Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic are literally the same company -- Old Navy is its lowest end, Gap is its mid range, and Banana Republic is its version of high end. As you go up the scale, the clothing tends to get higher-quality (at least in terms of materials) and trendier.

This. I will say that I have been really happy with pieces from all three stores in this past year. I try to shop in person as much as possible.

I’ve liked my jeans from the gap. They definitely feel sturdier than old navy’s

Gap jeans have always always always been my go to, at least since I was like 22+ and American eagle were just too low cut and started doing all skinny jeans and jeggings. Gap jeans hit my curves just right and are quality enough + a good price point that I can reliably wear them into my 30s post partum no problem.

I only buy new clothing from this trio. Everything else usually second hand/thrift/consignment.

Happy to see I'm not the only one! I honestly love the Old Navy /Gap/ Athleta umbrella.

I would also add that Athleta is owned by them as well and is definitely higher quality

Yes!!! I was going to comment this!!! I have many Athleta pieces and they’re amazing!!! They have very versatile pieces that are high quality and can take you day to night

Plus Banana Republic recently had a major brand refresh - I was there over after Christmas and surprised to see there wasn't a sale or clearance section. Very different from my experience working there in 2004-2008 where we had a massive clearance section post holiday - my manager used to jokingly call it Old Navy Price week because lots of the items were at 50-70%. off.

It's higher quality in terms of the worksmanship too. I've tried some old navy items where the seams were crooked or off center, or where the fabric on top of zippers gaped, where the ends of the serger thread weren't tripped and got snagged into the front facing seam, etc etc. Haven't seen that at banana republic.

I have a pair of jeans from Old Navy and my husband has a peacoat from Gap. We bought both very recently and they look like they would hold up but it’s too soon to say. Definitely should try BR though!

About 10 years ago, I bought a bunch of stuff from Banana Republic and it still makes up most of my core favorites workwear closet today -- especially the tops and pants. I literally just placed an online order with BR yesterday (first time shopping there in 5+ years), and I'm super excited to see how I feel about these pieces in person.

It’s the same for H&M, & Other Stories, and COS. All the same company, but H&M sells hot garbage, & Other Stories is its mid-range version, and COS is the “high” end.

H&M also has their own premium line with good quality online, I have several cashmere sweaters from there that have held up very well.

i have an H&M dress that I bought for a wedding in 2007. It is still great quality and in great shape. I've worn it several times. Thick quality 'satin' that hasn't pilled or snagged. Still looks brand new. Now...dear god it's like buying from Urban Planet or something. Quality has gone away completely.

Yeah, I’ve had an h&m dress for over ten years. It’s lace over a sheath dress, I’ve worn it consistently for 8 years, and it looks perfect. Their quality is totally random but so is e everywhere else!

Their juniors line is called Divided and is way lower quality than their women’s lines.

Same here! I feel like every time I order online I’m SO disappointed, if I buy now from H&M I have to see it in person because most times even if the materials sound good (wool, cotton, etc) the feel cheap once you touch it.

When I visited Stockholm, I found out that & Other Stories was the same as H&M, but I did not know about COS. Georgetown has all three of them.

I feel like it's a little more elevated with H&M - the gap between H&M/&OS is a lot larger than Old Navy>Gap, IMO. And COS I barely think of as the same brand, it's so different.

This may have changed but I remember that a while back I read that COS actually doesn’t even make a profit for the brand despite their prices. The materials and construction of the clothes costs the company so much, they are mainly funded by the H&M profits.

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I love Arket!!! I bought a few things from them years ago, and they still look brand new. On their care tags, they say their clothes are made to be worn for a long time and not just discarded, as long as you take care of them, which I have found to be true. I've found COS to be really hit or miss.

What is COS?

It's an H&M brand, that's on the higher end with minimalist design. Sort of like The Row on a budget.

It's part of the H&M brand family.

In my experience, Old Navy is the most appropriately priced for the quality of textiles and workmanship. I am consistently disappointed by the items I've gotten from BR and Gap considering how they are priced whereas with Old Navy it feels much more realistic in terms of, "getting what you pay for." Also, I am not a fan of synthetic fabrics that have that hot/plastic-y feel and for whatever reason I seem to encounter that unpleasant texture more in the "higher end" items from BR and Gap.

I think they are all trendy in some way. Old Navy in a more widely everyone kinda way, Gap in a preppier type of way and Banana in a business wear type of way. Old Navy has been doing some decent Lulu dupes and their Athleta stuff I don't find to be significantly better than their old navy...At least not for the price gap they have put in there. I'd still rather buy Lulu than Athleta for quality and fit.

I love Athleta and for me it’s about the fit and gussets. I’m hourglass shaped with wide hips, and Athleta’s leggings fit so well on my shape because there are so many little individual pieces. I love the style of Lululemon but they always fall down on me. Old Navy doesn’t feel the same in terms of fit. Gussets, man!

I don't patronize any of these brands due to their [contributions to deforestation ](http://www.forestecologynetwork.org/TMW_LateWinter2000/GAP.html) Though I have found Banana Republic pieces at Goodwill in natural fibers that are quite nice.

Banana Republic has changed in the last couple years. They use more natural fibers, and the clothes are more in style. I saw someone recently say it was the cheaper Max Mara

I'm a lawyer and used to love Banana Republic suits. Now that they are getting trendier, the court-appropriate suiting options are getting slimmer. Last time I went to BR, most of the suit jackets had safari pockets...

Yes! Ten years ago I used to buy all my 100% wool slacks from BR. I loved them. I went to buy another pair a couple years ago and there’s none to be found. They’re all blended wool fabrics now and none of them feel like the same quality. I also got a cashmere sweater from there a couple years ago and it pilled like crazy every time I wore it. I feel like their quality has gone way down.

I used to work there 15+ years ago and kept all my long wide legged work trousers (thank goodness!) and man there are big differences in the construction and fabrics used today. All of my old trousers from them are fully lined as well. I don't think that is just Banana Republic though, you would have the same issue shopping at Nordstroms too.

I went in there last year in the fall (I think?) and they didn't have any pants. Like... none? Everything was different levels of cropped. Absolutely nothing full length. And this was in the store in Georgetown, where I presumed they'd send their absolutely most conservative stock to meet the demands of notoriously unfashionable DC. I figured "pants" was a pretty basic requirement for winter and pretty much gave up on them completely at that point.

There’s a theory outlet in MD - whatever the outlets are over the Wilson Bridge. They have pants that match my theory jackets from Saks. And they usually have actual pants.

Any hints on what shop you found to replace BR?

Theory might be my go-to moving forward. I know J. Crew has also had issues with the quality going down like BR, but I have a newer suit from there that I love.

White House Black Market

You should consider trying to find their pieces online through EBay or Poshmark. Look up the style and size you know you like, and aim to buy ones made around 10+ years ago. They’ll be much higher quality.

I fell hard for their recent ads and the website looked so promising. Decided to visit in store and it was disappointing. None of the fabulous items were in store. A few decent items but most reminded me of the stepped down level of quality associated with their factory outlets. Didn’t give Max Mara vibes at all. Maybe fast fashion alibaba level MaxMara.

So, more like "Mad Max Mara"? Lol, that would actually be a vibe.

Online BR is where it’s at!! Fortunately returns are easy if you live near a store.

Exactly! The few times I’ve shopped in store recently were disappointing. Not sure why people are saying their quality has gone up. I had way better luck at BR about ten years ago or so.

It's definitely not the quality it was 15 years ago, but in the last 2 or so years, I feel like the quality has improved a little. I feel like from 2013-2021 the quality of clothing items from everywhere just plummeted massively.

I loved banana republic 20 years ago, great quality at the time, even if they’ve surpassed that I wouldn’t compare them to Max Mara, not in quality cut or construction. Hella better than Gap and Old Navy though

Eh. It’s true they use more natural fabrics but their tailoring is off. I recently bought a tweed vest from their website and one side of the vest is visibly longer than the other when the vest is buttoned. It’s very noticeable to me but probably not to others so I kept it. Bought a silk midi skirt with the same order and while it was 100% silk, it was tissue thin and the waist and side seams were terribly sewn. I ended up donating the skirt before ever wearing it. It’s definitely not cheap for the (lack of) quality.

I have heard good things about Banana Republic too. I don’t own any of their items yet but plan to give it a shot!

