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quality--does it really matter?

Maya

Veteran

A few years ago after graduating college, I decided it was time to be a grown-up and build an adult wardrobe. I used to get comments all the time about how I looked like I was still in high school and so I really needed this transformation before heading off to look for jobs.

Anyway, I ended up getting the highest quality pieces I possibly could afford, and now virtually all of them have been phased out of my wardrobe. Why? Lots of reasons. Tastes change. Body type changes (at least mine did). Size changes. I find certain items, like sweaters, have to be replaced constantly regardless of how much you spend on them. There is just no such thing as a high quality sweater. I also wear knits a lot more than wovens for practical reasons, and they just look shabby after some time. I still continue to wear them because I can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe every 6 months, and wovens are just not practical for me.

I guess I don't see the point of spending a fortune on clothing anymore. Unless you stay the same size and you know you're going to love what you buy for years to come (which I don't think you can predict), why bother? I'm not able to afford anything too marvelous anyway, but I really wonder if there is any difference between buying things like sweaters and knits from Forever 21 and buying them from BR. In the end, they're all going to pill and look shabby. Other things that I did spend a lot on, like my cute little Anthropologie blazer, have held up very well over the years, but they just don't fit anymore. I bought my 7FAM jeans years ago in a 27 and they were huge, but it ended up being a stroke of luck because now they fit perfectly. But how would I have known that then? I almost got that Anthropologie blazer in a 4 instead of a 2 (in fact I did buy it in a 4, and then exchanged it), but at the time it didn't look fitted enough. Now I wish I had. In the end, I feel like I regret a lot of my purchases. Unlike a lot of you ladies, I don't usually shop for fun or as a hobby. Eventually I wanted my wardrobe to just level out so I don't have to buy anything new for a long time to come, but now I don't think that's ever really going to happen.

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Tanya

Veteran

You know Maya, I have been wondering something similar myself. Now in my situation, it is not due to the size change ( I have been extremely lucky to have the same figure for the past 15 years, I did gain I few pounds recently but the main result was half a size up in pants which can usually accomodate for that due to the stretch). I do shop for fun and like to try new trends, but I do get tired of them easily.

I used to have a horrible wardrobe almost exclusively from juniors departments till 3-4 years ago. I decided to make a drastic change, which was great for my wardrobe but awful for my wallet. I do bargain hunt and try to get BR stuff for F21 prices. Unfortunately my style&taste has evolved a lot too and gotten quite a lot more expensive.

Very recently I have decided that it's OK to relax the rules for fun trendy pieces I would not wear longer than a season or two anyway. I have not bought anything like that yet, though I am on a hunt for a mini floral F21 dress featured in September issue of Cosmo, it hasn't shown up online yet.

So right now I'll invest is stuff like jeans, coats, comfy shoes, and occasional statement top, but am ready to save everywhere else. I have just found these cheap non-leather boots from Target and plan to get them to wear in nasty rainy weather, look cute, and not worry if they ( which they will) get ruined after one season:

http://www.target.com/Womens-M.....LJ3EDV3PIR

Maya

Veteran

Those boots are adorable Tanya. Love the little mini wedge.

I am just not sure where to invest the bulk of my limited funds. Shoes are a no brainer. My feet don't really change size, and since I'm so restricted by comfort, I don't think about style as much. However, a lot of the things I loved 3-4 years ago, I'm not as crazy about now, or they don't fit, or they look worn out and faded...and in all of these cases, it doesn't really matter what the quality was. So I'm just not sure.

Tanya

Veteran

It is possible that you are going through a style transition period, you are very young, and it make sense that you don't love know what you did 4 years go.

If you were to invest in anything, I'd make sure it's a modern classic. Jeans are no brainer, or maybe one really gorgeous cashmere ( if you like it and can wear it) sweater in a color that makes your skin and eye sparkle in a most flattering cut that makes you feel like a princess every time you put it on. I have started with jeans, but that made sense because that's what I wore most of the time.

Thank for the compliment on the boots. I think I am going to get them. I have been wanting these wellies for such a long time but I just can not fit them in my budget and the fall rains have already started. I need to keep my feet dry!

