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Where are the quality clothes?

Dee*Jay said:
Begonia, is Talbots too conservative for your taste? I've got tons of stuff from them and it lasts forever and a day.
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Totally forgot about Talbots. Love their stuff.

I have purchased the high end cashmere sweaters from Lands End in past years but I don't know if they do them any longer. The run of the mill ones they have are not for me. The last two I bought were at least $450 regular price but hardly anyone bought them at full price so I would wait til Christmas discount or at the end of season was even better. They are such big fluffy yarn in an Aran stitch pattern.
 
Begonia said:
Deejay - just a little too conservative overall, although I do go in and admire the quality quite frequently.
Even Banana Republic is a bit stiff for my outdoorsy lifestyle. I don’t necessarily want to wear outdoor gear though. I do own Patagonia pieces for layering.
I don’t work in an office - I work on a ship and wear a uniform so my casual clothes are quite casual. Jeans, cotton pants, button downs, long sleeve henleys and as many fabulous wool sweaters as I can find or afford. I’d wear cashmere but at $400 a pop and up (I like them thick) I don’t go there.
Although I’ve considered getting a couple...
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If you like red and the style this is a good deal on this sweater. Much better quality than their run of the mill flat weave. If you can wear the petite then more colors are available.

https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-cashmere-aran-turtleneck-sweater/id_312102?sku_0=::HKU


This cashmere dress is adorable. 50% off one full price item.

https://www.landsend.com/products/w...ress/id_318619_59?cm_re=add-more-shopping-bag
 
When I was younger I bought Shetland woollen sweaters that I could have made to order in Scotland; Icelandic woollen sweaters; and Irish fishermen's knits. I now avoid wool, even tops that have a blend of cotton with cashmere. I hate having an itchy chest and wool has done that to me enough times to make me want to avoid it. I have a heavy woollen blanket in the back of my Jeep for emergencies and I believe in woollen coats. I am afraid that wool sweaters are a thing of the past for me. It made me sad to read redwood's posting above, because I like red and I wear petite and extra small sizes. I just don't wear cashmere or other wool. (Maybe I am to blame for the decline in quality clothing!)
 
https://www.ibex.com/

https://www.icebreaker.com/en/home

I've mentioned in other threads over the years that I wear merino base layers in the winter, as well as wool hiking socks, and several Ibex and Patagonia wool pieces like pants and cardigans. Wool has changed so much as far as sourcing and processing that it is highly regarded in the outdoor apparel industry now. It's naturally antimicrobial, moisture wicking, and warm or cool--merinos' wool has to insulate them at the top of the mountain and keep them cool at the bottom in the heat, and comfortable everywhere in between. Same performance for humans.

I once bought a pair of pretty wool Fair Isle socks from Casual Corner (back in the day!) They made my ankles terribly itchy and I threw them away. I have never had that experience with any of the outdoor brands/merinos in the past 10 years. If you'd told me years ago that I didn't have a wool allergy and that someday I'd wear wool long underwear I would've laughed in your face!

Canuk, those Dale sweaters are gorgeous. I know a man who LOVES that brand. They're not my style but wow, they're beautiful.
 
Ugh @monarch64 I can remember all those itchy wools when I was younger as well! I agree that merino and cashmere have totally changed but even now some are not as soft as others. @AGBF you should try the new wools because I have terrible reactions to bad itchy stuff but would wear merino underwear that is quality if I were that cold. I do have merino long underwear too. :lol: That Lands End sweater will be so soft. I do always wear a tank underneath anyway but not because of itching but more because it is too warm next to my middle.

As to the Dale sweaters Canuk posted, I have a few merinos like that from Eddie Bauer but they are probably 10 years old and I still love them.
 
Omg! I forgot Peruvian Connection sweaters! I love them! Also someone mentioned Boden--their knit dresses are amazing and they come in tall sizes. I've also been pleased with Mini Boden for kids in case anyone's also looking for quality kids stuff.
 
HI:

Monnie--I agree the D of N isn't everyone (style) cup of tea but their products are not made in China and that is why I buy. The sweaters and coats I've bought for my DH and son are beautifully made.. Wind resistant wool...really lovely. I saw a young gal wearing a DoN traditional sweater biking this fall--and she make my day! lol They wash beautifully, keep their shape and color. Worth keeping the tradition.

The SNS Herning is another brand I support for the same reasons above. I would wear their mens garments they are so beautifully designed and fitted. I've got Prada mens merino wool and cashmere sweaters made in Italy that are just right for me.

I agree with the sentiment you can put the bucks out for a good garment and it pays dividends since it keeps as long as your taste for it does. Lucky if you get it on sale!

cheers--Sharon
 
Thank you for your input, Sharon. I enjoy all that you post.
 
monarch64 said:
I'm a 36D
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Monnie
SMTBoobs...
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Oh, those Dale of Navy sweaters are gorgeous! I wish I could wear one. I might get one for my husband though. I can barely stand long sleeved t-shirts in the winter, let alone any kind of sweater. I am perpetually running a low grade fever. I'm too hot, lol! I have one or two cotton blend sweaters that I keep. Some years I don't even wear them once.
 
Sigh, really? I have to spend $500 on a sweater to get a quality product? Screw that noise.

I blame Trump for this!
 
House Cat said:
Sigh, really? I have to spend $500 on a sweater to get a quality product? Screw that noise.

