Recently I’ve posted about clothing and building a better wardrobe. See:
1. Just Say No to Cheap Clothes
I’m on a mission to cut out cheap, poorly made clothes, manufactured by unethical companies in third-world countries out of synthetic and cheap fabrics.
*Note that I am not cutting out all China-made clothing, only those that are poorly made. I am paying more attention to the way clothing is constructed*.
As of my writing this, I have only purchased one clothing item since the beginning of the year. It’s 5 months in, and I’ve been doing quite a lot of research about the fit, the fabric, the brands, and the make of the clothes I’ve been eyeing.
Here are the things that I have on my “must buy” and “must at least try on” list:
Linen Tees
I have never been a particularly casual dresser, and my go-to comfort outfit usually consisted of a cotton dress and a cardigan.
I’ve found jeans and t-shirts neither flattering nor particularly comfortable, so I own exactly one t-shirt (the one item I’ve purchased thus far in 2013) and one pair of jeans.
I guess I haven’t found them flattering or comfortable because I’ve been buying the wrong version.
At Easter, my mom visited and we went shopping. I tried on a lot, but ended up only buying a linen v-neck tee from J Crew.
It’s so simple it’s practically embarrassing, but it’s comfortable, flattering, and light.
The tee was made in China, but it seems well-constructed and it has kept it’s shape beautifully.
I have it in navy (as pictured above), but want it in white, too.
They are $47.50 each, which may seem like a lot for a basic tee but it’s worth it.
Jeans
The one pair of jeans I currently own do not get much wear. They actually look great on me, but they aren’t very comfortable and they are not very well made. I bought them from Maurices on my last cross-border shopping trip, simply because I felt I needed a pair of jeans.
I came across a pin on Pinterest that had dozens of pictures comparing “cheap” jeans with a better quality jean, and how much better they looked on different body types.
One of the examples (and the one I liked the best) was with 7 For All Mankind jeans.
When I started researching the product this company offered, I saw great reviews and a product made in the USA. It also has a great reputation for a quality product.
These are on my must-have list:
They are the Slim Illusion Skinny in Black. I just like the basic, slim look of them.
There are also a bunch of denim that I saw on the site, but I definitely have to try them on in person.
Flats
I’m in the market for a new pair of classic black flats, as my old pair has finally (and inevitably) kicked the bucket after 3 years of solid, daily use.
When scouring Zappos, I found these basic flats by Frye.
Yup, I’m boring – they are basic, black, and flat, just like I wanted. They are made in Mexico, so it’s not as bad as some, and are leather. When I look at the picture, they appear to be a softer leather too, which is nice.
I worked for a shoe company for a couple of years before I moved, and I learned to expect blisters and pain for the first couple of wears for any shoe. But the softer the leather, the less the pain.
They clearly don’t have a ton of support, but frankly, I’m not 75 so I don’t need orthodic footwear, especially since I only wear flats like these in the office and to dinner.
I’d definitely want to try them on and see them in person. I’ve had many a pair of shoe with a sole like that, and after a couple of months the sole and the leather tend to separate, so I’ll have to see how it’s made.
So far, that’s all I’ve got, but that’s really all I need right now. I have to seek out stores that have these products so I can try them on; the tees aren’t so important because I already have one in a different color, but I can’t buy pants or shoes without seeing how they feel.
I have a must buy list too for the summer. Summer dresses are high on that list, I don’t have any that fit! There are basics like sun glasses and a pair of sandals. I love that you’re looking for higher quality pieces that’ll last. It’s always such a disappointment when something you buy loses shape, even if it was only $11.
My list includes a pair of well supported, black, sock covering office shoes. Whenever my knee starts to hurt biking, it gets exacerbated by the fact I have zero office shoes with proper arch support. I want a good pair that will last several years. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to wait until I end up in a city in order to be able to buy such a thing. I could have 3 dozen pairs of trail runners, but no leather mules in my town!
I need a new pair of skinny black jeans too. The only pair I have is too big and were fading badly anyway.
I love J. Crew’s t-shirts as well, and wait for them to hit clearance! I picked up two last week for $7 each. One was the linen T and the other was the vintage soft ones.
FWIW, I have that exact pair of Fryes, but they were made in China. And they stretch like mad, too. That said, I’m hard on shoes and they still look brand new.
I met a friend’s mom at Target the other day and she mentioned her desire to stop buying cheap, unethical clothing. When I pointed out that she would pay a lot more per garment, she replied “Well, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” I’ve heard that phrase before but it really resonated with me this time around. I think it’s great you’re focusing on well-made clothing and I hope to start doing the same. There’s an online shop called Everlane that’s peaked my interest. They claim to take out the middle man and only offer basics, like basic tees, v-necks and even silk shirts.
I love wearing jeans. That’s one of the thongs I miss the most by being preggo. I really like Express jeans. They often have a buy one, get one half off. They are about $60 to $100 a pair so a little pricey. With jeans, you usually get what you pay for.
Nice want list! Since I put myself on a “no new clothes” challenge, I’ve started a list of things to look for used at thrift stores and resale shops. Specifically, I am actually putting together a Black Widow costume for Comicpalooza next year. So I will need sexy black boots, black leather gloves, and a cat suit or unitard (already have Spanx thank gosh…). The unitard is going to be the hardest to find used and I might have to just find a new one if I have no luck by April of next year. I will also accessorize the costume with bullet bracelets and belts/straps, but I already have ideas lined up for that…
Would you say that most J Crew clothing is well constructed? I really like shopping there, but I don’t have a good for what’s well constructed and what’s not?
I was just checking out the recent J.Crew catalog and saw those linen v-necks, I have a serious problem when it comes to wearing those as casual comfy clothes. I’ve tried a few brands and sadly my favourites that I have were bought at a store that is no longer in business here 🙁 Also, I’m extremely impressed with how long your flats lasted, I usually toss mine after 4 months, I need to try this well constructed challenge as well.
I love the look of that t-shirt, Daisy. I am basically a t-shirt and jeans girl although not May through September in Houston unless I want to end up in the ER with heat stroke. I am with you on the comfort of shoes and trying them on in person. I have had closets full of shoes I don’t wear. If I find something that works, I’m liable to buy it in two or three colors. Hope you are having a fun day!