Clothing Brands - what is good quality - or poor?

BlueCow1975

I am a lover of COAST clothing. The quality is good, the cut is usually excellent and their clothes last and last and last. The fitting accross the bust can be a bit snug, which does lead me to the issue I have with their sizing. I have clothes that fit me in a 12, 14 and 16 (I am usually a 14). It is well worth nosing on Ebay for good coast bargains. On the otehr hand I have sold some of my coast tops and dresses years later in some cases and still got around £30 for them.

I have gone off next ladies wear in the past couple of years as the quality is nowhere near what it was for the price. Next kidswear is great though. I also find Sainburys TU & Tesco Cheroke fab for the kids. Not too impressed with GAP kidswear as the colours fade (despite careful washing). Zara kids stuff is even worse and the 2 items I have bought from there did not last long so NEVER again.

Had a few jumpers from gap that have gone bobbly really quickly, but the casual cotton type tops last forever. Also not impressed with original penguin - the quality is not that great for the price and the knitwear bobbles fairly quickly too.

The longest living and most comfortable casual shoes I own are by kickers and I have had them for 9 years (:eek:), have slung them in the washer umpteen times and they are still going strong. My hubbie also has some kickers casual shoes that are very "next" like that he has had for ages. I also love timberland for casual shoes as they are soooooo comfortable.

Have to agree River Island Jeans are great - I still have some that are going strong 7 years later! Tops and knitwear from there seems to fall apart really quickly so I tend not to bother.

My husband swears by Lyle & Scott for casual tops & knitwear. The quality is good and it really lasts well. Definately a place to visit end of season sale time as the full RRP is ridiculous!

sweetstudent

For me -

Gap - for Jeans and sale tshirts
M&S for work clothing - but for boxers it has to be the Autograph (cheap boxers are a no-no!)
Casual clothing dont really mind where its from!

sheilavw

TU at Sainsburys good quality for price, and often 25% off. Next ladies footwear very poor quality, had boots where heal wore down in just a week

sillywilly

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.

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:

If you do online shopping I definitely suggest trying M&M. Branded goods at good discounts - especially when they have a sale. A lot of the prices of the branded goods are less than supermarket or Primark.

They have another 50% off coats this week - here http://www.mandmdirect.com/Jackets.asp

I search like this - Products per page 96 - Then - Sort by - Lowest price first - and select my items like that.

You can search by size too which is useful for jeans, shoes, trainers etc.

Examples - got Firetrap shoes for £9.99 Kickers shoes for £9.99 Mish Mash jeans for £12, Fred Perry shirts for a fiver!! Delivery is very reasonable. Returns easy and CS excellent.

I couldn't care less what is "in season" - if the picture and colour look OK and the price is right i buy it.

But thanks to all the people who have posted - we are getting really good info. We just need MORE comments and opinions.

Thanks

heynonnynonny

Next - knitwear bobbles and screws up after one wash, had a £25 cardy I washed and had to peel the arms apart as had scrunched and I've had a lot of clothes from there, not any more. Shoes are awful too. Awful quality.

George at Asda is my favourite!!

sillywilly

chickun wrote: »

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

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...

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. "

Great informative post chickun - thanks a lot. Have to throw in my 2 cents worth with these brands mentioned. Penguin - The 2 items I have bought - the shirt caught on something unknown and ripped badly. Could have been me but the rip was ridiculous and only after wearing once.
Got a cashmere jumper and washed it once on delicate cycle. Came out and the inside label had fallen off. The material is good quality but I think the finishing is poor on them.

RIVER ISLAND - I have had a jumper from them for 5 years that has been washed and worn loads and still looks as good as new. I wonder if it is only certain items from the company so it may be hard to find a consensus?

Your comments, and others, about Next ring very true to me. I have found their jumpers to be OK. But I really don't get the fascination with them.

After finding other outlets I now find their "sales" to be a joke and don't think that the items are worth 50% off let alone the full RRP.

Having said that their ladies smart business suits are of a very good fit, quality and about the most reasonable priced out of all the high street brands IMHO.

I am confusing myself!!

sillywilly

MISH MASH jeans - have found to be excellent quality and fit.

FLY 53 jeans - ditto.

LEE COOPER jeans - great fit and good quality.

LEVIS - admittedly good quality but I find the sizing to be slightly small on the waist for mens slightly large for womens?!! I don't wear both mens and womens - just from what I have been told. Really!

parcival

For outdoor clothing you can't beat Fat Face and Crew Clothing. Both great quality but not cheap so get it in a sale or from an outlet centre.

katsu

M&S clothes I find good quality - I like their own brand jeans - a good fit for the english pear shape.

Kaliko & Alex and Co - both great quality work wear, good sale/outlet prices and cut to fit pear shapes.

East - only got a couple of things but washing and wearing well.

TU @ Sainsburys - I find great value mens and ladies, washes well, keeps colour and shape.

Kettlewell Colours - great for coloured tops (when you want something nice that keeps it's colour and shape), not the cheapest but decent quality so grab from their end of season sales.

littlekitty2010

I think that most shops have some dodgy items for example i love burtons my son get the majority of his clothes there and their tshirts wash great :)but i went in the other day and they had a lot of tshirts that to be honest you could spit through and looked ready for the bin. I seriously hope this is not a sign of things to come:(

I love newlook but their sizing can be a bit off i find but that easily rectified by buying a larger or smaller size:D. The stuff washes well and keeps it shape and isnt anywhere near as exspensive as topshop or River island. Also i think they do fab shoes:T

Riverislands clothes are very hit and miss. Occassionaly i might pick up something half decent but very rarely. They are way way over priced for the quality:mad:. Though i do love their handbags and purses:)

Topshop is the same quality is not great for the amount of money you are paying:mad:. Their best item are def their jeans:)

H&M again have some graet finds but you heve to be carefull with the sizings as again they can vary:(

Primark is good for basics:). Some nice shoes for the money too. Ive picked up a few dresses that have washed really really well but have also got some stuff that hasnt washed great so its all at you own risk i suppose:mad:. But as someone else has already said i suppose thier stuff isnt priced to last as long but hey Riverisland can charge an arm and a leg and some of their stuff washes poorly too:(. I do think that since our primark was refurbed that the prices have increased a little no doubt to help pay for it.:mad: