also fun fact, my parents bought me a wool coat from H&M when i was 16. i am now 37, still have and wear that coat, and it's in perfect condition. except for the lining which i need to replace actually. but you would never ever find quality like this at H&M today! it is really sad.
How to wear your quality clothes should be the next video. In the old days they used undergarment that could protect your expensiv clothes. I remember those small blouses my mother called ”blous protecter” a cotton blouse for wearing under your more expensiv blouse. Easy to wash and protected the expensiv blous from deodorant and sweat stains. Of course we couldn´t copy everything but there certainly is a lot to learn.
I've put permanent underarm liners into shirts (basically just a circle of soft cotton with a 5-in diameter cut from an old undershirt, pinned so the edge of the circle just hits the inner hem of a short sleeve, attached with a prick stitch) and that seems to be working pretty well to slow the kind of fabric degradation you get from friction and deodorant buildup (though it doesn't reduce the number of times I launder it). Garments with linings tend to last longer than ones without. I try to put preemptive inner thigh patches on pants I plan to wear a lot, because that's where they tend to wear out the soonest
I usually wear cotton t-shirts under cashmere sweaters. I can wash the sweaters once or twice a year, the t-shirt protects them from sweat and such. I've had a few sweaters for years, they still look great.
The proper way to wear antiperspirant is to apply it at night. Not only do you spare ruining your nice clothes but by doing that the next day it works better as it has had time to absorb into the skin and not sweat stinky at all. Deodorant- the majority are junk. Get a good antiperspirant, like unscented Ban, apply it at night and in the morning even if you take a shower it’s already absorbed and you’re good to go!
My grandfather was a tailor and I learned as a small girl what good garments feel and look like. Today I am 51 and I still look at every garment inside to see what it`s made of and if the cut and shape is timeless. I buy the most in italy, often in outlets of well known established italian brands and most of my clothes and many shoes I have since 25 years now. I also knit sweaters myself with high quality yarns like alpaca, mohair and cashmere-they are priceless ;-)
Excellent video. I’m a 10 year professional in world class made to measure men’s suits from the top mills in the world. Women’s clothing is light years behind in quality for most brands compared to men’s classic suiting
I’ve always noticed that being around men, their materials are always better, its so hard to find anything like that but for women even at a similar price range 😢 I’ve thought for a long time about starting a descent brand for women.
@@an5683 yes and no so since I work with a made to measure product and program it can be done. But to be completely transparent it really requires a few components. if the woman in mind is physically built in a manner that is traditionally less bust and less waist to hip ratio and less prominent thigh ratio and circumference typically you can get a result that looks more flattering on that type of figure. If the woman in mind has prominent bust ratio and prominent waist to hip ratios and seat and thighs it becomes more difficult to construct garment in made to measure that have a feminine silhouette. but if the woman is ok with having a more masculine silhouette then the results will better usually better if the woman in question doesn’t have extreme ratios because the base pre made patterns can only be manipulated by so much in each jacket , pant , waist coat size .
I live in a hot climate and use a lot of linen. I’ve noticed it’s hard to find heavier linen or good quality light linen. There’s a lot of poor quality linen being sold.
So I have a perfect solution for you. A brand a came across recently called “not perfect linen. They also sell on Etsy. It’s a family owned company. Amazing quality linen, very well constructed, lots of colours and you can customise your pieces to your figure and your preference. I’m going to talk about their pieces in my video soon☺️
What a thorough video on a much needed subject. I wholeheartedly agree 100% with what you say here. I have a difficult time finding blazer and coat linings that are natural fabrics. Most are polyester and acetate.
YES 🙌🏻 I found one ☝️ Zara blazer of pure linen with pure cotton lining. SilkMaison blazer of pure silk and pure silk lining. Such chase to get them!!!
I prefer a soft silky feeling lining to my blazers, no matter what the material. Recently bought an expensive Ralph Lauren blazer which has this thick cotton lining. So what if it’s a natural fiber lining, it feels thick and uncomfortable so sometimes “natural fibers” don’t feel as nice. Feel, drape, touch, thats most important! Also pure wool coats are itchy! But soft cashmere a dream, I have 2 cashmere coats which I adore.
This was a very detailed and informative video on buying quality clothes. I now read labels on clothes to determine the fabric content. So many retailers use acrylic, nylon and polyester. I notice that many high-end designers charge a lot of money for blazers ($600) that are made with a high-content of polyester. Thank you for your time.
Hi Diane! Thank you so much for your insights. I absolutely agree with you about the high end/designer clothes that sometimes have more than questionable composition. I honestly don’t understand how people blindly buy things like that and don’t ask questions only, because it’s X or Z brand🤨
Hi, I really loved this Video and again lerned a lot. Your style is outstanding ❤. I really loved your belt. I find it so difficult to find a nice belt, would you mind to share where it is from?
This was one of the best videos I've seen this year. I'm with you 100%. Only quality. I nearly always buy vintage. Last week I got a wonderful nearly-new Max Mara grey wool, cashmere & silk coat for €40.
This would be a good optional lecture, extra credit in high school. Mostly girls would attend but it would start them an a different trajectory for life and put a dent into fast fashion. I am sick of seeing people compare two vastly different quality items and say: same thing and this one is cheaper.
It really is a shame that household skills aren't taught at school anymore. People can't even sew on a button anymore or mend a small hole. It should be embarrassing. People used to make whole dresses themselves. And people pride themselves nowadays of being smarter than the people back then when in fact we've become helpless idiots dependent on big corps
I don't have anything from the S' line so I can't say anything about it, but i have several coats and pullovers from Weekend Max Mara, Sportmax and Max&Co and they are of really good quality.
If I’m not mistaken there is a documentary on UA-cam about how luxury brands, including Max Mara use furs and fabrics from China and then sew the finished product in Italy. It was also shown that the “Italian artisans” sewing the garments are mostly African laborers who work in dangerous conditions and many of whom have lost fingers or limbs working in these sweatshops. Even if the label says made in Italy you need to be careful, most “luxury” brands are created by people or even children that have no choice. The price of the garments are made at the lowest possible price, and then consumers pay too dollar ensuring the companies have huge profits.
The video I’ve been waiting for!! I’m so fed up of influencers singing the praises of the quality of an item, yet when you ask them what they mean by that, WHY do they consider it high quality, they’re usually stumped. And no one other than me (and you!) seems to care! It really annoys me. So, THANK YOU for demonstrating what better quality really means. xx
Yes the online worls has way too few of them! But there are more, andrea cheong for one really takes the time to walk her viewers through which aspects of clothes (% of fabrics, stitching, hels) to pay attention to and she rehularly does deep dives of (fast) fashion brands and why they are not durable and what to watch out for. It's a slow growing online world but i have faith in it. (Though i also fear the rise of the "nontoxic organic hormonefree wishywashy antiscience fearmongering style influencers, they rise quicker than informed influencers/youtubers like this one)
I am with you on the linen bedding- with a linen flat sheet for the most luxurious night’s sleep ever! Once you do natural fibres you never go back. It’s false economy to buy cheap clothes that fall apart and leave you feeling stinky at the end of the day.
I don't think I have ever slept on linen, but I can tell you that 100% bamboo sheets are heavenly. My husband always gets very hot, but says the bamboo sheets help keep him cooler. My mom always used flannel sheets in the winter until she tried bamboo, and now she uses the bamboo which helps keep her warmer. It's nice to have a fabric that evens out the temperature extremes.
I have just found your channel and I'm loving it. At my age 70 in a few months I'm looking for quality that will last and no longer high fashion that lasts 2 minutes.