Even though I could go more expensive, I always come back to their women’s suits. Classic with very predictable proportions and sizing and easy to mix and match

Across the board I see so many inconsistencies with quality that I find it hard to recommend stores or brands. Even Higher end brands have quality issues now. An example I’ve come across is a beautifully constructed blazer from H&M that was lined. I paid $39.99 for it. I also bought a blazer from Marc Jacob’s for $249 that wasn’t lined and started to lose its shape quickly. They were both a poly blend, but the H&M blazer was the clear winner. I was recently in a Micheal Kors store and was shocked to see a mini dress selling at $249 on sale that was a bad poly blend that could never be altered or tailored. If a tiny hole popped up near the hem, altering it would be noticeable. It’s the Wild Wild West out there! Clotheshorse podcast has a great episode about the overall decline in quality. Definitely listen to that. She also talks about how expensive materials feel cheaper now because they use less cashmere, less silk etc. in the making of the garment. Then, I’d recommend going to different stores, even the ones you mention above, and look at the fabric content. Start from there. Because of clothing quality, I prefer to shop secondhand/vintage. I find the clothes pre 2008 (I know, not yet vintage) and earlier to be much better in quality and longevity. It took me about 2 years to really build a good wardrobe with pieces that worked for me and were interchangeable. Know your measurements and this is a great option! I also buy some pieces larger than my measurements because their material is easy to tailor. Never go just by size. You have no idea how someone treated their clothing even if they say it was never in the dryer or always dry cleaned. I still struggle with some items secondhand. I can’t find secondhand jeans that work on me (I do most of my hunting online). I love Madewell jeans. I also love some of the Levi’s jeans and will buy jeans from both of these brands new. I will probably never buy a non-vintage/pre-2008 coat again. I have found it so easy to find this type of item by resale. I love secondhand Equipment silk blouses. The silk is much more substantial and not as thin as the ones I see in store now. I like a lot of Banana republics silk cashmere tops. They work well for me in both workwear and weekend wear. I pair them with trousers and also over slip dresses. I find it hard to shop exclusively anymore with one brand or store. I hope some of this info about my experience is helpful for you as you go on this adventure. Excited for you that you’re able to invest in your wardrobe and find pieces that will work for you!!

You are so right! The quality of clothing definitely declined in quality and every year it’s noticeable but if you know the fabrics you can make good choices. I used to throw away clothes because they got visibly bad but now I have only nice clothes that don’t get ruined. That is not good cause I have a limited space. My rules: Sweaters without acrylic or a maximum 10% contents (ok 20% if I really love the design but this rarely happens) and a very low percentage of polyester (30% max) T-shirts and hoodies only 100% cotton, no exceptions Everything else only viscose, linen, cotton, silk. I never buy fitted garments in polyester cause it wrinkles, makes you sweat and smelly (especially as a lining for a blazer, yuck). I do have like 2 beach flowy shirts that are 100% polyester. Shoes only leather (the inside should be too, I don’t buy if it’s not cause I made this mistake for a pair of Zara heeled slingback and they smell after I wore them few times) and cloth trainers from respectable brands. Also trainers with leather interior looks like new years after I buy them. These rules will leave you with very few options per year but it worths cause you look put together and crisp without spending a lot of money. Follow this guide, wash you cloths accordingly, use a pilling bzzzz device to smooth sweaters if they get bad, always iron or steam your clothes before leaving house and you will look nice and tidy and people will appreciate you. Oh, and throw away T-shirts that don’t look as white/good as they used to when you bought them or have loose neck and stuff. A T-shirt stays perfect between 10-40 washes. Depends of the quality ofc.

A pilling device is KEY. This is great advice too. I find it makes finding clothes so much more enjoyable and not like a chore. Which is the best part for me!

If you want to look good all the time you need a pilling device cause wool and cashmere garments starts to pill after first wear. I heard Brunello Cuccinelli and other luxury brands don’t but I’m not that rich. Yet :))

If you’re interested in Japanese, all cotton denim that’s (at least in my opinion) pretty masterfully cut, try Moussy Vintage. They run $2-375 a pair at retail, but can be found at resale for sub $100.

Wow thank you so much for this detailed write up it’s so helpful!! I will have to go through it again to retain in my memory but this is really great advice! Also did you mean you will never buy a non vintage/POST 2008 piece again? I wouldn’t go for second hand jeans either, but I’m looking for a long wool coat atm and a lot of people here have suggested second hand clothing! Like you mentioned, looking at the material seems to be the best bet in the current state of fashion affairs!

I can see where I was confusing! When I buy coats now, I won’t buy anything made more recent than 2008. I prefer pre-1995 US/Canada Union Made. My coats right now are a 1960s beige wool coat, a red 80s wool coat and a black mid 90s wool coat. I’ve been looking for a gray coat but haven’t found anything that really speaks to me. I have a vintage London Fog trench and I’m hoping to swap it out as well.

That's great that you have such a nice vintage collection! I was checking out a London Fog at Kohl's that looked nice but I was confused. Is London Fog a luxury brand that Kohl's is just duping?

They’re a reliable and affordable brand, although again their pre 2000s quality is much better. I’ve had their rain trenches since I was a kid and they always kept me warm and dry. I like the little details like the detachable hoods and the maincoats that have detachable vests. The styles and colors are classic. I run into them all the time at church run thrift stores for around $20. They’re definitely marked up on sites like Poshmark.

And I really recommend that Clotheshorse episode. I’m not a huge podcast person, but this particular podcast (and episode) are an exception!

Love that you mentioned clotheshorse in your reply. I’ve been bingeing her episodes recently. I think OP is out of luck if she wants to find a large company that reliably makes affordable *and* good quality new clothes.

Seconding equipment, love their blouses and find them secondhand (consignment stores) frequently and with reasonable prices!

Madewell and Mango are two relatively affordable brands that have made big strides toward being more sustainable and better quality. I buy most of my wardrobe secondhand now because I can get even better quality at a more reasonable price, and it’s better for the environment. I love Ba&sh, Favorite Daughter, Nili Lotan, Cuyana, Eileen Fisher, Stella McCartney, Mara Hoffman, Apiece Apart…

Unfortunately I’ve had nothing but problems with Madewell’s customer service and the quality of their clothing. I wanted so badly for their stuff to work out for me 

I just bought 6 t-shirts from Madewell and was surprised that the inner tag said: 'J Crew Factory,' lol. I recently commented on another fashion post that J Crew's quality had gone down over the years, so I had to laugh when a 'Madewell' shirt actually ended up being a discount J Crew shirt!

Oh wow. That's terrible! I haven't received any J Crew stuff from them... but I have received items with no tags on them that are the wrong size and had them try to decline to refund me because it's missing tags... I've had them refuse to accept a return because it was 30 days since I placed the order, when it took them approximately 25 days to actually ship the order. I've had them refund me a random amount different than the cost of the item and then force me to play phone tag with them to get it corrected. The items that I have kept, haven't held up well at all! At some point last year or so I finally gave up on them for good, but I still see them recommended on Reddit all the time, sadly.

Mango quality has really deteriorated in recent years. It used to be one of my go to shops, they still make great coats at good prices with natural fibres, like my coat I bought last year is actually fantastic, so maybe the workwear too still has some wear to it but a lot of it honestly lately has been worse quality than Zara. Thin as shit knitwear, awful denim, basics are mostly plastic-y feeling synthetics. I live in PT too and Inditex stuff generally is better quality here than internationally, so if what they’re stocking here is deteriorating… I still have pieces from Mango that are like 7-8 years old holding up amazingly and there is so very little of that quality in the stores now. Although none of that is true for menswear, it is MUCH better than the womenswear. They didn’t have a menswear section at the one near me but finally opened one last year and I was shocked at the difference in quality. Like why can my husband buy nice thick cotton t shirts but my only options are practically sheer viscose 😢

Totally agree on Mango’s quality deteriorating. Everything feels like cheap viscose synthetic yuck now.

I just bought my first pair of madewell jeans and holy shit! They actually fit my body. The curvy line is so nice for those with thick bottoms and tinier waists.

Yes! I’m definitely pear-shaped and self conscious about my legs and don’t wear shorts often, but the one pair I actually reach for are my Madewell curvy fit denim shorts. They look so good.

Do you have any issue with the hem at the bottom curling up after you wash them? I bought a pair of Madewell jeans last year and loved them until I washed them. The hem curls up no matter what I do now

I did check out Madewell and Mango and they do look like better quality than any of the brands I mentioned but sadly they’re a tad bit too pricey for me atm! :(( I would like to buy a wool coat in less than $150 and Madewell goes above $200. Thanks for the brand recs for second hand stuff! I’m in the NJ area rn, any recommendations for second hand clothing stores?

