Buying quality?

TheBiz

I'm starting to think about quality or quantity when buying clothes.
My wardrobe is wedged full of clothes, some I wear religiously, others fit awkwardly or were bought without thinking..

I also know what colours suit me so I don't go for anything mad.
Would I be crazy to start investing in quality pieces rather than €5 t shirts that shrink, or €30 jeans that grow a size?

I wear a lot of cheaper clothes because I'm afraid I'll get them wrecked on a night out.
Is it worth paying that bit extra to buy long lasting standard pieces?

Stheno

Yes

I've work suits that are eight years old and still look great.

Quality for me every time

Del2005

Most t shirts and jeans cost the same to make you mostly paying for the brand. The only place where quality counts is bespoke.

Bored_lad

It is definitely worth paying more for better quality. Ya you have some people who believe the quantity is the same and it's the brand's markup that's different yes this may be the case for some brands but for most it's not and better quality clothes not only look better but will save you money in the long run.

brinty

As you get older it's always quality over quantity

TheBiz

Del2005 wrote: »

Most t shirts and jeans cost the same to make you mostly paying for the brand. The only place where quality counts is bespoke.

As far as I know, there are different types of cotton and other fabrics, they obvious cost more but brands will have markup to do with prestige etc

TheBiz

brinty wrote: »

As you get older it's always quality over quantity

I'm only 19! Maybe I'm just learning early

brinty

TheBiz wrote:

I'm only 19! Maybe I'm just learning early

Maybe so

The Gibzilla

"If you buy cheap, you buy twice."

I'm all for getting a good bargain, but the above is something which I always keep in mind when making a purchase.

Del2005

TheBiz wrote: »

As far as I know, there are different types of cotton and other fabrics, they obvious cost more but brands will have markup to do with prestige etc

I've cheap t shirts and expensive ones, only difference is price. I've had expensive jeans fall apart after a few months. I've a pair of 13 year old Caterpillar boots going strong.

For causal clothes there's no benefit in buying premium.

speedboatchase

Quality every time. You need to build a 'capsule collection' of a few items that don't go out of style, are well made, and will work with loads of different items. Any thing I wear or use every day (sunglasses, shoes, card holder) I try to pay a bit more than usual.

danko82

but I would like to have just quality and not just brand..
some items are just a brand and the quality is not better than pennys

speedboatchase

danko82 wrote: »

but I would like to have just quality and not just brand..
some items are just a brand and the quality is not better than pennys

What I would always say is that go for brands that are renowned as specialists in their area, rather than a big-name label that just happens put their name on loads of items. For example, Levi's/Diesel/Nudie jeans, Ray-Ban/Persol sunglasses, Calvin Klein underwear, Common Projects luxury runners. Those would generally be more lasting and have a bit more care than D&G slapping their logo on a watch. Mr Porter's 'Essentials' are a good guide (although some are crazy expensive): http://www.mrporter.com/en-qa/mens/list/the_essentials?custom_list=the_essentials&viewall=on

Also, avoid diffusion lines like Armani Exchange. They're just cheap, easy money-makers for people obsessed with the logos of the chosen brand.

In terms of what I tend to wear and stick with the 'quality' philosophy, the items I wear/use most each day are Paul Smith work shoes, Common Projects runners, Levi's jeans, Dunhill cardholder, Bvlgari sunglasses. Most work/casual outfits revolve around some of those, although I obviously have cheaper items that would be part of anything I'm wearing (e.g. majority of my work shirts are Zara, but I have a few more expensive Reiss ones).

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

phantom_lord

speedboatchase wrote: »

Also, avoid diffusion lines like Armani Exchange. They're just cheap, easy money-makers for people obsessed with the logos of the chosen brand.

Yeah, and the ironic thing is that high quality clothes don't have labels.

e.r

phantom_lord wrote: »

Yeah, and the ironic thing is that high quality clothes don't have labels.

Like jack jones

smash

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

I stopped buying Levi's years ago now because of this. But I find the same is happening with all brands these days. I have 4 pairs of 'Seven for all mankind' jeans that cost upwards of €300 a pair. One pair lasted less than 12 months before coming apart at the seams but the others are ok. Compare this to a pair of Calvin Kleins I bought 6 years ago and only threw out last week... They were quality!

What's really stood out to me recently was that I went in to TK max with the gf. She picked up two pairs of Seven for all mankind jeans on the bargain rail for a combined price of €22 and I picked up a pair of Tommy Hilfiger for €50. I can't see myself ever walking back in to BT, House of Fraser or Harvey Nichols to look for jeans again.

e.r wrote: »

Like jack jones

You can spot their crap a mile off

H3llR4iser

I honestly think it's a lot of hit and miss. I have some shirts and jeans I brought over with me from Italy 8 years ago, paid no more than 20 Euro a piece, which still look relatively new; Same with a few things bought in Dunnes over the years, for example.

However I also have a few bits from Marlboro which still look absolutely fresh, and on the same tune I had both cheap and expensive clothes fall apart after three washes.

In the end the most important thing is how stuff suits your body type - a properly fitting piece of relatively cheap clothing can look times better than ill-suited expensive stuff.

For example, I am apparently in posses of a quite unique frame - a while ago a friend of mine remarked how, sitting down side by side, she was actually taller than me; However, standing up I'm 6'1" and she's 5'7"!

I actually have quite longer limbs than most men, a shorter torso all coupled with a definitely stocky frame; Some brands just don't cater for that, they all seem to go for either "short & stocky" or "tall & thin" - for example I can't wear any Levi's jeans as they invariably give me a much more prominent "builder's crack" than it's ever gonna be accepted as decent

Sad Professor

Yeah I wouldn't necessarily associate quality with durability. Some of the most durable clothes are the cheapest. Workwear clothing, for example. But they fit badly and are uncomfortable. I think it's impossible to get clothes that tick all the boxes in terms of durability, fit, style, comfort, etc. There's always going to be a trade-off somewhere.