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Original poster

What brands are good quality?

28 replies

RattieofCatan · 26/05/2015 10:52

I have started updating my wardrobe and am slowly getting rid of the old charity shop finds, George and other cheaper items. Some have lasted well, most not, and I'm fed up of buying clothes from cheap places only to replace them within six months!

So where can I buy nice clothes that will last well? I live in a city with a good range of shops, but I don't really want to go straight into white company/monsoon/debenhams and buy things if they aren't amazing quality-wise as it's a lot of money for me, iyswim?

& also, what brands are good to find in TK Maxx?

OP posts:
BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 26/05/2015 11:06

The only brand that springs straight to mind, in terms of consistently high quality, and which lots of people would probably say, is Uniqlo (only in London though, I think).

You can find good quality things in any shop though really - just need to know what to look for. This guide is very helpful. I am an accountant so I like to think about it in terms of profit margins - you're looking for the items which the company doesn't make as much money on (the natural fibres, nice fabric, well made as opposed to cheap polyester things that cost way less to make but sell for a similar price).

Hope that helps!

chanie44 · 26/05/2015 11:45

I was going to say Uniqlo too. Its not exactly high fashion, but its greats for basics and the clothes are well made.

Original poster
RattieofCatan · 26/05/2015 11:50

Thanks for the link to the guide, it looks very helpful! I'll read through it tonight at work :)

& I will check out uniqlo, none near me but I can order online happily!

OP posts:
Nettletheelf · 26/05/2015 12:06

I've always found that J Crew use decent fabrics. They are ££ though.

ZeroFunDame · 26/05/2015 12:28

It's a boring answer I'm afraid, but, on the High St the most reliable products are from Toast and Cos.

I honestly cannot say I love all or even most of their clothes but the few things I've bought from each seem virtually indestructible. Natural or well chosen synthetic fibres, strong stitches (!), good tailoring etc. So things last far longer than one would expect.

Beyond these one is moving into much more expensive things (IME).

Floisme · 26/05/2015 12:35

It's a tricky one and the randomness drives me crazy.

I've tried going up market but found that price doesn't always mean quality.
Equally I've had some things from H&M that have worn and washed brilliantly.

Blair I've saved and printed that article - thank you!

ZaraW · 26/05/2015 12:44

J Crew
Me + Em
Massimo Dutti (sp)
Cos
Izzy Lane their coats are amazing and often in the sale, made in the UK from wool from abandoned sheep.

Plumo

carrie74 · 26/05/2015 13:09

I find US brands tend to be good, but it's not always a certainty. Most of my clothes are Gap, J Crew (bought in US on sale!!). I always find Me&Em consistently good - great fabrics and well cut. Sales are good.

TBH, I seem to have basically given up on High St shopping, it's become so hard to find natural fabrics, and the prices for polyester!!!!!! Shocker.

Original poster
RattieofCatan · 26/05/2015 15:09

This is all helpful, thanks! I hate shopping in person so that's half of why I ask, so I can buy online without worrying about having to send half of it back.

OP posts:
plentyofshoes · 26/05/2015 15:18

Uniqlo is good. Avoid Warehouse the quality there seems awful now.

DelphiniumBlue · 26/05/2015 17:03

Agree that quality on the high street at the moment is not good.
But before you chuck everything out, let me just tell you that yesterday I did a wardrobe purge, and noticed that the clothes that had lasted best ( retaining colour and shape) were the George ones - had lasted better than things 10x their cost.
So don't assume you get what you pay for, because it's just not true!
And yes, I 'm looking at you Phase Eight. Nothing from P8 lasted longer than a season, whereas some of the George stuff I've had 5 years or more.
Wallis clothes seem to last well, though can lack that edgier vibe.

dexter73 · 26/05/2015 17:43

I'm surprised you mention Phase Eight as I have a few dresses and tops from there and they have been very good quality. They have all been washed and worn many times and are still as good as new.
Uniqlo is good.
Haven't had much success with John Lewis own brand which is a surprise.
Next does good t-shirts.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/05/2015 18:53

I've had a couple of things from the JL own brand which proved to be dreadful quality.

Even within the same store, quality can vary enormously.

These jeans in pale blue are excellent. The quality of the black, though, has declined horribly since they first brought them out. Their t-shirts are pretty rubbish nowadays, but I still like some of the underwear and nightwear.

In H&M these vests are absolutely brilliant. I've given up on pretty much everything else from there though.