I blame Trump for this!
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I agree.
$500 or more on a sweater? I have to work almost 3 days for that. Do the math, I’m underpaid :lol:
 
I can see the value. For me, it would be a lifetime purchase that would likely outlive me. :eek2:
 
Begonia said:
I agree.
$500 or more on a sweater? I have to work almost 3 days for that. Do the math, I’m underpaid :lol:
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Oh, no sweater for you? :saint: Wait.......This is the interweb...I'll find a good sweater for you!:appl:
 
canuk-gal said:
Oh, no sweater for you? :saint: Wait.......This is the interweb...I'll find a good sweater for you!:appl:
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You go girl. :lol:
I need a dresser, always have.
 
@canuk-gal Wow the Sporting Life link has all kinds of things I like. What a great site. I guess that is mostly my style, outdoorsy/active wear. I laugh at the term active wear as my activity is quite limited these days, but I only dress for comfort now.
 
I'm not one, but my mother was a superlative sempstress. She taught me how to "feel" fabric. I'm still pretty good at being able to feel a fabric, and tell you its content - 50 poly/50 cotton. And I can generally always tell if something has silk in it, or rayon, although the newer fabrics are tricky.

Anyway, in recent years I've noticed that many clothes are being made with viscose and rayon, if not entirely, then in blends. Those were dirty words in our house when I was growing up. Rayon was hard to sew and didn't wear well, and washed up like a rag in short order. My mother refused to buy any of it, ever.

It appears to me that that is what is happening, at least from the standpoint of the fabric itself. The finishing of rayon type fabrics has improved, and they are lovely and soft. At first. But they just do not wear well or long, like cotton or cotton/poly blends. They also pill, which is annoying.
 
@ksinger Rayon is STILL a dirty word in my household. I was also given an education in fabrics growing up as my mother and grandmother were great at sewing. I refuse to buy rayon garments on the grounds that it is a cheap gnarly fabric that requires special care for zero reward. It falls apart. I prefer cotton blends. My daughters know to check labels now too. One hang dries every single top she owns. The other only a few because she refuses to buy rayon if possible. :bigsmile:
 
Your rayon and mother stories just reminded me of something that happened when my daughter was a little girl, I am going to guess about five years old, but maybe a year or so older. She had received an outfit from one of my Great Aunts for Christmas. I do not remember it very well, but I believe it was red, white, and black with some puppy or dog theme to it. I dressed her in it one day and when she was all dressed, in her bedroom, she said, "Mommy, this doesn't seem like the kind of thing I usually wear".

It was so true, but I never would have guessed that she would have known the fabrics that she had been wearing. I had always dressed he in Lilly Pulitzer and Oilily and Jacadi clothing which was well made made from lovely materials. My Great Aunt had given her a shiny, slick fabric outfit, but I certainly wasn't going to waste it or send the message that it was not welcome!I guess I remembered the incident,thought, because that was 20 years ago!

Deb/AGBF :wavey:
 
Well, apparently, rayon has grown up a bit, but if it is just the plain old rayon we love to hate, from what I read(below), can only appear on the label as "rayon" or "viscose". The modal, tencel, lyocells are better for wear, but most of the clothes I see are still sporting "rayon" or "viscose" and often as the highest percentage fiber. SoftSurroundings is the reigning champ of putting rayon in everything.

This site has some good info if anyone is interested. I learned a few new things. And there is some disturbing info about the microfibers that are shed by rayons, in marine ecosystems.
http://www.life.ca/naturallife/0908/ecofiber_or_fraud.htm
 
When I went down to Virginia recently to retrieve my Christmas ornaments, I found a bag with three sweaters I had never worn under a pile of things that had been in a closet with them. They had all, apparently, been too small for me and I had bought them for when I "became thin". I brought them back to Connecticut thinking they were now too big for me but could be donated because they looked beautiful.

One was an ivory Talbot's sweater with green shamrocks worked into the knit. Another was an ivory German (actually, probably Austrian) knit. The third was a pale brown cashmere. All fit perfectly. The first two had become brittle and yellow and had to be recused through hand washing. The cashmere was fine. I still do not have a camera I know how to use, but are worth pictures. Maybe I will figure out my camera over the holidays.

AGBF :wavey:
 
The quality of clothing has been degrading for decades as mfgring has been sent overseas to keep the retails down. Even the American brand ...Levis...are made in Mexico. If you are in an income bracket that can afford a 500 dollar sweater...buy it! I think Lands End is still pretty decent for affordable quality clothing. I love their outerwear. SQUALLS!

Kohls...while low priced..has some nice tops etc. i wear them with my $129.00 NYDJ jeans. Which I love.....

FM
 
FinleysMom said:
i wear them with my $129.00 NYDJ jeans. Which I love.....
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I have been wearing the same brand jeans for years. (The NYDJ) Only the size has changed!

I did buy a pair of flannel lined LLBean jeans this year because all my old ones were far too big. (I got a size 2.) I need them for our winters. I don't know if I picked a bad lining-there is a small amount of choice in the flannel- or if the quality has gone down even at LLBean, but they are not nearly as warm as past pairs.
 
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I use to love Lands End, but i have found the quality has dropped significantly over the years. Same with LLBean. I hate that. They use to be my go to for casual clothes.
 
I prefer a quality diamond...:P2
 
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