Thank you for the detailed video. It's so bad that brands don't upload pictures about the inside of the garments. I check always the material of the garment, because my mom worked in the 80's in textile industry, I'm from Hungary and before the fall of the wall my country produced a lot of wool fabric for the Soviet market. They were not fashion fabrics, but heavy-duty ones. My mom told me that she worked as a tester too, and the well made wool fabrics were water-proof. The designer clothes are getting annoying. I was outraged when I saw a polyesther mesh fabric for hundreds of dollars just because it is desingner. The most annoying thing they do is putting a plastic fiber lining inside of a silk garment. If the silk doesn't touch your skin, what is the point?
Ive been shopping for material for a few years now. It made my shopping experience much easier -> whenever I see something interesting, look for the lable, see polyester, immediately pass. Now I don't even need to walk into 80% of the stores in a mall, no decision fatigues 😂😢 I usually just buy the first piece that meets the material and my fit test. No more "I need to compare this item with a million other options" struggles.
I've started doing that as much as I can (I really need more clothes at the moment). It's surprising how many clothes from expencive brands that just doesn't fit my new standard.
@@LiMaking Alas, I can rarely find anything less than $100 worth buying these days (other than t-shirts). Expensive brands mean nothing in the context of high quality these days. What's funnier is that when you try to go even higher with the budget in hope of finding some durable wears, you see some ridiculous delicate pieces that says 100% cotton, but, DO NOT WASH... yes, not even dry clean is allowed, DO NOT WASH PERIOD. SMH
Natural fibers only! I developed skin allergies to synthetics (plastics), this happens from repeated exposure. I can also tolerate the manmade cellulosic fibers well (lyocell, rayon). Silk is my favorite fabric, and I gradually built up a wardrobe of silk items over the years, so I have plenty of daily choices. Wool is underrated, it not only is warm, but very resilient, looks beautiful and doesn’t wrinkle, or the creases hang out overnight. I recently got a pair of polyester pants from H&M, but there’s just no way to get the creases out, I’ve tried everything from washing, wet ironing, steaming, soaking in warm water, stretch ironing, etc. what a waste of money, I just had a weak moment because they fit me so perfectly (I was going to wear them over silk Long Johns to protect my skin).
@@Ingrid0410As I do not follow fashion on UA-cam often, I don't know what Lily Silk is, but it SOUNDS cheap. Like in an "extremely generic fast fashion brand" kind of way.
I tend to use clothes that have 100 to 80% natural fibers in general, but to be fair to polyester, when it gets closer to -20 celsius here in my part of Norway in winter, the jacket I put on, that keeps me way too warm in any other weather, is abouit 95% polyester by weight, and it is a canadian heavy outdoors jacket. Of course I do wear wool under my pants and under my sweaters and I do also have a thick wool sweater underheath, but polyester does have it's uses too.
Thank you for your comment. Thats true, polyester is not all bad and there are certain garments that simply perform better than if they were made from natural fabrics.
Loved this video ! Very informative! I’m a BIG THRIFTER SECOND HAND shopper and have found very nice good quality items at a good price ! This video helps me look for even better higher quality materials !
This is such a much needed video, thank you! For years I avoided too many natural fiber pieces because many were not machine washable, and I knew I need to wash my sweaters after each wear; not because of dirt or stains, but because of odor. But when I finally started buying more cashmere sweaters, I realized I was not particularly stinky (I shower and use deodorant like most people ☺️), but the synthetic fibers in the sweaters I wore would trap odors, necessitating washing after each use. Now I lightly steam my cashmere and wool/silk/linen/cotton pieces, and find that odors are not a problem AT ALL. I no longer have to wash my tops or sweaters after one use. Many pieces can be washed on the ultra delicate cycle of my washing machine, and then air dried. I also have a couple of specialty fabric refresher sprays for in between washes. Now I rarely ever buy or wear synthetic fabrics. High quality natural fibers are the way to go! Allowing your body to breathe is priceless!
absolutely agree with you. Even the high end shops, not to mention luxury start cutting corners and we I feel like I can’t trust their products from season to season
I have implemented some of your recommendations and have shopped a few of the shops you have mentioned. Also, I have done some more research on the degradation of clothing over time. It is such a shame. Thank You for sharing and please keep posting. You are so pleasant and classy to watch.
Splendid video. Shall retain for a rewatch, the depth of knowledge is intense. These days i exclusively buy 100% narural unless its for stretch/gymwear. I manage the expense by buying second hand. In my twenties when i had super cheap chiffon shirts i used to change the nasty buttons for mother of pearl.
After the initial try-on, I take new clothes into my best natural light and inspect them carefully before cutting the tags off. I’ve found food, beverage and makeup stains from previous buyers who wore the item, then returned it; twisting; misaligned buttons and pleats, and many other defects. I also check every seam, as you suggest, by pulling on it. It’s a nuisance, but I’d rather find out before I remove the tags and steam or iron an item, possibly setting a stain. Most main brands don’t inspect returns before they resell them, sadly. I’ve also seen many labels with the strings taped back together, or pinned on - they were obviously removed for wear. I recently bought a blazer from Macy’s, which used to be a good brand. Not only is it 100% plastic, inside and out, even the care/content labels are a clear plastic, too! How cheap can they get!
This was an excellent video! I really enjoyed the level of detail in your discussion. Learning more about how to determine the quality of garments and understanding the benefits of natural materials has become really important to me the last 2 years or so. And I agree, this knowledge really does give us power as consumers. More videos on this topic would be appreciated 😊
Thank you for the tips. I've discovered Uniqlo recently and I'm very happy with the pieces I bought. I also purchased a secondhand leather jacket and its lasting years compared to synteric leather
My most high-quality garment is my coat. It's a mohair overcoat passed down from my father, from his father. I've had to get a button sewn back on (and i should have the other buttons done too, lest i lose them) and i need the lining and pockets replaced, but seeing as they're still in wearable if suboptimal condition after 75-80 years I've got no room to complain. The outer layer of the coat looks absolutely none the worse for wear and i can absolutely vouch for its continued performance in even the dead of an Irish winter
Omg! One of the best videos I've ever watched. It was filled with so much important information that we, as consumers should know when we're purchasing our clothing. Ty so much! It's so obvious that you put a lot of time and work into this video. Happy holidays!
I love wool as a material, but it's so important to think about the ethical considerations. Mass produced wool (where virtually all wool comes from) is an industry full of abuse and mistreatment. Thrift shops have so many wool products that I've been able to build a really nice wool/cashmere winter wardrobe without buying ANYTHING new
I think that the way cashmere looks has to do with care too. I have a bunch of "cheap" cashmere sweaters that have very minimal pilling. But I offer extra care when washing and caring for them.
I haven't seen anyone mention Denim yet so I will! I love jeans and I'll just say quality is a huge factor, and after that is how you care for them. If you dont accidentally shrink them in the wash, they can be worn almost as long as you fit into them. They can be styled in every season, they fit every body type, and are extremely comfortable when they're higher quality. Same applies for any other denim garment. Genuinely such a nice fabric when its made with quality and care! we just dont usually think about it as being quality when we're used to the $20 target jeggings haha
Many of your points are the reasons I don’t buy clothes online. I want to see the fabric, the construction. As someone who learned all about grain and fitting when learning how to sew, I am incredibly disappointed by the quality of clothing available today. Even thrift shops are full of fast fashion, which means they are no longer worth visiting.
In total agreement on alignment of patterns. I am appalled when I see high priced brands with poorly aligned plaids especially. It makes me angry. If I were the retailer, I would return them as unsalable.
The entire fashion industry being affected by the fast fashion approach is so true. I've been seeing Forever21 and other cheap brands known for polyester in thrift stores for a while now!
