Per Angie's thread about being discerning with regard to quality, wondering where you have seen quality go down (or up) and where you have recently found beautifully-made items?
I'll start.
-- Ann Taylor used to mean consistently nice quality (can't speak to footwear), now it's all over the place.
--Talbots still means generally good quality, as does Brooks Brothers.
--Seconding Angie's thumbs-up to the quality of Furla bags.