What stores do you think deliver the best quality? - YouLookFab Forum

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What stores do you think deliver the best quality?

agrace

While I think you can find quality in surprising places, over time this is what I've come to think of the stores I have available to shop and where they rank on my 'quality meter'. . I would love to hear what the rest of you perceive as quality vs. not so great - maybe I'll be inclined to take a closer look at some other stores.

(oh, and I don't have the ever popular Nordstroms, Zara or H& M so I unfortunately cannot include those on my list

High quality:
Banana Republic
Ann Taylor
Dillards

Medium:
Gap
Macy's
New York & Co.
The Limited
Express
Loft

Low:
Old Navy
Target

Completely unpredictable:
Anthropologie
TJ Maxx
Marshalls

What about you?

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

crasdy

I have found Lands End and Boden to be consistently high quality.

I completely agree with you about Anthropologie. It is shockingly hit or miss.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

To put a real spanner in the works I'll say that most retailers can be inconsistant with their quality. From Chanel - right through to Old Navy.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I agree that Lands End is high quality and in my opinion they don't get enough credit for that.

agrace

Yes, Lands End is awesome. And I really like their new 'Canvas' line - I have a couple things from there and they are holding up quite well.

Angie, I agree. I ordered a piece from the Norma Kamali/ Walmart line and was amazed. And I have a coat from Old Navy that is better than I've seen at many other stores.
And, I'd love to hear your list

Sarah Baker

(website)

I do most of my shopping at thrift stores. I would say that, judging by the condition of clothing I find at secondhand shops (they've obviously been through the wash a few times and either held up well or didn't), the following brands impress me:

Ann Taylor
Banana Republic
Lands End
Gap
Liz Claiborne
Old Navy
Eddie Bauer
Levis (for jeans)

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Angie. I've had expensive things fall apart. For example I had a Lanvin purse, that the hardware literally fell apart after less than year. Luckily Nordstrom was able to fix it, but that was an ordeal within itself.
I think Banana Republic has gone down in quality.
Also I seriously think Jcrew quality has seriously taken a turn for the worse. I bought a boyfriend blazer last year that wasn't even fully lined. Their sweaters pill like crazy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anna, I hear you. BR is on shakier ground than they used to be and don't get me started on J. Crew. Many of their $49.99 T's stretch out after a few washes. It makes me so angry!

Agrace, I hope we see more of your style because I dig it. But back to your question. Over the years, the following clothing retailers have delivered the most consistently good quality from my own experiences – in no particular order:

o Hugo Boss
o Karen Millen
o Burberry
o Ann Taylor
o Whistles
o BCBG
o Boden
o Hobbs
o Reiss
o Michael Kors
o Marks and Spencer

Don’t think I don’t also love H&M and Zara because I absolutely do – even if the stuff falls apart sometimes. It’s good for a season. Although I have some H&M and Zara gems that are 6 years old and still going strong. Still love wearing them too.

agrace

Angie, I am truly flattered beyond words to hear that you have liked some of my style - Thank you!

Sarah B- I think your thrift store test is a really good way to discern quality. I love thrifting, I've found some wonderful treasures that way.

Annagybe and Angie - I have heard a lot of people say that about BR but I just don't notice it *as much* - I wonder if it is because I tend to buy only shirts and dresses there, and pretty much never jackets, outerwear, pants and only the rare sweater. The one thing I have noticed is their sweaters - they pill a lot more than I think they used to.

Angie - I forgot about BCBG - one of my very favorite brands. They do have tremendous quality. I bought a dress full price there several years go - and it has amazed me with how new it still looks and feels despite being worn 30 + times. I'm not familiar with several of the stores you listed but you can be sure I am copying this list to keep.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I think after a while you get used to what works from some shops and what doesn't. In terms of fantastic value for money when translated into longevity:

- Glassons(think NZ H&M) for fine knit merino tops. I have two that have lasted at least 2 wears every week for the last 4 winters. The cost of each was about NZ$30.

- T M Lewin (UK) - for shirts

- Jones the Bootmaker (UK) - for shoes

- Jigsaw (UK) for dresses

- Uniqlo for cotton tanks and denim skirts.

- Zara for men's clothing - comparing the items that I have bought from Zara to those that my husband has bought, I think that Zara for Men is better than their women's lines. Same for Top Shop and Top Man.

Mellllls

Veteran

To be honest, I don't always look for quality in clothing because my size and tastes change so often that I don't need to hold onto clothes forever. I will say that I think everything I own from Ann Taylor has held up amazing well. I even have a hand me down Ann Taylor suit that has been worn by both me and the other person for like 10 or 20 years at this point is in great shape. I have lately been VERY disappointed with the quality of clothes from Ann Taylor Loft. I like the Alfani brand at Macys as well but haven't been wearing their clothes long enough to make a good assessment of their quality.

Also, for the most part I think Express quality is okay, not amazing but not bad but my 6-year old Express suit is fabulous quality. It's by far my favorite suit, it's my oldest and I think it's in the best condition.

crazyone

Veteran

I feel like there's been a general decline of quality at most stores in the last 10 years or so. I have some knit basic v and crewneck layering tees from NY&Co that I bought 10 years ago. Despite wearing them hundreds of times, they haven't pilled in the least, though at this point they have faded somewhat. They're made of a thicker more substantial cotton than what you get today. In contrast, when I buy layering tees from NY&Co these days, they pill in a matter of a few wears. Ridiculous.

