Best quality clothing/shoe item you've ever bought?

[WestcoastWonder]

I'm looking to do a little shopping, but I want items with good quality that last long! I want to buy LL Bean boots, a patagonia jacket and maybe a pair of Jack Rogers for spring/summer, but i've never bought anything from them before.


Like I remember when i was first introduced to The North Face. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so just about everyone has one, but seriously! They're pricey, but absolutely worth the money! I bought one for $105 back in 2009 and I still have it now and it's as good as new!


What about the rest of you guys, what products have you bought that were really worth it?

[SigKapSweetie]

Classic leather Sperrys. I love the look and the fit, and they can take a heck of a beating.

For those who are of the appropriate age, I would also say that the amount of money you put into stocking your liquor cabinet is important. It doesn't necessarily apply to things like flavored vodkas ('toasted marshmallow' is 'toasted marshmallow' no matter who makes it), but there is a big difference between a cheap scotch and an expensive one.

[WestcoastWonder]

Originally Posted by SigKapSweetie

Classic leather Sperrys. I love the look and the fit, and they can take a heck of a beating.

THIS!!! My Sperry's have been through more stuff than a teenage girl! And they still look good.

[happilyanchored]

Tahari flats. I always struggle to find flats that fit me and are comfortable, but my plain black Tahari pair lasted me from about freshman year of high school through this summer, when my mom finally decided I couldn't keep coloring in the toes and threw them out

Luckily I just found another pair so phew!

[aephi alum]

I still have a pair of Tevas that I bought back in 1998. They're starting to fall apart, though ...

For clothing, I swear by Chico's, particularly the Travelers line. It's pricey, but worth it. I still wear items I bought years ago.

[WCsweet<3]

Agree to the above. Northface is a life saver in the PNW. Love Sperrys. Seriously on the liquorm, nothing like bottom level gin or whiskey compared to mid level. This is also true with wine and beer for the most part.

I have had much better luck with jeans when I spend a bit more. Hudsons fit me well and last much longer than Gap or other jeans.

Shoes are a great place to spend a touch more money. There is often a big difference with the amount of support and how long they last. Franco Sarto, Michael by Michael Kors, and Chinese Laundry are all brands that are great.

Bras from anywhere other than VS. Also get a real fitting. There is nothing quite like wearing the wrong size bra to make an outfit look awful. I never remember the stats, but there are a lot of women who wear the wrong size. Personally I don't like VS because they size me wrong, the push up is annoying and their bras wear out super quickly compared to bras I've bought at Nordstrom. Granted, I'm busty so I often go to boutiques that cater to bustier women. However with VS, they up my band size and take my cup size down and the bras never fit right. Having cleavage is one thing, having overflow is another.

If you still live in the PNW, there may be a Nordstrom rack near by. I swear by that store. Now that I'm graduated (aka have to buy my clothes) I love going there and buying brands that I love for less. Sometimes it is hit and miss and not all the brands there are wonderful (don't buy BP brand shoes, they are made from cardboard). There are four locations around Portland and each has a little bit of a different style so you might want to try visiting a couple if you don't like one.

[WestcoastWonder]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

Agree to the above. Northface is a life saver in the PNW. Love Sperrys. Seriously on the liquorm, nothing like bottom level gin or whiskey compared to mid level. This is also true with wine and beer for the most part.

I have had much better luck with jeans when I spend a bit more. Hudsons fit me well and last much longer than Gap or other jeans.

Shoes are a great place to spend a touch more money. There is often a big difference with the amount of support and how long they last. Franco Sarto, Michael by Michael Kors, and Chinese Laundry are all brands that are great.

Bras from anywhere other than VS. Also get a real fitting. There is nothing quite like wearing the wrong size bra to make an outfit look awful. I never remember the stats, but there are a lot of women who wear the wrong size. Personally I don't like VS because they size me wrong, the push up is annoying and their bras wear out super quickly compared to bras I've bought at Nordstrom. Granted, I'm busty so I often go to boutiques that cater to bustier women. However with VS, they up my band size and take my cup size down and the bras never fit right. Having cleavage is one thing, having overflow is another.

If you still live in the PNW, there may be a Nordstrom rack near by. I swear by that store. Now that I'm graduated (aka have to buy my clothes) I love going there and buying brands that I love for less. Sometimes it is hit and miss and not all the brands there are wonderful (don't buy BP brand shoes, they are made from cardboard). There are four locations around Portland and each has a little bit of a different style so you might want to try visiting a couple if you don't like one.

1. YES! I love VS, but they suck! Every time I go there, they give me a new, random bra size.

2. They do bra fittings at Nordstrom rack?? How did I not know this!

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by WestcoastWonder

2. They do bra fittings at Nordstrom rack?? How did I not know this!

No the rack doesn't, but the regular Nordstroms do, so you could get a fitting there and then head over to a rack. Also if you are over a DD, the inventory is very very limited. Betsy Johnson is amazing if you are busty though.

[WestcoastWonder]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

No the rack doesn't, but the regular Nordstroms do, so you could get a fitting there and then head over to a rack. Also if you are over a DD, the inventory is very very limited. Betsy Johnson is amazing if you are busty though.

Oh ok, and really? I didn't know that! Now I really need to go shopping!