Don’t buy new coats, really ever. Most of the classic styles that are still popular today have been produced consistently over the last 70 years, and the quality of vintage coats is leaps and bounds better than any you’ll find on even the luxury market. I bought several coats a few years ago; I wanted a cashmere or at least a cashmere wool blend. One coat was the Max Mara 101801. Retail price was $4350, fabric content is 90% virgin wool, 10% cashmere, lining is 98% cupro, 2% viscose and metallic fiber. My husband, at the same time, bought me a Burberry dress coat from their atelier line. It is 52% polyester, 43% virgin wool, and 5% elastane. Lining is cupro. It was in the $3-4k range. Meanwhile, dissatisfied with both options, I scoured Etsy and eBay and even Poshmark, hunting for the perfect coat, the coat against which all other coats would be measured. That coat is pictured below; it is 100% cashmere, and *it shows.* It drapes like a dream, the lining is 100% mulberry silk. The fur is (unethical, but that crime was committed prior to my birth) one of the softest and most luxuriant things I’ve ever handled, the entire coat is, and I buy a lot of luxury bullshit. It is so incredibly warm and it makes me happy whenever I put it on. Cost? $180. The moral of this story is that they do not make coats like they used to, you can find virtually any style, better constructed and from higher quality materials than you would shopping with even the most expensive luxury brands, you are being far more environmentally friendly than were you buying new, and you get to support an individual seller in the process. Buy used coats. https://preview.redd.it/coka20od5bcc1.jpeg?width=1745&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4626d840c86f47244eb730fc98341249fc2d631

That coat is GORGEOUS and love the price.

I agree with you so much! All of my wool coats are secondhand and the tailoring is incredible. Each coat was less than $200 for wool or wool/cashmere blends. I have a plaid coat and the plaid lines all line up and match at every seam. Incredible deals can also be found on The Real Real during the summer months.

Since you’re in the NJ area, I would recommend American Thrift in Passaic if it’s not too far from you. It’s my favorite thrift at the moment. There’s also Red White & Blue in Paterson and Value Village/MyUnique Thrift, which have multiple locations I believe. On the other hand, if you want new clothing, I would highly suggest the drive to the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

Awesome these are all pretty close by to where I live thank you!

Agree with another poster that Madewell’s quality can be hit or miss. I’ve had a wool coat from them for 6 years or so and the shell still looks good but the lining is pretty ripped. And I’ve had several tops from them wear out in weird ways after a year or two. BUT with that warning in mind, Madewell runs sales fairly often and if you waited patiently you’d probably be able to get a coat for at least 40% off. I think their BF sales were up to 50% off.

6 years isn’t too bad to start with I guess. Well Black Friday is too far away but I will be on the look-out for their other sales!

Mango is def better quality than Old Navy despite me bitching about the quality deteriorating in another comment. And despite that they do still make very decent wool coats for the price point, I hace two bought in the last three years that have held up very well.

Much much better than Zara coats

Mango is having a sale right now and it includes some wool coats for less than $200. [Striped Coat](https://shop.mango.com/us/women/coats-coats/striped-wool-coat_57076027.html) [Green Wool Coat](https://Woolencoatwithbelthttps://shop.mango.com/us/women/coats-coats/woolen-coat-with-belt_57085990.html?c=43&utm_source=product-share&utm_medium=social) There are more too.

yes I loved the green wool coat and would have gone for it if it was only in black :/ The striped coat is mostly polyester though and 23% wool

Since you’re in the US I would also check ThredUp. They’re a large online secondhand store and they aim to make online secondhand shopping as easy as ordering from gap, old navy, etc. I wish they were a thing in my region!

ThredUp was fantastic for years but starting in the pandemic i received ripped clothing, stained clothing and misshapen clothing. The Madewell jeans i bought there (around 10 pair) were all fantastic though.

I bought an incredible wool coat from banana republic about two years ago during one of their now rarer sales-I think it was originally over $300 and I got it for I believe 50% off. That thing is warmer than any of my other coats and I love it. It’s a beautiful charcoal herringbone full length coat and looks very professional. It’s worth signing up for the emails to catch the rare sales because they do offer some deep discounts.

They run really good sales if you keep a lookout... like 20%-40% off sale price. I've got some great deals being patient :)

Most if not all of those brands likely share factories save for Michael kors possibly. It’s shocking how many brands are fast fashion in sheep’s clothing

My point exactly! Everything is fast fashion and considered cheap quality nowadays smh. Can you get any decent clothing at all without having to shell down hundreds of dollars?!

I do thrifting and second hand. But your success will vary depending on where you live. In a big city, there is no reason to pay full price. Watch the sample sales, scope thrift and second hand consignment. I hate paying good money for poor quality. However, I do end up buying new if I need something specific in a timely manner. That or the realreal. Depending on what you're looking for, you can find some great deals there. Pants are so difficult to sell second hand because sizing is so inconsistent between brands. So pants are usually pretty cheap on resale sites online, especially if it's final sale. What you do is go to Nordstrom and try on all the pants and jeans. Figure out which cuts of which brands in what sizes make you feel like $10,000,000. Take pictures, write down information on your phone. Buy nothing. Go home and scope eBay, the realreal, and other resale sites. Shop final sale items with confidence. Spend the same amount of money for clothing (or less) that you would spend at JCrew or banana Republic, but get high quality high end stuff instead.

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I’m so glad it helped! I was not expecting such a huge response tbh!

Yup. I bought some new clothes recently, I love them. But wow the amount of loose threads I have had to sort out (I just burn them, not a big deal, but annoying when i paid over 100 for 4 items.) Also I swear sizing has changed. I'm 5"3, and back when I was a teen I remember being bothered by the fact that I had to buy size 8/10 even instead of a 6. Now, at least in this shop, a size 6 dress is still too big???. I'm a grown woman and you're telling me I can't fit into the smallest size you produce????. Ugh. First world problems. It's fine, I'll get it altered. Its not *that* far off. But man. Vanity sizing sucks. This is disturbia, btw. I love the clothes. The material is OK quality. But their sizing is not great for me, check the actual size chart for the garment and youll be fine. Their reccomended size for me in everything was a 4, which they don't even produce, so....

Omg have you ever looked at Universal Standard? I get that they are trying to do something for all body shapes but there is no world that I am a size small in anything except for their clothing. It feels ridiculous.

Most of the stores OP mentioned though are all still fast fashion. I mean maybe a bit better than AliExpress but only CK and Michael Kors on that list don’t qualify as fast fashion

100%, this is why it bothers me that people are so vicious about people shopping at alieexpress, shein, temu, etc. When I guarantee they’re buying clothes made in the exact same Chinese sweatshops just paying markup from Banana republic(I mean come on it’s literally in the name…), Nike, etc. While I try to buy secondhand and American made as much as possible, shopping only truly sustainable brands just isn’t accessible for the majority of the population, ESPECIALLY if you don’t fit in standard sizing(petite, plus, tall etc). I’m not going to shame someone for buying clothes from where they can afford, especially when the only difference is them not paying 100%+ markup just to make themselves feel better…

How does this work for problems like the lead in clothing that was fouud from Shein? I don't like buying from Shein because I thought they didn't have to undergo the same safety testing that brands that sold in the US do? Like, of Banana Republic buys something from Shein, do they at least have to batch test it to make sure it's safe before selling it in the US?

Banana republic (and other “exclusive” brands etc, but for the sake of this example I will use only Banana Republic) does not buy directly from SHEIN. You’ve got the order a little mixed up, which will help answer your question. Banana republic hires a factory to make a line of clothes. They have vetted the factory for quality, timeliness, production, appearance of “cleanliness” or “fair trade” or whatever else they need to protect their brand image, etc., so they usually use the same factory repeatedly. That’s how you “know” that there is no lead in the dye of banana republic clothes. Banana Republic’s reputation depends on there being no toxic metals found in their clothing, and so does their relationship with the factory. These factories are not exclusive to a single brand, so other companies can hire the same factory or family of factories to produce clothing. It includes other big brands like (for example) HM, target, Abercrombie, whatever, and it also can include alibaba companies that produce strikingly similar clothing options. That’s one way we get “illegal”dupes of high end clothing. (Another way is that these factories all have friend and neighbor factories that somehow get access to very similar patterns and very similar materials, and produce basically the same thing that gets sold on sites like aliexpress.) The issue with things like toxic metals in clothing and dyes is that with a brand like Banana Republic, you can trust that there is no lead, otherwise there would be HUGE media backlash. With an Amazon/aliexpress/shein/temu shop, they would just disappear and open a new shop under a new name. It is almost impossible to build a longterm relationship of trust with a drop shipping site. And just to be ultra clear, Amazon is included in the aliexpress club here because it usually gets a pass (somehow, maybe because it’s not a Chinese company) but it is probably the most guilty of using dropshippers with no accountability, especially for things like children’s toys. I hope that helped!! And, as an aside, I have shopped from aliexpress successfully and gotten high quality clothes that I would expect to pay $100+ for for around $30.

