Clothing Quality

[dogememe]

Here at BITOG we fall into a few groups when it comes to motor oils and filters... a few people buy the best boutique oils with no regard to the price tag, most people just buy quality name brand stuff off the shelf of your local Walmart, auto parts store, or simply Amazon.com, and some people that think "oil is oil" and buy the cheapest clearance stuff they can find.

For me personally I have a crazy amount of clothes for the fact that there are only 7 days in a week and 5/6/7 days of that I wear my work uniform. I have some new stuff from brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, a couple like-new pre-owned items from otherwise overpriced brands like Vineyard Vines, and then a lot of cheap stuff from the likes of Target.

What I've noticed is that the more expensive clothing isn't really guaranteed to be more comfortable or fit better BUT it does last longer. I have a specific t-shirt I bought at Target for like $7, and while it started out pink it has now become practically white in the course of occasional wearing over the course of a few months, but I've never had that problem with anything from A&F, H&M, etc. and that stuff isn't particularly expensive.

I'm curious what our opinions on clothing are. Favorite brands? Where do you buy them? Do you buy the boutique expensive stuff new? Hunt for bargains on expensive brands on eBay and at Goodwill? Or just fill your cart at Target with the cheap stuff and worry about other things like the results of your next used oil analysis?

 

[RooflessVW]

Lucky Jeans and Haynes Beefy T's at home, 5.11 Tac-lites and Underarmor T's for work.

Shoes are Vans, Docs, or Thorogood.

 

[supton]

I don't have favorite brands. I tend not to take good care of my clothes and so they stain pretty quickly. I get Hanes white undershirts from Walmart when I run low, whatever socks. I don't pay attention to how long those last. I did change to Jockeys for underwear as they feel good and last--that's probably the only name brand that I specifically (and only) shop for.

I pick up work shirts (button up kind) from Goodwill/Salvation Army, whatever they have that I like. These tend to last years. Do have a couple suits from Goodwill.

Pants, those have been a sore spot for me. I only buy black slacks, and I've yet to find any that last. I tried some recently from LL Bean and found that while they looked good and felt good, change in my wallet would eat holes in the rear pocket, from sitting on them. They simply didn't hold up well. Walmart slacks seem a bit better but don't feel as good. Wife will get me some from the outlets that feel pretty good. Van Heusan(?) rings a bell, those seem to have worked best.

I have problems finding good shoes that fit, so I wear junky ones. 9.5B, I might as well wear sandals. I do like the Bean boots I picked up, work good in winter, and for yardwork too. I don't like buying shoes at Walmart but I might just start doing that, if I can't get a good fit I might as well go cheap. I did used to buy New Balance sneakers online, like $90/pair, and I'd get a year out of them. Maybe 2 if I didn't care how bad they looked.

Jackets, LL Bean has some cheapo ski jacket that I'll buy one every couple of years. Works ok for a year, then the water resistance goes downhill. LL Bean fleece in spring/fall. These seem to last forever.

Bicycle clothing, whatever I can get cheap, I don't bike enough to warrant going big time. I avoid the jerseys with logos and whatnot, I'm too slow to use the proper kit.

Clothing that gets holes in them get used around the house, until they are completely worn out.

 

[opus1]

I'm big so my first problem is buying something that fits. Goes for shoes as well.

I used to haunt the outlet mall near my house and one that was on my way to Wisconsin to get Jockey underwear. I'm still wearing some t-shirts that I bought sometime between 2002-2004. Recently I ordered some replacements from Jockey online and I'm not getting the same sort of wear from the newer t-shirts than the ones I've been wearing for years, and I would have expected better since the online purchases are not outlet-store stock.

Then there's Fruit-of-the-Loom which started playing around with sizes so that a 3XL is no longer what a 3XL was because they've come out with 3XB sizing...and of course they're not as plentiful in that size.

I have had really good luck with Wrangler jeans from Farm & Fleet though. Good selection of sizes, really good prices, and no complaints about quality, at least not so far.

