Considering brands when shopping
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I've been thinking about brands somewhat. When I'm shopping for clothing, I've been generally latching towards some brands (Levi's, PRL) and I'm starting to realize that this may not be the right approach for fashion shopping, especially now that luxury brands like Burberry have become a bit more accessible on the second hand market.
At the same time, I don't usually buy from Fast Fashion. I'm trying to buy quality clothes that last, I'm not interested in throwing away clothes after a few wears.
So when I'm shopping for clothes, for example in thrift stores or second hand clothing stores, should I give brand choice a consideration?
85 Replies
no
u should consider whether u actually like what ur buying
Do I like this? Does it fit in my wardrobe? Will I wear it? Can I image outfits with this piece?
It feels a little like your focusing on specific items and neglecting the whole at the moment.
Shopping by a brand is just a proxy for subjective quality or an aesthetic. It's a rule of thumb.
That said, yeah just browse cause you can find cool stuff you wouldn't otherwise.
Definitely in a thrift store browse to your heart's content
yes expensive =/= quality and cheap =/= lack of quality
at a certain point there's not much difference in quality between brands, moreso differences in how specifically brand makes a certain product(s) - textiles, cuts, designs, etc
definitely explore brands and styles, but if a particular brand is within your wheelhouse i wouldn't be deterred by it being, say, levis vs brycelands
It does, yeah
I think it would be better if I took a look at the larger picture here
I still think a clearer idea of how you want to dress will help you here.
It will give you an idea of the things you might be missing in your wardrobe. From there you can look around (whether that is secondhand or new) at the options for that item and see which brand's version of that item appeals to you the most (whether that's on a cost, materials used, cut of the item basis will depend on what it most important to you)
Yeah 100% better to start by having some vibe you’re interested in
If you don’t have an aim it’s easy to fall back on other things to pick what to buy but you’ll end up with loads of stuff you never wear in the end
Better to look through inspiration and stuff and find the commonalities and target things similar to those
this is a good way of amassing a wardrobe that you don't utilise 90% of
Buying brands has a lot less added benefit these days.
A 2-3 decades ago, the access to quality material (fabric/leather/trims), workmanship, knowhow was limited. Today it is omnipresent.
Earlier, most brands operated their own studios/manufacturing units. Now most outsource.
Hence, brands have little exclusivity.
This just isn't true and completely sidesteps that one of the main reasons to buy a brand is buying into their design language (where they have one).
Yeah when you have established a direction and found brands that align with you, it absolutely makes sense to browse by brand
@Sam Diversify where you look/shop, doesn't need to be fast fashion like shein nor do I ever spend on luxury brands like burberry etc because it's all bullshit. here are some of my choices and why - hope this helps:
Zara = imo good for range of pants/shirts at a lower price and look great.
Mack Weldon = their underwear is unbeatable, I splurge on the $40 silver line and I have no regrets. I like some of their pants/jackets as traveling outerwear
Buck Mason = best quality garmets I've ever bought - period, everything from jeans to shirts to coats to button downs etc. They never ever have a sale which is how you know shit ain't bullshit. customer service is also top tier. The fashion is a bit of a mix of classic american / japanese - worth taking a look. The clothes are by no means cheap, but the only brand in my life that's never had a quality issue down the line after years of wear and why I invest in them now.
* Please note: I only wash clothes on cold and to really make things last, hang/air dry. Zara's stuff is prone to being damaged in the wash so to ensure longevity for them and any garments in general, follow this tip for washing/drying
"don't buy fast fashion"
"Buy Zara"
Is a very funny switcheroo.
Yeah I don’t agree with most of what Nicoloadeon said, sometimes high end brands are worth it to people sometimes they’re not. There’s not a linear relationship between the nebulous concept of “quality” and price, and buying things specifically aiming for the longest lasting over anything else is pragmatism but it isn’t fashion, design is imo the primary element to consider, then you want to look at longevity and how things age and ethics of the business and stuff
Most of us have brands that we love and align to what we want out of our relationship with clothing, but considering which brands to buy is also one of the last steps I would take
You should have some answer (to yourself, not to us) on what your goals are in dressing differently/better
Then think about which sort of styles you feel align well to who you are / who you want to be / how you represent that to the world / what sort of clothing you feel like wearing.
Once you have a decent idea of which sort of styles you are into, then maybe consider coming back to one of these threads and asking where to get started for a certain style or which brands to look at. You will get more clarity then
I do worry for you a bit because Burberry, Rick Owens, Jordan, etc all are quite different and while I'm sure there is some way for someone to tie them together cohesively, I would just worry that you'll have regret and end up wasting money on clothes you aren't comfortable in. I would forget about brands a but until you better define what you want to do
(I’m not sure there’s a way to tie them all together cohesively tbh)
It's beyond me for sure but never say never
"Doesn't need to be" and "don't buy" are two different things - I applied the warning that comes with these categories too. Do better
My point was brands like Burberry, Gucci, Versace etc are not worth what they're priced. You're paying an exorbiant premium for the brand name when you can get the same quality textile/fabrics without the brand premium price tag. Any respectable tailor/mill/designer will tell you the same
I’m saying that fabric quality isn’t the only, or even the primary, metric by which you should judge clothing if you’re interested in fashion
Designer labels do sell some things for huge markups, but not everything designer can be got for less elsewhere
Would be curious to know what your primary metric is @bishopcorrigan
IMO the fabric and the quality should definitely be a primary metric . This determines how it sits on your frame and compliments your skin/tone, the appearance it gives from close-up and a distance, and how it compliments other pieces you're wearing and even how you accessorize it.