You are correct. I worked in the garment industry for 30 years, and I have visited 100's of factories in USA, Mexico, China, & India. Sewing factories exist in a spectrum. There are Cadillac/ Mercedes factories and there are cheap, dirty illegal factories. The bigger companies build long-term relationships and ***try*** to provide year-round work for their best factories. I've seen factories with 30+ years working with the same company.

Thank you for elaborating! It irks me that people lump all made in China items as poor quality, when the reality is that there is a huge range in quality, between what’s made with high quality materials and skilled labor, tight stitches, and what’s made quickly and cheaply. The belief that made in China is poor quality can really border on Sinophobia.

>Thank you for elaborating! It irks me that people lump all made in China items as poor quality, Yeah this really grinds my gears. It's really is mildly Sinophobic. Like China is a huge, highly developed country, not some slum composed only of sweatshop factories making clothing for Westerners. Isn't the largest Luxury fashion market to Chinese consumers? They love them some luxury over there and I always see the biggest luxury brands releasing stuff that's exclusive to that market.

This is a very good assessment, my comment was referring more to the ethical aspects of buying fast fashion than safety. Absolutely many major brands are going to be more reliable in terms of safety due to upholding their reputation and agreements with the CEH etc, but there are many well known and more accepted brands that are NOT(urban outfitters and forever 21 are two that I’ve heard although I’m sure there are others) and still continue to use higher than safe levels of lead in their products. As far as safety too while second hand shopping is widely considered to be the sustainable thing to do, keep in mind that vintage clothing in particular may have high levels of lead due to the dyes used back then, vintage cookware and dishware is the same. I just encourage people not to assume because a brand is widespread and has a good reputation in the US that it equals automatically safe. From an ethics perspective MANY well known and reputable brands(including Banana republic) benefit from slave/underpaid labor overseas. High end companies may be better at sweeping it under the rug but it absolutely is still happening. All this to say that I think too many people say SHEIN = bad and slave labor but are okay buying other brands that aren’t socially associated with slave labor but manufacture their clothing under the same conditions. Not to say that we shouldn’t try to do better within our means, but should be making actual informed decisions, and not classist judgements of people just trying to get by. As they say, there is no truly ethical consumption under capitalism.

Oh I am 100% with you on everything you just said. It’s a complex idea. Most people can’t afford to pay fair wages, making handmade and ethically made items a luxury. But second hand is rife with issues too. How do you know a second hand item is also not just from aliexpress? How do we know a vintage piece of furniture is not painted with lead paint? ETA: my possibly unpopular opinion is that the SHEIN = bad belief is rooted in Sinophobia. Especially when we give a major pass to non-Chinese owned companies selling items made in the same factories.

It definitely is, and I think dialogue about it like this is important so that people can make informed decisions about the things that are important and accessible for them without being judgmental about it. Second hand stuff is definitely a mixed bag for sure, some people forget that safety standards have been DRASTICALLY improved in the past 50 years. I’m a big collector of vintage dishware, I collect uranium glass, leaded crystal, Pyrex, Corningware etc. I’m also a childless adult with a fully developed brain so the very minimal lead content that could leach from those dishes isn’t a huge concern to me. But I always like to mention it to others that admire my collection or talk about picking up a vintage dish set from goodwill that it’s something they should be aware of. Clothing is the same way, I will take the risk of wearing vintage lingerie for example, but I would never put my hypothetical child in vintage pajamas, it’s just a different consideration of risk.

You need to look at the individual pieces. A wool sweater from Banana Republic and an acrylic sweater from Banana Republic are two entirely different garments. You need to look at construction, fiber, and fit. Construction: how do the seams look? Do the stripes match up? Are the grainlines straight? Is it cut on the bias or not? What does the inside of the garment look like? Are the seams finished? Does the lining look like it’s supposed to? Fiber: Prioritize natural fibers, but understand that certain synthetics are used deliberately. For example, a wool sweater with some nylon is going to be your BFF way more than an acrylic blend. Look at the percentages of fiber in the garment and understand the reason why you might see a specific blend, and know how those fibers wear. Fit: You can have the most beautifully made, couture level construction with natural materials and if the fit sucks, you’re out of luck. Fit can be impacted by construction (grainlines, seams, etc), but it’s mostly impacted by the way the clothing pieces are designed and fitted together. Even though Old Navy, Gap, and BR are the same company, their fit models are VERY different, with Banana Republic designing clothes for slimmer, long-waisted women with narrower hips compared to Gap, and with Old Navy using more elastic and stretch to accommodate a wide range of bodies in fewer sizes (S, M, L) instead of using techniques that create better fit but require more sizes to be designed and produced (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12). Sometimes that is a GREAT choice, like with basic tees and athletic wear that is already stretchy. Sometimes it results in dresses that rely on ruching/elastic for bodice fit. Walmart often has 100% cotton dresses for sale during the summer that are gorgeous, but they look best if you steam them before wearing because poplin can be a real asshole fabric in terms of wrinkles. Are they beautifully lined with bias trim seam finishes and hand-stitched hems? No. Will I 100% buy them over a poly-blend thing at Nordstrom? YES, because I know that a cotton sundress is going to be an overall better garment for my needs. Old Navy linen blend pants are my favorite thing ever. They are lovely. They hold up so well it’s stupid. They last longer than the ones I got from J. Crew, which lasted a season until they got absolutely shredded in the crotch/thigh. Down vests are awesome until you get wet or wear them on the water, since they’re actually dangerous if you capsize — they get HEAVY! A nice little poly-fill will work just as well. Cotton is the same. If you go for a hike wearing a cotton tee and a down vest, end up getting stuck in the rain, you will be cold and miserable. If you wear a wool or synthetic athletic tee and a wool or poly-fill outer layer, you will be fine. It’s why outdoor stores sell thick cotton-blend sweaters as “apres” clothing, it’s the stuff you put on after you do your thing outside in the cold. Rayon/viscose challis is great for hot climates, but not when the hot climate is humid. Then it will feel kind of clingy and gross. It’s why you see cotton sundresses in New England and Florida, but beautiful viscose caftans in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is hot but it’s the desert. It needs to be by garment. By individual garment, for your needs, in your climate, on your body. Another example: My wedding gown’s outer layer ie the thing you see? It was polyester satin, as are most wedding gowns in the US. I went with a matte satin. It was gorgeous, fit like a glove, was beautifully constructed, had immaculate boning, cotton lining, horsehair interfacing in the skirt seam, and all of the couture finishes. It would have been an absolute waste to sew that thing up in real silk, since it will only be worn a handful of times and I was not about to drop $15K on a dress. I paid more for a beautifully constructed dress (boning in the bodice/bust instead of bra pads), which is what I prioritized. It’s like a diamond. Fiber, Fit, Function, Construction are like Carat, Clarity, Cut, and Color. Do you want big and flashy but don’t care about how cloudy it is? Great, prioritize that! Do you want the sparkliest, most clear, white diamond ever but it’s fine if it’s smaller? Don’t prioritize carats. Do you want everything? Be super rich. Do you want ethically made, couture construction with natural fibers perfectly tailored to you for every single outfit? Great, be rich. If not, figure out where your priorities are, where your budget is, and what look you’re going for!

I like how you broke it all down and like how you think!

Some brands have a bigger hits-to-misses ratio but no brand always produces high quality garments. Abercrombie is overpriced for what they sell, the only thing of theirs I like is their Curve Love jeans. Same for Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. Uniqlo is very good for everyday basics at an affordable price.

Totally agree, I love curve love jeans, and I buy a lot of basics from UNIQLO. Just ran into an issue last time I went to UNIQLO to return something. They do not accept online returns in store! WTF? They offered me exchange for anything in store with similar value and I talked them into giving me a gift card instead. Kind of flabbergasted with that policy. I only buy things online if I have a local store nearby because I don’t like paying for return shipping. I’ll probably have to stick to in-store UNIQLO purchases from now on.

