Clothing Brands - what is good quality - or poor?

Any

I agree with the Next trousers weird seizing...
Got several pairs of trousers and all are huge in the waist! (size 8 suits and smart pants). And I am not thin in the waiste, I am not what you would call hour clock shape - I haven't got a waiste, it is nearly in the same line as my hips.

So it must be absolutely huge for people who actually have some waist.

M&S don't do size 8 long in any nice smart pants I actually want&can afford... Only the expensive ones from tailored collections..

sillywilly

NEH wrote: »

Sillywilly i think the hard part is coming up with some consensus! :rotfl:

.

Yes I know but I posted here in the hope that we would get a decent sized response seeing how many people visit this site.

Also in the hope that, because this site is apparently unbiased we may get some unbiased opinions from people with no ulterior motive.

I want peoples honest opinions about all aspects of the brand. It would be nice if we got enough results so they could be organised into say, Budget, High Street, Sports, Premium - or something along those lines.

Please help and contribute any thoughts about the brands you buy.

NEH

sillywilly wrote: »

Yes I know but I posted here in the hope that we would get a decent sized response seeing how many people visit this site.

Also in the hope that, because this site is apparently unbiased we may get some unbiased opinions from people with no ulterior motive.

I want peoples honest opinions about all aspects of the brand. It would be nice if we got enough results so they could be organised into say, Budget, High Street, Sports, Premium - or something along those lines.

Please help and contribute any thoughts about the brands you buy.

It's a good idea and it's always good to hear other people's opinions, sometimes if only to confirm that it's not only you that has problems or things falling apart...:rotfl:

jenniewb

Just to add to the confusion about the sizing in Next. My mum once tried to get a pair of trousers and plucked them from the shelf in her normal size. Only they didn't fit when she got home. She was a bit confused as they were way too large yet the pair she had in a different size, same style fitted perfectly. She assumed it was a style thing- you know how different styles can alter the way they fit and went back to the store to try on a new pair in a different size.

It was only then she realised that they all came up slightly differently- I say slightly, there was an inch difference when she compared one size to another and that was when they were flat up against each other; so this would be 2 inches in reality which is a whole dress size!

Moral of the story is to try everything on before you buy it if you go to Next!

NEH

jenniewb wrote: »

Just to add to the confusion about the sizing in Next. My mum once tried to get a pair of trousers and plucked them from the shelf in her normal size. Only they didn't fit when she got home. She was a bit confused as they were way too large yet the pair she had in a different size, same style fitted perfectly. She assumed it was a style thing- you know how different styles can alter the way they fit and went back to the store to try on a new pair in a different size.

It was only then she realised that they all came up slightly differently- I say slightly, there was an inch difference when she compared one size to another and that was when they were flat up against each other; so this would be 2 inches in reality which is a whole dress size!

Moral of the story is to try everything on before you buy it if you go to Next!

That's what i have found too, i find it easier to order several pairs via the catalogue and then take the ones that don't fit back to the store. Less hassle that way.

se999

NEH wrote: »

M and S, quality has gone down in recent years, had to return a polo neck last year as it had big hole in after 2 months and I bought slippers from there in February and took them back last week to exchange them as another hole had developed.

Their pants have also decreased in quality and the again the sizing seems to have gone hay wire. I have size 10 in their basic ones but have to go up to a 12/14 in their individual ones. Also the gusset seems to be becoming narrower and narrower (sorry if that's too much info ) Linen trousers are also missized. Bought a size 10 last year and by the time they had been worn a couple of times they were far too big. Wanted to buy an 8 this year with my birthday money but they don't do them in a short in the smaller sizes :mad:

I used to love M&S too, but for ladies briefs especially quality has decreased dramatically.

For general clothes, a lot of the standard ranges are cheap & cheerful, look ok for a few wears, but then the shape starts to go. I've bought a few per una things recently, which hopefully will be ok, but not washed them enough yet to know if they will be a value for money buy.