The design of the garment
Fabric quality and properties only serve the design
I’m not looking for gods most plain long lasting t shirt
I’m looking for clothing that says something. Stuff that I can use to express things about myself
The extreme position of "fabric and quality should be your [sic] primary metric" is you end up wearing Loro Piana/Zegna/cuccinelli ready to wear, paying ÂŁ500 for a vicuna t-shirt and still looking like your clothes came from Uniqlo.
the inclusion of zara is also interesting given they often rip off designer clothes with fast fashion practices
will echo the chorus of people that say "go slow and see what inspires you". there's a chance you still like burberry, or burberry and rick, and if that's your conclusion then that's fine because it's your preference that you've shared through time and thoughtful reflection
as you explore you'll find what motivates you - an aesthetic, a particular function, the tactile experience, construction, brand recognition, etc. - and then that can drive how you source inspiration, ask questions and eventually shop
Remember you're talking to people who are actively interested in fashion here. If you're trying to min/max "spend to wear" most people would just say buy Carhart (or similar fashion brands with historical workwear origins), call it day and try to be happy with that aesthetic the rest of your life.
I have a tendency to min max so I realized I was searching for high quality brands in second hand shops without considering much if I actually like what I'm getting or if it fits my wardrobe. Like I would find a really good deal and be like "this thing usually costs like 300$ but I can get it for 40$ this is a really good deal!" while giving excuses like "this will last me a lifetime and it's good because it's high quality", yeah it's high quality but it's gonna stay in the closet most of the time so why does it even matter
next time I'm going thrifting I'll need to have a clearer picture of what kind of style I'm aiming for, even if I won't like it in the future. It will feel much more meaningful than to just grab clothes in good quality because there's a good deal on them (unless it's basic stuff like chinos but even then I don't know where the line between a basic item or not ends)
as long as you buy used you dont give as much as an incentive to produce new and hopefully dont help the economy too much. on the other hand when you buy used from someone they might take the money and buy something new...
what
huh
you can only control your own actions not those of a reseller or corporation
as long as you're content with your own decisions with your own money then that's what matters imo
yeah but imo you basically should try to buy everything used just because there really doesnt need to be more overproduction. so you shouldnt support the clothes industry
not to dismiss overconsumption and overproduction as valid issues, just noting that
on the other hand when you buy used from someone they might take the money and buy something new...that's not really on you to police
This is a fashion discord server
plus Op is already looking for 2nd hand shopping advice, you don't need to convince anyone :)
I buy everything new to fuel the glorious adcent of capitalism
My sibling in religion do not come in here thinking “y’all shouldn’t buy clothes” is gonna do numbers
I will convince them.
that falls under the umbrella of "finding a reason to support a brand" which is the horse that should go before the cart of "how to consume said brand"
all I am saying is fashion does not have to be connected to buying new things lol
and brands are largely fucking stupid because you pay for nothing
hmmmm
My love for sweatshops fuels the capitalist urge to raise the global poor out of substance poverty
no its not I am just saying that buying used still may help overconsumption. best thing is just buying nothing lol
not design language.. not craftsmanship… not the brand’s story and legacy.. not communicating to my target in-group… nothing?
nothing
not supporting an artist whose vision aligns with my preferred aesthetic
God im so fucking stupid thank you ian
any time
what about the parasocial aspect god i wish vivienne would call me
i buy used because i don't have unlimited funds, even then it would mean id have somewhat of a moral choice to choose between new or used clothing but I don't have that privilege, either way im a tiny drop in an ocean and my decision would only affect how i feel about myself
tldr used is cheaper so its cool
the artist gets nothing from you buying whatever he designed. he gets payed a fixed salary
there's a skill issue but i dint know if it's not appreciating the circumstances in which one would buy from a brand at msrp or not reading the thread first
🙂
I've got some bad news mate.
definitely a skill issue
Reject fashion consumption. Embrace moksha.
I mean we probabls shouldnt but also you are right kind of a stupid saying it on a fashion server
That really depends what kind of company/designer you're buying from. I appreciate sweeping theoretical condemnation of the structure of capitalism as much as anyone but you gotta leave space for analysis of actually existing things.
we should embrace naturalism i agree
there is nuance
you're also preaching underconsumption to a server full of people who are probably more conscious of their clothing consumption than 99% of the population
this is also a thread built on the hypothesis of buying secondhand
But yeah if I had to choose between yohji or a high quality of life free from capitalism
sorry lil guy you’ve had your run
Like yes, my friend who designs eyewear for a designer label gets paid a salary, but my jewellery making friend who does it for herself literally survives on her profits.
if I tell you now that clothing designer is kind of a useless job anyways objectively you are probably angry lol
Oh my god shutup
That’s a fucking dickhead thing to say
good lord
Does that help
i'm pulling all funding from the arts right this instant
:timer: @bloxaminoxa has been timed out for 1 day. :timer:
Chat shit get banged
Sorry guys don’t do art
Art is useless
if someone tags art I’ll kill you
Humanity’s only purpose is to survive as long as possible and anything that generates happiness is meaningless in the face of infinite time we could spend spreading like a virus across the galaxy
ted kaczynski designer workwear brand made to last
Nothing says you have a good take on useless activities like trying to extract joy from pissing off strangers on the internet.
we should just produce carhartt double knees until the sun explodes
:linkSmug: @~art
Good bye guys :why_dissolve:
god bless sam and this thread
what a tangent
Too much sewing. Burlap sacks for all.
Anyway sam I hope that helps
:linkThumbsUp:
this exchange is rather timely https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1255197478312087672/1295410836017381418
with the emphasis on "spending time to figure out [x] before buying brand [y]"