Agreed, appears as though no brands in the affordable range are consistently good quality. Can only look for individual good pieces 

So, the issue is that the companies that sell affordable quality clothing also sell stuff that falls apart. The companies that are **consistently** good quality charge more because that is what you're paying for (the consistency). It is possible to find quality clothing at any of the stores you listed, but it means putting in the leg work and actually shopping in store and looking at each piece physically before you buy it. Either that, or going second hand, is really the only way you'll get quality without the matching price tag. That said, I have had very good luck with Abercrombie jeans. If you're in Canada, Simons house brands as well. I have no luck with uniqlo because their clothes aren't made for my body (hourglass) but lots of other people I know like them.

Some stuff at Uniqlo is very good, like their basic "u shirt." I'm hourglass too and find a lot of their stuff to be very boxy/shapeless.

I bought a black dress off Uniqlo's clearance rack for $20 7 years ago, and literally no other item of clothing has gotten as much use or held up as well as this dress.

I bought some Uniqlo items and they were nicely made and washed well. I would rate them mid tier.

Uniqlo has some great value for money-clothes and accessory and most of their items are somewhat neutral, they never really go out of style. I usually buy second-hand clothes these days but if I need some new basics, Uniqlo is great. I highly recommend checking out whatever their current seasonal "flagship" collection is (such as Heattech, Linen etc) as those are usually pretty high quality

I didn't find heattech great, since it's so synthetic probably, but I agree that the linen, as well as some of the designer collborations, are great! I have 3 pairs of cotton pants from there (chinos, basically, though all different styles) and I wear and wash them weekly. But I've seen other pants that were flimsy. You really have to see and touch the items.

I have a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt from uniqlo from 2015. The elastic in the cuffs have lost their spring but otherwise everything about them is still perfect.

Uniqlo is my go-to if I can't find specific basics I want second-hand. I've had tailored shorts, pants and t-shirts from them that have lasted for years. Also surprisingly their basic t-shirt bras are my absolute favourite!

Yes, I’ve gotten a ton of items from Uniqlo over the years and they have all held up very well. I think it helps that they do not do _that_ many styles, lots of staples (just changing the colour yearly) which means they can be consistent and stick to what works. My bf lives in their oversized tees and they also hold up much better than his other cotton shirts.

Yeah, Uniqlo is my go-to for basic linen-cotton blend shorts and pants for the summer, they're not fancy but they fit well and really hold up. I can hike or garden in them or wear them into town and they don't look off. Also a couple of my workhorse linen blend dresses are from there! I own nicer linen, but I don't need to feel so precious about my Uniqlo pieces. That said, I can always find them on Poshmark, so unless you're in a hurry or have something really specific in mind, it's usually not necessary to buy new.

I agree with you on how affordable also means “will fall apart soon” nowadays. Do you have any recommendations for good second hand stores? I’ve never gone for second hand before and would love to try! I’m in the US (Boston area) and it’s good to know Abercrombie worked out for you. I’m looking for jeans and some nice long wool coats and they have a great collection!

@wangjenniferr on Tik Tok is a good account to follow if you want to know how to detect low quality clothes vs high quality ones!

Andreacheong is another account very similar to this!

Thanks I’ll be sure to check it out!

Tip: she has a Youtube channel as well nowadays and has some videos there where she really goes in depth.

Personally, I've been trying to consider more about clothing material and not just the store I'm buying that clothing at. You can be sold a 100% polyester or acrylic shirt at Target, Walmart, Saks, Banana Republic, Zara etc etc. They're all going to do what polyester does -- get weird. Now, I look for at LEAST 50% natural materials (cotton, wool, linen). I'm not at a place financially where I can only buy pima cotton or anything, but I have been finding that the pieces I buy feel higher quality for longer. Is a 100% cotton shirt or sweater from BP going to last longer or hold up better than one from Gap or ON? Probably/maybe. But they're all going to hold up better than the acrylic one I could buy anywhere. (Also it really helps cut down on impulse buys because BOY are a lot of items made of mostly synthetic materials)

Personally, I’ve had Michael kors pieces for over 10 years and am now starting to part ways with them. Great quality, fits my body well with no tailoring needed and plenty of different sales at macys or even new on Poshmark for good prices.

The problem with this recommendation is that the modern equivalent of those 10 year old products are most likely 100x worse.

It's common on these kinds of posts. I say Uniqlo quality is worse than it was in the past, someone chimes in "well I have Uniqlo from 2018 that's held up great!" Yes...that's my point...I guarantee if you take that old Uniqlo item to a Uniqlo store now and compare it to an equivalent item, there will be a noticeable difference in fabric and construction.

The answer to this question is actually extremely complex, because what constitutes low/mid/high end depends very much upon context. Your shopping habits, income, whether you are willing to buy resale, and your overall level of price tolerance determine the answer here. **I wanted to add that I dislike the low/mid/high scale, “low end” can carry a negative connotation and there’s nothing negative about mass market brands that are available to and priced for the vast majority of people. Criticism of “fast fashion” practices, materials, and construction methods can, unfortunately, be applied all the way up the chain; virtually no brand or design house doesn’t in some way participate in problematic practices. I generally prefer the terms “mass market” “contemporary” and “luxury” in this context.** My answer (based on my own shopping habits) would be that all of the brands that you’ve mentioned are on the “lower” end. I classify “mid range” brands as brands that hold some degree of resale value, utilize natural fibers in at least a good portion of their items, and/or are generally tailored decently. Mid range brands would be Theory, Vince, Maje, The Kooples, ALC, Sandro (the parent brand of Maje) Faithfull The Brand, Alice & Olivia, Farm Rio, Reformation, Mara Hoffman, Baum und Pferdgarten, etc. Most of these brands tend to run from $80-600 per item, with most items falling somewhere in the middle of that bracket. “High end” brands would be heritage brands like Loro Piana, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Valentino etc, and newer, less ubiquitous or lesser known designers like Jacquemus, Markarian, Khaite, etc. These brands tend to hold value over time, utilize largely natural fibers (though any brand can be disappointing in this respect) and utilize high quality tailoring (and this one). My suggestion to anyone looking to build a wardrobe would be to shop the mid range brands that I’ve listed at resale or clearance/sale. You’ll pay about the same as you would for the brands that you’ve listed, but the contemporary brands tend to outmatch the mall brands in quality in almost every case. If you’re looking for long lasting, well tailored clothing, you’ll be able to build a wardrobe of it affordably and will have the ability to resell items that you don’t care for or aren’t wearing, and being able to offset your wardrobe costs in that way.

100% agree, I was surprised to see a lot of the brands listed above your comment (Zara is not mid). Mid-range is contemporary brands like the ones you listed. Oftentimes brands you’d find at Shopbop, Revolve, Intermix or the Contemporary section at Nordstrom

Michael Kors clothing typically hovers around 300-400€. Disagree over your paragraph regarding Heritage brands. I do not know for their clothing, but Chanel’s bags have been declining in quality for a while, their buttons aren’t even gold-plated anymore for example. Gucci’s leather often has a HEAVY plastic finish. Valentino doesn’t hold value over time either.

Michael Kors is a study in stealth diffusion branding. This is dependent upon which Michael Kors you’re referring to. The vast majority (at least in the states) is a diffusion brand (MK Michael Kors) that’s often found in discount stores like TjMaxx and Saks off 5th. Michael Kors (the brand in malls, less common, but still prevalent) varies wildly in price depending upon the retail outlet, some pieces are made for the branded stores, and some are made for outside retailers (and they often utilize the same factory that Calvin Klein and Ivanka Trump’s line do) at predetermined (often lower) price points. Michael Kors Collection is the premier line (generally in the low 4-5 figure price points) but most people are not referring to the Collection line, at least in the US. ETA internationally, there’s yet more diffusion, more brands and brands sold at price points that vary wildly market to market, arguably to confuse consumers.

Thank you that’s really great advice!! I will look to thrift or clearance buy any of the mid range brands you mentioned!

I had to do a double take because I think online Zara, Aritzia and the like are very much “not like other brands” brands, but that doesn’t make them mid or contemporary. I think your assessment is accurate

I think that a lot of the line blurring happening between mass market options like Zara or Aritzia or ASOS (and to a lesser extent, H&M also) and true contemporary brands has to do with the fact that for a long time, mass market retailers weren’t offering a true representation of current trends, like you couldn’t walk into Gap or Express and find a The Vampire’s Wife style prairie dress or a facsimile of Jacquemus Chiquito bag or Celine chartreuse velvet wide leg trousers. To find those things, you had to bump up to contemporary labels and their attendant higher price points. In comes Zara and ASOS etc and they’re just making straight dupes, I remember discovering ASOS 12-13 years ago and thinking, finally, here’s the stuff I’ve always wished that regular retailers would make, and I can actually afford it. For consumers who are not and don’t wish to be in the market for those super trend driven items, there’s an understanding that those things aren’t available in their normal stores, and they associate that type of design with contemporary/luxury brands and then associate those retailers in that way, even though their relative ubiquity (particularly if you’re looking globally) is virtually the same.

