or Gap fast fashion...I do consider Target, fast fashion...
That said some of my favorite pieces are from Target...Quality is fine but really do you wear out your clothes before you become bored and move on...
So happy that we are able to have such a variety of fashion and the in a lot of cases these items are available for all...

Thanks for your thoughts, ladies. I loved reading them, and there is lots of truth is what you said.

I don't consider Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, or J.Crew fast fashion either. The Gap - is a special and unique other story. Their turnaround is fast, and their prices are much cheaper than BR, AT and JC. Not nearly as fashionable as the three biggies though (see below).

Old Navy and Target are budget retailers - but not so fast, and not as fashionable.

Zara, H&M and Forever 21 (the three biggies) are the epitome of Fast Fashion. Very fast turnaround. Hot off the press catwalk looks in a matter of weeks - fashion forward - and not nearly as pricey as middle of the road chain stores.

I'm not that impressed with the overall quality at ON, but since the trinity stores (ON, Gap and BR) are side by side in a shopping center near my house, I browse all three of them and cherry pick. My two older DDs still live at home while in college, but they both have jobs for spending $. I make them both buy their own clothes. The younger of the 2 likes having more clothes and shops almost exclusively at ON. The older one prefers better quality but doesn't mind less clothing; she shops at places like Express. I only shop for the youngest DD, who is finishing high school and is about to start college. I'm trying to teach her about quality, as well as when to save & when to splurge (not to mention when to buy right away and when to wait for a sale). Of the above-mentioned 3 stores, I have purchased more from BR than from Gap, but that's because I prefer a smart casual look and Gap is generally more casual than BR. I will probably steer my youngest DD to BR for professional clothing, as they have petite clothing starting at smaller sizes. At only 5' tall, she's not a "sometimes can wear regular sizes" person like I am.

Angie, Thank you for the excellent tutorial re/fast fashion...I want to learn...