The men's wear seems to be more consistent on standards. Really pleased with 100% cotton summer jumpers & cashmere mens jumpers. OH also has one of those non-iron shirts, and it really is non-iron, and some work trousers which really are machine washable and non-iron too. I think you can guess I don't like ironing. We'll be looking to buy more of those in the future definitely.

Again men's underwear doesn't seem to last as long as it used to.

MCGONIS

Jeez what an intersting thread.
This is my 2p worth from a guys point of view.

Shop own label jeans - forget it. Levi's only. Last years and years and....

Burton/Topman -once brilliant but when Arcadia group was bought up by the BHS guy - don't go near the place. High fashion, cheap rubbish. Wear it for two months and bin it. Except the item was not cheap in the first place.

Next - competing with Burton and Debenhams etc (for men anyway) so cheap rubbish now, looks great, wash it once or twice and try to iron it and it's all twisted. Don't go near the place.

ASDA George (for stuff for work) Brilliant. Same quality as all the above, but half the price.

River I - same as Next but for 18 years olds who don't know realise they are being ripped off!

Primark. Too embaressed to go in there 'cause of they brown paper bags you get.

Debenhams. Forget it. They double the price of everything and then keep having sales. Can't tell if I am getting any value for money in there now.

I just try and stick to littlewoods.com and they have the same designer stuff as House of Fraser but usually cheaper and with interest free credit which means more money for beer! My pals slag me when I say Littlewoods 'cause they think you pay 10p a week for 6 years to get it. LOL.

Bring back man at C&A........that's what I say!:rotfl:

jenniewb

MCGONIS wrote: »

Jeez what an intersting thread.
This is my 2p worth from a guys point of view.

Shop own label jeans - forget it. Levi's only. Last years and years and....

Burton/Topman -once brilliant but when Arcadia group was bought up by the BHS guy - don't go near the place. High fashion, cheap rubbish. Wear it for two months and bin it. Except the item was not cheap in the first place.

:rotfl:

It was the man incharge of Topman (and Burton and Dorothy Perkins and Topshop and Wallis and Evans) who 'bought' BHS not the otherway around! His name is Phillip Green. He was/is incharge of the Arcadia group for quite a few years before he bought BHS so not sure if the decline in the quality has anything to do with that.

They may have changed supplier as it became cheaper to trade with China then with India a few years ago and many highstreet companies stopped trading with India for China at about the same time. It had been well known the quality was never the same in China yet this didn't stop the many many companies changing contracts. They were able to product more items at a faster rate (better machinary) and with the quality of fabrics being downgraded it cut costs to more then cover the extra distance to import the stuff.

Italy is the best country for making leather goods, England for knitted/wool goods and India for silks and cottons IMO! But each to their own and you do get what you pay for.;)

MCGONIS

Hey! Thanks. I am familar with the Burton Group/Arcadia/Philip Green and in the order they ceased to be.

I didn't want to be so direct and say that BHS and all the ex- arcadia stores are now cheap S*it. But as you brought it up....they are.

I know Sir Philip in the past has made millions reviving failing store brands, but, all the brands he now owns sell crap. Cheap crap at high prices.

Would not step foot in any of his outlets.

Thanks again!

chickun

Great thread , enjoyed reading all responses so figured I'd best give something back and add my opinion:

Bit of background- I'm a primary school teacher, OH works in an office environment, DD is 3 months

Penguin/Perry Ellis - Brilliant quality, sizing slightly on the small size as most are 'fitted styles' OH wears T-Shirts, Shirts and Jumpers. Worth the money in our opinion as suitable for work and going out

Gio-Goi - As above, T-shirts good quality but lose shape sooner than penguin. Less 'fitted' so good for fat days lol

Paul Smith - T-shirts great, trousers cut very small, baby t-shirts about right but very expensive

Ted Baker - I rate the mens jumpers the highest here, once you get used to their weird sizing, they last and don't tend to bobble. Womens coats are not so good for ladies with boobs.