 

[LoneRanger]

I've found that Hagar still builds pants that last, but Dockers have gone down hill in quality/durability (office wear, etc) drastically the past 5 or 6 yrs. Hagar flat front straight cut khaki's are my go to for work wear, and they can pull extra duty for casual time off the clock as well. My big challenge is long sleeve shirts. If i want to look right in them I have to buy 17 & 1/2 neck to fit my shoulders and chest (46L in jacket size) and 38" sleeve, then since I wear a 35 in waist for pants I have to have the shirt tailored in at the waist or it's a tent down low, and looks stupid all blousy tucked in. Same challenge buying a suit, which I have to have a couple for Court testimony and the usual social obligations (funerals and weddings). 46L jacket always has pants that even when tailored-in for my 35" waist still look too big... at least in the mass market brands of suit that are in my budget.

 

[nthach]

I've stopped buying new jeans - I get them from the local consignment store(basically a thrift store for people who won't be caught dead at Goodwill). I've gotten pairs of "designer" jeans in good to excellent shape for $20-25. Jeans and pants are hard for me to buy - I have a bit of a derrière and that I call thunder thighs from the bike. I've scored a $400 John Varvatos sports jacket for $15 at a local thrift store, it still had the sales tags from Nordstrom in the breast pockets.

For my more "active" stuff, I will splurge within reason. I had a gift card from Patagonia - they sent full credit towards a new jacket since I sent in one that wasn't able to be repaired. I used that towards a new snow jacket. A lot of the stuff I wear on runs or to yoga is lululemon. Yes, I know they are ungodly expensive and are seen as a "girl's" brand and they also have been plagued with quality issues(they kinda remind me of Bridgestone). But I have not found an equal for fit and feel. My bike stuff is mostly high-end, I've been on a Ten Speed Hero and Velocio kick as of late.

 

[BigD1]

Originally Posted By: opus1
I have had really good luck with Wrangler jeans from Farm & Fleet though. Good selection of sizes, really good prices, and no complaints about quality, at least not so far.


If those Wrangler jeans are the same as what Rural King sells, they are higher quality than the typical Walmart Wrangler, Target, and etc. Of course the cost per pair is good bit more too.

Rural King is running a sale right now on the higher quality Wrangler jeans...buy two get one pair free.

 

[javacontour]

I wear a lot of LL Bean clothing. It's not fashion expensive, but is still good quality.

FWIW, I have a pair of LL Bean gloves I bought in 1988 that I still wear.

There are points of diminishing returns on the name brand/price and quality scale.

I don't see any glaring quality deficiency in the $40 LL Bean Jeans I buy vs the $100 fashion brands I wouldn't consider wearing.

Regarding thrift shops, Since I've lost about 45 pounds in the past 6 months, I've been buying thrift shop pants until I get to my final weight.

No sense of even spending $40 for jeans when a $5-10 pair will serve me until I complete the journey.

I have purchased some new Carhart, LL Bean and Columbia fishing shirts, as I'll still be an XL-Tall even after I lose another 20 or so pounds.

 

[PandaBear]

Personally I like the comfort of Gap the best, follow by Levi's. Somehow Wrangler worn out way too fast for me but I got them from Ross, so I don't know if they were rejects or are always like that.

I only wear free T shirts from company events, swags, etc.

 

[Kestas]

Being tall and skinny, I always had a problem with shirts being long enough and wouldn't pull out of my pants. I once found a source of shirts for tall men, but quickly found out they shrunk horribly from washing... some 2-3 inches!. Shortly after that I found the better stores carry preshrunk clothing or at least dealt with dealers whose wares didn't shrink that badly.

I recently noticed material is getting thinner for knit shirts. I pointed this out to my girlfriend, who said this is now the style and to embrace it. I told her 'baloney' and that she has been brainwashed by the fashion industry into accepting what I believe is cost-saving measures by the mills in China.

 

[SevenBizzos]

I'd rather have less of higher quality stuff, than more of less. I am fortunate that my job gives me some logo clothing every year. Soon I won't need to own any work type shirts of my own.

I've found the best bang is nice quality shoes. Most are really comfortable and last a long time.

 

[Rolla07]

I try to grab Buffalo brand items from Burlington Coat when Im in the USA. Hard to find clothes for myself up here since im 6ft6.

