Well-made clothes? Brands?

[PhilippaBlake]

Can anyone help? I don't know a lot about fabrics, style or sewing but I do know that there is a vast difference in quality between (for example) vintage Laura Ashley, Jaeger, and even some St Michael, and a lot of current clothing brands. So I'm wondering what brands you'd suggest that "make 'em like they used to"!

I'm already aware of COS and have a couple of bits but very few of their styles suit me (I don't like crew necks and I do like a waist). I love some Masai styles on me but I find them inconsistent in quality - some fall apart really quickly.

In the absence of many of my usual stomping grounds (car boots and charity shops) my preference is to shop on eBay. I'm very fussy and a bit tight but happy to buy, try, and resell items that don't suit. Can anyone suggest some brands I might like? Thanks in advance!

They are seriously not cheap, but OSKA make extremely well tailored and well made clothes. It’s quite a definite ‘look’ though, so depends on your style.

I sort of wish OSKA was my style - I love that whole layered thing but I'm not cool/confident enough to pull it off as a 'look'!

It's exactly the sort of brand suggestion I was looking for though and I'd totally forgotten it existed so thank you (I'm off to browse eBay).

It's a bit hit and miss style wise but Seasalt clothes are very well made. Much higher quality fabrics and finish than the similarly priced white stuff, joules, etc.

Oooh... I'm tempted.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMAZING-OSKA-WRAP-HEAVY-LINEN-MAXI-DRESS-SIZE-1/303662454392?hash=item46b3b15678:g:FOYAAOSwP2VfQSQY

Thanks @PickAChew

How do you find Seasalt sizing, out of interest?

I'm a busty/apple m&s 14 and wear a mix of their 12 and 14 tops. Their trousers are too curvy for me.

I find Palones clothes are very well made (and well cut) but I'm not sure if they will continue in business for much longer (their designer is a friend of mine and she is still furloughed). That means there are some bargains to be had both on the Palones website and on Asos (who have a limited selection of reduced price Palones clothes). Their trousers and coats are particularly well cut and good quality.

Seasalt have a very good size calculator where you put in various things, I've recently used it and have a couple of perfect fitting shirts

@PickAChew thanks for that. I think I'm a similar size to you and a couple of Seasalt jumpers have now caught my eye...

Ah, I did find the address in the end - hidden away at the end of the terms and conditions. Thanks @HundredMilesAnHour - there are some interesting looking items there.

I love your observation of crew necks and dropped waists - it's so true!

The nice middle ground between cheap n' nasty and luxury is heavily populated with worthy dressing. So you'd have to pick your way terribly carefully through, let's say, Toast or Margaret Howell. Great shirts, unwearable frocks. Plenty of French brands in a similar price range, whose names I forget, manage to avoid worthiness but embrace ditsy-ness - which is almost worse.

Proper fashion on the other hand seems pointless atm - no one cares how I look between my front door and the Post Office queue, and most of my going out clothes look silly on a zoom call from my kitchen.

Am merely marking my place until I can take an interest again ...