Quality is key-Five Tips to Ensure Your Clothes are of Good Quality

Aug 4, 2008 by cluelessfashionista

As I work toward improving the quality of my wardrobe, I am becoming more and more aware of the quality of my clothes. Quality is a big reason why people tend to buy more expensive brand name clothing. But don’t fret. You don’t have to spend $200 on a pair of jeans to get good quality. You just have to be diligent in doing quality checks when you are out shopping.  Here are five things you can do to ensure that you are getting a good quality of clothing, regardless of where you shop.
1.  Do the stretch test.  Make sure your clothes don’t feel like you can rip them with your bare hands…unless you’re a body builder with abnormally high levels of strength.  Fabric should stand up well to being stretched.

2.  Check the fabric for any small holes or weakened areas.  You want to make sure that the clothes you buy aren’t already damaged.  Unfortunately sometimes other people may unknowingly or knowingly snag or rip clothes in stores.  You should check for this damage before you take the item home.

3.  Make sure any buttons are secure and won’t pop off at the slightest stress.  I have been a victim of poorly sewn on buttons that came off after only a couple of washes.  I, too, should be more aware.

4.  Try it on!  You should always try on any clothing that you want to purchase.  I am a firm believer that clothes that look good on the rack don’t always look good on your body.  Since you are already in the store, try it on.  There’s no need to make a wasted trip to return an item you shouldn’t have bought in the first place.  Besides, some fabrics aren’t good for everyone to wear and you won’t know until you actually put it on your body.

5.  Check the seams.  Make sure the sewing is secure and doesn’t look like it will unravel after one or two washings.  Sometimes mass produced clothing can have variations in how each item is sewn.  Take a moment to check the seams in that piece you plan to buy.  You may be able to avoid a wardrobe malfunction by choosing the one with the strongest seams.

If you follow these five steps every time you shop, you will start to notice an increase in the quality and longevity of your clothes.  I don’t know about you, but I am unable to do a complete wardrobe overhaul every season so I need clothes that will last at least a couple of years if not more.  Plus, once you start doing these quality checks you will notice that the quality of an item isn’t always directly related to the price.  This should make you smile.  I love getting a great fitting, high quality pair of jeans for under $50.  It makes me feel like I have found a way to beat the system.  And we all love to beat the system, even if it’s just by buying a cute and well made dress.