Where do you find decent quality clothes nowadays?

[BabCNesbitt]

Fed up of wasting my bloody life spending afternoons browsing the shops and coming back empty-handed because everything is either sheer, drapey (both of which seem like ways for clothes manufacturers to save money), or polyester/viscose.

I know that if I were to poke around long enough, I'd probably come up with the odd gem, but are there any shops (high street or online) that are still consistently coming up with the goods and selling decent quality natural fibres?

Banana Republic

I am fed up of this too!

I'd pay more for 100% cotton, silk etc but the shops generally don't do that or charge an arm or a leg. why?

my stepdad strangely enough when he used to go on business trips to Holland, Germany etc used to pick up great clothes for me and my mum (years ago).

Someone up thread said Toast but I think their quality has plummeted while prices have stayed the same. I used to love their coats and jackets which were beautifully lined but not anymore. Such a shame, what use is an unlined winter coat?

teacher I did look at Banana Republic website (but cry when I know its cheaper over in USA!) - quite plain but some nice clothes.

Ok I'm going to sound grumpy but natural fibres are all now a luxury fibre; you wouldn't want to routinely pay theprices for them for it to be viable for people to buy them- they don't last any longer and the quality can be inconsistent
The prices are being inflated because of poor harvests and increased world wide demand eg from emerging markets: IKEA produce 1million more cotton bedsheets just for China than they did last years therefore less available in market for general clothing consumption
So
Accept that cotton silk wool are luxury and buy little and often or try some of thecombi fibres which are very cleverly created

Often the quality of online companies is better then the high street e.g. Boden etc..

Just for info there is a sale on at the mo for Pure collection cashmere

www.purecollection.com

Chchchchanging - the thing is, if it's available for things like bedsheets and dressing gowns, I can't help wonder how much of it is about shortage and how much of it is about markup.

There are definitely shops selling cotton clothing, lots of them. But what I'm finding is shops that I'd go to for the type of clothing they sell or the styles etc are actively favouring fabrics that are quite grim to wear.

I work out regularly and there's no problem at all finding cotton workout gear, for example.

I know some of the manmade fabrics are fine but I am finding those to be quite rare as well. I think for the sake of profit - and on the assumption that people only wear stuff a few times - many items are made in the lowest quality fabric because the shops know they can get away with it. Sorry to say even my sister was silly enough to buy something in polyester the other day, then complained how hot it was! It's a lovely dress, women have been asking her where she got it, but she got carried away and didn't check the fabric!

Agree with the poster who said online outlets are better but to be fair I don't like shopping in person anyway.

Has anyone recommended [http://truecostmovie.com/ this]] yet? Worth a watch and a think. It has certainly changed how I shop.

Oooh BAD link!!! Sorry this

I used to love Racing Green clothes. It still does men's clothes.

I still love M and S and buy Indigo for casual, and Autograph or Collection for work clothes.

seasalt is good. However, Seasalt, Fat face, salt rock etc all seem to have really drab colours this year.

Can't afford Hobbs, etc.

I never can find decent stuff in H and M.

Just looked at the Debenhams sale. Quite like the Maine range.

Muji and Uniqlo for decent quality basics at reasonable prices. I also have a couple of dresses from Muji that are great for work (one wool, one silk).

It's available but bought for non clothing where the mills and growers can offloadfull volume in one deal therefore remainder of market demand increases
I know a boring amount about this industry

I found a skirt I liked in Laura Ashley. It was viscose, unlined and only had a band of elastic at the waist. It was £60!! Seriously?!

Cor ! You could make that yourself with some nice fabric. Don't even need a machine just neat back stitching.

If you want to make it less baggy round the waist just put in four darts, two back and front before you turn over a hem and thread your elastic through.

(be sure to leave enough fabric to get boobs and shoulders through though or you'll need to put in a zip. That's for skirt two lol!)

Go on! Give it a go and then post the pics!

Chchchanging - thanks!

so do you know why it's easier to get clothes made from those fabrics online or from particular brands?

It's to do with the handwriting of the brand and how people look at the item
Eg online you look more in depth at the garment length fabric etc than in store where it's more visual appeal
Also some fabrics are now more suited to end uses than natural eg growth of polyester is partially due to lack of suitability as well as price of silk or silk mix
A lot of natural fibres are pretty inconsistent and therefore less attractive to manufacturing due to faults or shrinkage wash care eat happy to answer any q!

ifound a skirt in Tkmaxx the otherday (cotton/ linen) from this company Mudd and Water had never heard of them before , but they look interesting.. all natural fabrics..

chchchanging - interesting, thanks.

John Lewis have good quality cotton basics- tops, leggings etc that don't go out of shape after one wash. They're not going to set the world alight fashion-wise, but they're good basics to have in your wardrobe.
Gap can be okay, just have to check each item, but they still do a lot of cotton, and sometimes silk or wool.
Some Seasalt and White Stuff tops are incredibly thin, so thin that I have to wear vests underneath jersey tops. I do like quite a bit of their stuff, but shudder at some of the prints.

Jaeger do silk, cotton and wool. Buy in the sales as obviously they are pricey . Good quality though. Hugo Boss are German I think. Some Boden items are not well made but M &S still do some great basics but shop online to get the best choice. Massimo Dutti are up-market Zara and use better quality fabrics - lots of cotton and silk. LK Bennett are also good quality but at a price.

Had some lovely but pricey things from Crew Clothing in last couple of years. And iirc esprit used to have consessions in house of Fraser?

So why for example doesn't Cos or Hush etc use natural fibres OR even worse e.g. in Hush's case make badly made clothes?

Esprit has concessions in various stores - if you're in Wimbledon they have it in Elys.

chchchanging you would not be convinced by any synthetics if you were me, in the midst of perimenopause! Eau de armpits!!! Clever my arse.

I sulkily did a big order at Landsend, the other day. Not the most fashionable, but lots of well cut natural fibres for a sweaty woman, thick of waist, with sensitive skin.

Super - because at retails £50+ for a top they make plenty of margin...

Poetry does some great clothes in natural fabrics, I have hemp tshirts and silk / cotton trousers from there that are 5 years old and still going strong.