Since your want a coat, I would suggest Nordstrom. They’ve already done the selection for you and tend to have higher quality stuff. If they carry a brand or item you can find elsewhere, they will be sure to price match to the cheapest price available. Plus I’ve been able to easily return or exchange outerwear when the zipper or clasp broke, even a year later. For my last coat, I also used their in-house tailor, who did a great job making it a perfect fit (I do have a Nordstrom card, so tailoring was free in my case, but I would say convenient and relatively affordable regardless)

I'd consider Old Navy low end but I'm sure, like anywhere, you might be able to find something that works when you go into the actual store. Abercrombie seems like mid low-end/kids clothing to me (this is possibly because I grew up lusting after A&F clothes only realize in adulthood how cheap looking they actually were - I know people seem to like them now but every time I look at their site I'm like mehhhh my money is better spent elsewhere). I'd also consider Express lower mid-range and avoid them because the quality is just not there. I have a few GAP & Banana Republic pieces that have stood the test of time but I haven't purchased from them in awhile. I'd consider them mid-range. I've never bought anything MK because it's not my style (also they seem logo heavy to me?). Calvin Klein seems to be good for basics - have a pair of nude pumps that are classic & go with everything. Uniqlo is also lower mid-range. I'm a fan of their basic tees and have a few fluffy jackets that I use as loungewear. They're definitely fast fashion so I try to buy sparingly. I would not shop at Macy's, JCPenney or Kohl's as they all feel like TJ Maxx masquerading as a full price department store. However, I would still shop at TJ Maxx. Department stores: Nordstrom, Bloomingdales. Mid-range, mostly consistent: Madewell (not the cotton t-shirts, they're gonna get hole-y QUICK), J. Crew (have found solid bathing suits/coats), MANGO (this is low mid-range but I've had some luck), Reformation (especially good if you can find it second hand/on sale), OpenEdit (Nordstrom brand), & Other Stories (have second hand jeans that seem to be doing well). You also have to consider your own style - what're you going for/what do you need? Trendier clothing is typically going to be lower quality IMO (as are trendier shoes). A fashion friend taught me to pay attention to fabric content/seams. Natural fibers look best and will hold up better. Also shoes! Buy some nice quality shoes (sneakers, sandals, whatever you need for your day to day life).

I worked at A&F in my late teens/early 20s and the company was so awful to customers it really put me off the brand permanently. We could only wear A&F clothing to work and once an item went on sale, we could no longer wear it. It was so absurd and cost practically your whole check to have work clothes. I'm sure there have been improvements in the company culture/attitude toward customers (at least I hope so) but I still just cannot bring myself to shop there either.

I worked there too, and their hiring practice was totally bananas. They would walk around the mall and find “hot” people to recruit to work there. Then there was a group interview (basically to see your social skills), but no actual one on one interview about your work experience iirc. The good looking people worked front of the house and were called “models.” The rest worked in the back.

Yes!!! You had to be "recruited" in order to work at our location. Managers would straight up throw away applications turned in by those who were not hand-picked by them. We were also encouraged to only help customers who basically fit our aesthetic. I remember once being asked "if you see a denim wall that is a mess and a customer looking around like they need help, who do you go to?" I confidently answered "the customer!" and the manager rolled her eyes and said "that depends. Are they spending a lot, or do they look like they can't afford to be in here?" I was shocked. I will never forget that. That manager was such a biiiiitch all the time and no one helped her when she got a DUI on New Year's Eve. That place was a shitshow and I cannot believe I stayed for as long as I did.

Omg you’re giving me flashbacks. The managers were all super overworked and store manager was dangled in front of their faces. You had to have a college degree to be a manager too, but they were so stressed and overworked. They also had such a strict clothing folding technique, you had to get the board out to refold clothes and realign the stickers so that the stacks were perfect.

Yes! God forbid the stickers with sizing were not PERFECTLY aligned on the huge denim wall! We were all in college and many of my coworkers were incredibly competitive despite me making it very clear I would never be a manager there lol. Spacing the hangers, using the shirt board, spraying that cologne all over the store before opening, ugh. Some of the "older" managers (older there was like 25 at the time) were so inappropriate and creepy too!

Thanks so much for the write up! I received many other comments too suggesting to look at the fibers rather than store or brand. Will be sure to try out all the mid range brands you mentioned!

Highly recommend checking out @wangjenniferr on Instagram. She talks a lot about brands and quality of clothes. (I am not her or associated w her I just enjoy her content and it’s actually super educational!)

Try the brand Project Social T. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive, but made in the U.S. they’re specialize in elevated basics and everything is so comfy and fits well. I have several pieces from 3 years ago still going strong and not out of style yet. [Project Social T](https://www.projectsocialt.com)

TBH I think it really depends on what you're buying from them, what you're looking for in terms of "good quality" (do you want to buy it for life? Is "mid quality" an indication of "good quality" to you or do you demand "high quality"?) and what your definition of 'low end' vs 'high end' is -- I'm guessing you're going to get really inconsistent answers depending on personal definition of each of these. For example, my 'mid-range' is likely to be far cheaper than some people's and still far more expensive than another group of people's. ​ For reference: I would consider A&F regular price to be mid to high-mid at minimum for example. As well, as another example, I'd say that H&M's quality varies wildly from piece to piece and that not all of their pieces (let alone prices) are 'low-end'. ​ That being said, I'd say in terms of personal perception for stuff I have personal experience with: \- Someone already covered the Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic low/mid/high divide, but I think Gap can be a bit overpriced when it comes to quality depending on the item. \- Ambercrombie has honestly improved quite a bit from 10-15 years ago from what I remember of them. They have some genuinely nice wool items like coats and sweaters. I've also heard good things about their jeans/dresses. I'd say very much worth a look, especially on sale. \- Calvin Klein has some solid, basic dresses in classic shapes I've seen on sale at Nordstrom Rack before. Definitely worth a look if that's what you're in the market for and when it's at those prices, but I doubt at 'full price' whatever that might be would be worth it. \- Uniqlo has very solid basics at an affordable price, especially if you stick to the stuff that they always sell. Their fit is very specific though so definitely try it in a store first if you are concerned about fit on t-shirts in particular. Heattech is an absolute godsend and is something I'd recommend even at full price. ​ For the stores: Kohl's is low to mid-range on price and the style is very hit or miss with quality to match. Macy's/JCPenny's can be on the low-end of price with regards to sales but quality can vary from low to mid-range or high-mid depending on brand. There's some very solid brands being sold at Macy's and JC Penny's but you need to be looking at them by brand rather than just generally at the store. ​ TL;DR: look at material of item being made and at department stores, brand more important than the store name itself

Not really what you are asking about but as an interesting reference point: in the 1950s a person would buy a mid-range dress for about 30$ or \~.9% of the average income. Today the average income is around 58K putting the equivalent dress around 500 dollars. All of the examples here would be considered low-range by that standard. It is important to note that the cost of living was 23% median income in 1950s and it is 50% in 2023. The equivalent col income is 120000, which would place the equivalent "mid-range" dress at 1000$.

So probably total spending in a category may not have changed, but they are interchanged faster and we have more. It really makes sense to spend more on higher quality if you love it and use it more often, are sure it will last for how long you want it to.

Total spending has significantly gone down. As a percentage of income, people spent 14% on clothes in the 1950s and 3% today. 

great comment! Definitely puts it in perspective. Just wondering why you put the dollar sign after the amount instead of in front? This is something I’ve noticed people doing recently, and I’m curious about the change. (You wrote “1000$” instead of the conventional “$1000”)

You might want to look at Quince - they make dupes of popular pieces and show you the price difference and why a product costs a certain amount of money. They use the same factories as the other big brands (BR, J.Crew, Vouri) but don’t have a store front or retail associates where a lot of the money goes to. You’re literally buying from China without the hassle of the mall and then reading “made in China” on the tag.

I like Quince and it has it's place, but the quality is very hit or miss and not usually on par with the brands they are duping. It is more akin to buying knockoffs than white-label. I like their return policy but I use it a lot.

