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Your Favorite BIFL (Buy it For Life) Brands

eperdu

I'm interested to know what your favorite BIFL (Buy it For Life) brands are?

I'm revamping my wardrobe and want to invest in pieces that will hold true for the coming years. I want fabrics that don't pill, fade, warp, etc. and that will have a classic look.

So I ask you, dear YLF'ers, what are your go-to brands?

(to me, BIFL doesn't mean it has to outlive me but certainly has to last many seasons and doesn't require lifetime style warranties like some BIFL obsessed people require)

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. I'm not sure this is based on the brand so much as the fabrication and construction, which can vary within a brand.

For instance, you'll be hard pressed to find ANY knits at any price point that won't eventually pill.

unfrumped

Veteran

Hmmm also.
I like what Suz says--it can be the fabrication.
I have a raspberry MK trench that was not expensive but is very "happy" and is on its 3rd year--of course it doesn't get hard wear and washing.
I have ankle boots planned for 4 years at least and some other shoes similarly.
I think AGL, Paul Green and Munro as well as Born hold up well.
My average-maker Ann Taylor tropical wool trousers wear quite well even though they've reduced the % wool in the blend.
Knits and even cashmere can let me down--Talbots and AT both shrank with hand washing (air-drying), though that was also on the cusp of fluid/oversize fit looks and I just couldn't wear them even a bit snug.
Several BR jackets are holding up well and more likely to go out of style before worn out.
So, I'm leery of super-investment/designer, prices but am trying to budget for some non-sale prices in good quality items that will sell out in my size or I don't think should be bought at end-season and saved.

eperdu

That's fair. But, I'd say the likelihood of getting a BIFL product out of some brands tends to be higher than others.

I have some Land's End pieces which have held up remarkably well and are 5-7 years old at this point (knit w/modal) and some denim that still looks amazing (Wrangler) but at the same time, some expensive pieces which have not held up.

For shoes, I'm a huge Sanita fan because they last me 5+ years of nearly daily wearing. I wish they were a little more fashionable but I'm willing to forgo that for comfort.

I'm looking to buy the following:

- classic white shirts (considering Brooks Brothers)
- classic trench (preferably with a removable wool liner, so hard to find)
- cardigans and matching shells (not cashmere, budget is not that friendly :))

I'm not specifically looking for recommendations on these items but giving them as a gauge of what types of clothes I'm looking at for BIFL mentality.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

My mind goes to practical clothes, work clothes - so I start thinking about Carhartt, Duluth Trading, maybe some Lands' End or Eddie Bauer gear. My really dressy clothes last for years because I don't wear them that often; they end up looking outdated in style way before they wear out.

Re sweaters, I've heard good things about Uniqlo's wool, on the low end - there was a recent conversation on the boards about cashmere and good brands for it, you might want to search for.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Brooks Brothers are a good bet for the shirts. You might also try this season's Banana Republic no-iron shirts. Angie got one and I believe she is very happy with it. Lower price point but good quality. I have some that have lasted a number of years.

I also like J. Crew button front shirts, especially the Thomas Mason ones.

For a trench, Burberry. But you might also consider London Fog -- they are easier to get with liners, I believe. Sometimes Banana Republic does a nice trench. Not sure what they have this year.

For more style conscious cardigans and shells, J. Crew. For solid quality but less stylish, Land's End.

For office wear, i think Theory is a great bet, assuming the fits work for you. Banana Republic has some decent suiting.

The Nordstrom's brand Halogen also makes good core wardrobe items. The seamed pencil skirt is a real forum favourite and it wears well.

catgirl

Veteran

For me Vince, Equipment and Joie have proven really fruitful in terms of items with style and material longevity.

Thistle

Veteran

Brands I have liked for work:

Talbots - I am an accountant, so there you go
Ann Taylor - work
Banana Republic - work
Norstrom - Vince Camuto has worked well for me and some of their house brands, but very hit or miss

Brands I have liked for leisure:
LL Bean
GAP
Land's End - but they are not what they were 10 years ago.

Brands I like for lounging:
See above
Zella from Nordstrom's
Old Navy active wear

I have found every store to be hit or miss. But the above brands are probably 90% or so of my wardrobe.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I also want to add -- how a brand fits you is also relevant.

Astrid

Veteran

I have found much better quality since I've only looked at brands with ethical production. You can just see that they take care with all aspects - fabric and construction quality seem to go hand in hand with fair wages and so on, at least more often than not. I don't have recommendations for (maybe even local) US brands, but that might be worth looking into.

Laura

This is very interesting to see other people's BILF brands as I personally don't have a single brand that I can say is a BILF one although ones that come close include Pajar or Burton ...... are there any others out there like me who don't have BILF brands?

Style Fan

Veteran

I buy clothes with the expectation they will last a long time. Some of my pieces have been around for over a decade or two. I expect a good fit as well.

Burberry Trench - I have had mine for a decade now. I have worn it a lot and travelled with it. No signs of wear.

Frye Boots - A decade old. Look great.

Sarah Pacini sweaters, pants, etc. - She is very avant garde and appeals to certain people. I might put her pants aside for a few years and then bring them out. Beautifully made and everything fits me well.

Author Linda

Veteran

A few brands have earned that status for me. Quality and timeless design tend to be one reason. Another is that certain brands just "work" for me in a particular way.

