Where do you buy your clothes?
Discussion
Spent a couple of hours shopping for a coat this week and found myself looking in Zara, AllSaints, Mango, Reiss, Next etc.
I'm at a stage where other than obvious casual wear like shorts and hoodies my work and casual wardrobe is almost interchangeable.
One thing that occurred to me was that it's pretty difficult to tell the difference in quality between the clothes.
i.e. I liked the £330 coat I saw in Reiss but the one I got from Mango for £150 seems just as nice and is made in the same part of the world I just slightly preferred the colour of the one in Reiss.
Go into Selfridges and it really becomes apparent that when everything is in the same "atmosphere" it's even harder to distinguish quality from marketing and the "vibe" of the individual stores.
I now need some tee shirts and sweaters and looking around there's what appear to be the same kind of sweater for £35 at Zara that costs £50 at Mango or £88 at Reiss or £95 at AllSaints with no immediately obvious difference in quality between them.
Where do you shop for smart casual stuff?
I'm at a stage where other than obvious casual wear like shorts and hoodies my work and casual wardrobe is almost interchangeable.
One thing that occurred to me was that it's pretty difficult to tell the difference in quality between the clothes.
i.e. I liked the £330 coat I saw in Reiss but the one I got from Mango for £150 seems just as nice and is made in the same part of the world I just slightly preferred the colour of the one in Reiss.
Go into Selfridges and it really becomes apparent that when everything is in the same "atmosphere" it's even harder to distinguish quality from marketing and the "vibe" of the individual stores.
I now need some tee shirts and sweaters and looking around there's what appear to be the same kind of sweater for £35 at Zara that costs £50 at Mango or £88 at Reiss or £95 at AllSaints with no immediately obvious difference in quality between them.
Where do you shop for smart casual stuff?
Basics like T-shirts etc I only really use Uniqlo as the sizes are always spot on, the quality is pretty good, the prices are OK and the shapes/styles are decent.
Nothing worse than a baggy armed T-shirt.
Important things like jackets, trainers, coats, shoes, scarves etc. are bought in various places.
Nothing worse than a baggy armed T-shirt.
Important things like jackets, trainers, coats, shoes, scarves etc. are bought in various places.
For smart-casual (Shirts, chinos, jumpers etc) the quality of M&S can be hard to beat for the price.
A couple of weeks ago I wanted a thin zip-neck jumper for wearing over a shirt at work. Had a look at the offering in a branch of Charles Tyrwhitt and thought they were ok at £80, then found M&S selling an identical looking version in extra-fine Merino wool for £45 and bought that. Very pleased with it.
I have previously bought chinos from Charles Tyrwhitt, Hackett, William Hunt etc, and again, have personally found the M&S chinos to be virtually as nice quality for half the price.
Uniqlo and Next are also good. Uniqlo are really good value for a lot of things, and great quality.
I know what you mean though, paying a lot more for some stuff doesn't automatically mean better. I have a Hugo Boss 'insulated down jacket' which cost me nearly £400. I also own a very similar looking thin Down-filled jacket from Rab which was £160 and it is massively better than the Boss version, in almost every respect, especially warmth.
The brands I mostly buy these days for everyday and work clothing:
Gant
Hackett
Boss
Ralph Lauren
Uniqlo
M&S
Next
Edited to add: Still buy stuff like shirts from Charles Tyrwhitt. Quality isn't quite as good as it used to be, but that is sadly the same for many high street shirt brands.
A couple of weeks ago I wanted a thin zip-neck jumper for wearing over a shirt at work. Had a look at the offering in a branch of Charles Tyrwhitt and thought they were ok at £80, then found M&S selling an identical looking version in extra-fine Merino wool for £45 and bought that. Very pleased with it.
I have previously bought chinos from Charles Tyrwhitt, Hackett, William Hunt etc, and again, have personally found the M&S chinos to be virtually as nice quality for half the price.
Uniqlo and Next are also good. Uniqlo are really good value for a lot of things, and great quality.
I know what you mean though, paying a lot more for some stuff doesn't automatically mean better. I have a Hugo Boss 'insulated down jacket' which cost me nearly £400. I also own a very similar looking thin Down-filled jacket from Rab which was £160 and it is massively better than the Boss version, in almost every respect, especially warmth.
The brands I mostly buy these days for everyday and work clothing:
Gant
Hackett
Boss
Ralph Lauren
Uniqlo
M&S
Next
Edited to add: Still buy stuff like shirts from Charles Tyrwhitt. Quality isn't quite as good as it used to be, but that is sadly the same for many high street shirt brands.
Edited by Mont Blanc on Friday 10th November 16:30
Go to for casual wear / semi-smart is julesb (.co.uk). Especially during sale season. Also occasionally Paul Smith for casual wear - well made, fits me well, and lasts a long time.
For smart / formal wear, I now have two places: Huntsman, and Anderson & Sheppard. I used to use Gieves & Hawkes, but their ownership has been very unstable over the last few years - I reckon they could go bust between me placing an order and actually receiving the finished product.
