I’m 54 and Ann Taylor, L&T, Macy’s, etc. used to be my go to in my 20s-mid 40’s. L&T is not around and the others have gone way downhill. Now I just default to Nordstrom’s for everything. I do Trunk Club and don’t even think about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else noticed decline in quality at clothing stores? I am nearly 50 and am definitely more picky than I was 25 years ago. Plus a little more money to spend now helps. But I have noticed a decline in quality at my regular go tos. Even regular Ann Taylor. Loft started going down in quality a few years ago. Lilly Pulitzer is still reliable but I prefer their lined dresses when possible. Haven't shopped at Brookes Brothers but quality looks good. I went into Victoria Secret to but some sexy lingerie for hubby. Hadn't been in there for 12 or so years but saw decline. Walked out with no lingerie. J. Crew is still generally decent. I do buy from Boden too which is decent.

Has anyone else noticed? Where do people shop for quality pieces? I shouldn't have to go all designer high end for good quality.

This app happened 20 years ago. No significant decline since then. Where have you been living since 2000 that you didn’t notice?

40 something year old here. Yep, I noticed the decline since the mid 2000’s. Guess OP been living under a rock.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't anyone know how to use a sewing machine?
Am I the only one who can sew patches, take in hems, shorten sleeves?

I think that dryers are more harsh on clothes. If you have an item you like the I recommend hanging it to dry

When the fabric itself is cheap/poor quality to being with, my ability to sew patches, adjust hems, etc. (skills I possess) is irrelevant.

46YO here and agree with all of this including that it has been this way for some time. Items I bought 20 (or more) years ago from these types of retailers (Gap, Ann Taylor, J Crew, etc.) are completely different quality even just in the fabric itself as compared to similar items from the same places today or even 10 years ago. I think the PP who put it as decline/lack of decent midrange is right. There is very little difference today in fabric quality from the retailers mentioned as compared to what is considered cheaper (Target/Walmart level I guess?). Style may be different or color choices but actual quality not so much.

I sew (not clothing) and it's the fabric quality that has declined. You have to pay for higher quality cotton (Supima, Egyptian, etc.) then you have to take care of it and be willing to own less (assuming you're on a budget).

When I go to a fabric store for supplies the highest quality fabrics are very expensive. In fact, I'm looking into making a Supima cotton duvet cover-- it will cost me almost as much to make it as buy it because the fabric is where the cost is these days.

Anonymous wrote:I need some new t-shirts. My many years old Lands End, Eddie Bauer and, even, Target are finally wearing out.

What are decent brands quality-wise now? I buy to wear out. So, I’m not super price sensitive.

I got Kirkland brand tee shirts at Costco last summer and the quality is fabulous. Mine is v-neck semi fitted white tee — thick, washes well, flattering. Better than the expensive ones I’ve bought. Looks nice enough to wear under a blazer for work.

Daughter and I went to a boutique in DC for better clothes. Even there the blouses had loose strings and crappy hemming. For a $350 blouse, do better.

I need some new t-shirts. My many years old Lands End, Eddie Bauer and, even, Target are finally wearing out.

What are decent brands quality-wise now? I buy to wear out. So, I’m not super price sensitive.

Anonymous wrote:If you buy cheap clothes, you get cheap clothes. Sales of today are just constant markdowns. You are not getting a great deal. You are just buying cheap clothes.

Yes, but even the $350 dresses I have bought (and returned) from
Sak’s 5th Avenue are crap.

I find the midrange brands very uneven. I can still find good quality stuff sometimes at j crew, lands end, etc., but it’s very mixed. I end up returning stuff. The brooks bros quality has definitely declined from 15 years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else noticed decline in quality at clothing stores? I am nearly 50 and am definitely more picky than I was 25 years ago. Plus a little more money to spend now helps. But I have noticed a decline in quality at my regular go tos. Even regular Ann Taylor. Loft started going down in quality a few years ago. Lilly Pulitzer is still reliable but I prefer their lined dresses when possible. Haven't shopped at Brookes Brothers but quality looks good. I went into Victoria Secret to but some sexy lingerie for hubby. Hadn't been in there for 12 or so years but saw decline. Walked out with no lingerie. J. Crew is still generally decent. I do buy from Boden too which is decent.

