Important factors to consider when shopping for clothing!

As I’ve been moving toward slow fashion (and taking some of you with me, I presume) I’ve been receiving some questions around the topic of what to look for in quality clothing. How’s a lady to know if she’s buying something that will hold up to wear, washing, and time? So I thought today we’d talk about what to look for when you’re shopping for clothing.

Especially when you’re shopping for wardrobe essentials or investment pieces that you hope to last for more than one season, it’s important to look for specific criteria that indicate that a product is well-constructed. And it’s easier than you might think.

I’m determined to keep this post brief today, so I’m simply offering the basics here. But I also want to present this material in a way that will be easy to remember when you hit the stores or try on the clothing that arrives at your doorstep.

Let’s get started!

1. Fabric

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Natural or Synthetic Fibers

You can skip this and check out my previous post here – https://lyndahinstyle.com/how-to-select-quality-timeless-fabrics/

Generally, I look for natural fibers when I’m selecting pieces that will be workhorses in my wardrobe. Fabrics made of cotton, hemp, linen, silk, wool, cashmere, and Lyocell (a wood-based fiber) tend to breathe better, feel softer, and remain more durable.

But you can’t always find fabrics that are 100% natural. In fact, if you want the garment to have stretch, it will undoubtedly include synthetic fibers. So I simply suggest that you be aware of the fabric composition and know what you’re getting. And of course, you’ll want to know how to care for the garment.

Online Shopping Tip: Read the “about the garment” section of the posting thoroughly. Look for the fiber content and blend. Avoid purchasing garments that do not include specific content information, such as a “blend of various fibers.” Insist on full disclosure, such as 99% cotton, 1% Spandex.

2. Solid or Prints

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This particular point depends on your preferences so take it with a grain of salt. Plus, I want to specify that I do buy and wear prints and patterns.

Even though prints such as florals, polka dots, and plaids are trending, I choose to buy solid fabric clothing more often than not. Why? Because you’ll generally get more quality for your money with solid fabrics.

Garment producers mostly have to cut corners somewhere when creating their clothing from prints. Either the print fabric will be of a lower quality or it will cost more.

Jacquard fabrics are those woven by fibers of different colors to create a woven print. On the other hand, printed fabrics are stamped with ink or dyed after the fabric is already woven. Jacquard or woven prints are generally of higher quality, especially when woven from natural fibers. So when you choose to buy a floral, plaid, stripe, or other print, you’ll probably get higher quality for your money if you choose a garment constructed from woven jacquard rather than a stamped fabric.

3. Feel

That leads us nicely to the second factor to consider: feel. How does the fabric feel? A higher-quality garment should feel soft, but you should also notice that the fabric has a nice, heavy drape. Finally, beware of fabric that has an oily or plastic feel. That would indicate that the fabric is mostly synthetic. Bottom line? The fabric should feel natural and rich.

Online Shopping Tip: Since you can’t feel the fabric when shopping online, look for how it drapes on the model. Consider how it hangs on her. Become familiar with different drapes and how they feel. If the garment doesn’t hang properly, it’s probably constructed from fabric that is thin and of lower quality.

4. Finishing

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Third, look for how the garment is “finished off.” Details such as buttonholes, button attachments, zippers, hemlines, pockets, and collars should indicate that the garment has indeed been finished and finished well. Don’t settle for loose threads, scanty attachments, gaps in stitching, or loose buttons. If the producer couldn’t get these final touches right, they probably skimped where it matters even more, too.

Unfortunately, brands are not always consistent in these finishing touches. Most brands have more than one factory or supplier creating their clothing lines, so they may have beautifully finished dress pants but their t-shirts could be less polished. So be sure to check out each piece, even at your favorite stores.

Online Shopping Tip: Read product reviews for information about fit. Of course, not all shoppers look for the same things when purchasing garments, but rely heavily on reviews that speak of tailoring, comfort, and flattering construction.

5. Finesse

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Similarly, I suggest you look carefully at the seams of the garments you’re considering purchasing. Seams should be serged neatly or hemmed in such a way as to conceal and protect all rough edges. Also, ensure that the manufacturer sewed and finished off seams so that they lay flat and smooth.

A serged edge is actually the least elegant type of finished seam. It’s satisfactory, but if you pay more, expect more. When in school, our lecturers really encouraged us to finish the side seams with what is known as a French seam (see the photos above). That meant that we were expected to completely encase the seam in another seam. There were supposed to be no raw edges at all inside the garment. If we can use that kind of finesse sewing school projects, we should expect similar finesse from the clothing we pay good money for, don’t you agree?

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I also suggest you make sure that prints, stripes, and plaids match up correctly at the seams of your garment. The photo on the right is the correct way a seam should be matched up and the one on the left is an example of a badly matched up seam.

If they don’t match, then it means the manufacturer has “cut corners” by cutting out the pieces of the garment in a way that maximizes the use of their fabric rather than cutting out the pieces in a way that would create the most beautiful garment for you, the consumer.

Online Shopping Tip: Again, these are details that you should hunt for in the “about” section of the garment listing as well as in the buyer reviews. Also, some retail websites include the option to ask questions about the garment or even chat with a style expert. Take advantage of those.

6. Fit

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Obviously, you should look for garments that fit you. But I contend that you also want to select garments that fit you in a way that creates a beautiful silhouette.

Look for garments that are tailored to your body. Check for darts in the bust area, tapering in the waist, room in the hips, adequate length in the sleeves, and linings that have a little give but also lay smooth.

Also, the garment should be constructed so that you can get it on and off easily. Look for invisible zippers along the side seam, adequate room in the neck with button closures if needed, and openings at the wrist with closures.

Yes, some articles of clothing are designed to have a boxy fit, but the garment should still look like it was meant to have a human body inside of it. Know what I mean?

Online Shopping Tip: This is where bloggers and influencers come into the picture. Look for bloggers who give you the details about how an item fits and what is included or lacking in a garment that affects the fit and styling.

For more information on fit, you might want to read my post, How to fix the problem of not well-fitted clothing

Thank you for spending time with me and God bless you.