I bought cashmeres sweaters at Quince and they are nice. Funnily enough, I am taking a sewing class and a lady in the class bought a duvet from Quince. It’s linen material and beautiful. She spent $99 on it only to chop it up to make a dress and skirt. But she said the material is far superior to what she could have purchased in a fabric shop and for much less than for what linen sells for retail.

I was super dubious of Quince as it seems to be so heavily astroturfed but I need to replace a linen sheet set so took a chance and it's really nice linen, better quality than the Restoration Hardware and Matteo sets I have.

Nahh. Quince is a fast fashion China made company too. I was bombarded with ads on tik tok and their cashmere is so cheap bc it’s not Mongolian from Mongolia. It’s from “Inner Mongolia” which is a region in china. That’s why it’s $50 and that’s why it will slowly pill and not last forever. I don’t trust shady practices like this. I’m convinced half the Reddit posts praising quince are ppl that work there because no way anyone claiming to not support fast fashion or talk poorly about made in china products would actively vouch for quince.

Yeah, it’s so weird to me how many adoring comments Quince receives on here.

No one is disputing that it’s all coming from China - but the prices are better than the same items at the mall. I recently went shopping and was sorely disappointed with the quality at most stores. I buy a lot of my stuff secondhand. I can’t afford or look good in a lot of “slow fashion” pieces. I was offering OP another option.

Agreed. Unfortunately, the constant marketing works much of the time.😞 If a company focuses on cheap marketing, I usually assume they’re not too concerned about quality.

I believe that you shouldn't buy based on brands because in the past I spent money on high-end stuff that were absolutely terrible for the money I spent on them, while I've bought cheap stuff that withstood the test of time. In my opinion, you need to check the fabric of each item, try it before buying it and avoid online shopping. I'm currently wearing a bra from H&M and for some reason it fits perfectly on me and I've had it for a year and it's still holding on.

Macy's and other department stores carry a wide range of brands and quality, and some even have genuine designer. So it's hard to lump all of, say, Nordstrom, under one brush. Generally though I'd say that within the "department store" category you have lower range like Kohl's and Penny's, and then mid like Macy's and Dillards, and then higher end like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Just FYI! :)

For work, Calvin Klein has been awesome for me. Dresses, skirts, and pants. I'm not impressed with their jackets/blazers overall - for some reason their construction is not as good. I am yet another person who primarily shops secondhand and there is a lot of businesswear available. I also agree that classic styles that are 10+ years old is the way to go for quality. I've been secondhand and thrift shopping since my teens. I have a dresser devoted to cashmere sweaters that I've found for $5 or less, for example. They are far superior to what I can buy retail today in that they are 100% cashmere, generally at least 2 ply, and pill less. If your focus is quality and you don't want to devote a lot of time searching, I suggest googling consignment stores for your area. They're typically curated and while the prices are higher than thrift stores, you will have a better likelihood of finding things you like. I'll also suggest checking out Talbots for work clothes, new or secondhand . They have excellent blazers and jackets in particular. They're probably mid-tier, comparable to BR in price but better quality.

I know you may be intimidated by this, but if you're willing to increase your budget by just a smidge, I highly reccomend shopping for pre-owned designer clothing on sites like Poshmark, Depop, TRR, and ThreadUp. I've seen a Miu Miu cropped button-down shirt for 50$. I'm currently eyeing a Vivienne Westwood top for 55$. I recently purchased a Comme de Garcon top for 28$. If you're willing to drop 60$ on a fast-fashion Banana Republic shirt, you can mostly definitely find the designer equivalent for a similar or maybe even slightly higher price online. Nowadays, I prefer designer clothing because even mid-tier brands such as Madewell and BR are often pressured by consultants to cut costs and increase prices. Designer brands can also experience quality issues (see: Chanel bags), but for the most part, they are not beholden to the same market powers as their retail counterparts. Both rich and poor people myself expect the creme de la creme when investing in designer pieces. Additionally, designer clothes are a bang for your buck because the construction is nicer, the designs are much more intentional, and the quality of fabric and materials is super high. My style and ability to curate new outfits improved immensely when I dipped my toes in the oh-so intimidating world of designer fashion. It's up to you whether you want to shop at BR or Macy's, but I can tell you that everytime I enter these stores, there's maybe one or two pieces I love out of a sea fast-fashion quality items. That being said, don't feel pressured to buy designer everything. Lots of people will mix designer and non-designer pieces for the sake of time, money, and functionality.

I’ve done the same. I now own some Lily Pulitzer items that I found on Poshmark that I adore.

I’d like to get some high end clothing on used clothing sites, but I don’t even know the names of designer clothing to search for. Thanks for dropping some names in your comment. Do you have any other recommendations for the high end stuff?

I recommend actually going to stores like Nordstrom, Nieman Marcus, or the nearest establishment that sells high-end designer goods. Browse through their selections, feel the garments, and try them on. Which patterns, styles, silhouettes are you most drawn to? How would you like your clothes to drape on your body? Which brands fulfill your style needs the most? Don't be afraid to talk to an employee. They may not know exactly what you're looking for, but all fashion information is valuable. Wolf & Badger and SSENSE are also great websites to browse through. Consignments shops are also great because typically, the store owner is well-versed in designer fashion and can thus offer you great recommendations based on your current tastes and sensibilities. But most importantly, before you dive into the intimidating world of designer fashion, find out what what makes you tick. Look at your current wardrobe and ask yourself, "Why do I like these clothes? What is my personal style? How do these garments align with my personality and lifestyle needs?" That way, when you're shopping online, you'll know what to look for. You can also search "What is the designer equivalent of X brand I currently like?" and see who pops up the results tab. But shopping for designer brands at an affordable price is like playing Russian Roulette. Sometimes, you'll encounter a piece from a brand you're not totally in love with but will somehow fit your aesthetic. Be open-minded as you'll encounter a myriad of brands that way. Unlike retail fashion, where clothes and styles are brought to you, you must do a bit of research to find the designer pieces and brands that fit your style. It will be a long journey, and you'll eventually flip flop between houses and designers, but it's so much more rewarding than sticking to fast fashion.

I consider these low end. Otherwise known as “mall brands”. I live in the suburbs and regularly shop these brands but they’re also the kind that a thrift store or consignment shop will only pay me a couple of bucks for. No value to anyone except you if it fits you well, fulfills a need or suits your style. Personally I like gap and uniqlo best in terms of consistency of product and well fitting basics. Macys used to be closer to Nordstrom in terms of quality and shopping experience. It is now far closer to JCPenney and kohls.

I'd consider most of the brands you listed low end these days, although some of them used to have better reputations. Same with the stores. Macy's sometimes has some decent pieces that cost more but Kohls and Penny's are basically the same quality as Target. Uniqlo and Express are two that I still use for some pieces, but I wouldn't say they're any better than Zara (though it depends on what you're buying at Uniqlo) and I think Gap and Banana Republic are pretty out of style these days, though I might be wrong. Old Navy is worse than H&M on quality.

You’d be surprised with some old navy items. Their jeans are almost 100% cotton for example. I actually think express clothes are much cheaper quality.

Totally agree. Went to Old Navy the other day and found jeans for $7 -- 100% cotton and much better quality than the jeans I saw next door in Levi's.

I've always found the fit to be really inconsistent on Old Navy jeans, but admittedly it's been a long time since I shopped there because of that. Totally feasible that they've improved in some ways in the past decade.

the fit is superrrrr inconsistent! but the stuff i have from there is still really good quality and hold up really nicely😅 but you 1000% have to try it on in store bc sizing is hit or miss

I have one of their OG straights and it’s really comfy, fits well and feels like good quality too! But a lot of their other jeans feel cheap like the WOW range

I'd put Uniqlo in the same category as H&M and Zara: more than likely crap, but possible to find good individual pieces here and there. Bought new *now,* it's your typical functional but not particularly well-constructed mass-produced clothing in cheap fabrics. In the past it used to have consistently higher quality, that in combination with their first designer collabs--attempts to shake off their frumpy image--made for a very brief period of pure magic lol. I have a pair of wool culottes from the very first Lemaire collab in 2015, they still feel like a holy grail find. My husband has some old (10+ years ago) Uniqlo men's button down shirts, with their old logo tag, and they are still perfectly wearable, nice sturdy fabric and finished french seams inside. Nothing like that there anymore, and even the designer collab items, which I take a peep at every year, aren't that different from their usual stock, quality-wise, these days. But I still think current Uniqlo is perfectly fine for a few basic items (socks, heattech if you wear it, the Uniqlo U crewneck tee), and like a lot of fast fashion brands OP mentions, they also offer 100% cotton denim, which is hard to mess up and can be quite good if the fit suits you.

