Where do you buy your clothes?
Discussion
Spent a couple of hours shopping for a coat this week and found myself looking in Zara, AllSaints, Mango, Reiss, Next etc.
I'm at a stage where other than obvious casual wear like shorts and hoodies my work and casual wardrobe is almost interchangeable.
One thing that occurred to me was that it's pretty difficult to tell the difference in quality between the clothes.
i.e. I liked the £330 coat I saw in Reiss but the one I got from Mango for £150 seems just as nice and is made in the same part of the world I just slightly preferred the colour of the one in Reiss.
Go into Selfridges and it really becomes apparent that when everything is in the same "atmosphere" it's even harder to distinguish quality from marketing and the "vibe" of the individual stores.
I now need some tee shirts and sweaters and looking around there's what appear to be the same kind of sweater for £35 at Zara that costs £50 at Mango or £88 at Reiss or £95 at AllSaints with no immediately obvious difference in quality between them.
Where do you shop for smart casual stuff?
I'm at a stage where other than obvious casual wear like shorts and hoodies my work and casual wardrobe is almost interchangeable.
One thing that occurred to me was that it's pretty difficult to tell the difference in quality between the clothes.
i.e. I liked the £330 coat I saw in Reiss but the one I got from Mango for £150 seems just as nice and is made in the same part of the world I just slightly preferred the colour of the one in Reiss.
Go into Selfridges and it really becomes apparent that when everything is in the same "atmosphere" it's even harder to distinguish quality from marketing and the "vibe" of the individual stores.
I now need some tee shirts and sweaters and looking around there's what appear to be the same kind of sweater for £35 at Zara that costs £50 at Mango or £88 at Reiss or £95 at AllSaints with no immediately obvious difference in quality between them.
Where do you shop for smart casual stuff?
And this is the difficulty.
The coat I got is nice but I'm not under any illusion I've bought anything other than something that should hopefully last "a few years" but not a generation etc.
Uniqlo tee shirts are £10 M&S are £8 Zara are £13 AllSaints are £35 are they 4x the quality or just the logo?
Likewise jumpers are anything from £20 to £100 and I'm not at all sure there's a significant leap in quality from M&S/Uniqlo to say Reiss or AllSaints.
Next feels like a jumble sale but I have a horrible feeling pop their stuff in a Reiss or AllSaints store and it would seem different.
How the hell do you distinguish quality from marketing fluff?
And I'm not going to buy a £200 Sunspel even if the quality is there as I can't justify that
The coat I got is nice but I'm not under any illusion I've bought anything other than something that should hopefully last "a few years" but not a generation etc.
Uniqlo tee shirts are £10 M&S are £8 Zara are £13 AllSaints are £35 are they 4x the quality or just the logo?
Likewise jumpers are anything from £20 to £100 and I'm not at all sure there's a significant leap in quality from M&S/Uniqlo to say Reiss or AllSaints.
Next feels like a jumble sale but I have a horrible feeling pop their stuff in a Reiss or AllSaints store and it would seem different.
How the hell do you distinguish quality from marketing fluff?
And I'm not going to buy a £200 Sunspel even if the quality is there as I can't justify that
wyson said:
Have you looked at bulk retailers who don’t officially sell to the public? I buy a lot of day to day t shirts from Stanley Stella. High street quality but stripped of branded markup. £4 a t shirt? Heavyweight cotton t shirts £10 sort of thing? (Need heavyweight, 240gsm for white t-shirts so nipples don’t show through!) You can find the odd online retailer who will sell individual t shirts from them.
Haven’t used the below shop before but gives you an idea:
https://www.shirtworks.co.uk/products/stanley-stel...
In terms of your original point, a £4-6 Stanley Stella T shirt is the same quality as an AllSaints £35 t shirt. I own both. But one you pay a branded mark up and the other shows the actual ‘cost’ of producing a commodity item and making a small profit. Of course Stanley Stella don’t have glitzy shops in high profile locations, glitzy advertising campaigns etc, so if you want maximum VFM, I’d steer clear of the high street all together!
