I mostly lurk now . LOL But LJP'S " Fewer or better , what does it mean " drew me out .

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....eally-mean

My mom, at 88, is an amazing seamstress and has been for over 60 years. This is what I learned very early on from her about "better". And this is what I have personally internalized for myself as well. we probably don't notice this right out but it's the "je ne sais quoi " of an item.

Patterns, like plaids and stripes that line up at the seams to make the item seem continuous.

Good buttons that are sewn on really well. And well done button holes that are equal in shape and size with excellent stitching.

Linings that lie flat and don't pull on the garment.

For me ( in suiting when I worked ) GENEROUS seams to give room for tailoring in or out.

A ribbon finished hem.

A flat lying zipper. With a quality topstitching that also looks good.

You all get the picture.

I stepped into an H&M with my daughter the other day for the first time in probably 10 years. I decided to look around and examine things.

I was shocked to see relatively well lined jackets. And plaid blazers that matched up at the seams ( shoulders, side, back etc. ! 25 years years ago the "Lowest " price point was Ann Taylor for this stuff. granted the materials aren't great...but you can get away with a lot more.

Boden does this extraordinarily well.....and has for YEARS. So has Ann Taylor. JCrew isn't as good as it used to be. JC Penney and the liz Claiborne line has some great hits.

my 20 cents.