Stores with consistent quality? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Stores with consistent quality?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Piggybacking on Sterling's post about quality, what stores/brands have you found to have pretty consistent quality? I'll start with some of mine:

Elizabeth & Clarke - subscription model offers three tops per season, four times a year. I believe they make everything in New York. I've never had quality problems and everything looks nice and launders well.

Dobbin - another NYC manufacturer I believe. Haven't kept anything from here because the fit has been a touch off but everything I've tried on has been great.

Duluth Trading - they make work (as in physical work) clothes, jeans, leather gear etc. and everything I've gotten from them has been sturdy and long-lasting. They also have a lifetime money-back guarantee.

Eddie Bauer - I haven't bought any of their other items in a while, but the jeans last for years and years.

Talbots - I can't remember ever having quality problems with Talbots.

As far as shoes, both Born and Nine West have held up really well for me, in multiple styles over a long period of time.

I want to try MM LaFleur and see how it works for me; I know others here have tried it and really liked their items.

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from LaPed

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Repeating what I've posted on two other threads, Pendleton.

Marilyn

Veteran

I'm loving Club Monaco. I've picked up some great pieces and have never had a quality issue. The price point is a bit higher than some stores but I feel it's worth it to get interesting and nice quality items.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

It was interesting to check out Elizabeth & Clarke. Interesting subscription business model, too bad they don't have regular button down shirts as an option, or even a great tee shirt.

I noticed Dobbin (a former featured designer on YLF, some years ago) was "on a break." "Figuring out our business model."

I have seen Duluth Trading Co. ads on TV, so I checked out their website too. I think their "work clothes" positioning is smart, but their offerings are limited. I found far more work shirts on Eddie Bauer. I've collected some of their shirts for my work clothes capsule.

ETA/ And as for consistent quality, I have to put a plug in for my brother Conrad's longtime employer The North Face. If you don't mind gear.

For fashion brands, I find quality sprinkled everywhere, just as I find poor items everywhere, even among pricey brands. The only brand where I'm batting 1000 is Rick Owens. The knits are impeccable.

Women's Wrinkle-Free Short-Sleeve Shirt - Solid

View Info

Top Pick

1

Women's Mountain Long-Sleeve Shirt - Solid

View Info

Top Pick

1

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Disagree about Eddie Bauer and Talbots. Their jersey knits can be awful too.

Club Monaco, Theory, Brooks Brothers, Pendleton, Rebecca Taylor, AG Jeans, KUT from the Kloth Jeans, Karen Millen, Reiss, J.Brand jeans, J.Crew coats.

Haven't finished my list, but have to run.

Anonymous

What a great post. Thank you for starting it, Laura.

I found this post some time ago: http://recoveringshopaholic.co.....-clothing/

I can't say I agree with everything they listed in the link above, but I kept it as possible source for good quality clothing.

I personally have had incredible luck with Brooks Brothers (for work) and Kut from the Kloth (ponte pants and jeans). I have had good luck at Eddie Bauer as well (but I didn't purchase their jersey knits so I cannot speak to that). I have heard great things about LL Bean, but have not ordered anything from them personally. I have had good luck with the Gap, but I shop at Gap judiciously so maybe I am just very careful in what I buy there (and the sales staff are super helpful at my store that makes shopping a pleasure). I have also been very pleased with Caslon tee shirts.

No one has mentioned J Jill on any of these posts. The quality at J Jill seems to be good? Am I mistaken? But I always feel like I am wearing a tent. And I do size down. Everything still bags out on me.

rachylou

Veteran

Ha! Only a very local expensive boutique that 'curates.' The only place I've ever been able to try on a thousand dollar puffer, lol. Ok. It was more than a thousand. It was über cool, but too apres ski to be of good use. And ok, I agree about Pendleton. And Nordies and Nieman's in general. But on the whole, no, I really haven't encountered a store or brand with unfailing quality. I don't trust Brooks, not since the M&S merger thingy, and I don't like unlined suits (Theory).

Anonymous

J Jill, Pendleton, Lands' End, NYDJ online store, and for some things Talbots.

JAileen

Veteran

I've actually had good luck with Eddie Bauer tees. I just got some more. Fingers crossed..

Lately I haven't liked tees from Lands End, and I had a tee from JJill that I wore twice before it developed a hole.

I would order from LLBean except if something doesn't fit I would have to pay return shipping.

El Cee

Veteran

Another shout out for Pendleton. I have some blazers and skirts that have lasted over 10 years -- classic so they still work well. I have also had luck and longevity with Eddie Bauer for gear, jeans, blazers and dress pants. (I agree with Angie that their jersey items are hit and miss.) Additionally happy with: Lands' End for winter coats and bathing suits; Duluth Trading Co. for casual/rugged menswear (my hubby swears by them); LL Bean for flannel pajamas (for both me and hubby), gear and casual menswear; The North Face for "gearish" winter outerwear; Kut from the Kloth for my jeans.

retailgirl

Veteran

Pendleton, Brooks Brothers. Talbots used to be on this list but their quality is inconsistent. If I buy something from Pendleton or BB, I expect to wear it for years. I'll buy from Talbots because you can always get a good deal, but I consider those things to be two or three year additions to my wardrobe. It used to be that Talbots was my absolute go to.

