Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

So which clothing brands ARE good quality?

96 replies

wellwisher · 25/09/2011 20:40

We have had a couple of threads recently bewailing the decline in quality of many clothing and shoe brands - e.g. M&S, Zara, Hobbs shoes... personally, I am starting to feel that EVERYTHING is Not What It Used To Be.

But I still need clothes.

Style-wise, my favourite high-street shops are Zara and H&M, but their clothes are now such poor quality that they aren't worth buying any more. The fabrics they use are cheap, thin, shiny and generally horrid, and the finishing is rubbish - I'm sick of having to resew loose buttons and wonky seams before I can wear things. I want clothes that are natural fabrics (cotton, not weird synthetic things), and made nicely so that they last well and survive washing (tops that go twisty in the wash are a particular issue for me). I would also like some flat ballet pumps that are made of leather and have proper soles and some sort of structure to them so that they are comfy to wear and support my feet.

Can anyone suggest some brands? I also like the style of Whistles and Reiss, but only shop there at sale time as I don't trust that the quality is superior enough to Zara etc to warrant the high prices... thoughts?

OP posts:
Emo76 · 26/09/2011 20:52

Everything I get from Zara falls apart or the buttons fall off, it's not even that cheap IMO!

I find Reiss good quality but not cheap. Warehouse, M&S and Banana Republic I also find good.

CaveMum · 26/09/2011 21:49

Just bought a couple of dresses in LK Bennett and was v impressed with the quality.

Cheap they were not, but I've come to the conclusion, after many years of buying cheap things that fall apart after 2/3 washes, that I'd much rather pay for the quality items and have them last longer.

Buy cheap, buy twice, as DH likes to say!

I think if you find a good quality designer that you like and know the sizings, EBay is your friend! I've bought 6 Issa dresses on EBay in the last year or two for a fraction of their RRP, and many designers now offer their goods through the Fashion Outlet.

Serendipity11 · 27/09/2011 08:06

I quite like H&M, it's definately a bit hit and miss though. New Look is good at the mo.

Original poster
wellwisher · 27/09/2011 08:42

ooh thanks everyone! Loads of new names to try here :) keep them coming.

OP posts:
Twoleggeddog · 01/10/2017 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CountFosco · 01/10/2017 13:36

I think COS is the one brand that consistently looks more expensive than it actually costs. Agree Joules is good quality but not really my style.

abigailgabble · 01/10/2017 14:01

For lovely fabrics, Poetry and Wrap.

rightknockered · 01/10/2017 15:39

Toast is always good quality, Whistles is fairly reliable but don't buy anything made out of silk, it is thin with narrow margins.
I like silk shirt from Other Stories. French Connection used to be good, not tried them recently. Zara is hit and miss, sometimes surprisingly good, especially their blazers. Topshop Boutique is better than the regular Topshop. Uniqlo is good for t-shirts, thermals, and merino knitwear.

thedevilinablackdress · 01/10/2017 17:07

People Tree, Cos, Toast, Jigsaw

thedevilinablackdress · 01/10/2017 17:07

People Tree, Cos, Toast, Jigsaw

LunaTheCat · 01/10/2017 19:31

Toast - but expensive so I tend to stick to sales, Me and Em, Seasalt dresses.

NC4now · 01/10/2017 19:36

Phase Eight is pretty good.
I like Oasis jeans.
I recently bought a top by Gant in the sale in House of Fraser which is lovely quality.

hiccupgirl · 01/10/2017 19:46

I avoid H&M as everything always shrinks or looses its shape really quickly. Same with a top from Oasis.

Clarks shoes are always good quality. Boden is hit and miss I find. Lots of things are really good quality but I find their cheaper tops haven't worn well. I had 1 very dodgy top from White Stuff but generally their clothes last well.

twinkledag · 01/10/2017 19:48

Kmidd - can you post the link to the LK Bennett ebay outlet store?

plank · 01/10/2017 20:16

Brora £345 for a jumper 😮

Theseaweed · 01/10/2017 20:31

Definitely not All Saints. Ordered a jumper recently costing nearly £200 and the quality was shocking! Really transparent and cheap feeling and looking. The colour also was poorly represented on the website.

Cos stuff is good but not always to my taste. Hush sweatshirts wash very well.

Acopyofacopy · 01/10/2017 21:21

Jaeger is great for work clothes that last forever.

ocelot41 · 01/10/2017 21:28

It's online for non Londoners but I rate Lagom

NotEnoughCushions · 01/10/2017 21:32

Hobbs is always good quality, I try to buy in the sale but their work dresses last for years and tend to be classic styles that don't date. I've had knitwear from Label Lab and Mint Velvet that has washed well. Cos stuff is also good quality and I would second Clarks for footwear.

I know Boden gets mixed reviews on here but I find it good quality and have lots of dresses that have washed well and lasted several years. Monsoon can be good if you ignore the polyester.

Over the years I have tried to buy less but buy better quality. Had some tops from Next in the summer that were completely shapeless after one wash. Sainsbury's is as good as any for cheaper seasonal stuff.

Caenea · 01/10/2017 21:40

@Wellwisher - Deichmanns are excellent for shoes. I got some ankle boots there which lasted five years before the soles started to go.

I have never had a problem with clothes from Peacocks, Matalan and on the rare occasion I've brought from there, Next.

I really don't see the need to spend £££££ when it is absolutely possible to buy more hardwearing things on a very tight budget.

Bubblemumma1 · 01/10/2017 21:57

French Connection is yet to disappoint but I tend to buy the more classic pieces as some of the things I wouldn’t wear myself because of the style.

ChoccyJules · 01/10/2017 22:01

Had a top and a jumper from White Stuff get holes along the seam area quite quickly and not because I was trying to fit into the wrong size or anything like that.
Agree that Joules kids clothes last really well but their adult clothes don't appeal to me.
I have had good use out of Seasalt dresses (shame there's been nothing of interest there recently).
Boden leggings have also worn well and are comfy around the waist.

TheMightyMing · 01/10/2017 22:02

Baukjen washes well and lasts ( not cheap but I'm wearing stuff from several years ago). Hugely impressed with Pure Collection, a lot of it is a bit twee and old fashioned but the jersey tops wash brilliantly, the silk stuff is lovely. Again not cheap but they have good sales.
LK Bennett again beautiful quality but pricey , though I think the styles have gone very safe and boring the past few years.

Top shop Jamie jeans are fab but lost if the stuff in there is cheap crap.

Likewise Zara, styles are fantastic but cheap and badly made a lot if it.

BumWad · 01/10/2017 22:16

FatFace

SelmaAndJubjub · 01/10/2017 22:31

Very few stores are consistently high quality. So I'm not a Zara fan at all, but I have had the occasional great jacket from there including the holy grail - a white jacket that's machine washable.

Jigsaw: really mixed but far too many things are dry clean only, which is like adding £300 to the price if it's something you need cleaned after 1 or 2 wears. OTOH, Jigsaw customer service is excellent if there are problems - ditto Boden's. That can be more important than consistency because I don't mind occasionally having to ask for a refund if something has shrunk or fallen apart, as long as customer service is good. White Company have surprisingly poor customer service.

Camper shoes was a brand I always rated for quality till, after 20 years as a loyal customer, a pair of shoes stretched to became unwearable after 3 wears and they point-blank refused a refund. I will never ever buy from them again and advise anyone else to stay well clear.