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bees-knees asked you:Since you have an eclectic collection of brands and get your clothes, bags, accessories and shoes from a lot of different stores and websites, do you notice a difference in quality from stores like Target vs say a higher end store? I don’t have an argument either way. For example I have coats from JCrew that have lasted seasons with heavy wear but jeans from Old Navy cost less than ones from JCrew yet seem to have more longevity.
Here are the stores I shop most often:
- Target
- H&M
- Forever21
- Nordstrom
- Marshall’s/T.J.Maxx/ROSS
- Old Navy
- Thrift stores/consignment stores
I expect that this list is pretty obvious by now to the casual reader of my blog, and I’m sure that a lot of you shop at the same places too.
I get questions a lot that are similar to this one regarding quality (i.e., things fall apart, why spend less if things don’t hold up over time, etc.), and I actually tend to think that the quality of clothing from popular retail stores is fairly similar across the board.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but echoing what you said above, I can absolutely say that some of the “higher end” retail items I’ve bought over the years from J.Crew, Gap, Express and Banana Republic, etc., have fallen apart after several washes or become very worn with few wears, while I have dresses from H&M that I’ve worn heavily for 5+ years that look the same as the day I bought them.
I think that sometimes when I get other anonymous questions in my ask box about this topic that people expect me to get riled up defending my choice of purchases. Instead, here’s my opinion on this topic broken down into several different bullets:
- If you don’t take care of your clothing when you wash it and if you don’t store it properly, don’t expect it to hold up well. If you treat a Forever21 blouse the same way you’d treat a $150 blouse, you’d be surprised how much longevity it will have.
- There is no real difference in quality between the majority of “like” mass market retailers. If the price points are similar, you can expect the quality to be about the same. Therefore, H&M, Forever21, Topshop, Zara, Target, Old Navy, etc., will have similar quality items. This goes for shoes too: Bakers, Nine West and Aldo have similar quality products. J.Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Express, Bebe, etc., have similar quality products. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the $300 coat from J.Crew will hold up any better over time than the $150 coat from Gap. They’re “like” stores with “like” products. The price difference you see on the hanger reflects marketing strategy, not quality.
- Even if you buy “designer” or brand-name items from a discount store like Marshall’s, they are often not the same items you would have seen on the shelves in Macy’s or Nordstrom. The majority of goods carried at discount stories are surplus or defective items, meaning the quality of that Michael Kors handbag you picked up at Marshall’s may not necessarily be the same quality of the one you bought for $300 at Nordstrom.
- Be a smart shopper. If you know you need something of incredibly high quality because you will be wearing it often (a black shift dress for work, for example), splurge for a wool version from a reputable department store or retailer…not H&M. If you want a leopard-print blouse, don’t waste your money buying the top of the line. Pick up one for less than $20 at Forever21 and wear it until it’s no longer trendy, at which point you can store it away guilt-free.
- Know which areas mass market retailers “shine” in. In my experience, Gap and Old Navy have some great denim/pants options, but the quality of tops and sweaters falls short. Conversely, I’ve found H&M dresses to be fantastic buys, but their denim leaves much to be desired. (With the exception of H&M jeggings, which are good quality for the money.) A lot of this has to do with personal preference and variant sizing between stores. My suggestion is to try on several similar items between the most popular mass market stores and see which styles and sizes suit you best.
- Never pay full price, unless it’s: 1) less than $100, 2) a classic that you know you need (a trenchcoat, for example). Don’t pay full price for that sequined sweater you’ve had your eye on, or that trendy pair of shoes. Wait for a sale or find a less expensive version to get you through the period that the item is trendy. Like I said, price point and wardrobe staples are the only reason to disregard this rule. Actually—I’ll add one more. Wardrobe emergencies are another reason to disregard it. If you have an important interview or meeting coming up and you absolutely need a pair of classic black pumps? That’s a situation where paying full price may be necessary and even encouraged.
Like I’ve mentioned a few times, this is my personal shopping philosophy and what works for me may not work for you. You may like buying clothing less often than I do, but really, really splurging when you do it. Or, maybe you’re loyal to one or two certain stores or brands and don’t like supplementing from different retailers. Whatever the case may be, my advice to you is to take care of your clothing (no matter how much it cost!) and treat everything as an important, valuable addition to your closet. If you don’t feel that way about it, donate it or swap it or whatever you prefer to do.
I hope this helps! The point is to have fun while shopping and, at the end of the day, know that it’s just clothes. Don’t take it too seriously! Any questions?
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