Has anyone else noticed? Where do people shop for quality pieces? I shouldn't have to go all designer high end for good quality.

Tell me more about this. When did you discover your husband likes wearing women’s lingerie? Does he have certain styles he prefers?

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else noticed decline in quality at clothing stores? I am nearly 50 and am definitely more picky than I was 25 years ago. Plus a little more money to spend now helps. But I have noticed a decline in quality at my regular go tos. Even regular Ann Taylor. Loft started going down in quality a few years ago. Lilly Pulitzer is still reliable but I prefer their lined dresses when possible. Haven't shopped at Brookes Brothers but quality looks good. I went into Victoria Secret to but some sexy lingerie for hubby. Hadn't been in there for 12 or so years but saw decline. Walked out with no lingerie. J. Crew is still generally decent. I do buy from Boden too which is decent.

Has anyone else noticed? Where do people shop for quality pieces? I shouldn't have to go all designer high end for good quality.

Tell me more about this. When did you discover your husband likes wearing women’s lingerie? Does he have certain styles he prefers?

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't anyone know how to use a sewing machine?
Am I the only one who can sew patches, take in hems, shorten sleeves?

I think that dryers are more harsh on clothes. If you have an item you like the I recommend hanging it to dry

When the fabric itself is cheap/poor quality to being with, my ability to sew patches, adjust hems, etc. (skills I possess) is irrelevant.

46YO here and agree with all of this including that it has been this way for some time. Items I bought 20 (or more) years ago from these types of retailers (Gap, Ann Taylor, J Crew, etc.) are completely different quality even just in the fabric itself as compared to similar items from the same places today or even 10 years ago. I think the PP who put it as decline/lack of decent midrange is right. There is very little difference today in fabric quality from the retailers mentioned as compared to what is considered cheaper (Target/Walmart level I guess?). Style may be different or color choices but actual quality not so much.

Doesn't anyone know how to use a sewing machine?
Am I the only one who can sew patches, take in hems, shorten sleeves?

I think that dryers are more harsh on clothes. If you have an item you like the I recommend hanging it to dry

I’ve been very pleased with the quality from Universal Standard.

When I was in my 20s my mom pulled out a box of clothing she had when she was first married in the 1950s. She never had much money, but the quality of the items was amazing. Some of them I wore and they held up beautifully until they were lost during a move a few years later.

But I looked it up, and back then people spent about 12 to 14% of their budget on clothes, but had far fewer items. I used to have some vintage self help beauty and grooming books from that era, and there is a reason why Sunday evening was designated as the time to check your wardrobe for minor damage like loose or missing buttons to take care of before Monday. Now, we spend 3% on clothing and have far more items in our closets.

You could tell a poor person or child by their clothes--mended, children beginning to outgrow something they still had to wear another season. Shoppers would look for large seam allowances to be able to let out garments, hems that could be let down.

I remember reading maybe 10 years ago about how textile costs had been increasing so manufacturers went to lighter weight fabrics (less thread to weave the fabric), compensating with cheap decorative flourishes (machine embroidery on jeans was an example).

10 years ago I bought my son a warm coat for xmas. I don't remember the brand, it was one that has been around since the 1940s and was marked down from $300 or more. Within a week a seam had simply opened up. Returned it, same thing happened with the next one. Thread was very, very lightweight. Rather than returning, I took it to a seamstress shop I like and had some seams redone. Cost $100 but then the coat held up after that.

Yup. I have two children 6years apart in age. One is 3 and
one is 10. Tea Collection, to Gap and Old Navy…no comparison to the quality of clothes bought just 6yrs
ago. Same brands, same style dresses or leggings and the cotton is half the weight. Gap’s clothing that we just got as Christmas gifts for my 10yo…all has to go back, it is atrociously cut shapes and poor fabric and I’m not overly picky about kids clothes.