That's it - every requirement covered for clothing.
For smart / formal wear, I now have two places: Huntsman, and Anderson & Sheppard. I used to use Gieves & Hawkes, but their ownership has been very unstable over the last few years - I reckon they could go bust between me placing an order and actually receiving the finished product.
That's it - every requirement covered for clothing.
Uniqlo are excellent for a number of things. Really good quality.
For just regular jeans I'm a big fan of American Eagle. Their online only now as they shut their UK stores but they ship within the UK so no expensive shipping. Really good quality but also their jeans have a bit of stretch which makes them extremely comfortable. They're pretty much all I wear.
Funny you mentioned shopping for a coat, I did the same as you and also found one in Reiss I really liked but not enough for the money. Ended up in M&S and picked one up for less than a third which has lasted really well.
For just regular jeans I'm a big fan of American Eagle. Their online only now as they shut their UK stores but they ship within the UK so no expensive shipping. Really good quality but also their jeans have a bit of stretch which makes them extremely comfortable. They're pretty much all I wear.
Funny you mentioned shopping for a coat, I did the same as you and also found one in Reiss I really liked but not enough for the money. Ended up in M&S and picked one up for less than a third which has lasted really well.
ill bring the thread down a peg.
T shirts, Jackets, joggers all H&M basics.. literally have over 30 of them, use them to dog walk, paint, go to the shops.. couldnt care.
hollister sales for jeans since they do my size leg.
m&s is great for work wear, shirts and thin over the shirt jumpers,
occasionally use the internet to get specific t shirts from certain Youtube or gamer T's , EMP for example
T shirts, Jackets, joggers all H&M basics.. literally have over 30 of them, use them to dog walk, paint, go to the shops.. couldnt care.
hollister sales for jeans since they do my size leg.
m&s is great for work wear, shirts and thin over the shirt jumpers,
occasionally use the internet to get specific t shirts from certain Youtube or gamer T's , EMP for example
I'm far less bothered about particular brands these days and more bothered with what it looks like than what label it has. I'd actually say that a pretty high percentage of my recent clothes are from Vinted, either new or nearly new. Shoes, again I buy all different brands at different price points depending what they are for. However, with boots I have a couple of pairs of Palladiums that I replace with the equivalent when they wear out.
Pent said:
ill bring the thread down a peg.
Don't worry, I'm with you. Not really bothered with brands or price tags. I'm another for M&S for work stuff too and some smart/casual jumpers etc.
Everything else is just wherever really, whatever is best value, sometimes a couple brand specific sites but generally random skate/alt like rollersnakes or uniqlo. Outerwear usually some kind of outdoorsy place like snow + rock and some general odd redbubble/gamer/band merch here and there.
When I find a brand of jeans I like, buy a bunch so I've got them because inevitably have to go on the hunt again when they stop making them.
ianrb said:
Mr Dendrite said:
Tango13 said:
BKS
Deserves recognition )Mr Dendrite said:
ianrb said:
Mr Dendrite said:
Tango13 said:
BKS
Deserves recognition )
I’m particular on jeans and buy a specific Levi’s style I know fit me, otherwise I pick up bits when the wife goes shopping and I go with her and browse the men’s section of whatever shop, next is a common one.
I’m just not that fussed about clothes to make a special effort to look in different shops for myself specifically
I’m just not that fussed about clothes to make a special effort to look in different shops for myself specifically
TikTak said:
Don't worry, I'm with you. Not really bothered with brands or price tags.
I'm another for M&S for work stuff too and some smart/casual jumpers etc.
Everything else is just wherever really, whatever is best value, sometimes a couple brand specific sites but generally random skate/alt like rollersnakes or uniqlo. Outerwear usually some kind of outdoorsy place like snow + rock and some general odd redbubble/gamer/band merch here and there.
When I find a brand of jeans I like, buy a bunch so I've got them because inevitably have to go on the hunt again when they stop making them.
we share a lot in common then! I'm another for M&S for work stuff too and some smart/casual jumpers etc.
Everything else is just wherever really, whatever is best value, sometimes a couple brand specific sites but generally random skate/alt like rollersnakes or uniqlo. Outerwear usually some kind of outdoorsy place like snow + rock and some general odd redbubble/gamer/band merch here and there.
When I find a brand of jeans I like, buy a bunch so I've got them because inevitably have to go on the hunt again when they stop making them.
i remember this one time , going to 5 different ben sherman stores as they were discounting a pair of jeans that i liked W34 L28/30 im a short ass , so had to buy a bunch to make sure i had enough supplies for the years ahead!
i normally have 2 pairs of the same trainers too as a back up - always buy in the sale , never full price. just not worth it in my opinion.
im all for looking good , but i spend more money on my new baby , cars , motorbikes and going out , than what i look like. a staple pair of jeans and plain T is all i need. mostly black.. a lot of black
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