Anonymous

Obviously, I am going to have to look into Pendleton.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Agreeing with Angie (based on recent personal experiences): Rebecca Taylor, Theory, CM, Reiss, AG Jeans. Rebecca Taylor is one of my most favorite brands, in large part because most of their clothes fit me well, but also because I like the quality of the clothing..

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Club Monaco, Reiss, CoH jeans, Theory, Elie Tahari.

And because I am Canadian (eh?): Danier, Mackage, Soia & Kyo.

For footwear: La Canadienne (mais, of course!), Aquatalia.

These (except maybe Danier) are all on the higher priced end, alas...

Roxanna

Veteran

Suz: As a Canadian, completely agree with this list! I would add:
Sandro
m0851 (for leather - impeccable quality)
Rachel Roy Signature (NOT Rachel Rachel Roy)

April

Veteran

Another vote for Club Monaco (and an interesting side note -- the last two sweaters I've purchased from them had the Club Monaco label inside the neck, but the fabric care label actually said Ralph Lauren. Is Club Monaco a Ralph Lauren subsidiary? Is that one of those things that I'm the last person in the western hemisphere to learn?)

Boden quality is generally pretty good.

And I only have one piece from them, but I was impressed with the quality of my Akris Punto skirt. (I feel that designer clothes at designer prices should always be high quality, but this does not always hold true.)

Beth

Veteran

Boden, definitely. Also Theory, Mackage, KUT, and Eric Bompard (for cashmere).

For shoes: Aquatalia and Frye.

Style Fan

Veteran

I expect my clothes to last a long time. Years. I have had good luck with Sandwich, Stills (why am I the only one to mention these?), Sarah Pacini, Three Dots (for T shirts), Fidelity Jeans, Citizens Jeans.
El Naturalista, Trippen, Frye for footwear.

deb

Veteran

April, club Monaco is owed by ralph Lauren.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Monaco

Mac

Veteran

Shoes: Paul green, Alberto Fermani, Emma Hope

Ari S

Member

Personally for me I really think Zara has consistent quality in their products. I got a navy cardigan from them a few years back and it still looks news, hasn't faded and is still soft as the first time I bought it.

Something I am very picky about is quality in jewelry, especially fashion jewelry. I know you can't really nit-pick with fashion jewelry given the price but I want to have a few pieces that won't rust after 2 wears and will be wearable long term. I had this horrible experience once when this necklace rusted and gave me a rash on my neck, the gold chain turned fully black. After then I kind of gave up on jewelry, especially necklaces but recently a friend of mine introduced to this online boutique. After much debate, I bought this necklace http://16ktbeauty.com/products.....t-necklace and honestly, it's amazing! The gem-stone is super pretty and even glimmers in the sunlight. It's been over 2 months and the necklace still looks as shiny as the first day I wore it. I think their jewelry is gold-plated so it hasn't rusted yet *fingers crossed* I get a ton of compliment on this piece and I'm just so glad I found this store because the price is right as well.

Any of you guys major jewelry nit-pickers like me? lol

LaPed

Veteran

Most of the clothes I've been most impressed with in terms of longevity have come from gear companies rather than fashion companies. Arcteryx, Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Ibex (if you hand-wash and air dry) -- all top notch. Clearly they're designing clothes with hard use in mind. (FWIW, I can also think of gear brands with very inconsistent quality esp for the high price tag -- PrAna, Lululemon, Athleta, Mountain Hardwear all spring to mind.)

And work clothes of course -- Levis (if they're from the all-cotton 500 series), Carhartts, Mountain Khakis -- all quite well constructed, with good reason.

I've not found LL Bean, Lands End, and Eddie Bauer to be consistent in quality (or fit), though they all have a few strong offerings. But there's a lot of cheapo stuff in the mix. Even the "Signature" line at Bean is not a guarantee of quality.

I'm mostly sized out of J Jill, most of what I've seen seems well made. The few items I have from Boden seem pretty good quality-wise, and I generally like their designs.

Speaking of being sized out -- I wish I could wear more from Pendleton and Eileen Fisher, but they don't have much on offer in true XS sizes, especially b/c EF is such a loose fit to begin with, and that's not really my bag...

My most recent purchase from Pendleton was a wool throw, not clothes, but the quality was definitely not comparable to my other, older Pendleton wool; it felt much cheaper. I was so bummed. I feel the same way about Woolrich offerings -- they've started to put out some more trendy items at high-end prices, but I'm not sure the quality is there like it used to be.

Made-in-USA Frye boots are generally excellent. I won't buy the Mexican-made ones because they're too expensive for what they are. I've tried a couple styles that were made in Mexico and almost couldn't believe they were authentic Fryes, the leather felt so cheap. If I hadn't been at a local shop that I trust, I might have said something about it.

Birkenstocks and Chacos last forever, but again, they just are what they are, not really fashion companies (though Birk seems to be branching out). I've also had pretty good luck with Børn shoes.