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/30710462/c/19492.html

Edit: I actually wouldn't try to force it and figure out really hard what to invest in. If you all the basic needs, I'd just save up till you stumble upon something that screams your name and fits you like a dream. I always find those when I'm broke, Murphy's law

Anonymous

I think that basics should get more attention with your wardrobe budget than the "trendy" items. Jeans, shoes, purses and other things that will last season after season and are more classic, work with many things in your wardrobe, demonstrate your personal style are worth spending money and looking for quality. Things that are disposible (t-shirts etc) you can pick up at discount stores since no matter what you spend on them, they need to be replaced every season. Yesterday I was in Kohls and decided to pick up a non-leather moto jacket. It has been a style that I have wanted to try for quite a while but I hesitate to spend real $$$ on a style that I am not sure works for me. I can't vouch for the quality but it will be fun for a couple months and if it doesn't work out for me, then I won't cry over it. If I find that I love it and it works in my wardrobe, then I will replace it with a "real" one and won't blink at the price.

Also, I am finding that there are lots of things you find in discount stores that are decent quality! Or at least is a pretty good knock-off of higher priced items.

I am at the point in my life where I can afford to spend money on high end items. But I don't. I do spend on things that will last and last (like my jeans) but since I tend to turn over my wardrobe frequently, I buy things that LOOK quality but don't cost huge $$$ so that when I get bored, I don't keep it on hand just because I spent money on it.

Violet

Hi Maya - I definitely understand what you are saying. I turned 31 this year and the past several years have been a transition for me as I have phased out many clothes I wore in college and my early 20s.

I have been working at my company for the past 7 years and plan to do so for a while to come. The fact that I am in the corporate world definitely dictates what I shop for now. Club clothes, tank tops, shorts and min skirts just don't fit into my wardrobe any more.

I am still not at a point where I can buy real investment pieces, but there are some things that I will buy that are on the more expensive side of my price range. I am short, so I only buy pants at places like The Limited, Express or BR b/c I know their styles fit. I am able to buy pants for work at those places for around $50-$70. I just can't bring myself to spend more than that! Same goes for jeans. I haven't made the transition over to premium denim yet.

Also, with tops, I am petite but have a bit of a bust, so I like to stock up on shirts with v-necks or scoop necks b/c I know they will always be flattering on me. I will spend more on something like this b/c it is a staple of my wardrobe.

If you are abake sure to dry clean certain fabrics or use the delicate cycle or hand wash certale, min items to make them last longer.

Personally, I think it is okay to buy a trendy piece from somewhere like Forever 21. You can get a fun piece of clothing, but you're not out too much if it goes out of style in a couple of seasons.

Check out places like Marshalls or TJ Maxx. You can sometimes find designer brands for great prices. I think places like that are also a great place to find purses and accessories.

The time after you graduate from college and enter the "real world" is a time of transition and change in many areas. Be patient with yourself and your own personal style will evolve. Good luck!

Maya

Veteran

I think perhaps I wasn't clear. I like the idea of mixing cheaper trendy pieces with more expensive classic items. That's what I have always maintained as my philosophy on clothes.

But to me that really is just an idea and not really practical precisely for the reasons I mentioned. Even a cashmere sweater looks crappy after just 2 years. Premium denim is great as long as you stay the same size for years at a time, which I do not. My weight might always be in flux because I do have an underlying disease (nothing serious) that causes me to gain and lose weight frequently and sometimes dramatically.

Dry cleaning is great and all, but I'm at a point where I need to cut down on my expenses, not add to them.

VIolet, I am also petite and busty, but I find that knit tops just look worn out and faded after a couple of washes. I've given up. Like I said, I still wear the ones I have because I think it's outrageous to just buy a new wardrobe every season, but the real question is whether I should have even bothered spending $60 on them to begin with.

Sometimes I wonder if I really have any business trying to be stylish since I have so many other more important things to spend money and effort on, you know? It almost makes me feel guilty.

Nicole

Veteran

Hmm I am queen of cheap. I am just now becoming desensitized to the prices of middle range stores like AT and BR. I still think J Crew is expensive, and I would be afraid to even step foot in a Neiman Marcus. But I've also grown snobby to cheap stores like Target. Even if I like the way something looks, I know it's not made well. (Am I making matters worse?)

I think you need to determine each individual piece of clothing and decide how much it's worth to you.

Maya

Veteran

I'm sort of the opposite of you now Nicole. I am starting to think even AT and BR are too expensive, and maybe Target and H&M are the way to go.