St. John, for example, is expensive but I have never had a piece from them fail to make me happy. I'm still wearing some of their classic Milano knits 20 years later: pencil skirts and tank tops. Clean lines suit my curvy figure. But the cost... I pace myself with this brand. I must LOVE a piece to buy it. And then I wear--and love--my purchase to death.

I also love Lands End. They are my go-to brand for jeans because for whatever reason theirs fit me every time. I have high-waisted jeans of theirs from, yep, 20 years ago that are now back in rotation, faded but giving me great fit. Love my LE shirts, too. Good fabric and well made. LE cashmere sweaters have held up well over the years, as have their winter coats. Good quality at a good price... great if on sale. I will add LL Bean here, too. Quality basics.

Paul Green boots and shoes. Perfect fit every time. I know when I buy I will be wearing it straight out of the box.

Some other brands I always look at and will buy with trust are still a bit hit or miss. Eileen Fisher. Theory. Halogen. Burberry. Helmut Lang. But I wouldn't call them BILF, just favorites.

Greyscale

Veteran

Theory clothes have always held up remarkably for me, if budget allows. But business wear is something I rarely need to wear, so of course they'll last longer. And it's hard for white shirts to last years for me; I think I launder them too gently for them to stay sparkling white.

Natural fibers last much better, in my experience, except that cotton fades more than synthetics. But wool is unbeatable, until the moths find it.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

If we're talking office job, business casual kind of pieces, I've never had problems with woven pieces from BR, AT, Talbots, Coldwater Creek, J Jill, Charter Club at Macy's, Jones NY, the Ralph Lauren brands, and the Nordstrom house brands. Knits, whether t shirt knits or sweater knits, will eventually pill or look worn no matter the price point, in my experience. Cotton and linen will fade before it wears out, if it's a dark color.

And fit does make a difference. You can recommend Theory suiting and Lands End pants to me until the cows come home, and they won't work for me because they don't fit me. And I look horrible in tan so I'm never going to buy a Burberry trench. There's nothing wrong with those brands but all these recommendations are so personal.

Sal

Veteran

A couple of labels more in the casual/gear area that wear well- these are all items that have been worn hard and lasted amazingly.

Icebreaker - their merino sweaters
UnderArmour - exercise tights, sweatshirts
Wrangler - jeans

rachylou

Veteran

Boy, I think this is a tough question. I don't feel there are BIFL brands anymore. Seems like a thing of the past to me. That is, the old standbys haven't stood by. As to what's now, where what you'll buy could be for life... I don't know either. Maybe Pinks for a classic shirt? I will say I have always liked London Fog in the past and I'd probably go for them again if I were in the market. I look particularly bad in Burberry (and Chanel and St John). It's frump city for me. I don't think I'm elongated enough.

Anonymous

Let's see. For my DDs, I can recommend Under Armour, American Eagle, Hollister and Express.

I've had good luck with Express, certain items from Coldwater Creek (quality dropped way down in recent years) and Lands' End.

I purchased some really nice pieces from Pendleton, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic and J Jill this year. The quality looks very good, but only time will attest to their longevity.

I bought a London Fog trench coat this year. The one I used to have lasted for ages, and I expect this one will as well.

old chic

I, too, recommend the Burberry trench coat. I still wear one I bought 30 years ago, and it's still a fab piece.

Grey Rainbow

Things that have stood the test of time in my closet:
-- Brooks Brothers tailored pieces (wool, linen, and silk/wool blazers). 20 years old, going strong. Not always current but hacking jackets seem eternal.
-- Eileen Fisher silk, silk jersey (indestructible, fade proof too), linen jersey. Timeless and hard-wearing wardrobe glue.
-- Gap short sleeve favorite tees in white, grey, navy, black. White will stain, black and navy will fade, heather grey lives on and on.
-- Theory silk shirts, good weight and lovely drape, so much more comfortable than Equipment (sueded finish grabs on toppers, seams unravel) and Vince (staticky).
-- Eric Bompard cashmere sweaters, classic cuts so pretty basic and timeless. Never pills, gets softer every year.
-- Paul Green footwear, as mentioned above, wear out of box. Resole as needed. A good cobbler extends life of footwear.
-- Fleurette cashmere outerwear. Won't die even when I want it to.

As others have commented, not every item from any maker has longevity in terms of fabric quality and construction.

Jules

Veteran

I like Grey Rainbow's comment about heather grey. My mother taught me that French women wear stripes (think classic Breton) because they last longer due to not showing stains and fading in the same way solids do. I find that true with my kids' clothes, which are prone to stains and don't get very careful laundering - patterns in general hide some wear. Even pills show less. I have some low-end pants in a menswear check that are pilled enough that just the feel of them bugs me, but to an observer still look new. Denim and leather also generally wear well.
On the other hand, I think black cotton fades terribly. I'd invest in wool/cashmere blends for any black staples, seems to last much better.

eperdu

There are some awesome responses here! Thanks everyone. I haven't heard of most of these brands.

Anonymous

The things I own that will probably still be in rotation if I make it to 90 are a jacket and pants from Eileen Fisher that have travelled the world in a carryon and still look fresh and La Cannadienne grey suede ankle boots that are comfortable and indestructible.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Non-iron shirts: Costco's Kirkland brand. Last for years, cost under $20.

Like Alaskagirl, I am a fan of Vince for style, comfort and longevity. But I have also purchased some duds that have failed early.

Like you I am a big fan of Sanitas. I wear their clogs.