Some of the dresses in the current Armani collection are 100% polyester or polymide mixes, some at EUR 6.000 and higher. I couldn`t believe my eyes. Disapointing.
Dear Mariola, I love all your videos and watch them many times because you provide such great info, but this video was extra good. Thank you for the detailed information. Very nice job!! 🌷🌷🌷
i just bought a wool sweater tonight at savers for like 10 bucks ( :/ ) yes it’s cheap but it used to be cheaper 😢 but YES i wish ppl had higher standards and followed through with their behavior. it’s insane how some of these companies have just completely gone downhill quality wise. they have no shame
Sadly, it is very difficult to find quality garments in petite sizes. It is as if clothing manufacturers don't believe petite women count. Very few of the top quality brands offer their clothes in petite sizes, so we either have them custom made or try to alter regular sizes which never works. Are you listening, Lily Silk?
I also recommend Lands End. I haven't purchased from them yet but I find it hard to buy good coats as most of them overwhelm me (I am 5'4 so not exactly petite but petite clothes suit my short torso) and just discovered that all of Lands End's coats come in petite sizes. Reiss (their wool coats are great) and Ralph Lauren also do petite and Gap and Bannana Republic. I know the two last ones are fast fashion but the quality is quite good. J Crew is also good and they do international delivery.
Unfortunately, my beloved J. Crew has declined in quality. The lady jacket I purchased is 55% cotton and 45% synthetic polyamide. At first, it was soft and stretchy; now, it is scratchy. Looks cheap after one season. From now on, I shop by reading labels.@@dbach226
It's interesting that you've had this experience (and I totally understand you're disappointed), I'm petite as well, about 155 cm tall or 5'1, and I thrift a lot of clothes. My experience is that whenever I find a good quality item that is the right fit for my figure, it's practically always a top brand, let's say, Jigsaw
You hit all of the elements that I also try to go for when I make a purchase. I very much prefer natural materials, and they are now harder to find. Even nicer items are lined with polyester which is not my preferred. My very favorite is cashmere, though I buy more merino wool because I can better find it and afford it. The price has really gone up compared to what I use to pay. For summer, linen and some cottons and woven silks and blends are my favorites. Hubby and I have been shopping secondhand stores this last year. We find some good quality items for a much cheaper price. Of course we have to compete with all the online resellers, who seem to buy it all up.
Absolutely brilliant ❤ Thank you for this detailed, thorough video! I’ve never come across a UA-cam with such complete content. Love how you’ve gotten into the details. Would love to see more of your content around various women’s clothing (summer wear, gloves, evening wear, etc.). Thank you for this!!
@@lillianbarker4292 I just don't trust the online stores. I could very well be wrong about them, but I need to touch and feel, and stretch, and scrunch it up before buying.
I appreciate your covering cotton and how hard it is to find good quality cotton. I am allergic to wool, and therefore cashmere as well :( , so my options are already limited.
Me too……its so annoying, I bought a merino wool jumper the other day and thought I will be taking it back, no itching at all! , I distance myself from anything wool. Some coats makes me itchy by just touching it, the wool ones of course🤮
Wooow!! I didnt know it was such a common issue! maybe we should look into it and make a video about what to wear if you’re allergic to wool. Waiting for some suggestions 🥰
Another thing about the "second inside button" other people might not know: It's a sign of quality and attention to fabric construction and composition if a clothing company sews it's buttons to another button instead of stitching it directly onto fabric. Fabrics like charmeuse or satin can be very delicate, especially if it's a 12 mm silk or less. Sewing the buttons to another button on the interior of the shirt/pant/coat reinforces the button itself while also preserving the integrity of the fabric.
I am so happy you've made this video! I've been waiting for something like this to come out for some time and puzzled that nobody really talks about this on youtube or elsewhere, especially considering how appauling the quality of clothes is these days. Thank you again!
Extremely useful, that is the exhaustive video I have been looking for. Thank you so much, especially for illustrating your statements with visual and concrete examples. keep the High Quality work please...
Lovely, yes the inside needs to look as good as the outside. I sewed my only project as a silk camp shirt in junior high school. Love natural materials and despise triacetate that many stores tried to push as suits in the 90’s forward. Fabric & Fit are essential. 😊
Great discussion and I love the styling of the pieces shown. I think the pattern in the plastic buttons is meant to emulate natural buttons made from antlers or horns. Another alternative material worth considering is modal; it is soft and comfy next to the skin and works great as a base layer.
I began buying my wardrobe as a young adult in the 80s and it amazes me how the quality of clothing and accessories has decreased since then. Synthetic fibers were rare, natural fibers dominated and the construction was so much better. I have to buy Premium High Street, or better, now to keep up a decent quality. I don’t buy for a month or year, I buy to wear things forever, so I want the best.
Sadly, I think those days are gone. Saville Row, Austin Reed etc. Eddie Bauer, Lands End, is different. Substantial material. Seams hitting on the shoulders. Stripes matched. Ralph Lauren used to line his women's wool pants. No longer. Had I known it was going to get like this, I might have taken more incentive to keep my weight down and kept my clothes. They were certainly were made better. I always liked the classics anyway. They would have been in style right today. Ho hum.....
I’ve heard similar clothes shopping experiences to yours. I also started buying professional workwear when I started working in the insurance industry in the 80’s. Back then you could find very good quality garments for a decent price. I always choose classic pieces which I can still wear today and I almost want to cry when I look at how well they were made. The finishing of the buttonholes, the hems, etc. I couldn’t afford the same quality today. I’ve bought very little from modern brands because I’m offended by the poor quality.
Also, zippers on jeans/trousers, well every garment, really, should be full-length. Many brands are saving a few pennies by using very short ones. These not only make a garment hard to get on and off, it makes a strange bump in the crotch area and just looks weird. YKK are the best zippers, for sure. I was shocked that the new hoodie I got from Lily Silk has such a low-quality zipper, I couldn’t even try it on because the zipper was already stuck. The replacement came with the label off, I had to restitch it. They also sent me a silk shirt where the button loop wouldn’t go over the button, it sewn way too short, and the details around the cuffs had obvious tailor’s marks on them, which didn’t wash out. I use only the tailor’s pens that evaporate without leaving a permanent mark. I hope their quality isn’t decreasing overall, I rely on this brand a lot.
Thank you for such an informative video. I am a careful shopper and look at the seams, buttons, lining before I buy, but never knew you could have 15-20% of polyester mixed into wool with no ill effects. Not sure I trust that as the only pilling I have is with 'mixed fabrics'. I mainly shop second hand as the quality of the fabric is far better than new clothes. Really surprised you recommend M&S as the feel of most of the fabrics sets my teeth on edge!
I have a cpl of pure cashmere sweaters from M&S (I thrifted them maybe 10 years ago, so not sure when they were made) and the cashmere is decent or better
@@michalinaokrent6672 I have a 25 year old cashmere polo sweater from the Edinburgh Woolen Mill which is really good cashmere. So thrifting old cashmere is the way to go!
Thank you for taking the time to put together such a thorough and educational video about how to spot garment quality. I feel so much better prepared for my future shopping trips.
I'd never heard of Pima cotton before this video. I misheard you in the video - thinking you said 'payma' cotton - so I looked it up and found the description. Thanks.
If you live in US, check supima cotton which is the finest cotton representing 1% of all the cotton produced in the world. Brooke Brothers is the only US apparel brand in business since 1818. I got recently a work wear full sleeve pima cotton in baby pink from them. It is so so so soft...
absolutely agree about Supima cotton. It almost feels like silk blend. I tend to see some Brooks Brothers pieces (also made from supima) in our charity shops.
