Which brands do you think still make quality clothes?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

Inspired a little by the British (un)style thread. It's really hard to look stylish when you have paid sixty quid for what is essentially hankie fabric with holes (I'm looking at you Hush) or an item that gives a mild static shock if you move too much (Next, and doubly sad when I compare it with the lovely cashmere cardi I got there seventeen years ago, still going strong).

Pottering along the high street of an unremarkable French provincial town was a very different story. I expensively updated my knicker collection and the quality and level of service were a joy!

Are there any UK (or available in the UK) brands that you think still make quality clothes? I am sure that there are lots of us who would rather wear classic, stylish clothes, even if they are not the height of fashion

I think that Hobbs is still pretty reliable for quality, although I'm sure it's very un-cool. I've also been impressed with Cos and got some nice cotton summer clothes (shorts, pima cotton t-shirts) from Fat Face this year. I also have some nice items by Jigsaw, including a lovely coat.

Any thoughts?

The stuff in Arket looks lovely. What is the sizing like? I am not a fan of online shopping but i am a long way from my nearest store.

Whitney- no, just a bogstandard wash and drip dry. Oddly, a second pair I have (XXlong me too!) haven't done it (yet) but I only bought them at the end of the season.

Sometimes even within the same range the quality can vary.

Sometimes I buy an item of clothing, and if I really like it I may then buy another the same. I bought some cheap jeans earlier in the year from Next and they look and fit great, I wear them all the time! So I ordered another pair the same this week, but they are not the same any more. The material is slightly different and they are shorter in length, even though they are the same bar code.

Biden used to be excellent quality up to about 5 or 6 years ago. Then it suddenly went very hit and miss. You still get some really quality things from there but over half of it is shoddy now. A shame because although I’ve never liked their awful prints, their basics were brilliant.

I agree about Boden. Again the clothes I bought the year my daughter was born (she's 10 now) are lovely. More recent purchases, not so much. Although the dresses can be good quality, if a bit garish. I bought two really nice long sleeved jersey shift dresses last year. One in black and one in emerald. They have washed up brilliantly and never needed ironing. Sadly, there are none in that style this year, although I could of course go for the sunglasses print...

Uniqlo.
other than that, it's a crapshoot. I've had items from Primark and H&M that have washed and worn brilliantly, and items from White Co/Boden/Jigsaw that have washed and worn terribly. Can only assume it's due to contracting to lots of different manufacturers

Bad news for fans of J Crew. They have decided to change direction and be more ‘accessible’. We all know what that means...crap synthetic fabrics, cheaply made.

They have been trying it out with their ‘J Crew Mercantile’ sub-brand. The clothes even look crap on the models on the website and are, unsurprisingly, 100% polyester.

I could cry! I rely on J Crew for lovel quality stuff in cotton, silk and merino wool.

The only decent quality thing Boden sell now is shoes. Usually leather with a leather lining, styles not always to my taste but when they get it right, they really get it right.

Boden cashmere is terrible. It bobbles horrendously.

The best quality gear on the high street, in my opinion, is M&S Autograph. Every summer they will do at least one top in beautiful heavy cotton poplin that feels much more expensive than it is. I’ve recently ordered a cashmere hoody and that’s great too: M&S cashmere can be hit and miss but this is good, heavy stuff.

Karen Millen appear to have abandoned the lovely silk fabrics they used to sell in favour of polyester but I did get a fabulous full length wool coat there last winter.

Other than that I buy expensive stuff in sales. I got a black wool Joseph coat for £150 from a designer website and before House of Fraser’s troubles you could do really well for MaxMara brands (Sportmax Code, Marella etc) from their website, especially if you bought last year’s stuff out of season. Sportmax is not immune from polyester but they use silk and cotton too. Marella is great for wool coats.

I get so irritated when I buy a pair of brand new well fitting jeans to find that they have shrunk after the first wash.

All jeans will shrink after the first wash - no matter where you buy them from. It is the nature of denim fabric to shrink. It also "relaxes" a bit when you wear them - so straight out of the wash denim feels snug and after you've worn it a while it relaxes out.

Wash in hold water to reduce shrinkage, hot water to maximise shrinkage.

Fever London and Jack Wills are very good. Agree about Gerard Darel and Massimo Dutti, though I have only bought those brands used, so I can't comment on recent quality.