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by WestcoastWonder

1. YES! I love VS, but they suck! Every time I go there, they give me a new, random bra size.

2. They do bra fittings at Nordstrom rack?? How did I not know this!

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

No the rack doesn't, but the regular Nordstroms do, so you could get a fitting there and then head over to a rack. Also if you are over a DD, the inventory is very very limited. Betsy Johnson is amazing if you are busty though.

I used to get defensive about VS since I worked there and I thought I did a damn good job at measuring, but I've come to realize that a lot of the problems come from the bras themselves and what the mainstream market has caused consumers to believe about bra sizes. When VS can't get that right, no wonder it's impossible to get a consistent size there!

If there are any redditors out there, I HIGHLY recommend /r/abrathatfits (http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/) especially their "starter guide": http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/quick

The problem is there are quite a few misconceptions about bra sizes--for example, so women believe that if they are "smaller" they are automatically a A or B when that's absolutely not true.

I followed the instructions on the link above to find my fit--I came up with 30G!!!!!!!! I had been wearing a 34D!!!!! I was in disbelief because of those misconceptions led me to believe that someone like me who didn't look "busty" could no way be that size. So a week later I went to Dillards (one of the recommended stores for true bra sizing) and she came up with 30DDD, which is what I told was comparable to 30G and OMG it fit WONDERFULLY. One big mistake I was making was I was worried about "back fat". Yes, my 30 band is snug, but is correct and with my shirt on, everything looks SO much better than the 34 band I was wearing.

So basically, stores like VS are extremely limited to "traditional" bra sizes when in reality, 34A-38DD sizing misses out on a LOT of women.

I highly recommend going to Nordstrom or Dillards to get a real fitting. Try the self fit guide that's linked in those links above too--you'll be surprised, but trust me, it's correct (and if it's not, it will be SO much closed than what VS is telling you).

/brarant

[Sciencewoman]

Wacoal bras are the best bras ever. They are worth every extra dollar. Seriously.

[WestcoastWonder]

Also, I love Lululemon! The fabric quality is amaze-balls and the pair I have keep me warm in the winter in cool in the summer and they offer complementary hemming for the items you buy no matter how old they are, receipt not necessary!

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Wacoal bras are the best bras ever. They are worth every extra dollar. Seriously.

That's what I got fitted with! And YES it's amazing! I was lucky and got mine for $20 on sale. Looking at the website though it looks like even their regular prices beat VS.

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by lovespink88

I used to get defensive about VS since I worked there and I thought I did a damn good job at measuring, but I've come to realize that a lot of the problems come from the bras themselves and what the mainstream market has caused consumers to believe about bra sizes. When VS can't get that right, no wonder it's impossible to get a consistent size there!

If there are any redditors out there, I HIGHLY recommend /r/abrathatfits (http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/) especially their "starter guide": http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/quick

The problem is there are quite a few misconceptions about bra sizes--for example, so women believe that if they are "smaller" they are automatically a A or B when that's absolutely not true.

I followed the instructions on the link above to find my fit--I came up with 30G!!!!!!!! I had been wearing a 34D!!!!! I was in disbelief because of those misconceptions led me to believe that someone like me who didn't look "busty" could no way be that size. So a week later I went to Dillards (one of the recommended stores for true bra sizing) and she came up with 30DDD, which is what I told was comparable to 30G and OMG it fit WONDERFULLY. One big mistake I was making was I was worried about "back fat". Yes, my 30 band is snug, but is correct and with my shirt on, everything looks SO much better than the 34 band I was wearing.

So basically, stores like VS are extremely limited to "traditional" bra sizes when in reality, 34A-38DD sizing misses out on a LOT of women.

I highly recommend going to Nordstrom or Dillards to get a real fitting. Try the self fit guide that's linked in those links above too--you'll be surprised, but trust me, it's correct (and if it's not, it will be SO much closed than what VS is telling you).

/brarant

No I agree with you. I had two best friends who worked at VS through college and they were wonderful. Their coworkers... not so much. I am a 32 DDD/E (depends on brand) and almost all the VS workers try to put me in a 34 DD every single time. I don't look that busy when you look at me most of the time, but in bikinis they definitely show. My absolute favorite store for bras is called the Pencil Test. The owner posts her stats from time to time and her most popular size for August was 34F. I love seeing her posts!

Also as far as breasts go, there are different shapes. So while one brand might fit someone the same size, that brand may not be the best shape cup for your boobs even if the size is right.

[BraveMaroon]

After losing some weight last year,I went to SOMA for a fitting. They clearly just didn't have what I needed in stock, but still wanted to make a sale. So she had me try on one that really wasn't quite right, and she said, "Well, that's not too bad." I said (nicely), "Well for $64 a bra, I think I'd rather do better than 'not too bad'."

I politely thanked her for her time and went to Cacique (the lingerie store attached to Lane Bryant). I'm a 38 DDD and their Balconette line nails it for me. My advice in re: bras is that even if you're busty, a little padding smooths things out and adds support. I'm glad I got over thinking I didn't need any padding.

That said, Wacoal makes amazing bras, and when I'm a little thinner, they're my go-to.

As far as shoes, the ones I spend money on are my Birkenstocks. They're not for everybody, but I love them.