This was very informative, I love the idea of having sustainable clothing that will last a long while because I think you get the most bang for your buck that way.
I loved your video. You're very knowledgeable & thank you for speaking clearly & not too fast. I'd love to discuss seams with you; they're important to me, too. I'm appalled by overlocked / surged seams; they're just cheap, messy & ugly. BTW, your reversible trench coat with the plaid lining & beautiful piped or bias-bound finish was stunning on you, reversed or inside out, IMO. Thanks for modeling it; I'd be proud, too. Well made clothing does make a difference in the way I feel about myself. Lovely video; I appreciate your passion & authenticity.
great video! Could you please do one on good quality accessories and one for petite women. Petite women might have to shop at the kids section but the stuff there isn’t made properly or to last. Thanks
I would love to find wool and cashmere made in colors that actually look good on me. All the sites I have been on stay with neutrals. I'm either washed out or looking severe. Please do more muted colors of blues, greens, and pinks, a nice berry would be good.
I absolutely love this video. I wish I came across it sooner, this stuff is what i wish my mother taught me and you taught it so well with all the examples, especially the patterns and the lining which I never seems to care about, I notice all the little imperfections now. Thank you so much❤❤❤ I will start shopping better
great video. only thing to ad is that the best quality zippers are actually riri, which are also far more expensive. a riri zipper (with every part) starts at over 15 euros per zipper. to put that into perspective, a ykk zipper (with every part) costs less than just a riri puller (around 4-5 euros).
When I look at the tag of a garment, it will say 100 % or 80 % cotton or whatever but it does not tell me the TYPE of cotton. How can I know which garment contains PIMA cotton (at 2:12 ) ?
A very useful video, just as relevant to men's clothing as women's. Thank you for the introduction to Lilysilk. I'll certainly be looking at a silk shirt for summer evenings. Regarding fabric blends, what do you think about linen and cotton? I have a jacket and a pair of trousers, both in a linen/cotton blend and I find you get the benefits of linen (airy, breathable, lightweight, nice textures) but at a lower price and with less creasing.
thank you so much for your comment. Absolutely! they have some great pieces in a really good quality. But also vintage shops are full of silk shirts (mostly mens) that are great for summer! Regarding the linen cotton blend - I love it, I think it’s actually better than linen-viscose mix that lots of fast fashion shops prefer. I have a few pieces in that mix in my wardrobe, like my off white jeans from COS 😊
Thank you for the educational video, I’ve been checking labels for fabric composition for the last couple of years now but still learning, I’ll certainly be subscribing 😊 to learn more !!
As far as cheaper tshirts st johns bay 100% cotton tees from around 2010 were so soft and thick. Talbots second hand is another one. Specific styles like the pima ones. Not all of their stuff is great. Fashion bug had some really good ones in 2004 but yeah such a solid basic seems so elusive now.
Thankyou so much for this video, I loved how you addressed how a 'higher price does not always mean better quality'. I loved shopping H&M you'd consider it decent quality clothing for their pricing but it can be a hit and miss at times. They've recently been doing a summer sale and alot of linen clothing was displayd. My Gosh they were all mostly thin and that really annoyed me lol.
Thank you for all these details. I loved the recommendation on zippers. Also I learned something I never knew before, that about extra cloth in the linen, just for the sake of movement.
thank you so much. I’m really happy you found something interesting in my video🥰🫶 absolutely, linen needs some movement, but in general look for generous amount of fabric, which is a sign of quality👍
I look everywhere for good quality clothes! but I try not to order online as you cannot judge the quality of the garment (except if I have tried it in a store and they did not have my size!) All these returns are not good for the planet!
Loved this video! Super informative. I've been trying to shape my closet to include more quality pieces that will last a lifetime. These tips will definitely come in handy on my future purchases.
I just thrifted, $4.00 a wonderful wool car coat. It has an inside pocket with button closure. Double breasted and the buttons are sewn with the little buttons on the inside. I could go on. If you sew clothes you know when you see shortcuts and apparel that will never look good or feel good on.
wooow!! what a great find!! I must say it’s impossible to find such inexpensive clothes nowadays in England. Having an insider know-how is invaluable indeed🥰
also fun fact, my parents bought me a wool coat from H&M when i was 16. i am now 37, still have and wear that coat, and it's in perfect condition. except for the lining which i need to replace actually. but you would never ever find quality like this at H&M today! it is really sad.
Yes! Same here! I bought a wool coat when I was 21 and I had it forever! Like maybe 8 years?
H&M change to much. Now there T Shirt just washed several times and fabric wanna jump out itself 😅
@@nguyenluu8392 ikr? haven't bought from there in ages. it's also true for all stores honestly. so sad.
Saaame!
Coat from when I was 13, I still wear it at 27.
How to wear your quality clothes should be the next video. In the old days they used undergarment that could protect your expensiv clothes. I remember those small blouses my mother called ”blous protecter” a cotton blouse for wearing under your more expensiv blouse. Easy to wash and protected the expensiv blous from deodorant and sweat stains. Of course we couldn´t copy everything but there certainly is a lot to learn.
I agree - women wore shifts or chemises under their "outside clothes" for centuries to protect them from sweat etc.
I've put permanent underarm liners into shirts (basically just a circle of soft cotton with a 5-in diameter cut from an old undershirt, pinned so the edge of the circle just hits the inner hem of a short sleeve, attached with a prick stitch) and that seems to be working pretty well to slow the kind of fabric degradation you get from friction and deodorant buildup (though it doesn't reduce the number of times I launder it). Garments with linings tend to last longer than ones without. I try to put preemptive inner thigh patches on pants I plan to wear a lot, because that's where they tend to wear out the soonest
I usually wear cotton t-shirts under cashmere sweaters. I can wash the sweaters once or twice a year, the t-shirt protects them from sweat and such. I've had a few sweaters for years, they still look great.
@@amethyst_cat9532 very smart thankyou for the tips 🫶
The proper way to wear antiperspirant is to apply it at night. Not only do you spare ruining your nice clothes but by doing that the next day it works better as it has had time to absorb into the skin and not sweat stinky at all. Deodorant- the majority are junk. Get a good antiperspirant, like unscented Ban, apply it at night and in the morning even if you take a shower it’s already absorbed and you’re good to go!
My grandfather was a tailor and I learned as a small girl what good garments feel and look like. Today I am 51 and I still look at every garment inside to see what it`s made of and if the cut and shape is timeless. I buy the most in italy, often in outlets of well known established italian brands and most of my clothes and many shoes I have since 25 years now. I also knit sweaters myself with high quality yarns like alpaca, mohair and cashmere-they are priceless ;-)
@@Lari_SP Max Mara, Falconeri, Armani, Aspesi, Tod`s, Ferragamo, Pollini, Fratelli Rossetti, Etro...
Excellent video. I’m a 10 year professional in world class made to measure men’s suits from the top mills in the world. Women’s clothing is light years behind in quality for most brands compared to men’s classic suiting
Always has been.
Do you think it’s possible to buy men’s suit and personal-tailor it to a feminine figure?
I’ve always noticed that being around men, their materials are always better, its so hard to find anything like that but for women even at a similar price range 😢
I’ve thought for a long time about starting a descent brand for women.
@@an5683 yes and no so since I work with a made to measure product and program it can be done. But to be completely transparent it really requires a few components. if the woman in mind is physically built in a manner that is traditionally less bust and less waist to hip ratio and less prominent thigh ratio and circumference typically you can get a result that looks more flattering on that type of figure. If the woman in mind has prominent bust ratio and prominent waist to hip ratios and seat and thighs it becomes more difficult to construct garment in made to measure that have a feminine silhouette. but if the woman is ok with having a more masculine silhouette then the results will better usually better if the woman in question doesn’t have extreme ratios because the base pre made patterns can only be manipulated by so much in each jacket , pant , waist coat size .
