Good quality clothes?

[annibe11e]

This was inspired by the thread about taking care of things to save money. I used to buy the cheapest of everything as a means to save money. One day I realized that spending more for better quality saves more in the long run. One area I have had difficulty with this is clothing. I find it really hard to part with money for clothes. I shop at thrift stores and sometimes cheap stores like Target, Shopko and Kohls for my clothes and shoes. A lot of the stuff I buy loses it's shape or wears quickly.

What are some really good quality companies for women's clothes and shoes? I don't dress very trendy so I'd like to invest in some classic styles, including jeans.

Also, how about some tips on cleaning and caring for clothes and shoes?

[moneymaker1008]

I have this problem too, largely because I'm in my 20s so I'd rather have a bunch of cheap, trendy clothes than a few pieces that would last longer. That being said, Target's clothes are usually good quality so I'm not sure why they're getting worn out (unless you've them for years and years.)

I like TJ Maxx and Marshall's because they're cheap, but they're still good quality since they're last season's designer clothes.

As for caring for them, I purposely do not buy many clothes that aren't machine-washable and most of my clothes are cotton. You should not wear the same shoes every day, try to alternate between two or three so they have time to breathe and get back into shape. You also don't need to wash most of your clothes between every wear unless you sweated in them. Otherwise, wash after 2-3 wears especially with more delicate clothing. Bras should only be washed every 2 weeks and you should hand wash them with a small amount of detergent.

[snafu]

Its nearly impossible to suggest brands because of taste, preferences, fit, flatter and life style. You need to know fabric [which is silk and what is polyester], identify leather and vinyl. Check seams, hems, zippers, trims etc. Lands End, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lord Taylor, Talbots, Marc, J Crew brand names are usually available at the better Consignment stores.

It helps to make a plan and create a 'capsule' wardrobe so that most tops mix and match with most of your skirts and slacks + a jacket/blazer/cardigan. The idea is to have something appropriate to wear for every situation. Accessories are are important as the garment. I've bought cheapie watches so the bracelet co ordinates with clothes and it's fun to make necklaces with beads and chain from Michaels. Last week I bought 3 lengths of chain from the big box hardware and three light to dark blue leather shoe laces. This weekend I'll weave the laces from dark to light through the chain to create a unique necklace. The hardest part is attaching the little clip fastener to the end of chain. Buying used earrings is dicy. I'd suggest generously 'painting' the stem with two coats of clear nail polish.

[FrugalAspie]

I like Spiegel and Macy's for reasonably priced good quality clothing.

[lorraineb]

One of the best pieces of advice I learned to save money on clothes is to maintain your weight. If you can maintain a constant weight, then good quality clothes will be less expensive in the long run. If you roller coaster a lot, then your changing size will mean you have to replace the quality clothes before they they need to be because they won't fit. Something to keep in mind.

[MonkeyMama]

I totally agree with moneymaker. I don't spend a lot on "high quality" clothes, but probably have learned over the years what to avoid (lower quality). But I think the best thing I do is that I am very gentle with my clothing as far as washing. All my nicer work clothing gets washed in cold water in delicate cycle and hung dry. Certainly no need to wash with every wear. In the grand scheme of things I buy pretty inexpensive clothing (Kohls or Marshalls) and often keep things for decades. I don't buy any clothing at Target for myself - too many things have fallen apart too quickly. I understand that Target has some higher quality clothing and that Kohls has some pure crap. But Kohls seems to have a wider selection of clothing that will last a while.

[Liopleurodon]

The best advice I can give to making your clothes last longer is to air dry them and only wash with cold water. Using a dryer and washing in warm/hot water damages the fabric and the colors.

For men's clothing if you want clothing that lasts, look at clothing designed for work. I have Wrangler and Carhartt jeans that are 3-4 years old and still look new. I've got a pair of Wranglers that are a decade old that I use for working on cars. They're obviously filthy, but no holes, tears, etc. Kohl's is a fantastic place to shop. Brands like Croft & Barrow offer quality at an approachable price. Avoid trendy clothes as the quality/price tradeoff isn't there.

[TheKayla]

I think you have the right ideas about classic styles -- or staples. I can't really suggest any brands because that would depend so much on your personal style/needs. My best advice would be to invest in the staples -- good couple outfits of work clothes, a nice dressier outfit, maybe some quality workout clothes. Beyond that, the things you buy that are currently 'in style' that may not be in style in a few years, go cheaper. I still buy jeans from JC Penny and they last me years, no problem. A few shirts that I have that are $4 a pop, but have holes in them within a month are the kind of things I've learned to stop 'investing' in.

Also shop in mind with how you can mix and match things, so you can create more looks with less clothing items -- or even make your own clothes! You don't have to be an expert seamstress, there's some really simple patterns for basics online, things like skirts are super simple, and you can get a nicer quality fabric to start with while still saving money.