Tanya

Veteran

Ha, I know what you both mean. I am currently in a state where I find everything I like too expensive ( I am not talking designers, just regular mid-range stuff), and everything that is lower priced I find cheap and bad quality. The only current exception is H&M, I like the prices and I think that the quality of some (well chosen) items is decent. Hmm, I guess there is no such thing as cashmere at polyacrylic price point

marianne

I know what you mean about sweaters, Maya. I never buy cashmere because to me it's not worth the price. But I also wouldn't wear acrylic. I usually stick to merino and cotton blends. I'm glad that there are other people who think mid-range stores are expensive - I wouldn't get ALL my clothes from places like AT or BR.
I don't mind paying more for pants (and jeans), mainly because I have trouble finding good fit. And low quality pants just ruin the rest of the outfit for me, unless they are disguised by long tops. There is also a certain level of quality I can't get over - crooked darts, uneven seams, etc. I like getting accessories or layering pieces at H&M, but I think I'm too old to be buying pants there... even though Tanya is right, things have to be carefully selected
I also find that while you can definitely find good deals on nicer things, it takes a lot of time and energy, and right now I have neither, so I have to be prepared to pay the full price

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, you're 24! (aren’t you?) I had just started my buying career at your age. YES! Quality does matter. BUT YES! You could purchase all your clothes at H&M, B.P., Target, Old Navy and Forever 21 at your age. I did. (Or the equivalent of those American stores).

As you get older, a more refined look is in order and that’s when quality becomes crucial. There are still items I refuse to spend money on, like knits – and I’m 38 and in the fashion game.

shiny

Veteran

A few thoughts for you:

1) At your age, in all honesty (and this is what I tell my girls all the time), you really can take something like a cheap inexpensive white cotton tee shirt and with a little imagination and accessorizing, look absolutely fab. It's later on when you hit your later years that you need more structured (read: expensive) clothing to suck it all in and smooth it all out.

2) Weight fluctuations: I'm right there with you! That's why I have my box of "realistic" clothes in storage... knowing full well my weight has and does fluctuate (also dealing with health issues myself ). Even without the health issues, the reality is, your body simply changes a lot in your 20s. Especially if you get pregnant, but even if you don't. It's simply practical and smart not to invest too much in things that you may grow out of (because of weight gain -or- loss). Invest instead in: jewelry, scarves, shoes, bags. The right accessories can make that simple white tee and jeans look fab, IMO.

3) Simple tip: wash your clothes less. You'll save $ on cleaning/energy bills, and your clothes will last a lot longer. American wash their clothes way too often. Depending on the garment (and underwear and pj's obviously excluded), I wear my clothes multiple times - sometimes an entire season! - before washing. Esp in cooler months when sweat isn't so much a factor. I don't wear perfume or smoke, so this does help.

Dry-El can be cheaper than dry-cleaning too - it refreshes the garment and takes out odors, and is a lot gentler than the steam irons they use. Try cutting the dry-el sheet in half to get twice the amount of loads.

As for cashmere, I agree that cashmere just doesn't last. I have two very high quality, heavy-weight, expensive cashmere sweaters that I wore for three seasons straight - constantly - and never washed them. I'd simply air them out between wears. I was paranoid to wash them. They looked great. Never developed moth holes either. But then last season I handwashed them... carefully blocking them to dry, etc... and they just lost their newness look.

Nicole

Veteran

I think the ladies hit the nail on the head with the age thing. As a matter of fact, the same way I would look utterly ridiculous walking around in junior styles, you would look similarly ridiculous walking around in structured suits. They don't fit your lifestyle.

Also remember that high price does not equal good quality and low price does not equal bad quality. I think you *can* find decent quality things at places like Target. (We don't have an H&M--I think I've only been in one once.) So, again, you have to look at the individual piece and decide if it is worth the pricetag.

shiny

Veteran

"High priced does not equal good quality"

... that is so true.

I'd heard so much about Theory being a great brand for suits, but when I tried on their pants, I was aghast that they weren't even lined. The jackets seemed to be a nice quality.... but I'm sorry, unlined wool that is meant to be form-fitting equals "itch like crazy" to me.

I can't remember the brands off the top of my head, but when in Bloomie's I have noticed some expensive brands that look just plain shoddy to me.

Target... I wish they made petites. So I can't vouch for their clothes (except to say they have some cute stuff). But their purses and shoes are a LOT of fun.

ATL.... I have been very loyal to that brand for years (good fit for me, and value for the $), but lately I've been noticing that they must be using different suppliers, because the quality seems to be going WAY down... while the $ have remained about the same. Am I the only one to notice this?

H&M.... it's hit or miss, but they DO have some items that have held up very well.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Shiny, no, you are not dreaming, I have had the same experience with ATL. As a petite, their fit is fantastic. Their button-downs are some of the best and most flattering I've owned, and the price is right.

BUT, I recently hunted for a new corduroy jacket. The quality of their corduroy just did not stack up. I wound up buying a DKNY petite cord jacket instead, which was $90 compared to ATL's $70 because the cord was so much finer and the detailing on the jacket so much better. It was a world of difference. I hope ATL doesn't go too far downhill ...