Yeah I tried that in the past with Gildan but, and this will sound strange and a bit gross, their cheap tee shirts absolutely make me stink when no other tee shirt I own does so it's left me a little cautious of cheap bulk buys even though I know that like you say the Reiss/AllSaints stores aren't likely to be manufacturing their own stuff.Haven’t used the below shop before but gives you an idea:
https://www.shirtworks.co.uk/products/stanley-stel...
In terms of your original point, a £4-6 Stanley Stella T shirt is the same quality as an AllSaints £35 t shirt. I own both. But one you pay a branded mark up and the other shows the actual ‘cost’ of producing a commodity item and making a small profit. Of course Stanley Stella don’t have glitzy shops in high profile locations, glitzy advertising campaigns etc, so if you want maximum VFM, I’d steer clear of the high street all together!
Edited by wyson on Saturday 11th November 08:01
Stanley Stella look like the stuff in the likes of AllSaints though so if the quality is there I may give them a go as they're a third to a quarter of the price - thank you
nikaiyo2 said:
Haha I work in manufacturing/ construction so most days end up in the factory for one reason or another or certainly pre pandemic every job had meetings on site so plenty of opportunities to rip/tear get crap on.
The straw the broke the camels back, I bought a new Ralph Lauren shirt for £100 ish had to deliver a bit of glass to a customer, caught shirt on it, ripped, I would say after 4 hours of use :0
Different industry but similar.The straw the broke the camels back, I bought a new Ralph Lauren shirt for £100 ish had to deliver a bit of glass to a customer, caught shirt on it, ripped, I would say after 4 hours of use :0
I can go into work with one plan and end up with my arms somewhere messy (I'm not a vet).
nikaiyo2 said:
What do you mean by quality?
Fabric?
Manufacturing?
Longevity?
Honestly, imho, there is no difference in tangible things between m&s and the brands you list, I would say m&s might prioritise quality over many fashion brands. Same goes for the big brand names, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Boss etc. In particular these brands there is a massive difference in quality between their full price stuff and their discounted lines.
Buy a pack of 3 boxers from Ralph Lauren outlet store for less than the price of one pair at full price you will tell instantly what cost 3x the price.
Edwin jeans, the difference between the Made in Japan lines to the cheaper lines is huge.
Literally all high street fashion is of similar quality, it’s not designed to last forever but would you want it to?
Have a look at https://www.endclothing.com/gb and read some of the brand stories, the smaller brands have much greater ability and willingness to manage quality. They do genuine sales making some of the pricing more reasonable.
Shirts for work? I buy them from Tesco/ Sainsbury’s, they cost nothing, are semi disposable, I have 2-3 nice shirts for meetings etc. I always used to have nice shirts but the amount I ruined after 2 or 3 wears got tiresome
Good question around the word "quality" and perhaps value for money is what I really mean.Fabric?
Manufacturing?
Longevity?
Honestly, imho, there is no difference in tangible things between m&s and the brands you list, I would say m&s might prioritise quality over many fashion brands. Same goes for the big brand names, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Boss etc. In particular these brands there is a massive difference in quality between their full price stuff and their discounted lines.
Buy a pack of 3 boxers from Ralph Lauren outlet store for less than the price of one pair at full price you will tell instantly what cost 3x the price.
Edwin jeans, the difference between the Made in Japan lines to the cheaper lines is huge.
Literally all high street fashion is of similar quality, it’s not designed to last forever but would you want it to?
Have a look at https://www.endclothing.com/gb and read some of the brand stories, the smaller brands have much greater ability and willingness to manage quality. They do genuine sales making some of the pricing more reasonable.