Lisa

Veteran

I agree that the quality of some brands that used to be great (Express, NY&Co, JCrew, Gap, The Limited) has really gone down over the years and now I rarely buy items from these stores. I would like to add Brooks Brothers and Lacoste to the list of still getting quality clothes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Start taking more outfit pics, agrace!

Yup. Ann Taylor Loft quality has been awful for 2 seasons. Gap used to be better too. Express is really not that bad actually.

Ariadne

Veteran

Club Monaco stuff seems to be consistently high quality. Same with Mexx. Jacob and RW&Co are both good too, for mid-priced stuff. The clothes I have from there have held up longer than Gap stuff. Those are Canadian chains, though (except Mexx which is European in origin). For inexpensive (when on sale) stuff of decent quality, Reitmans is surprisingly good.

For shoes--Born, Dr. Martens, Naot, Clarks and Frye.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was going to put Club Monaco on my list, but stopped. I have been burdened by three quality problems this year so I am cross with them :0(

Mexx is Dutch and they should have gone on my list. Good one, Brianna!

fathenry

Veteran

I have Zara knits that I bought 5+ years ago that look wonderful. In contrast the Gap sweater I paid $50 for a month ago is already pilling.

I looked in my closet and here's what I found have held up well:

Excellent:
Express Editor trousers (perfect condition 3-7 years old)
Express woven shirts (good condition 4 years old)
Classiques blouse (from nordstrom, 9 years old, perfect)
Costco cashmere sweater (bizzare, I know. No pilling, 4 years old)
Banana Republic woven shirts (good condition, 9 years old)
Sweet Pea tops (good condition, 8 years old)
Joes Jeans (good condition, 5 years old)
Hallogen white trousers and cotton twill skirt (nordstrom, 8 years old)
Banana republic woven LBD (7 years old, thrifted)
BCBG tee shirts (worn to death, 2 years)
French connection denim
Target cardigans (one season, looks better than gap)

Mediocre:
Gap Jeans (one season)
Kut from Kloth jeans (one season)

Poor:
Anne Taylor Loft Knits (trashed, 1 season)
Gap knits (looks worn after 1 month)
Banana Republic knits (looks worn after 1 year of moderate wear)

So, my strategy is to replace the knits frequently and spend less on them until I can afford better quality pieces. If I'm spending more and want an item to last, I'm buying woven.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I am going to have to give a shout-out to Target: their designer stuff has not been that great quality-wise since Isaac Mizrahi left, but their Merona line is really quite tough. Doesn't stretch out much, doesn't pill, lasts after numerous washes.

Loft has been terrible but I still find some good stuff there. Banana's tops look like they are made of tissue paper lately.

Ariadne

Veteran

Ooh, that's a bummer about CM, Angie! I haven't bought anything there within the last year, I don't think. I'll probably avoid them now. Was it one particular type of item that was poor quality (ie knits, woven) or 3 totally different things?

Kristen, I HATE tissue weight tops, across the board. I had some from JCrew last year and they were utterly worthless.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yup. JCrew's tissue weight knits are a pain in my side.

Brianna, they were three woven blouses all of which had seam slippage on the armholes after a few wears. I am small shouldered and these blouses weren't tight. I was irate. I got my money back of course, but I love CM stuff and was sad to see inferior quality. However, I will shop their again, because my wardrobe is full of CM items that have lasted superbly - knitwear included. So it may have been a bad blouse supplier.

I've been a fashion buyer and understand how quality problems creep up. Clean slate each season :0)

Lynne

Veteran

I would add Repeat to the list for cashmere cardi's that last well.

Maya

Veteran

I'm not one to ask about quality, but wanted to ask Brianna more about Jacob! This dress that I got from a consignment store is from Jacob. I got it for $40. Did I get a good deal?

Anonymous

In my thrift shopping experience, Ann Taylor items are nearly always new looking. I'd add Talbots and Nygaard at Dillards to the list of usually dependable high quality. Express seems hit or miss but my favorite knit dress that has been worn to death and goes on every trip spring through fall is from there and still going strong. It seems like knits in general don't last as long as woven pieces.

Ariadne

Veteran

Angie, that makes sense. I won't write off my beloved CM yet.

Maya--that dress looks gorgeous on you! It probably would have been in the $120 range new, so, yes, not a bad deal at all!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great, Brianna! We'll both give CM another chance.

I always reccomend Jacob to those shopping in Vancouver. It's a great store!

Lena

Kristen, I have only item from Target's Merona line, and yes, it seems quite tough. It's a woven shirt dress with a full skirt. It's lined (cotton, not poly), and it washes well. Doesn't wrinkle too much, but I iron it anyway.

Mac

Veteran

I agree with those of you have stated: none! There's no line that has given me year-in, year-out high quality.

I have to admit that now, quality is something I barely consider. It's hard enough to find things that fit, come in flattering colours, are within an acceptable price range... Also, I'm very hard on my clothes so even quality items "die young" when they have tomato soup spilled on them or get chewed on by moths : )

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I was really impressed with Jacob when I went to Toronto last year, they had some lovely items.