Which brands are worth buying for good quality basics?

[Bobthekitten]

Like pretty much everyone on S&B I've been despairing of the quality of M&S knickers these days. I would like to extend this despair also to socks and t-shirts. Everything is poor quality fabric and just doesn't last very long.

I need to get new knickers, socks, comfortable jogging bottoms (not leggings!), t-shirts. Just the basics but I'm finding that my usual purchases are not lasting well. For example, I have M&S pants bought ten years ago that are better quality than some bought last year. Same with socks - they just go holey within a year.

Does anyone have any recommendations? My Instagram algorithm is now giving me lots of small, British makers but I have no idea whether they are any good. Would love some recommendations of brands where it's actually worth spending the money!

I hope you get some good answers, I find the same. Switched to Sainsbury's Tu for pants but they're not any better (or worse!) than M&S.

I am also looking for some better knickers. The ones from asda, recommended on here a few years ago, are the best ones i have at the moment. Looking for cotton, highish waist and leg

Start with Community Clothing. Before looking at the clothes read everything on the site about their ethics, employment practices and environmental aspirations. They sell pretty much everything you’ve mentioned. Maybe you’ll want to buy from them, maybe not, but they’re an unimpeachable benchmark for how a contemporary British company should be behaving right now.

https://communityclothing.co.uk/

Uniqlo

I find it hit and miss. I bought some cotton blouses from nutmeg (Morrisons) last year which have washed well and still look new. I looked yesterday and most things there were nylon and nasty looking! I've got knickers and some blouses from Tu (Sainsburys) and found them good, but then other things I've had to send back. I don't have a single, go to place I'm afraid.

I can’t speak to their knickers (or their ethical credentials) but Uniqlo are great for plain tees and for socks. I’m also a big fan of the vest tops with built in bras they do.

Uniqlo’s cotton t-shirts and long sleeved tops are reasonably priced and made of proper thick cotton. I buy them a size up because they inevitably shrink in the dryer.

I have been pleasantly surprised by Next underwear.

Uniqlo for base layers (heattech), I also like their socks, and merino jumpers.

Struggling with jogging bottoms myself. I always rate SweatyBetty but overwhelmed by style options currently!

I looked for T-shirts in Uniqlo today and thought they were awful! I’m short, but even so the long sleeved T-shirts I tried barely reached my belly button. The cashmere Heat- Ted ones felt lovely, but I didn’t want thermal, just bog standard layering T-shirts.

For better quality heavy weight T-shirts, I rate Cos.

Uniqlo pants and socks - 100 times better than M&S!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I don’t know about the long sleeved ones but I really like the “Airism” boxy t-shirts. I’m 5ft 6 and find them a perfect length for wearing alone or as a collar peeping out of a knit. They’re not 100% cotton which is a bit annoying though.

Those Cos heavyweight tees I actually find too bulky as a layer (although am generally “woman at Cos” day to day) and prefer the &OS version which I think is £19.

I like Uniqlo for basics such as t-shirts, I only buy 100% cotton ones. Big fan of their mini t-shirts and tops, they are short on purpose but not cropped so look great as a base layer, I wear them often under oversized cardigans. They have t-shirts in several lengths though so if you don’t like short there are longer ones available.

Uniqlo socks are unfortunately not very hardwearing, DH tried them and they quickly developed holes in unexpected places (like side of the foot) they are also very often plastic.

I like mismatched socks so my to-go brand is Many Mornings, always cracks me up even though the socks are never visible.

Community Clothing seems like a good brand but they don’t ship to Europe.

Another vote for Uniqlo. I like Free People T-shirts but they’re expensive and oversized.

I love Cos but unfortunately their clothes don’t suit me at all. I’m short and round and it just doesn’t work. But yeah, cotton clothes are great quality.

Same - other than the heavy, boxy T-shirts which are perfect for me.

Community Clothing
Land’s End
Uniqlo

Community Clothing
Uniqlo
Stripe and Stare for pants but don't tumble dry them (tbh I don't tumble clothes because I think it wrecks them, but I know that's not a popular view)

Brilliant - thank you! I had some socks from Uniqlo as PP mentioned and they very quickly got holes on the soles?! But happy to try them for tshirts

The Uniqlo mentions have reminded me that the JW Anderson range they had recently was amazing - they had a round collar 100% cotton shirt, beautifully made, fit was so comfortable and the fabric was so soft. I felt like I hadn't seen a fabric like that for years.

My current sweatpants are from Topshop, probably 10 years old, and have just started going at the knees. I hate shopping and tend to just buy one or two nicer pieces a year for work and life and then keep them forever. I bought the knee-length kilt from M&S recently and the fabric does not feel nice! I don't think it's going to be a keeper!

People don't like to heaqr it but best tees are Primark - the crew neck stretch tees keep their shape and colour for years.

Uniqlo Heat Teach and M&S equivalent are pretty good for base layers.

I find M&S knickers are still the best.

Community Clothing socks are excellent.,

Another Uniqlo fan here. I wish they would bring back their Henley T shirts: mine are wearing out (after 8 or 9 years).

But the best socks are from Corrymoor Mohair. They wash like a dream and never smell. They are very very warm though, so unsuitable for overheated offices.

Just looking at Community Clothing now - I'll try their sweatpants, what a great company that seems to be.

I've had Pairs come up on my Instagram for socks. Not sure of the benefits of bamboo over cotton but am seriously sick of holey socks! I do mend a lot of them if I haven't had them very long but it would be nice if things just lasted more than ten minutes!

Socks - Sock Shop gentle bamboo are amazing. They stay up well without leaving grooves in my legs, they’re the only socks I can tolerate wearing all day. I buy mine on Amazon, usually 3 pairs for around a tenner, big range of colours/designs.

Matalan - get my socks and underwear . Really good quality