Who are the markers of quality - fabric choices and construction? Is there something else you use as a determinate of quality?
I live in a hot climate and use a lot of linen. I’ve noticed it’s hard to find heavier linen or good quality light linen. There’s a lot of poor quality linen being sold.
Yes!! And when u do its poorly constructed / finished
Agree!!! There is quite a difference in linen! I’ve found J Crew linen is lovely
So I have a perfect solution for you. A brand a came across recently called “not perfect linen. They also sell on Etsy. It’s a family owned company. Amazing quality linen, very well constructed, lots of colours and you can customise your pieces to your figure and your preference. I’m going to talk about their pieces in my video soon☺️
Not just poor quality linen, my friend even found linen dress with polyester lining.
I haven't been able to find a decent pair of 100% linen men's pants under ~$120. It's such a good material but so difficult to find
What a thorough video on a much needed subject. I wholeheartedly agree 100% with what you say here. I have a difficult time finding blazer and coat linings that are natural fabrics. Most are polyester and acetate.
Banana Republic makes 100% wool coats and blazers with breathable (rayon) linings. That’s where I have bought mine this year.🙂
@@kimberlyperrotis8962 thank you! I have a gray BR blazer I will go check the lining material.
@@kimberlyperrotis8962Thank you for the tip!
YES 🙌🏻 I found one ☝️ Zara blazer of pure linen with pure cotton lining. SilkMaison blazer of pure silk and pure silk lining. Such chase to get them!!!
I prefer a soft silky feeling lining to my blazers, no matter what the material. Recently bought an expensive Ralph Lauren blazer which has this thick cotton lining. So what if it’s a natural fiber lining, it feels thick and uncomfortable so sometimes “natural fibers” don’t feel as nice. Feel, drape, touch, thats most important! Also pure wool coats are itchy! But soft cashmere a dream, I have 2 cashmere coats which I adore.
This was a very detailed and informative video on buying quality clothes. I now read labels on clothes to determine the fabric content. So many retailers use acrylic, nylon and polyester. I notice that many high-end designers charge a lot of money for blazers ($600) that are made with a high-content of polyester. Thank you for your time.
Hi Diane! Thank you so much for your insights. I absolutely agree with you about the high end/designer clothes that sometimes have more than questionable composition. I honestly don’t understand how people blindly buy things like that and don’t ask questions only, because it’s X or Z brand🤨
Hi, I really loved this Video and again lerned a lot. Your style is outstanding ❤.
I really loved your belt. I find it so difficult to find a nice belt, would you mind to share where it is from?
Now THAT is a real rip off
I also sweat in these kind of blazers. And then you cannot wash them.
the amount of clothes sold on SSENSE for 1000$+ that are 100% polyester should be illegal
This was one of the best videos I've seen this year. I'm with you 100%. Only quality. I nearly always buy vintage. Last week I got a wonderful nearly-new Max Mara grey wool, cashmere & silk coat for €40.
This would be a good optional lecture, extra credit in high school. Mostly girls would attend but it would start them an a different trajectory for life and put a dent into fast fashion. I am sick of seeing people compare two vastly different quality items and say: same thing and this one is cheaper.
Agree : quality has a price.
It really is a shame that household skills aren't taught at school anymore. People can't even sew on a button anymore or mend a small hole. It should be embarrassing. People used to make whole dresses themselves. And people pride themselves nowadays of being smarter than the people back then when in fact we've become helpless idiots dependent on big corps
Can we appreciate that she didn't distill these topics across multiple short videos but presented them all in one place🎉
Max Mara is known for high quality coats but their S Max Mara line is made in China vs in Italy. Completely agree that we shouldn’t trust brands..
I don't have anything from the S' line so I can't say anything about it, but i have several coats and pullovers from Weekend Max Mara, Sportmax and Max&Co and they are of really good quality.
If I’m not mistaken there is a documentary on UA-cam about how luxury brands, including Max Mara use furs and fabrics from China and then sew the finished product in Italy. It was also shown that the “Italian artisans” sewing the garments are mostly African laborers who work in dangerous conditions and many of whom have lost fingers or limbs working in these sweatshops. Even if the label says made in Italy you need to be careful, most “luxury” brands are created by people or even children that have no choice. The price of the garments are made at the lowest possible price, and then consumers pay too dollar ensuring the companies have huge profits.
I love Max Mara since like the 90s... their Alpaka Coat and the Cube is amazing
@@alexiscox528 i would love to watch this! Do you remember what the documentary is called?
what’s left to buy then?
The video I’ve been waiting for!! I’m so fed up of influencers singing the praises of the quality of an item, yet when you ask them what they mean by that, WHY do they consider it high quality, they’re usually stumped. And no one other than me (and you!) seems to care! It really annoys me. So, THANK YOU for demonstrating what better quality really means. xx
Yes the online worls has way too few of them! But there are more, andrea cheong for one really takes the time to walk her viewers through which aspects of clothes (% of fabrics, stitching, hels) to pay attention to and she rehularly does deep dives of (fast) fashion brands and why they are not durable and what to watch out for. It's a slow growing online world but i have faith in it. (Though i also fear the rise of the "nontoxic organic hormonefree wishywashy antiscience fearmongering style influencers, they rise quicker than informed influencers/youtubers like this one)
I am with you on the linen bedding- with a linen flat sheet for the most luxurious night’s sleep ever! Once you do natural fibres you never go back. It’s false economy to buy cheap clothes that fall apart and leave you feeling stinky at the end of the day.
I don't think I have ever slept on linen, but I can tell you that 100% bamboo sheets are heavenly. My husband always gets very hot, but says the bamboo sheets help keep him cooler. My mom always used flannel sheets in the winter until she tried bamboo, and now she uses the bamboo which helps keep her warmer. It's nice to have a fabric that evens out the temperature extremes.
Agree. But how come we are so few to know it ? What did their mothers teach those who do not know that quality has a price etc etc ?
@@solangelauthier2381 what did their fathers teach them?
I have just found your channel and I'm loving it. At my age 70 in a few months I'm looking for quality that will last and no longer high fashion that lasts 2 minutes.
i try to avoid wool because of my eczema so learning about other options is really helpful!!
I believe merino wool is mostly safe for people with skin problems
Thank you for the detailed video.
It's so bad that brands don't upload pictures about the inside of the garments.
I check always the material of the garment, because my mom worked in the 80's in textile industry, I'm from Hungary and before the fall of the wall my country produced a lot of wool fabric for the Soviet market. They were not fashion fabrics, but heavy-duty ones. My mom told me that she worked as a tester too, and the well made wool fabrics were water-proof.
The designer clothes are getting annoying. I was outraged when I saw a polyesther mesh fabric for hundreds of dollars just because it is desingner. The most annoying thing they do is putting a plastic fiber lining inside of a silk garment. If the silk doesn't touch your skin, what is the point?
I just bought an expensive cotton-linen skirt then realized it had polyester lining after I cut the tags off
@@svetlanacummins137 Sadly this is getting more common.
Ive been shopping for material for a few years now. It made my shopping experience much easier -> whenever I see something interesting, look for the lable, see polyester, immediately pass. Now I don't even need to walk into 80% of the stores in a mall, no decision fatigues 😂😢
I usually just buy the first piece that meets the material and my fit test. No more "I need to compare this item with a million other options" struggles.
I've started doing that as much as I can (I really need more clothes at the moment). It's surprising how many clothes from expencive brands that just doesn't fit my new standard.
