STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kitty · Hermes

What do you consider high quality?

erin · Chanel

well i guess i will look at this as high-end versus high-quality. because i usually think "high-end" means expensive, and bebe is (to me) expensive...but i think their quality isn't there...

atlgirl · Gucci

Hm. I think designer items, in most cases, are high-quality for me. Mostly because designer clothes fit me so much better than most of the things I buy, but budget is an issue for me. If I bought only designer, I'd have to go around naked most of the time because I'd have hardly any clothes!

I tend to think of good quality when I think of JCrew, I guess. I haven't bought from them in a long time (too preppy, mostly) but when I did in the past, the items seemed well made and lasted a long time.

I think *some* BCBG things are decent quality. But definitely not all.

For handbags, shoes - most of the big names - Coach, Gucci, etc. Kate Spade items (leather bags, not the nylon ones, most of her shoes) I would consider on the same level. Almost anything with an Italian label is a sign of high quality for me. :)

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

hmm...i've heard the terms high end vs. low end or good quality vs. poor quality but i've never actually heard the term "high quality."

for me, i focus on something being overpriced vs. expensive. obviously this is very subjective but if an accessory or piece of clothing is expensive but poorly made or made of inexpensive materials, i'll call that item "overpriced." for example, a lot of the things i see in anthropologie are overpriced--poor quality fabric or bad stitching or whatever that makes me think i'm paying more for the ambience of the store (which admittedly, i adore) rather than the actual article of clothing, but of course, that's just my opinion. i've also been guilty of overpaying, when i just really like the piece but know the cost isn't comletely justified. i guess a case could be made that all the "high end" designers (chanel, gucci, prada, etc.) are overpriced and we're all suckers but sometimes a girl just falls in love you know?

anyway, to answer your question, i consider neimans, saks and barneys to all be high end department stores but i don't think you have to shop there to find quality pieces. hth!

Hedvig · Coach

I don't own a lot of designer items but I assume that most of them would be high quality - or at least they should be, considering the price.

I'd say all my Banana clothes are good quality, except for one cardi that pilled pretty badly. Also, the clothes I've bought at Anthro are good quality. They do carry some brands that are hit or miss; especially some of the tees can be flimsy. I love their Moth sweaters. I have several and none of them have pilled.

lynnie · Chanel

To me, high quality is a good fit, proper construction (straight sewing, inside of garment should look nice), good design, and a quality fabric. I think it can be found in lower price range- maybe 10% of what I see is high quality, as well as in higher price range- maybe 70% of what i see is high quality- but rarely warrants its price. I don't think any particular store nails quality all the time, or even most of the time. I have a tank top from old navy that i think is fabulous- the modal one with buttons and crosses across the strap- and it was only $16. The sewing is nice, the fit is great, there's a combo (trimmed with silk or silk-like material), and the main cotton/modal fabric is about as nice as you would find in a higher end piece. I think lower range items sometimes aren't high quality because of the fabric or design- that is the number one I think. Any main company can rub off the pattern of an expensive/structured garment and use it for their own, and almost ANYTHING sewn abroad in places like China looks better than higher end pieces sewn in the US. The garment industry is just more concentrated there. But nice fabric costs money and innovative design is rare. Most of the cheaper things I buy (from mall stores, H & M etc) are just cottons or slinky rayon blends and are rarely patterned or too complicated. okay, long winded answer- back to work!

BeauteJilly · BCBG

I would have to agree with Lynnie. There were few times where I've found a Chanel jacket that has some loose threading or is falling apart. It depends on how well it was sewn together and the fitting. Higher ends usually offers better quality but also there s some low ends that does offer some good qaulity as well.

I would say it depends on each single clothing garment rather than brand itself.

kittenheels · Coach

I don't really go by brand as much as I go by fabric. I love natural fibers like cashmere and silk.

I also go by fit. I have a black wool Tahari suit that is just perfectly cut. It's not the most expensive suit out there, but it fits me perfectly and always makes me feel pulled together.

There is something about a piece of clothing that feels good to wear and makes you look good wear after wear and even year after year. It doesn't matter if it was expensive or not, but if it holds up to a lot of wearing and still looks good - that's high quality to me.