 

[aquariuscsm]

My fave brands are Hollister,Ralph Lauren,and Sperry.

 

[Nick1994]

I don't buy very fancy or expensive clothes, I'd rather replace it more often, because I'll probably stain it or something and need to replace it anyways.

 

[EdwardC]

I'm probably just becoming an old man, but a large percentage of my clothing is from Costco. Their dress shirts are surprisingly decent and I usually buy polos, shorts and pants from where when I need them. Usually just buy whatever Levis jeans they have. Not all their stuff is great though, I've had some synthetic polos that snagged the first time I wore it, while other ones are 2 years old with no snags. Great return policy on stuff like that though.

I do spend a little more on my underwear and socks. I've been buying lighter weight, synthetic, quick drying underwear that I can easily hand wash when traveling, plus they don't hold sweat as much. In the past couple years, I've switched to wool sock, and more lately, been buying pricey Darn Tough socks. They're expensive, but have proven to be very durable for me (and technically, there's a lifetime warranty where you can send in your ripped/worn socks with some small shipping/handling fee, and they'll send you a new pair).

One thing that I have found to be worth spending a little more on is footwear. Cheap shoes just fall apart. I have a pair of Redwings that are several years old that are in great shape still. I'm happy to spend a few hundred dollars on a pair of boots that are made in the USA (not a requirement, but I like it) and can be resoled.

 

[Dave Hess]

I've never been a clothes type of person, but I do buy quality clothing from online stores.

 

[Bud]

Wrangler jeans, Hanes T's and Clarks shoes are my daily wear.

 

[BJD78]

Clothing quality is nowhere near what it was 20-30 or more years ago. I have a couple of flannel shirts from about 88 from Penny's and the flannel is still thick after many, many washings and wears. Levi jeans used to last easily for many years, not so today. The denim is not nearly as thick. I wear cowboy boots Justin and Ariat, and wrangler boot cut jeans or carpenter jeans ,carhart jeans seem to still be fairly heavy, but again not what they were even 10 years ago. seems everyone is cutting corners on quality and that includes clothing. i never wear short sleeve shirts , do not even own any. i like to buy my western shirts from Orshlens (farm store) a they have good selection of Carhartt and wrangler jeans and shirts. Underwear and T shirts and socks , just does not last as long as they used to. I just buy a dozen of each and usually by the end of the years they are shot, I keep a few T shirts around for shop rags and toss the worn out under wear and socks. Each time they are put in the dryer the lint screen fills up so after about maybe 30 washings or so t shirts socks and underwear is shot. I inherited an old 100% wool hunting coat after my dad passed. It is red checkerboard pattern and the wool is thick about twice as thick as a quarter or a 50 cent coin. look at a wool jacket today and they are flimsy by comparison.

 

[fdcg27]

You really have to look at what you're buying and not go by selling channel or brand.
There are some really decent cheap clothing items out there as well as some premium priced junk.
It will usually be worthwhile to visit thrift stores on their half price days.
You may find a few gems and you may not, but the hunt is always fun.
I dress pretty casually for work these days, since I'll be retired in a few short years and I probably have no further promotions in prospect and one would do little for me at this point anyway.
Khakis and polos mostly and sweaters during the colder months.
I only tie a tie or wear a jacket for weddings and funerals these days. We're now old enough that we have more of the latter than the former.

 

[Dorian]

Clothing quality is not the same as it used to be. I buy American Eagle jeans because I find that they are very good quality and fit quite good for me. A majority of my clothes are Nike, Patagonia, Vineyard Vines, Lululemon, Polo, etc. However, I take care of my clothes. I tend to wear shorts, jeans, and sweatshirts twice before washing. It also helps that our washer (Whirlpool Duet) is very gentle on clothes and cleans very well. Plus, we use Downy to help keep things in better shape and Tide to clean well. It makes all the difference. We do not buy clothes regularly as a result. I have pairs of Nike socks that are from middle school (I'm 23) and are in good shape. I tend to buy a majority of my clothes on sale, clearance, or with a coupon of sort.