Maya

Veteran

Here's a question for everyone:

When you say higher quality items last longer, how long does that mean? When you buy premium jeans, for example, how many years do you hold on to them? What about coats and jackets?

How long do you keep knits and sweaters? Angie, I know you say you refuse to spend money on these pieces, but you also prefer and have the option of wearing wovens. If you did not have that option because it was impractical or you were busty (like me!), would you still skimp on knits? How frequently would you replace them?

Tanya

Veteran

I can not answer all of your questions Maya, but I can some.

Premium jeans: I only got into those relatively recently, so my oldest pairs are 3 years old, but they still look almost new ( I wash them on on cold on gentle cycle, air dry always). I see myself wearing them for up to 5 more years, unless my weight drastically changes.

Coats and jackets: I tend to hang on them pretty much forever ( unless they become dated/I do not like them etc). My black leather biker jacket is 5 years old ( you see tiny amount of wear around the edge of the sleeves , but I think that's OK for leather). I have a 4 year old navy coat ( from H&M!) that I still wear and looks good.

Sweaters: here it is shorter. I am also very careful to hand wash them only, use sweater shaver when piling occurs. Some medium priced ones have held up for 3 or so years. Some worse quality ones are dead after 2 . For example, I really love the look of boucle sweaters from VS and have maybe 4-5 of them. I did have to retire two oldest ones after almost 2 years of wear ( no shaving could save them) and decided keep wearing the ones I have while they still look good, but stop buying new ones. Cashmere: I only started buying them last winter and so far they have held up pretty well. Ones I got from places like Bluefly are looking new, but a baby blue one from Uniqlo did show wear immediately, so I constantly have to shave it.

I guess I should add that i have a lot of clothes, so mot of them don't get worn so often. I also employ similar washing strategies as Shiny does so I think that helps as well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, premium jeans – more than 5 years. My AG’s are in spanking condition in their 5th year. I expect they’ll last for another 5 years. My other premium jeans are between 1 to 4 years old. I hope they’ll last for years to come.

Quite right, my preference is for woven tops for reasons I have discussed. But I wear knits too because that’s what I wear when it’s cold (with a woven jacket or coat). I hear you on why knits are better for your hot little curvy bod. I still don’t think I’d spend money on knits if I was in your position. (I can’t wear cashmere). Knitted tops barely last two seasons, unless they’re mesh. Knitwear, if you’re lucky, two seasons max. Perhaps longer if you get REALLY lucky. Greg has black BOSS turtle necks that still look great after 3 years.

Nicole

Veteran

Shiny...H&M maybe it stands for Hit & Miss

We dont have a H&M near by...I think I went in one, once, for like 10 seconds. It was on Newbury Street (or near there?) and it was so crowded and I was overwhelmed with how young everything looked. I was with two friends who are not into clothes--so I didn't feel like taking the time to really check things out.

Kyle

Veteran

I find that the quality issue is more important as I get older, although I'm not entirely sure why that is. I have a few very nice pieces that are my go-to pieces when I need to look fab.

Because I was paying with gift cards, and trying the establish a foundation for a timeless wardrobe, the clothes that I just purchased are much pricier than what I would typically buy, and it shows. The pants have a better drape, and they look, well, classier than any others. The black dress should be in style forever, and the fabric is the softest, most comfortable knit. I have an existing blue Elie Tahari pencil skirt that I agonized over buying, but I am SO glad I did. It fits like a dream and always looks fantastic. In the case of the pants and the skirt, the fabric is key.

On the other hand, I passed on a black layering turtleneck that was $90. I have a Gap turtle that will work just as well. I also passed on a fab boyfriend sweater, partly because it was cashmere, but also because I think I can find something that works just as well for significantly less.

I would not skimp on boots; but I have a super cute pair of red ballet flats that I got for $3.00 at a Mervyn's clearance -- and those are the most comfortable non tennis-shoes I have!

anne

Veteran

Maya, I think going cheaper is sensible in your situation. The only thing I pay much for is everyday shoes/boots (I need them to fit orthotics and they cost at least $150. When I was working professionally I paid more for suits (most expensive about $260). I would have worn it 2 times a week.

I am trying to get myself to pay a bit more at the moment, but I am talking about contemplating spending $65 on jeans from a jeans shop rather than $40 for Target ones, or not always buying the tops that are discounted right down to $10.

If I think an item is trendy I always go for a cheap shop. The australian one I like is Valley Girl, which does good knock-offs. Sometimes I go to a higher priced shop I like such as Portmans, work out what I want, then see if VG has a version - works well!