@@LiMaking Alas, I can rarely find anything less than $100 worth buying these days (other than t-shirts). Expensive brands mean nothing in the context of high quality these days. What's funnier is that when you try to go even higher with the budget in hope of finding some durable wears, you see some ridiculous delicate pieces that says 100% cotton, but, DO NOT WASH... yes, not even dry clean is allowed, DO NOT WASH PERIOD. SMH
Do you have any brands you recommend that have a high chance of good quality materials?
this is by far the best most essential video about clothing on UA-cam, everybody needs to watch this
Natural fibers only! I developed skin allergies to synthetics (plastics), this happens from repeated exposure. I can also tolerate the manmade cellulosic fibers well (lyocell, rayon). Silk is my favorite fabric, and I gradually built up a wardrobe of silk items over the years, so I have plenty of daily choices. Wool is underrated, it not only is warm, but very resilient, looks beautiful and doesn’t wrinkle, or the creases hang out overnight. I recently got a pair of polyester pants from H&M, but there’s just no way to get the creases out, I’ve tried everything from washing, wet ironing, steaming, soaking in warm water, stretch ironing, etc. what a waste of money, I just had a weak moment because they fit me so perfectly (I was going to wear them over silk Long Johns to protect my skin).
Press with white vinegar. Will remove the creases
Sustainability clothing is the way to dress. You’re one of the UA-camrs influencers who’s not promoting cheap and low quality clothing. 👍
Or advertising Lily Silk, Skill Share,?etc
@@Ingrid0410As I do not follow fashion on UA-cam often, I don't know what Lily Silk is, but it SOUNDS cheap. Like in an "extremely generic fast fashion brand" kind of way.
I tend to use clothes that have 100 to 80% natural fibers in general, but to be fair to polyester, when it gets closer to -20 celsius here in my part of Norway in winter, the jacket I put on, that keeps me way too warm in any other weather, is abouit 95% polyester by weight, and it is a canadian heavy outdoors jacket. Of course I do wear wool under my pants and under my sweaters and I do also have a thick wool sweater underheath, but polyester does have it's uses too.
Thank you for your comment. Thats true, polyester is not all bad and there are certain garments that simply perform better than if they were made from natural fabrics.
Loved this video ! Very informative! I’m a BIG THRIFTER SECOND HAND shopper and have found very nice good quality items at a good price ! This video helps me look for even better higher quality materials !
Thank you so much for your comment. Thrifting is so much fun and really satisfying when you find a great quality piece for a good price☺️
This is such a much needed video, thank you! For years I avoided too many natural fiber pieces because many were not machine washable, and I knew I need to wash my sweaters after each wear; not because of dirt or stains, but because of odor. But when I finally started buying more cashmere sweaters, I realized I was not particularly stinky (I shower and use deodorant like most people ☺️), but the synthetic fibers in the sweaters I wore would trap odors, necessitating washing after each use.
Now I lightly steam my cashmere and wool/silk/linen/cotton pieces, and find that odors are not a problem AT ALL. I no longer have to wash my tops or sweaters after one use.
Many pieces can be washed on the ultra delicate cycle of my washing machine, and then air dried. I also have a couple of specialty fabric refresher sprays for in between washes.
Now I rarely ever buy or wear synthetic fabrics. High quality natural fibers are the way to go! Allowing your body to breathe is priceless!
This lady is down to earth practical, smart and effortlessly chic. The real walk the talk thing.
Perfect. I'm finding it increasingly harder to get good quality clothing and my skin reacts to polyester negatively.
absolutely agree with you. Even the high end shops, not to mention luxury start cutting corners and we I feel like I can’t trust their products from season to season
Truly appreciate this video. And I may be one of the few who enjoy learning about good garment construction. Thank you!
I have implemented some of your recommendations and have shopped a few of the shops you have mentioned. Also, I have done some more research on the degradation of clothing over time. It is such a shame. Thank You for sharing and please keep posting. You are so pleasant and classy to watch.
This is a great video! Thank you for reminding us that we deserve to wear quality clothes!
Did you ever doubt it ? What did your mother teach you ?
Splendid video. Shall retain for a rewatch, the depth of knowledge is intense. These days i exclusively buy 100% narural unless its for stretch/gymwear. I manage the expense by buying second hand.
In my twenties when i had super cheap chiffon shirts i used to change the nasty buttons for mother of pearl.
After the initial try-on, I take new clothes into my best natural light and inspect them carefully before cutting the tags off. I’ve found food, beverage and makeup stains from previous buyers who wore the item, then returned it; twisting; misaligned buttons and pleats, and many other defects. I also check every seam, as you suggest, by pulling on it. It’s a nuisance, but I’d rather find out before I remove the tags and steam or iron an item, possibly setting a stain. Most main brands don’t inspect returns before they resell them, sadly. I’ve also seen many labels with the strings taped back together, or pinned on - they were obviously removed for wear. I recently bought a blazer from Macy’s, which used to be a good brand. Not only is it 100% plastic, inside and out, even the care/content labels are a clear plastic, too! How cheap can they get!
This was an excellent video! I really enjoyed the level of detail in your discussion. Learning more about how to determine the quality of garments and understanding the benefits of natural materials has become really important to me the last 2 years or so. And I agree, this knowledge really does give us power as consumers. More videos on this topic would be appreciated 😊
Thank you for the tips. I've discovered Uniqlo recently and I'm very happy with the pieces I bought. I also purchased a secondhand leather jacket and its lasting years compared to synteric leather
My most high-quality garment is my coat. It's a mohair overcoat passed down from my father, from his father. I've had to get a button sewn back on (and i should have the other buttons done too, lest i lose them) and i need the lining and pockets replaced, but seeing as they're still in wearable if suboptimal condition after 75-80 years I've got no room to complain. The outer layer of the coat looks absolutely none the worse for wear and i can absolutely vouch for its continued performance in even the dead of an Irish winter
Omg! One of the best videos I've ever watched. It was filled with so much important information that we, as consumers should know when we're purchasing our clothing. Ty so much! It's so obvious that you put a lot of time and work into this video. Happy holidays!
I love wool as a material, but it's so important to think about the ethical considerations. Mass produced wool (where virtually all wool comes from) is an industry full of abuse and mistreatment. Thrift shops have so many wool products that I've been able to build a really nice wool/cashmere winter wardrobe without buying ANYTHING new
You can say the same about the construction circumstances for most clothing.
@@bethhutchinson4230 Sure. I wasn't saying otherwise
I think that the way cashmere looks has to do with care too. I have a bunch of "cheap" cashmere sweaters that have very minimal pilling. But I offer extra care when washing and caring for them.
I haven't seen anyone mention Denim yet so I will! I love jeans and I'll just say quality is a huge factor, and after that is how you care for them. If you dont accidentally shrink them in the wash, they can be worn almost as long as you fit into them. They can be styled in every season, they fit every body type, and are extremely comfortable when they're higher quality. Same applies for any other denim garment. Genuinely such a nice fabric when its made with quality and care! we just dont usually think about it as being quality when we're used to the $20 target jeggings haha
Many of your points are the reasons I don’t buy clothes online. I want to see the fabric, the construction. As someone who learned all about grain and fitting when learning how to sew, I am incredibly disappointed by the quality of clothing available today. Even thrift shops are full of fast fashion, which means they are no longer worth visiting.
yes!! learning about sewing has cursed me with the knowlege of how low quality common clothing items are...
Wow, one of the best fashion videos I've seen. Thank you for such thorough information. This is incredibly helpful!!