Shirts for work? I buy them from Tesco/ Sainsbury’s, they cost nothing, are semi disposable, I have 2-3 nice shirts for meetings etc. I always used to have nice shirts but the amount I ruined after 2 or 3 wears got tiresome
I have a dislike of paying £30 for something that's the same quality as a £10 something except for the label that's sewn into the collar.
Prohibiting said:
Now in my early 30’s, everything I wear has no logo but I focus on quality, fabric, and a timeless style- sticking to black, navy, ecru, and white.
I stick to Uniqlo (good value), Reiss which is higher-end, and Sunspel which is luxury. I always make sure I’m buying 100% wool or cashmere for my knitwear and 100% cotton for anything else. Got a lovely mix of cable knits, roll necks, and simple crew knits.
Pretty much nails where I am except the age.I stick to Uniqlo (good value), Reiss which is higher-end, and Sunspel which is luxury. I always make sure I’m buying 100% wool or cashmere for my knitwear and 100% cotton for anything else. Got a lovely mix of cable knits, roll necks, and simple crew knits.
Not bothered about logos and as I said quality balanced with can't go mad for work as it's only an unexpected day away from getting covered in dirt or snagged on something.
Right now I'm liking Uniqlo a lot for what seems to be a balance between value and good functional stuff rather than "just paying for the label".
Bloody annoying there isn't a store near me and that stock seems really hit and miss for a big chain.
BunkMoreland said:
Well the people that dress the mannequins have access to everything the store sells and in 95% of cases have an eye for what makes an outfit work.
Of course, you could alternatively find one of the many ladies who offer fashion consultations and go shopping with the client to get a complete new outfit and wardrobe. A friends EX did that and although most of her clients were Bankers and Insurance guys earning 6 figures a year and would spend £4-5K during the week or so. She would do regular guys who would start with a few items then over time build up the rest according to her directions.
I knew of a guy who did the same sort of thing, but seemed his clients ended up wearing the same outfit of converse, black jeans and a v next t shirt with a gaudy chain/necklace and wrist adornments.
There's also YouTube if you are interested.
Fit
Fabric
Function
Oh how the other half live Of course, you could alternatively find one of the many ladies who offer fashion consultations and go shopping with the client to get a complete new outfit and wardrobe. A friends EX did that and although most of her clients were Bankers and Insurance guys earning 6 figures a year and would spend £4-5K during the week or so. She would do regular guys who would start with a few items then over time build up the rest according to her directions.
I knew of a guy who did the same sort of thing, but seemed his clients ended up wearing the same outfit of converse, black jeans and a v next t shirt with a gaudy chain/necklace and wrist adornments.
There's also YouTube if you are interested.
Fit
Fabric
Function
To be fair I don't tend to dress like a sack of s
t I'd say I have reasonably good taste.This isn't about walking into Reiss or Mango and coming out looking a tramp it's trying to understand if I'm no better off than I would be at Uniqlo.
Seriously I've almost got a full work wardrobe in my basket for £250-300 from that place just need to work out if it's going to be half price come Black Friday.
Well that's the first couple of bits sorted treated myself to a couple of Sunspel Riviera Polos as it's Black Friday.
I don't know if they're worth it as you read mixed things online but I figured you only live once (or twice if you're into the whole Bond connection
) and if they last a few years I'd sooner have a couple of nice good quality pieces than 5x £15 throwaway ones.
Any suggestions on sweaters?
Can't quite bring myself to pay £145 for their merino ones and I'm probably overthinking whether there's too much difference between a £45 and £80 "made in Bangladesh" one other than the store you buy it from.
I don't know if they're worth it as you read mixed things online but I figured you only live once (or twice if you're into the whole Bond connection
) and if they last a few years I'd sooner have a couple of nice good quality pieces than 5x £15 throwaway ones.Any suggestions on sweaters?
Can't quite bring myself to pay £145 for their merino ones and I'm probably overthinking whether there's too much difference between a £45 and £80 "made in Bangladesh" one other than the store you buy it from.
