Is the cut of more expensive clothes always better?

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

So it seems that I am not imagining it, and my wax effect coat from M & S really does make me look fatter than I am. And my cheap as chips George coat, with an asymetric zip makes me look thinner. I would've expected the probably five times more expensive coat to be a better cut, and therefore make me look better, but in this case, it would appear not to be so. Anybody else had this? And found a 'rule of thumb' to avoid expensive mistakes, other than looking in the mirror, which appears to have been a spectacular fail in this case? TIA.

The asymmetric zip will draw the eye towards the top end of the zip, away from your middle.

Generally, more expensive clothes are more flattering, but you need to look at the style and construction of the item.

Fast fashion is usually not well cut.

Fashion is only 'fast' if you don't keep it or wear it for very long. I have had good and bad quality cheap clothes and good and bad quality expensive clothes. Clothes can be 'fast fashion' regardless of cost or style. Wear what you like and can afford, OP.

Fast fashion brands will go for simple styles that are easy to sew quickly, but more expensive brands will probably use more tailored cuts.

No it's just the cut, some are flattering for your figure and some are not. For example, I am busty - I could wear the most expensive turtleneck sweater ever, I'd still look like I wear my boobs somewhere around my bellybutton.

@KatharinaRosalie if that's the case, maybe the issue isn't in the knitwear but the underwear? And I mean this is a supportive way (no pun intended ) as I'm also busty but love turtlenecks

I'm thin and not busty but polonecks make me look like a blob. Ditto hoodies unless they are fitted.

Some of the high street shops (H&m, New Look, Zara, DO etc) sometimes have nicely cut clothes usually in fairly cheap fabric, but they look nice on. They'll be let down by the finishing.

If you happen to be the "right" size and shape, High Street clothes can fit and look great.

I'm slim but busty so cheap cotton tops look terrible on me: the buttons gape, and if there are darts they are way too high. It seems if you wear a size 10 you must have high, small boobs, not low rounded ones that have breastfed for two years!

Unfortunately there's no rule of thumb other than to try everything on. Sometimes you can get lucky and happen upon a brand that tends to be cut to suit your shape.

And of course the solution is to look bloody gorgeous in everything!

Unfortunately, looking gorgeous in everything is not an option, sadly. The trying on thing, a pita in lockdown. Order, have deliver, try on, return. Rinse and repeat! Thanks though, some good points to ponder. I just don't seem to have a good eye for this stuff, so should not be allowed to try on or assess clothing alone! I need to shop with a brutally honest friend when all this is over, don't I ?!

I've had Asda coats that fit well too, much better than some much more expensive brands.
I'm tall with long arms, a lot of brands don't fit me on the sleeves. Joules tops and coats fit awful on me, they sit all wrong.
I don't think there's any rule of thumb. More expensive might mean better quality but not necessarily better fit. I've heard that Spanish and Italian brands tend to fit petite better, whereas Swedish brands are cut for taller people.

If by better cut, you mean 'more flattering on your particular body shape', then I don't think spending more will necessarily do that. It's more about finding brands that work for you.
To notice a particular increase in quality, you'd probably have to spend more than M&S too. Their quality hasn't been great recently for womenswear.

I've had some great cheap clothes and some not so great expensive ones. However I think the big difference is in consistency.
Uniqlo for example is the most random brand I know - it can be brilliant or it can be utter shite - whereas I've only once had a real duffer from Toast (although I know other posters have reported a drop in their quality).

This applies both to the fabric and the way the garment looks on me.

I've also found that higher quality brands are more likely to still look good at the end of the day, e.g. I have a few Margaret Howell things and not only do they still look 'fresh on' after 12 hours, I can put them on again the following day without ironing. I also find they and need less care in terms of washing.

Completely agree that decent underwear can help you get away with cheaper fabrics.

Pigtails no the bras are fine, I just don't find high necks flattering.

I think I might be better with Swedish stuff then, thanks for the tips. I would like to have a much smaller wardrobe, but with good stuff in it, but I need to lose some weight before investing proper money I think.

If you invest in well cut, flattering clothes you may find you don't need to lose weight to look good. Just a thought!

I think a cheap top can look good but it doesn't mean that it's cut well. Like others said, it depends on what flatters you and how stuff hangs off of you. More expensive stuff isn't necessarily better (could just be that it's got a higher markup) but I think it's more likely to be better. If a t-shirt costs £4 at h&m and its produced in Vietnam, raw material sourced in China, shipped across to the uk, distributed locally and sold in a shop with staff and rental overheads - well, then not much money can't have gone into the quality of the fabric, cutting & sewing it and putting all those finishing touches on it. It's just impossible.

That doesn't mean it can't look nice. It's just that it's less likely to do so.

I think it's mostly finding brands where the cut works for you, and not every shape will suit every style. Once you are no longer rake thin, there's an element of luck although underwear is important, but knowing where the eye is going to focus is key to guessing which styles will be your best.

For example, I am fairly busty too, and I look two sizes larger in anything with a raglan sleeve or a very high neck --- but even my default v-neck sweater is worse with a raglan sleeve. Sleeves are one of the details I zoom in on, so sleeveless is okay, and elbow-length is good but nothing that ends mid-bicep/bust or with a puffy shoulder. Me&Em often have good (if pricey) T shirts but I have to inspect the shoulders.

I think it's down to a mix of the cut, colour if it suits your body shape, what looks amazing on the model or someone else can look very different on another person.
The fabric and quality overall is normally better on a more expensive item but cheaper clothes can work if you lucky enough to find a piece that suits you.

@XingMing

I think it's mostly finding brands where the cut works for you, and not every shape will suit every style. Once you are no longer rake thin, there's an element of luck although underwear is important, but knowing where the eye is going to focus is key to guessing which styles will be your best.

For example, I am fairly busty too, and I look two sizes larger in anything with a raglan sleeve or a very high neck --- but even my default v-neck sweater is worse with a raglan sleeve. Sleeves are one of the details I zoom in on, so sleeveless is okay, and elbow-length is good but nothing that ends mid-bicep/bust or with a puffy shoulder. Me&Em often have good (if pricey) T shirts but I have to inspect the shoulders.

Have you tried Lands' End? I'm also big of boob and narrow of shoulder, and have the same problem as you with raglan sleeves, high necks, plus crew necks that are too narrow. I have found Lands' End T shirts the best - hang well, good shape without being clingy, wash well.

Lands End are good for t-shirts. Sort of skimming not clingy.

Agree with brands. Some are cut for a certain body shape.

Haven't bought anything from Asda for years, but when I lived near a store everything I got from there was fine.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow and @MerryChristmasToYou I like Lands End shorts, but haven't tried their T shirts... if I can get past the colours... I really only buy black, white, grey and navy ones, plus the odd M&S Breton, and I have been wearing a particular Henley style from Uniqlo (sadly discontinued) for about 7 years, but I did buy multiples.