Quality Over Quantity
This post has been a long time coming, primarily due to the the fact that quality over quantity is essentially my personal ethos when it comes to shopping. I’ve always been an avid subscriber to the ‘buy once, cry once’ mentality. I’ve used the phrase to justify several purchases to my husband. Do we need the top of the line Bosch dishwasher? Is cast iron cookware really superior to its non stick alternatives? Is coffee from a Moccamaster going to taste better than a Mr. Coffee machine? The answers are yes, yes and a resounding YES. To be clear, I am not advocating for simply spending more money. In fact, some of the buy it for life (BIFL, if you’re familiar) items I own are cheaper than their not so quality counterparts. I would just much rather buy the thing, use it to its fullest capacity and eventually replace it in a much longer timeframe than if I had opted for the slightly worse version. This same mindset applies to my wardrobe.
I know you’ve heard this phrase, quality over quantity. It’s valuing depth over breadth. But what does this really mean and how do we apply it to our closets? How do we know we’re getting the best bang for our buck? The answer may surprise you.
We don’t. We never will. It’s impossible to consider and test all available alternatives. BUT, there are tips and tricks we can employ to ensure we are making the most informed decision for ourselves. It’s about being armed to the teeth with strategies on being a more savvy consumer. The result is less waste, financially and physically, and better, more honed in personal style. Below are some of the strategies that work best for me, in no particular order.
Be like a detective and scour the internet for reviews
YouTube and Reddit are a treasure trove for honest and unpaid reviews of brands and products. Did you know there was an r/Donni subreddit? I don’t currently have a Reddit account (trying to cut down on my social medial usage), so my trick is to type a question or product name into Google and add “Reddit” at the end. I am almost positive this thread is what introduced me to Buck Mason and Leset and got me on their tee shirt bandwagon. Then of course there’s the r/BuyItForLife sub, it’s not focused on fashion, although they do wax poetic about Darn Tough Socks.
As far as YouTube goes, the options are pretty much endless. I absolutely love LauraVonV’s videos. She does deep dives on specific brands (Sezane, Doen, Aritzia, Gap, etc.) but also fabric composition deep dives (more on this below).
Daily Helen is a gem, she’s on Substack too. Helen has a real knack for spotting trends and pieces that probably won’t stand the test of time and how to refine your own personal style using what you already own.
Consult the Substack-verse
If you aren’t using the Substack app, I highly recommend you do so! The chats are such a knowledge hub. I have posed many questions in various creators chat forums and gotten excellent feedback, ranging from the best tee shirt bra to what to wear on the sidelines of your kids sports games. There are tons of talented creators and writers on Substack and some of my most treasured purchases have come recommended here. It feels like shopping from a curated selection with a close friend, versus being marketed to by an influencer with a massive following.
It’s not just the chats either, one of the reasons I love Substack and prefer it over any other social platform right now is because it reminds me of the old school blogging days. I loved reading people’s personal style blogs and longer form content and am excited to see it come back.
Learn more about the brand
When I invest in clothing, I like to learn a little background about the brand before buying or recommending their products. Truly, whenever I discover a new brand through Substack or Instagram and land on their website, the first place I explore is their About Us page. An immediate red flag for me is a generic, watered down mission statement about sustainability and a commitment to the Earth. Brands with a specific, focused vision tend have a more cohesive point of view which often results in better quality and more interesting clothing.
Transparency is also important, while I don’t need the details of a brand’s entire supply chain, I appreciate knowing where the article is made. Major bonus points if they include specific product measurements rather than a generic size chart. I appreciate that Net-A-Porter measures every garment by hand to ensure you are making the right sizing decision.
Read the material composition
Last but certainly not least, read the fiber composition of the product and proceed accordingly. I made a little cheat sheet for myself below, but I am no expert. My best advice here is to know what materials feel good on you and the ones that give you the ick. There are no inherently “bad” fibers, as they all serve a purpose, so this is going to depend on your lifestyle, location and the phase of life you’re in.
S-Tier: cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, nylon, viscose
Mid: linen, modal, lyocell, spandex, rayon, acetate, hemp
Ick: polyester, acrylic
Upon receipt of the item, take a look around. Are the seams straight and tight? Are the metallic elements (zipper, buttons) sturdy? Are the button holes reinforced? Does the garment fit as intended?
Laura VonV’s video below is chock full of knowledge regarding how to spot good quality fabrics and fiber blends, and what to stay away from. Be prepared to take lots of notes, the results may surprise you.
And don’t forget to always, always, wash with care.
By utilizing these strategies, I’ve been able to spot some real duds over the years and held myself back on buying several pieces that were trendy, but I had a feeling would ultimately disappoint me. I have made (many) mistakes, don’t get me wrong, but I as someone who loves to shop and gets excited every time one of my favorite brands drops a new collection, I needed strategies to help me exercise greater restraint.
This could be a topic for another day, but it’s one of the reasons I get so frustrated when brands drop collection after collection and it sells out immediately. I understand this builds hype and exclusivity, but I like to think about something and let it marinate in my mind before clicking purchase. And maybe I’ve missed out on great items doing this, but more often than not, if something really is that great the brand will bring it back in a future season. Patience is worth it!
If you have any tips on how to determine if an item is worth it based on quality, drop them in the comments section below. I’d love to hear more.
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Until next time!
Linzy woolzy 💜