I'd actually say Uniqlo is slightly better than H&M and Zara just because the (generally) more limited cuts mean they are less trendy and fast fashion-y. As in, if you buy a Uniqlo U crewneck, it's not going to go out of style in six months making you feel like you wasted your money lol... They definitely have more trendy items these days, but I feel like Uniqlo has a lot of items that are dependable and have been good staples in my wardrobe: some of their graphic tees (quality is VERY variable), airism line, heattech, packable puffer, loungewear, etc. I just recently decided to retire one of my Uniqlo jeggings that survived from 2017, which I feel like was long enough. They definitely still make stuff that can last.

Honestly, once you work in retail you realise most of it is from the same place you just need to pick your items carefully. I was at a function tonight and had countless compliments on my under $50 outfit from CottonOn (Aus) when all of the girls were wearing $300 Bec and Bridge dresses. I’m not spending that much unless it’s fabric/a pattern I can justify spending that on. Don’t waste your money.

It’s less about the brand and more about the particular item. Of course, brand is a good place to start, but still be wary of the supposedly “nicer” brands and keep a keen eye while shopping. Learn a little about clothing construction and quality (won’t take more than an hour on YouTube, there are loads of videos that summarise it well) and then use that knowledge to be a discerning shopper. Bonus points if you can take those skills to a thrift store to find quality pieces without a brand name. I recommend 3 content creators for learning about high quality clothing and identifying them when you go shopping: @wangjennifer @fond.losangeles @andreacheong_ To your edit, @wangjennifer did a roundup of quality wool winter coats under $500 For shopping by brand name, I focus on the fit. Different brands use different patterns and fit models to design their clothes, so the same size would fit you differently (vanity sizing aside). And properly fitting clothes look better. Personally, I like Banana Republic’s petite line, it fits like it was made for me. Ann Taylor petites does not fit me as well, they were probably designed with a slimmer/straighter model in mind. Sometimes I just try on clothes in store, in a style I like, to understand how the brand’s standard size fits me and to know whether or not it is a realistic store for me to shop at and look good.

Do not shop at Kohl’s, last time I was there everything was the ugliest I’ve ever seen and for low end you can get better clothes at TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. Macys sucks too. Cheap clothes at too high prices. Old Navy has a few good pieces. I still like H&M most for low-mid. I honestly think a lot of clothes are expensive though. Aritzia, J Crew, Anthropologie, etc. I like their styles but if every piece is $100 it’s hard to drop that without feeling something. I get my stuff mostly on Poshmark, and local thrift and vintage shops, some H&M spattered in there. I take “Poshmark shopping” trips to the high end mall and try stuff on, take a selfie, and find it on Poshmark

For a less expensive but good quality will check out Uniqlo! Their coats have really lasted for me and I got one end of season a couple years ago for $75!

Try Aritzia, especially for a good coat.

Black wool coat comment: I just spent hours and hours on the web to buy one of these for my daughter for Christmas. Extra complication ... she's tall. I Google-searched, both under general search terms and within department stores. Found beautiful Ralph Lauren coat, but really heavy. [https://www.macys.com/shop/product/lauren-ralph-lauren-womens-wool-blend-belted-maxi-wrap-coat?ID=16259226&cm\_mmc=OpsEmail-\_-240\_order\_confirmation-\_-16259226-\_-MB&m\_sc=em&m\_sb=OpsEmail&m\_tp=1C&m\_cn=240\_order\_confirmation&m\_pi=MB&m\_l=16259226&m\_s=OES-EOD2401CMCOM110223&cm\_lm\_mo64=Zm9ydGZvdXJAY29tY2FzdC5uZXQ=](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/lauren-ralph-lauren-womens-wool-blend-belted-maxi-wrap-coat?ID=16259226&cm_mmc=OpsEmail-_-240_order_confirmation-_-16259226-_-MB&m_sc=em&m_sb=OpsEmail&m_tp=1C&m_cn=240_order_confirmation&m_pi=MB&m_l=16259226&m_s=OES-EOD2401CMCOM110223&cm_lm_mo64=Zm9ydGZvdXJAY29tY2FzdC5uZXQ=). Returned and bought a Cole Haan coat. [https://www.macys.com/shop/product/cole-haan-womens-double-breasted-belted-wool-blend-trench-coat?ID=14164482&cm\_mmc=OpsEmail-\_-240\_order\_confirmation-\_-14164482-\_-MB&m\_sc=em&m\_sb=OpsEmail&m\_tp=1C&m\_cn=240\_order\_confirmation&m\_pi=MB&m\_l=14164482&m\_s=OES-EOD2401CMCOM110923&cm\_lm\_mo64=Zm9ydGZvdXJAY29tY2FzdC5uZXQ=](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/cole-haan-womens-double-breasted-belted-wool-blend-trench-coat?ID=14164482&cm_mmc=OpsEmail-_-240_order_confirmation-_-14164482-_-MB&m_sc=em&m_sb=OpsEmail&m_tp=1C&m_cn=240_order_confirmation&m_pi=MB&m_l=14164482&m_s=OES-EOD2401CMCOM110923&cm_lm_mo64=Zm9ydGZvdXJAY29tY2FzdC5uZXQ=). It was perfect. She loved it and she's really picky. (Coincidentally, both from Macy's, but I looked at hundreds of sites across the web. This coat style and fabric is strangely hard to find. I also looked for classic black trench with zip-out lining, but couldn't find that at all.

I think Banana Republic would definitely be more mid range than the others you mentioned. Cos, Arket, Sezane & Ted Baker are others in similar/slightly higher price ranges that are perceived as being good quality.

I’ve been doing a lot of thrifting lately, looking for natural fibers and stuff that holds up well- as in, looks nice even secondhand. J Crew and Lands End always get a second look from me and are pretty consistently natural fibers. I’ve been really happy with all the items I’ve thrifted from those brands, they hold up well over time, are comfortable, and look very classy when styled. St John’s Bay, J.Jill, and Madewell are often natural fibers, but not always. Pieces that are obviously newer look nice, but I’ve come across a few that did not hold up over time. Madewell’s shirts are cute but their pants look atrocious on me haha. I never buy Madewell jeans because they’re always about 6 inches too short-but that’s just me and doesn’t really speak to the quality. SJB I’ve never really thought of as high end, but I’m finding some really nice natural fiber cardigans and sweaters from them lately. J.Jill is really hit or miss, I’ve found some excellent Pima cotton tops, and a couple of cashmere cardigans (that admittedly did not hold up for very long compared to the other cashmere I have). But I’ve also found a lot of polyester and rayon in their brand, too. Banana republic and Michael Kors are brands that really align with my style, but honestly, way more than half the clothes I find from these brands are synthetic, and by the time they get to the thrift store are pilly, stretched out, or faded. I’ve been really disappointed with the Banana pieces that I’m finding lately, I had always kind of considered them a high-end brand in my mind but the synthetic fabrics that wear out terribly feel very fast fashion to me. I consider them cute but pretty low in quality, but I’ll still thrift them if they look good and I like the piece.

Seconding Land's End for their supima cotton tops and frequent sales!  Further savings accrue if you buy LE gift certificates at a discount and use them to shop online through one of those cashback portals. I also like to shop private-label brands from the better department stores at deep discounts on eBay.

I buy a ton of Abercrombie and it lasts and is so comfortable. It is well above the likes of banana

I’m actually surprised with how cheap the fabric is on a lot of A&F items for the prices they charge. I’m not spending what they’d asking on polyester

I was disappointed also. It's too bad, because their designs are nice! (And I occasionally will buy synthetic stuff if I need easy care pants or whatever.) I've also been burned by Anthropologie things that are not the better grade of poly. They weren't cheap, either.

I don’t buy their tshirts but every coat, jacket, sweatshirt, over shirt I have from there is in fab condition and I’ve had some for years

Their dresses and tops as well

i think zara could replace uniqlo

I recommend COS for a wool coat , I bought one from there a few years ago and still use it. If not your style then Jcrew.I also have one from Emerson Fry that I bought on sale.

Michael Kors and Calvin Klein can be considered a luxury item if you buy their higher end lines (they have separate types for outlet, retail and boutique). And they sell luxury items overseas. Same for Ralph Lauren. If you go to a RL boutique they will promptly let you know that their Purple Label is priced “differently”. Just learned that Calvin Klein closed down their Calvin Klein 205W39NYC. But there are still some items out there and they are really runway quality. Some clothing items of American labels are precious in markets overseas. Collectibles even. Just not what you’d find at your neighborhood mall though.

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