Labels of yesteryear or more recently when charity shopping that offer good quality in terms of materials etc?

[Niftythrifter]

I just thought that it might be nice to have a thread for recommendations for labels to look out for in charity shops that offer or offered good quality materials and cuts etc. that might get overlooked. Many want to buy less but better and charity shops potentially offer that at a lower price.

I have seen Brora mentioned on here quite a lot and recently found a lovely fairisle wool cardigan for less than £10 in a charity shop and can understand why people rave about the quality.

it can be clothes and accessories etc.

You jammy bugger with that Brora cardigan! Anyway good idea, op:

The M&S St Micheal label - I'm sure it'll be collectible one day.

Aquascutum - fantastic quality. I think their raincoats were better than Burberry.

Dannimac - likewise, mainly the raincoats.

Jaeger - the old school brand not the M&S version. If you're not sure which it is, pick it up and go by the weight.

Windsmoor, Easter, Country Casuals, Planet - yes, the styles will look very dated but I've picked up a couple of things purely for the fabric. Admittedly I've not done anything with them yet.

Top Shop and Warehouse from the early noughties. So much better quality compared to now.

Regardless of label:
Silk shirts.
Anything linen if there's enough fabric and it's heavy enough, especially Irish linen. I check for old linen tablecloths too.
Anything in Harris or Donegal tweed.

Menswear:
John Smedley knitwear - they do women's stuff too but I find men's more often.

Horne Brothers - I found a fantastic men's cardigan, heavier than a lot of modern coats.

William Hunt knitwear.

I'll see what else I can think of.

As @Floisme has said, buying vintage will usually get you better quality, often natural fabrics, tailoring and details like linings. I tend to not look for labels as such but have learnt to identify fabrics by feel and the look of a vintage piece, when scouring the rails, then check the labels further for more detail. Just be aware that the sizes will come up small.

St Michael is a good shout, there should be a fair bit of it about, in theory. I've had some really good wool coats and jackets. And the 80s/90s trousers are a great fit for my pear-shape. 2 sizes bigger than I'd wear in current M&S tho.

(not bothered about the sizing, just an FYI)

Thanks for starting this thread Floisme, great idea, I hadn't thought of feeling fabrics had just been looking at prints

It's Niftythrifter's thread but yes, great idea!

Though they're still current brands, older Monsoon, M&S and Boden things can be amazing quality and more likely to be natural fabrics than today. Also old cashmere, whatever label, if it's been looked after is often lovely and bargainous.

Kudos OP for using the word "yesteryear" I love that word!

Dannimac
Pierre Cardin

jaeger, planet, goat, ghost, old m&s autograph , old Joseph , jigsaw, Karen Millen if you’re a small size, old coach leather bags (cheaper from places that import a lot of American vintage , neutral colours nourish up beautifully when polished) Frye boots, mens jumpers are often a source of great merino/ cashmere that can be slightly shrunk to fit. Vintage Oasis leather jackets are surprisingly beautiful quality. Reiss used to be beautifully cut with incredible fabrics. Boden had a time of doing great wool coats and everlasting kids clothes.

Also old French Connection - I never give their current stuff a second glance, in fact I don't even know if they're still going, but they were really great around the early noughties. I used to ask for vouchers for birthdays and Christmas.

And Monsoon was pretty aspirational around the same time - several friends got married in their dresses.

St Michael, BHS, Eastex, Viyella, John Smedley, Boden (not the recent stuff), Hobb's, Toast

I found a Brora jumper for £1, not fair isle, and the quality was shit.

All the above, and if you can find very early Next, they had lovely stuff in the early 90s.
I have a Monsoon dress from before it became a chain and it is beautiful (doesn’t fit). I really miss their clothes.

Laura Ashley.

Oh god yes, early Next - I saw a beautiful tweed jacket in a very naice charity shop and I couldn't believe it was them. Wrong size sadly.

C&A
Clockhouse
Richard Shops
Some of the early British Home Stores
Country Casuals

DAKS
Hardy Amies
Pringle
Drumohr
Alan Paine
Jaqmar silk scarves
Shoes:
Loakes
Church's
Crockett and jones
https://vintagefashionguild.org/

Bizarrely Next (years ago).
My Mum loved the Next Directory when it first came out, it was hardback with fabric swatches in, very posh.
Sadly she died recently and when I was clearing her wardrobe I found clothes 20 or maybe even 30 years old from Next that still looked good

If you are buying clothes from yesteryear, do not assume the size on the label will be the same size you buy today. I'd say a 1990s 14 is a 10 today. Take a tape measure or try it on.

French Connection.

Excellent idea!
Agree with Jaeger, Eastex, Planet, Windsmoor, Country Casuals, Viyella. I grew up near the factories for all of the above (Notts/Derbys border) and they were all staples of my mum's work wardrobe.
I'd say that although obviously some of the stuff is going to be very dated, plain knitwear, blazers, coats, scarves, costume jewellery, bags etc will always be great.

Apart from generally no vanity sizing in those days, be aware that Planet were HUGE. I was a 14 trouser in the day and a Planet 10 was a bit loose.

I still regret chucking my Eastex winter coat away. It was a beautiful pale camel. I have all my mum's Jaeger bags and they're fabulous.

I'd add old Zara to the list. I've got a full length wool Cardigan from Zara that I bought in 1986 (!!!) when they only existed in Spain. It's still perfect and has never really been "out of fashion".

Four Seasons too. I have a gorgeous padded fake fur collared Mac from them circa 1990.

I absolutely agree - feel the fabric and look at the label (washing not just brand) - after a while you can just "tell" quality by the feel.

Look inside coats etc to see the finish/buttons etc - it's easy to see the well made ones.

I'm blessed with fantastic charity shops where they are mostly good stuff so I honed my skill down the the really good stuff.

As a general rule, if it's a non standard/fancy label it's likely to be higher end.

I got a lovely 100% wool Bogner skirt with pockets for a tenner, probably from the early 90s. They're still going, but I think are a bit niche outside German speaking countries so it didn't get spotted as semi-designer.

Next was fantastic in 1990s, got all my workwear there.

Also in early 2000s Warehouse, Oasis and French Connection were really good.

topshop unique label also used to do some great items in the early 2000s. full circle did some fabulously cut cashmere coats.
another brand which has some dodgy cuts and frumpy shapes but fabulous fabrics is the German label basler. It’s not great if you’re tall, but otherwise you can find some great plain jumpers in fabulous wool blends (merino etc) very cheaply.

My art teacher used to dress in Warehouse, Oasis and French Connection all the time in the noughties and looked fantastic.

The cost of living was much more reasonable back then. She used to buy new clothes all the time and had her own house. She was my role model and I remember wanting to be an art teacher thinking I could have a similar quality of life as she did, but that dream slipped away pretty quickly.

Back to clothes, my prom dress was from a brand called ‘Giant’ and it was so nice. To get a prom dress that quality now would cost hundreds but it was only about £50 (in 2008)!