How to Buy High Quality Clothing

When planning your wardrobe and going shopping for clothes, there are two main routes you can take. You can either buy cheaper clothes more often or you can buy quality clothes less often. There are advantages of both.

The cheap clothes route means you can enjoy trendier pieces more often and enjoy the shopping experience on a regular basis.

The quality clothes route means you can enjoy classic pieces for a longer time--and save time (and possibly money) in the long run.

If you choose the quality apparel route, consider this guide to make sure you get what you pay for!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a keen eye
• good taste
• room in your budget

1. Look at the seams in patterned pants, dresses, jackets, and skirts. If the piece is patterned, you can tell if it's quality by checking to see if the lines line up. You should be able to see a steady plaid pattern all the way around a plaid skirt rather than mismatched lines.

2. Check the stitching. Do you see any loose strings hanging from the hem or from the seams? Messy sewing could be an indicator of a poor quality garment.

3. Check the lining. Lining in a lighter colored garment or a garment made of wool is an indicator of quality. Quality outfitters take the time to line garments to make sure they drape right and don't reveal more than they are intended to reveal.

4. Visit career wear stores and websites like Jones New York, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and Barrie Pace. These stores are known for their quality apparel.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure yourself. Quality means nothing if it doesn't fit right. Once you know your measurements in a particular brand, you can save time by avoiding the dressing room. Quality apparel should have consistent sizing throughout their whole clothing line.
• Know your brands. Once you find a quality piece that you like in a particular brand, watch that brand. Look at it's website and visit the store when it's time to make your next purchase. If you found success there once, you'll likely find it again.