Coast - Not much of a bust allowance and cut to be very fitted. Sale items are generally good prices and their light weight jumpers can stand up to washing and wearing. Think their seasonal ranges can be very hit and miss in terms of quality

Karen Millen - I rate their tops and jumpers highest. Sizing is generally good. I have jumpers that I've had for 3 years that still look new and I'm far too busy to faff around with handwashing etc. Trousers from here are a nightmare for me, they don't fit right so I just look weird in them!

New Look - Great for work wear, hoodies at £8 are brilliant for PE/Sports/Play ground duty days and black trousers at around £12 are a wardrobe staple. I find them generous in the bum area so no VPL. Coats aren't so great imo - the last coat I got there has one button left of the 14 or so that were on there. Must get sewing lol

Primark - PJ's are good, the shorts and vest top style. Basic seasonal tops etc that will be out of fashion before they get tatty are well sized and cheap. I also like their costume jewellery - bangles mainly. When the kids try them on and my daughter dribbles on them I'm glad they were a couple of quid! I also rate their straight legged Jeans but need to go up a size. Skinny jeans are ridiculously small, as a 10/12 I recon I'd need at least a 16 lol.

River Island - Poor quality, over priced ladies wear. Bits are always hanging off garments when I go in which puts me off. Gents linen trousers are a good buy though I'd suggest going up a size unless you want to be on display lads...

Dorethy perkins - Always seems to be a bit behind the other stores in terms of trend. Trousers cut cheaply so VPL an issue.

Wallis - Sizing good, nothing special but good for work basics. Jewellery good quality and reasonable prices especially in the sale.

Warehouse - Small sizing, the leather bags are a good buy though. I have a great big brown one that I bought for hand luggage that I use as a handbag/changing bag. Love it!

H&M - Can't cope with it, it looks like a jumble sale. DD has been given a nice pair of shoes fom there though so may brave it for her bits.

Jane Norman - Looks cheap, very expensive for the kind of stuff that
you could get for a fraction of the price on a market stall.

M&S - Basics for work ok, baby clothes lovely quality and generous sizing. Better in the sale as no difference in quality to George . I think a lot of the M&S stuff is a bit grannified but Per Una is a bit try hard. Autograph is usually the best range in my store but having worked for them as a student I know each range is chosen by the manager so it can be very hit and miss.

George -Great for basic baby clothes - vests, PJs etc. Generous sizing accross the board, Mens, Womens, Childrens. Best maternity collection I found, I managed to get going out tops as well as basic work clothes at reasonable prices. With the clothing only needed for a few months I ended up washing and wearing the same things repeatedly and they all survived!

Next - I really don't get the fascination with Next, I can never find anything I like. The basic stuff like black trousers, blouses etc are poor quality and very overpriced. OH had a jumper from there once, didn't last as long as a F&F jumper bought the same day.

Tesco - OH likes their trunks, sizing slightly smaller than M&S but last well and don't shrink in the wash/tumble drier. DD has a lot of clothes from there, I find the sizes on par with other stores and they wash and wear really well.

Pumpkin Patch - Hit and miss, some clothes are good quality whereas others seem a bit rough for delicate skin. Very dear for the length of time chn are likely to be in it, buy in the sales.

Gap/baby Gap - Over priced but they do have a good return system apparently. People I know who like their jeans only buy from there but I can't get on with them myself.

Topshop/Topman - Bang on trend but cut small. Overpriced for cheapy looking tat in my local store but other stores I've visited have had much nicer items that are worth the price.

Zara - Very hit and miss, trousers cut very small - no good if you've got hips. Tops last well in both lady/gent department. Pricing really weird - things that look like they should be expensive are oftener cheaper than I'm expecting and vice versa.

Phew what an essay! Think that's a pounds worth rather than my 2p's worth. Please excuse typos - I have a sleeping baby on my arm :A