DW Community Catch-up Thread
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I tried a sweater from Quince from an Instagram ad, and it’s nice enough but it pilled after washing.
Ooh. That sucks about the sweater!! Good to know.
I bought my first pair of Mother jeans in January. I like them, but am still happy with my normal Madewell jean purchase. A lot more affordable too.
I used my birthday Anthro % off for the Mother jeans.
I’m going to go so far as to say, if you buy anything, buy jackets. You can rent or go inexpensive on tops, sweaters, jeans, but jackets have to fit you right. Honestly as soon as I put a jacket on, I am taken more seriously, and it can take any jeans and top up to a boss level. The blouse alone will not do it.
This can include a fleece jacket like a Patagonia, with or without your company logo, a (faux) leather jacket, the jacket from your suit, a good blazer, even today I’m wearing a casual blazer made of sweatshirt material, but it signals maturity and power. I’m not kidding. You can get a cheap lightweight blazer on Amazon to wear on Zoom all summer over your tank tops, and it sends that same signal. I used to resist jackets, but you have to get on the jacket train. A couple pairs of well-fitting pants are worth buying too, but the jacket is almost everything.
We’re experiencing false summer right now and OMG it’s glorious.
I’ve realized I think the biggest issue with my wardrobe is my lack of basics. I like colors and patterns, which is fine, but I’m really lacking in neutrals and basics at the moment. I think Nuuly can be the service to satisfy my desire to have some fun statement items. I have that one J. Crew coatigan that I feel like every influencer has in a camel color, I got it on Cyber Monday for a steep discount. Camel is one of my season-appropriate neutrals, so yay! I know there’s an Amazon dupe for it, too. I think that’ll be a good transitional layer going into spring.
I have a few blazers that I’ve been eyeing on Amazon but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything.
ETA: If anyone remembers the days of bauble necklaces like 10 years ago, I learned during my color analysis that my best pink is coral and as far as blue hues go, teals and turquoise are good options. I used to wear this one coral dress to work all the time and paired it with those awful statement necklaces in turquoise and thought I looked incredible. LOL. I’m sure I fit in with all the other basic Bs back then, but I think about some of the trends from years back that I was all about and cringe. I still have some of those necklaces, too.
I also like a good blazer. But then you also have gen Z teasing millennials about wearing business casual to the club. Which true lol. Also I know not quite what you mean Kate.
I have found some of my ten year old clothes are getting holes in the elbows. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve gotten larger or if those clothes aren’t meant to last.
I think I like Uniqlo for basics though it’s been a while.
Unless you’re buying very pricey, timeless clothes, I do think it’s normal for them to be wearing out and also they might be looking a bit dated if you care about that.
I think Gen Z wears blazers to the club with like a corset or bustier. But I don’t go to the club so wtf do I know.
I also don’t go to da club but from what I’ve gleaned, Gen Z will wear their wide leg pants (sometimes trousers!) + white sneakers out. When I was at the age where I was going out partying a lot, the outfits were, like, denim mini skirt + polo with a popped collar (preferably it was a layered look) or jeans with a “going out top” from Forever 21 and sky high heels. I see the same style of mini skirt that I used to wear in college in stores again now. If you remember the show Laguna Beach, all the cast members are all my general age range. The show aired when I was in my last year of HS. I think style trends for kids my age at that time were heavily influenced by that show. I ran out and bought a black choker because Kristin Cavallari wore one on that show, haha.
Clothing manufacturing has gone downhill big time. When I moved to Florida I gave up some absolutely rugged wool sweaters from J. Crew that had lasted literally 30+ years. I bought them in high school or early college. I moved when I was 50. Put a collared shirt underneath and a pair of slacks (50 remember) and they looked like you were going to your kid’s soccer game at the local high school.
Today, a sweater from J. Crew is not meant to last. Few companies make clothing that lasts because if they wear out you’re just going to buy new. When I’ve made an impulse buy at H&M I’m surprised if the shirt lasts more than 3 wears.
Sigh. Grumble grumble. I’m going to go yell at the clouds.
I’ve had some fast fashion pieces last ages and others last just a few wears. My favorite black pullover sweater for years was from H&M. I think I had it for a solid eight years before it finally had to go. And then yeah, sometimes the stuff that’s supposed to be higher quality/longer lasting doesn’t hold up. I’ve been trying to buy less/more mindfully and thrift more.
I deal in vintage clothing and can tell you, the quality of the fabric and construction is so much better on older items. Even in “higher end” brands. For example, a Ralph Lauren jacket or sweater from the 1980s will be much better in every respect and wear better, than his products manufactured and purchased today.
People used to buy fewer garments of the best quality they could afford and then care for them with regular repair and cleaning etc. They would buy good leather shoes and have them resoled/stitched etc. at the cobblers. Many shoes and boots can not even be fixed, just thrown out. Shoemaking/cobbling is a dying skill.
Even tee shirts from anytime before the 2000s are heavier and thicker cotton and will stay nice for much longer. Plether/faux leather is ubiquitous and soon wears and peels and looks tatty. I sell real leather bags and many are very heavy sturdy leather and still look and wear well after 50 years or more, if they are cared for. Some have an aged in patina which is desirable to many people.
Many items in the thrift and secondhand shops now,are from the last 10 years or so and are the cheap,fast fashion stuff. So even the thrift world is suffering from this newer,poor quality stuff.
Buy the best quality you can afford in items and look after them. Buy vintage items,you can find unique items and also many classic and timeless pieces.