Dear Mariola, thank you so much for sharing these brands that offer so high-quality pieces for reasonable prices. I could never find them myself!
In total agreement on alignment of patterns. I am appalled when I see high priced brands with poorly aligned plaids especially. It makes me angry. If I were the retailer, I would return them as unsalable.
The entire fashion industry being affected by the fast fashion approach is so true. I've been seeing Forever21 and other cheap brands known for polyester in thrift stores for a while now!
Some of the dresses in the current Armani collection are 100% polyester or polymide mixes, some at EUR 6.000 and higher. I couldn`t believe my eyes. Disapointing.
Armani? Really? That's disappointing
Dear Mariola, I love all your videos and watch them many times because you provide such great info, but this video was extra good. Thank you for the detailed information. Very nice job!! 🌷🌷🌷
i just bought a wool sweater tonight at savers for like 10 bucks ( :/ ) yes it’s cheap but it used to be cheaper 😢 but YES i wish ppl had higher standards and followed through with their behavior. it’s insane how some of these companies have just completely gone downhill quality wise. they have no shame
Sadly, it is very difficult to find quality garments in petite sizes. It is as if clothing manufacturers don't believe petite women count. Very few of the top quality brands offer their clothes in petite sizes, so we either have them custom made or try to alter regular sizes which never works. Are you listening, Lily Silk?
Land's End carries petite sizes, as does J. Crew(which is the only maker to put interior pockets in their Women's blazers).
I also recommend Lands End. I haven't purchased from them yet but I find it hard to buy good coats as most of them overwhelm me (I am 5'4 so not exactly petite but petite clothes suit my short torso) and just discovered that all of Lands End's coats come in petite sizes. Reiss (their wool coats are great) and Ralph Lauren also do petite and Gap and Bannana Republic. I know the two last ones are fast fashion but the quality is quite good. J Crew is also good and they do international delivery.
Unfortunately, my beloved J. Crew has declined in quality. The lady jacket I purchased is 55% cotton and 45% synthetic polyamide. At first, it was soft and stretchy; now, it is scratchy. Looks cheap after one season. From now on, I shop by reading labels.@@dbach226
5'4" also...yes to everything you said!!!
It's interesting that you've had this experience (and I totally understand you're disappointed), I'm petite as well, about 155 cm tall or 5'1, and I thrift a lot of clothes. My experience is that whenever I find a good quality item that is the right fit for my figure, it's practically always a top brand, let's say, Jigsaw
You hit all of the elements that I also try to go for when I make a purchase. I very much prefer natural materials, and they are now harder to find. Even nicer items are lined with polyester which is not my preferred.
My very favorite is cashmere, though I buy more merino wool because I can better find it and afford it. The price has really gone up compared to what I use to pay. For summer, linen and some cottons and woven silks and blends are my favorites.
Hubby and I have been shopping secondhand stores this last year. We find some good quality items for a much cheaper price. Of course we have to compete with all the online resellers, who seem to buy it all up.
Absolutely brilliant ❤ Thank you for this detailed, thorough video! I’ve never come across a UA-cam with such complete content. Love how you’ve gotten into the details. Would love to see more of your content around various women’s clothing (summer wear, gloves, evening wear, etc.). Thank you for this!!
I'd be grateful just to find some decent quality fabrics to sew with!
ME TOO!!! Ugh!
Me too. A lot of online shops look very sketchy
Me too. I’ve found beautiful fabric on line but it’s not the same as being able to touch fabric in person.
@@lillianbarker4292 I just don't trust the online stores. I could very well be wrong about them, but I need to touch and feel, and stretch, and scrunch it up before buying.
I appreciate your covering cotton and how hard it is to find good quality cotton. I am allergic to wool, and therefore cashmere as well :( , so my options are already limited.
Me too!
Sadly, I too am allergic to wool, even a sweater that has only 5% wool makes me itch.
I used to be, but Smartwool and merino wool doesn’t bother me. I was shocked.
Me too……its so annoying, I bought a merino wool jumper the other day and thought I will be taking it back, no itching at all! , I distance myself from anything wool. Some coats makes me itchy by just touching it, the wool ones of course🤮
Wooow!! I didnt know it was such a common issue! maybe we should look into it and make a video about what to wear if you’re allergic to wool. Waiting for some suggestions 🥰
Another thing about the "second inside button" other people might not know: It's a sign of quality and attention to fabric construction and composition if a clothing company sews it's buttons to another button instead of stitching it directly onto fabric. Fabrics like charmeuse or satin can be very delicate, especially if it's a 12 mm silk or less. Sewing the buttons to another button on the interior of the shirt/pant/coat reinforces the button itself while also preserving the integrity of the fabric.
I am so happy you've made this video! I've been waiting for something like this to come out for some time and puzzled that nobody really talks about this on youtube or elsewhere, especially considering how appauling the quality of clothes is these days. Thank you again!
There are several channels talking about it
Extremely useful, that is the exhaustive video I have been looking for. Thank you so much, especially for illustrating your statements with visual and concrete examples. keep the High Quality work please...
Lovely, yes the inside needs to look as good as the outside. I sewed my only project as a silk camp shirt in junior high school. Love natural materials and despise triacetate that many stores tried to push as suits in the 90’s forward. Fabric & Fit are essential. 😊
Wonderful video with great information.
Great discussion and I love the styling of the pieces shown. I think the pattern in the plastic buttons is meant to emulate natural buttons made from antlers or horns. Another alternative material worth considering is modal; it is soft and comfy next to the skin and works great as a base layer.
I love this vid. Very few fashion oriented UA-camrs focus on fabric and quality unless they are the historic wear type.
I began buying my wardrobe as a young adult in the 80s and it amazes me how the quality of clothing and accessories has decreased since then. Synthetic fibers were rare, natural fibers dominated and the construction was so much better. I have to buy Premium High Street, or better, now to keep up a decent quality. I don’t buy for a month or year, I buy to wear things forever, so I want the best.
Sadly, I think those days are gone. Saville Row, Austin Reed etc. Eddie Bauer, Lands End, is different. Substantial material. Seams hitting on the shoulders. Stripes matched. Ralph Lauren used to line his women's wool pants. No longer. Had I known it was going to get like this, I might have taken more incentive to keep my weight down and kept my clothes. They were certainly were made better. I always liked the classics anyway. They would have been in style right today. Ho hum.....
I’ve heard similar clothes shopping experiences to yours. I also started buying professional workwear when I started working in the insurance industry in the 80’s. Back then you could find very good quality garments for a decent price. I always choose classic pieces which I can still wear today and I almost want to cry when I look at how well they were made. The finishing of the buttonholes, the hems, etc. I couldn’t afford the same quality today. I’ve bought very little from modern brands because I’m offended by the poor quality.
@@wannabe41 I'm offended and disgusted by poor quality
This is a great video. I used to walk through designer shops just to look at how the clothes were made.
Also, zippers on jeans/trousers, well every garment, really, should be full-length. Many brands are saving a few pennies by using very short ones. These not only make a garment hard to get on and off, it makes a strange bump in the crotch area and just looks weird. YKK are the best zippers, for sure. I was shocked that the new hoodie I got from Lily Silk has such a low-quality zipper, I couldn’t even try it on because the zipper was already stuck. The replacement came with the label off, I had to restitch it. They also sent me a silk shirt where the button loop wouldn’t go over the button, it sewn way too short, and the details around the cuffs had obvious tailor’s marks on them, which didn’t wash out. I use only the tailor’s pens that evaporate without leaving a permanent mark. I hope their quality isn’t decreasing overall, I rely on this brand a lot.
I have their bedding (it's wonderful) and was just looking into getting a couple blouses from them yesterday, I hope you're right
You are such a classy lady. I love your simple but fashionable outfits they feel so polished as a whole look.