Regarding French brands, Christine Laure is unbeatable for LBDs, and not expensive in the sale. Sizes come up largish as it's an old lady brand. I find the patterned pieces ugly but plain dresses and skirts are very good quality and well cut. I also have a really nice wool coat and some tops from Camaieu, but those were random charity shop finds - their nearest shop to me isn't on a bus route so I haven't actually been in.

For those asking about Arket sizing, I am size 8 and somewhere between 5’8 and 5’9, and I take an XS. Their dresses are fine on me but I would say that someone an inch shorter would look better. I think their clothes might drown a petite size 6.

Camaieu is lovely. I always hunt one out when I'm in France.

Boden - never disappointed x

I ordered some stuff from french brand Esprit, never see their shops anymore. It has washed well. Nice leather trainers in the sale too

Esprit is often in department stores. Our local fenwick stocks it and their clothes seem good.

Ooh yes, M&S Autograph has some gems. I just wish they weren't cut for giraffes though! Lots of the higher quality stuff is sized far too big for my 5ft4 size 6/8 frame. I get a lot of things altered these days, though usually second hand for cost reasons.

J crew quality is good . knitwear, jeans , shirts are all pretty awesome , my favourite jeans atm are their point sur straight legs.

Rag & bone are another favourite. Pricy but so worth it.
imo US midrange brands are excellent, much better than European ones.

French midrange brands are a bit disappointing quality wise and so overpriced.
But I'm still a huge fan of APC, and have worn their clothes for many years.never bought anything I was not happy with.

I have a pair of Esprit jeans about 8 years old, in better condition than a pair bought much more recently.

Ditto a couple of Benetton tops where the more recent version (boat neck, 3/4 sleeve) is much flimsier and has lost its shape.

I can't vouch for the quality but I like the look of the new John Lewis & Partners collection - especially the way it's organised in the shop by colour range. I bought a cotton top that feels like decent thickness and nice seams. I guess time will tell how it washes and wears.

I have a jersey, Esprit jacket that's lasted 6+ yrs. I haven't bought anything else from them, though.

Very interesting about what lasts in charity shops. I buy a lot of better quality stuff from charity shops (because it's affordable and I'm lucky enough to live near quite a few well-stocked charity shops) and would include brands such as Jigsaw, Maxmara, Great Plains, Dolce & Gabbana, Ghost, Toast. I will also point out that these are things I've bought over many years, so I haven't just been especially lucky .

Also, Ralph Lauren Polo, I've picked up a pair of trousers and a pair of jeans from there in tkmaxx, lovely quality and fit.

These maybe more expensive brands (that I've bought at discount) but price doesn't, sadly, guarantee quality.

Someone mentioned Plumo, but I think most of their stuff is other brands. It is £££ and not often very discounted, so it's worth hunting out the same or similar items cheaper elsewhere. However, I have bought several things from them over the years and have always had good customer service.

& Other Stories has some good quality stuff - you just have to look through a bit. They do silk shirts and quite a bit of cotton. They are a bit hit & miss but less poly than some of the others - Whistles & Hush, I'm looking at you.

Agree with buying designer jeans at places like The Outlet.

Anthropologie is somewhere else that does good sales and you could find some reasonable interesting stuff.

I want to like Arket but find it a bit uninspiring. Also am not convinced it suits my body shape, short & curvy.

Brora has lovely clothes - a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for. Nice colours as well, not just acres of beige and khaki!

@hugoagogo This short arse size 18 just bought the most flattering plain navy dress (for work) in Laura Ashley. They are currently doing 20% off. Their British wool shift dresses are lined, brilliant and wear well.

Jaeger outlet is best place for coats and jackets.

Not the most stylish of brands and quite expensive, but Kettlewell's quality is very good. I've got merino wool sweaters from there which are still going strong after 4 years and multiple washes. I also have cotton/silk mix knitwear from Woolovers which has washed well and kept its shape. I buy a lot of my clothes from charity shops or TK Maxx. Brands I've found long-lasting are French Connection, Kew, Jaeger and Joseph. I really like some of the clothes from Oliver Bonas but they don't wash well.

I've bought some nice things from Anthropologie sales too, but I think they're not their own brand. nickEcave I have a few basic tops from Kettlewell from when I first had my colours done 6yrs ago, they are still in good shape.

Stories is good. I also like Jaeger but more their older clothes than recent.

I bought a cashmere Brora jumper and it went straight back. The quality was not worth the cost!!