I wouldn't have as that's their problem fk 'em
I see a lot of stuff I like it's just I can't personally justify spending the money and it's something I struggle with with lots of stuff not just clothing.
Anyone know if Arket and Asket are decent quality?
I am really struggling with understanding if a £100 merino sweater is actually any better quality than a £35 Uniqlo one.
k 'em I see a lot of stuff I like it's just I can't personally justify spending the money and it's something I struggle with with lots of stuff not just clothing.
Anyone know if Arket and Asket are decent quality?
I am really struggling with understanding if a £100 merino sweater is actually any better quality than a £35 Uniqlo one.
Hoping I'm not being suckered by a good marketing team but I have to say Asket do look interesting.
Pricing not too stupid and seems a world away (literally) from the "made in Bangladesh" stuff everywhere else with a lot of it made in Portugal.
Twice the price of M&S merino and just about the only place I've seen so far where it seems the quality could be better and the prices also seem sensible.
Pricing not too stupid and seems a world away (literally) from the "made in Bangladesh" stuff everywhere else with a lot of it made in Portugal.
Twice the price of M&S merino and just about the only place I've seen so far where it seems the quality could be better and the prices also seem sensible.
And the sods at Sunspel have an extra 10% off today
Genuine question here.
I'm fortunate I can afford to buy nice stuff but I struggle justifying it.
I'm honestly a bit surprised at the number of people saying they get all their stuff at charity shops and car boot sales.
Appreciate people may not want to get into their personal situations too much but is that a finances thing or a principles thing or a genuine don't care what I wear thing?
Genuine question here.
I'm fortunate I can afford to buy nice stuff but I struggle justifying it.
I'm honestly a bit surprised at the number of people saying they get all their stuff at charity shops and car boot sales.
Appreciate people may not want to get into their personal situations too much but is that a finances thing or a principles thing or a genuine don't care what I wear thing?
Actually that's fair and apologies if I came across as a bit dismissive of charity shops as it wasn't the intention.
I think where I am they're more pile it high and overwhelmingly elderly dominated rather than almost a high street version of Vinted.
I took a black bag full of old Superdry polos and a bunch of other stuff including a (cheap) jacket that was literally brand new with tags to the Salvation Army shop the other day so someone will do OK but I'd far sooner someone who genuinely needed it benefit from it than someone bagging a bargain I guess.
It's been a bit of an eye opener looking at what's out there since I started this thread.
I'd not really stopped to think whether whether it's actually feasible to buy a decent quality sweater for £35 if I'm honest and a steady stream of "made in Bangladesh" seems to explain why it's possible.
Interesting how the race to the bottom and throw away culture messes with you psychologically so that the £90 one looks expensive rather than the £35 one looks suspiciously cheap.
Maybe it's an age thing but what I wear for work and casual seems to overlap a lot now (I have a rail of smart shirts and trousers that hardly ever get worn) so I think I might try a fewer and better quality way of doing things for a while.
I think where I am they're more pile it high and overwhelmingly elderly dominated rather than almost a high street version of Vinted.
I took a black bag full of old Superdry polos and a bunch of other stuff including a (cheap) jacket that was literally brand new with tags to the Salvation Army shop the other day so someone will do OK but I'd far sooner someone who genuinely needed it benefit from it than someone bagging a bargain I guess.
It's been a bit of an eye opener looking at what's out there since I started this thread.
I'd not really stopped to think whether whether it's actually feasible to buy a decent quality sweater for £35 if I'm honest and a steady stream of "made in Bangladesh" seems to explain why it's possible.
Interesting how the race to the bottom and throw away culture messes with you psychologically so that the £90 one looks expensive rather than the £35 one looks suspiciously cheap.
Maybe it's an age thing but what I wear for work and casual seems to overlap a lot now (I have a rail of smart shirts and trousers that hardly ever get worn) so I think I might try a fewer and better quality way of doing things for a while.
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