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Where actually sells good quality clothes that last these days?

51 replies

AnnaLou82 · 23/01/2013 12:46

Everything I have brought recently has been crap, including some pretty expensive stuff.

Where do you go for good quality that lasts?

OP posts:
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carrie74 · 23/01/2013 12:53

Me&Em jersey is amazing - I've not seen anything like it on the High St. Sales are v v good.

Basic tops: Baukjen, noticeably better than H&M (but a lot spendier).

Work trousers: Banana Republic have done me well - I've got some that I bought years ago that still look like new.

Brora wrist warmers - honestly, these have been so toasty compared to all my other gloves, it's really made me committed to buying better quality gloves in future.

I buy all these brands in the sale - one of my BR pairs of trews were something like $12, and I must have had them for at least 5 years, worn frequently.

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sazpops · 23/01/2013 12:54

Hi, not sure what your style is, but I generally shop online as I live in the sticks and I've recently been really pleased with stuff from Seasalt Cornwall. They have lots of basic tops and tunics, some lovely knitwear and great accessories. So far everything has washed well and seems well made - nice fabrics too. //www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk

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teta · 23/01/2013 12:58

Anything from Brora,jersey dresses from Me and Em and strangely enough t shirts from Matalan[long vest tops and the crew neck supersoft are brilliant].

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chanie44 · 23/01/2013 13:02

I agree, I'm fed up of buying clothes that don't last or wash well.

I have bought two coats from Zara over the years and they both fell apart within a few weeks. Also have tops from river island which started to bobble on the first wash.

I get all of my basics from uniqlo as I like the quality of their items, but other than that, I don't know where to go either.

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WhitePeacock · 23/01/2013 13:04

I love Toast (but only in sales/on eBay!) Really nice fabrics, and fostering the illusion one is being stylish on a driftwood-strewn beach, drinking hot toddy from artfully battered enamel, instead of stomping after a toddler through a sandpit Hmm

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JumpHerWho · 23/01/2013 13:05

Baukjen - for jersey tops (wait for a sale though)

Uniqlo - for knitwear and casual basics

Gap - not popular on here, but when I buy something from there I tend to wear it to death and most stuff from there is well made and washes and wears really well IMO.

M and S - I must stop buying pants anywhere else, Marks ones last forever.

Shitlist: Next, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Peacocks, Oasis.

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abitcoldupnorth · 23/01/2013 13:20

Pure cashmere and Celtic knitwear are so far wearing well (and so they should).

Gap jeans seem to be doing pretty well, altho I'm sure the denim is about half the weight it used to be

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AmberNectarine · 23/01/2013 13:36

Agree with Uniqlo, Me&Em and Baukjen. Also like LKB and Gerard Darel for work stuff, Hush is nice for PJs and loungewear.

I buy all my basic tops from the likes of Splendid, Vince and T by Alexander Wang as I have found high st quality to be poor in the main.

I buy the £3.99 vests from H&M, and they are serving me pretty well, I don't rate much else in there though, they are too in the mindset of making 'disposable clothes', ditto Topshop, new look, DP etc.

Some Cos can be great, some awful, Ditto Whistles.

I have found Reiss universally shit.

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ThisLittlePretty · 23/01/2013 13:45

Agree that Zara quality is awful, but I do love it in there, so I forget that everything Zara has fallen apart & keep going back like a moronic goldfish.

I find a lack of consistency with quality on the High Street - sometimes if you buy 2 of the same garment, and read the label, they've been made in different countries, and there are times I've even noticed the fabric is different. Hence, I tend to buy cheapie basics (eg. H&M vests, as mentioned by AmberNectarine) and when they 'die' I'm not upset by replacing them....

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midnightinmoscow · 23/01/2013 14:43

I totally agree re Reiss. Overpriced rubbish.

What really pisses me off is that they only offer a credit note on returns, even with a receipt. Why they think they are beyond the standard returns policy that most shops adopt is beyond me.

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justasecond · 23/01/2013 14:55

I used to shop a lot in Reiss about 10 years ago and it was great then. Well made clothes in natural fibres. What happened to them?

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champagnesupernova · 23/01/2013 15:00

Brora wristwarmers are AMAZING

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AmberNectarine · 23/01/2013 15:13

God, I hate that. Like Matches who won't let you return items bought in store. I know they don't have to, but it's a nice gesture, isn't it?

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TheWombat · 23/01/2013 15:21

Yes to Baukjen, Celtic Sheepskin and Me and Em - all wear well but expensive so I wait for the sales.

I also rate Boden for knitwear Blush - I wear their cashmere cardigans for work and they wear well too - although I know some people have problems with pilling.

I had a pair of Hush pjs that shrank in the wash - have been put off them now :(

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Jjcrackers · 23/01/2013 15:48

One of my friends is a stylist and she says White Company are some of the best quality clothes that she styles with. Apparently they are obsessive about quality.

Wearing some Baukjen (hate the name) trackie bottoms now and they are gorgeous.

Second GAP here. On the rare occassion I find something I like, it always wears well.

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Hopefully · 23/01/2013 17:51

It's all been said, but my votes go to Baukjen, Toast, Brora H&M vests (and NOTHING else), Me&Em. If you go to somewhere like Bicester, Burberry and DVF are both excellent quality.

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MissBeehivingUnderTheMistletoe · 23/01/2013 18:00

Agree with Gap, BR, Uniqlo. Would also add Massimo Dutti. M & S shoes are good quality.

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bluecarrot · 23/01/2013 18:13

Braintree clothing is good. I have two dresses by them which are worn and washed twice a week for the last 14 months and they stilllook good and feel great ( bamboo content makes them lovely and soft) their scarves are great too.

White stuff stuff that isn't knitwear is great too.

I keep forgetting about sea salt. I meant to look up their sale!

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mirpuppet · 23/01/2013 18:29

White Company jersey dress purchased last Feb bobbled and does not look very nice after circa 10 wears.

I look at fabric contents so two 100% cotton dresses purchased at Dorothy Perkins at the same time look great -- granted I wash at 30 degrees and line dry. Did same for Whit Company dress and it looks horrible.

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nipersvest · 23/01/2013 18:32

lands end is good quality, women's stuff can be a little dated design wise, kids stuff is nice.

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AmberNectarine · 23/01/2013 18:33

Yep, another here with a bobbly white co jersey dress.

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novelsituation · 23/01/2013 18:59

I'm happy with most of the things I've bought in Jigsaw and Whistles.

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JumpHerWho · 23/01/2013 19:18

My Hush pyjamas shrunk too, luckily I bought them post-pregnancy when I was the size of a bus so they fit now. They say to cold wash them to be fair, I just didn't bother looking at the label and bunged them in at 40.

I'd still buy them, they're beautiful quality

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Corygal · 23/01/2013 19:20

My high-street hotties...

Cheap and lasts =
Uniqlo & Gap
Primark tights, thermals and controlwear (all indestructible)
M&S cashmere only
HM designer ranges eg Marni & Margiela are blindingly good.

Lasts = Cos, Jaeger, Aquascutum, ash shoes, emu boots (better than uggs), falke tights, All Saints.

I have always found Whistles and Jigsaw woeful, funnily enough, as are many designer makes - just returned an Anglomania dress with a bladdy great hole.

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RedwingWinter · 23/01/2013 19:36

Brora, Toast, Splendid and Notify.

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