I like Whistles for t-shirts and tube skirts, but their knitwear and other jersey stuff are nowhere near as good.

Jack Wills stuff is surprisingly good for knitwear and cotton tops, though I only buy from there in sales.

DelphiniumBlue · 26/05/2015 18:54

I've had 3 dresses/tops from P8 in the last few years. One shrank, one just went out of shape, and on the third the stitching keeps coming undone.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/05/2015 18:59

I have two P8 dresses. One is silk and brilliant. The other is jersey and dreadful quality.

burnishedsilver · 26/05/2015 19:26

I cant find any brand that is consistantly good. Its a pita to have to look everywhere for each item.

Original poster
RattieofCatan · 26/05/2015 19:41

On my pad so sorry if I don't reply to everyone!

I'm only chucking things out that won't survive any longer and things I dont actually wear, I can't afford to revamp my entire wardrobe at once! I buy one or two things a month depending on cost :) don't get me wrong, some of the cheaper thing's have survived a lot if wear and tear, namely jeans, I bought two pairs of skinnies from George that i have lived in for 18 months and only threw one pair away last week as I ripped a big hole in the thigh of them! Considering im a nanny they survived an amazing amount of crawling around, housework and clambering through a forest in all weathers!

The main two things I find never find last long at tops and cardis. They always either shrink in the first wash (40 not 60) or the stitching comes loose immediately.

Shame to hear about h&m, I thought that they were one of the better high street brands. I have a couple of dresses from apricot that I bought last month that seem well made and some things that are mexx from tx maxx, never heard of it though before then. Mainly it is basics I need but I want some nice clothes too, especially as I'm going on my first non-camping non-UK this summer since I was a teen!

OP posts:
Oly4 · 26/05/2015 19:49

For me, I have loads of white company and love the quality, especially the knitwear. I wash it carefully and it lasts years.
Other places I like are Boden and French Connection, plus some Reiss.
I love some styles in shops like oasis, warehouse and even next but find they all wear badly

burnishedsilver · 26/05/2015 19:49

I have found phase eight dresses generally good but their tops and knitware are a disaster.... Shrunken bobbly messes. I even saw on the label of a casual top "handwash with care, fabric may come apart when wet apart"!!!!!! ffs

Oly4 · 26/05/2015 19:50

Oh, I also find my banana republic stuff lasts a long time too! Especially the work wear

BlairWaldorfLovesShopping · 26/05/2015 20:14

With tops and cardis, can you wash them at 30 rather than 40?

I like H&M and Zara for t-shirts (else J crew and Splendid at a discount).

The best quality HS knitwear is from Gap and Uniqlo I think (not tried Toast, Boden etc). But I'd never just chuck it in the wash. Sadly I think a big factor in how long something lasts these days is how well you look after it. Acrylic will bobble and wool needs handwashing.

Floisme yw :)

woodhill · 26/05/2015 21:02

great article. I find Boden t-shirts good quality and a Dash one I bought washes up well.

George used to be good but recently their stuff looked shabby. I think quality has gone down alot on the high street.

I find the John Lewis own make good

woodhill · 26/05/2015 21:04

I'm fussy about how I wash my clothes.

Tweedledeewantstobealaydee · 26/05/2015 21:10

Hmm - I would be cautious about Plumo. Just had to return a really poor quality bag - appalling customer service and now aren't even replying to my emails!

KissyBoo · 26/05/2015 22:27

Woolovers are good as long as you use non-biological liquid and follow temperature instructions.

I have had a lot of joy out of Primark knitwear. The things I have had in cotton mixes have worn really well and their stretchy jumper mix that they bring out every year has proved great in that it keeps it's colour and shape and doesn't bobble.

Autograph and John Lewis for cashmere.

Next for boots and ballerinas although I bought a pair of patent ones from Primark for £4 this last week and they are incredibly comfortable. Also from Next - their jersey cami vests are brilliant for layering.

Boden is fine for plain tops such as the lightweight boatneck. I would say the quality is just okay though.

Peacocks stuff is actually pretty good. I get a lot of my underwear from there and have Breton type tops that keep their shape far better than the Boden ones I have.

Shops that having spent out on for supposed quality that have proved disappointing-
Mint Velvet (although I do have a gorgeous pair of boots)
Boden cashmere and maxi dresses
The White Company
Most of Marks and Spencer stuff
Anything sold by Debenhams.