Thank you for such an informative video. I am a careful shopper and look at the seams, buttons, lining before I buy, but never knew you could have 15-20% of polyester mixed into wool with no ill effects.
Not sure I trust that as the only pilling I have is with 'mixed fabrics'.
I mainly shop second hand as the quality of the fabric is far better than new clothes.
Really surprised you recommend M&S as the feel of most of the fabrics sets my teeth on edge!
I have a cpl of pure cashmere sweaters from M&S (I thrifted them maybe 10 years ago, so not sure when they were made) and the cashmere is decent or better
@@michalinaokrent6672 I have a 25 year old cashmere polo sweater from the Edinburgh Woolen Mill which is really good cashmere. So thrifting old cashmere is the way to go!
Your videos are always so interesting, informative and packed with information. I love watching them! Thank you ❤
Hello Dear!! Thank you for your support and kind words☺️ I’m really glad you enjoyed it💕
9:04 Dear Mariola, thank you so much for this video! This is information I did not find elsewhere. ❤
Thank you for taking the time to put together such a thorough and educational video about how to spot garment quality. I feel so much better prepared for my future shopping trips.
This is the most useful video I've ever seen! I loooove your content sooo much! Thanks a lot for the info! 🤗
I’m so happy you liked the video. Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words🥰
An excellent primer on asessing clothes. The construction portion was especially helpful.
thank you so much Suzanne. I’m really glad you enjoyed it😊🫶
What a great video, I learned a lot and will definitely be more aware of my future purchases! Thank you
i wish more people would shop their clothes like this !!!
I'm learning so much from you - that was an excellent video
I'd never heard of Pima cotton before this video. I misheard you in the video - thinking you said 'payma' cotton - so I looked it up and found the description. Thanks.
If you live in US, check supima cotton which is the finest cotton representing 1% of all the cotton produced in the world. Brooke Brothers is the only US apparel brand in business since 1818. I got recently a work wear full sleeve pima cotton in baby pink from them. It is so so so soft...
absolutely agree about Supima cotton. It almost feels like silk blend. I tend to see some Brooks Brothers pieces (also made from supima) in our charity shops.
yesss, if you’re looking for a quality cotton for years Pima is number one. It may not be organic, but it will last you for a very long time xxx😘
This was very informative, I love the idea of having sustainable clothing that will last a long while because I think you get the most bang for your buck that way.
Thanks for the very informative video. I have to watch it again. Please keep recommending good quality brands. Thanks ❤
I loved your video. You're very knowledgeable & thank you for speaking clearly & not too fast. I'd love to discuss seams with you; they're important to me, too. I'm appalled by overlocked / surged seams; they're just cheap, messy & ugly. BTW, your reversible trench coat with the plaid lining & beautiful piped or bias-bound finish was stunning on you, reversed or inside out, IMO. Thanks for modeling it; I'd be proud, too. Well made clothing does make a difference in the way I feel about myself. Lovely video; I appreciate your passion & authenticity.
great video! Could you please do one on good quality accessories and one for petite women. Petite women might have to shop at the kids section but the stuff there isn’t made properly or to last. Thanks
Yes, u do have a point here. U got a petite u tube channel?
I would love to find wool and cashmere made in colors that actually look good on me. All the sites I have been on stay with neutrals. I'm either washed out or looking severe. Please do more muted colors of blues, greens, and pinks, a nice berry would be good.
Amazing video, very useful ! Thank you 😊
Thank you for your comment! I’m glad it was helpful😊💕
I absolutely love this video. I wish I came across it sooner, this stuff is what i wish my mother taught me and you taught it so well with all the examples, especially the patterns and the lining which I never seems to care about, I notice all the little imperfections now. Thank you so much❤❤❤ I will start shopping better
great video. only thing to ad is that the best quality zippers are actually riri, which are also far more expensive. a riri zipper (with every part) starts at over 15 euros per zipper. to put that into perspective, a ykk zipper (with every part) costs less than just a riri puller (around 4-5 euros).
Amazing video. Thank you so much. It is so concise and full of quality information 🙂
Oh that’s great to read!! I was worried it would be too much information in one video🥰 thank you🙏
Super useful, thank you. Let's start a slow fashion revolution!
Such a good video, I loved the % breakdown. Thank you for making us more informed consumers.
thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience, dear sister 💖💖
you’re very welcome and thank YOU for taking your time to leave a comment🥰
When I look at the tag of a garment, it will say 100 % or 80 % cotton or whatever but it does not tell me the TYPE of cotton. How can I know which garment contains PIMA cotton (at 2:12 ) ?
A very useful video, just as relevant to men's clothing as women's. Thank you for the introduction to Lilysilk. I'll certainly be looking at a silk shirt for summer evenings.
Regarding fabric blends, what do you think about linen and cotton? I have a jacket and a pair of trousers, both in a linen/cotton blend and I find you get the benefits of linen (airy, breathable, lightweight, nice textures) but at a lower price and with less creasing.
thank you so much for your comment. Absolutely! they have some great pieces in a really good quality. But also vintage shops are full of silk shirts (mostly mens) that are great for summer! Regarding the linen cotton blend - I love it, I think it’s actually better than linen-viscose mix that lots of fast fashion shops prefer. I have a few pieces in that mix in my wardrobe, like my off white jeans from COS 😊
Thank you for the educational video, I’ve been checking labels for fabric composition for the last couple of years now but still learning, I’ll certainly be subscribing 😊 to learn more !!
As far as cheaper tshirts st johns bay 100% cotton tees from around 2010 were so soft and thick. Talbots second hand is another one. Specific styles like the pima ones. Not all of their stuff is great. Fashion bug had some really good ones in 2004 but yeah such a solid basic seems so elusive now.
I learned so much from your video about clothing materials - something I never really cared.
That’s great!!! I’m so glad to hear that☺️🙏
This video was so incredibly helpful and insightful. Thank you for sharing your wisdom! I'm excited to go shopping now!
Thankyou so much for this video, I loved how you addressed how a 'higher price does not always mean better quality'. I loved shopping H&M you'd consider it decent quality clothing for their pricing but it can be a hit and miss at times. They've recently been doing a summer sale and alot of linen clothing was displayd. My Gosh they were all mostly thin and that really annoyed me lol.
Thank you for all these details. I loved the recommendation on zippers. Also I learned something I never knew before, that about extra cloth in the linen, just for the sake of movement.
thank you so much. I’m really happy you found something interesting in my video🥰🫶 absolutely, linen needs some movement, but in general look for generous amount of fabric, which is a sign of quality👍
I look everywhere for good quality clothes! but I try not to order online as you cannot judge the quality of the garment (except if I have tried it in a store and they did not have my size!) All these returns are not good for the planet!
this video was much needed, thank you!!
This was a fantastic video! Thank you ❤
What an incredible video. It really opened my eyes. I am subscribing. Thank you.
100% necessary video!! I learned a lot with you. Thank you very much❤️🌸
Loved this video! Super informative. I've been trying to shape my closet to include more quality pieces that will last a lifetime. These tips will definitely come in handy on my future purchases.
Very good video with excellent information. Thank you.
Incredibly informative video. Thank you for producing it!
I just thrifted, $4.00 a wonderful wool car coat. It has an inside pocket with button closure. Double breasted and the buttons are sewn with the little buttons on the inside. I could go on. If you sew clothes you know when you see shortcuts and apparel that will never look good or feel good on.
wooow!! what a great find!! I must say it’s impossible to find such inexpensive clothes nowadays in England. Having an insider know-how is invaluable indeed🥰