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What Makes A Garment Good Quality (or Not?)

As I’ve been focusing more on quality over quantity this year, I’ve had some requests for a post about what distinguishes a low-quality garment from a high-quality one.

For example, why are some cashmere sweaters $500 and others are $50? Isn’t all cashmere the same?

That’s a fair question. (And no, it is not.)

On the one hand, there’s some truth to the saying, “you get what you pay for.” But on the other hand, you can find quality pieces that won’t break the bank. You just have to know what to look for, and learn how to shop smart.

But first you have to understand the difference between a high quality garment and the cheaper “fast fashion” version.

Before we delve any further into the topic of quality, I had someone asked me to explain fast fashion, and I suppose that’s a good place to start.

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast Fashion is a term that’s getting thrown around a lot right now, and it basically refers to trendy clothes that are cheaply made and designed to last only for a season, after which they will most likely end up in a landfill.

The problem with fast fashion is, it’s terrible for the environment as well as for the people who produce the clothes.

The good news is, people are becoming informed and starting to seek out higher quality clothing from brands and retailers who are using sustainable and ethical business practices.

I’ve never cared for cheap clothing because I don’t like how it looks and feels, but now that I’m becoming more aware of the ethical implications of fast fashion, I’m even more motivated to shift my focus here on the blog and in real life to prioritizing quality over quantity.

Which leads us to today’s post…

What determines the quality of a garment?

When I talk about a quality garment, I’m thinking about workmanship, durability, fit, and feel.

I will admit, I’m more of a “go with your gut” kind of shopper. I can usually tell the quality of something by looking and touching it — even when browsing pictures online, I have this uncanny knack for falling in love with the most luxe pieces before my eyes land on the price tag!

While price can be an indicator, you can’t necessarily expect a higher price tag to equal a higher quality garment, so let’s talk about what goes into the making of a higher quality garment and how to tell the difference.

#1. Fabric

In general, clothing made of natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk, linen, etc.) tend to be nicer than those made with synthetics (i.e. acrylic, polyester, rayon, etc.) Natural fibers are more breathable and hold up better to general wear and tear.

Synthetic materials are more likely to pill, and they often require special treatment (i.e. dry cleaning.) They’re also treated with harmful toxic chemicals during production, which is bad for your skin (as well as the people making the clothes, and the environment.)

That said, every type of fabric comes in different levels of quality. In other words, not all cashmere is created equal.

One way to tell the quality of a fabric is to look for density. (The more tightly woven the fabric, the better it will wear over time.) Check the density of a garment by holding it up to a light. (Even a fine fabric should not be transparent.) You can also tug on it just a bit to see if it’s tightly woven or not.

Also, softness generally indicates a higher quality product, so I rely heavily on touch and feel when determining the quality of a garment.

#2. Details like zippers, buttons and pockets

First of all, the absence of these details is a sign of a lower quality garment.

Have you noticed how some cheaper brands don’t bother with zippers on blouses and dresses, so you have to put the garments on over your head?

And then they don’t fit as well through the waist, because if they were cut to fit your body properly, you wouldn’t be able to get it on and off over your head without a zipper. That’s a shortcut a lot of cheaper clothing brands use to keep costs down.

If an item does have those details, take a close look at them. Do you see loose threads, sloppy stitching, and other defects?

Metal zippers generally hold up better and zip more smoothly than plastic zippers, and metal or wood buttons are generally going to be higher quality than plastic buttons.

Make sure the zipper zips and unzips smoothly. Check for buttons that are sewn on securely without a lot of threads sticking out. Buttonholes should have tight stitching and a neat slot for the button to go into.

Smaller or absent pockets is another short-cut cheaper designers use to save a few bucks. Good quality pockets will be reinforced at the opening with a few extra stitches.

Very tailored pieces will often come with pockets that are closed by a line of stitches to keep a smooth silhouette — that way, you can decide if you open the stitches or not.

Attention to detail and those finishing touches indicate higher quality.

#3. Seaming

Seaming is often over-looked by discerning shoppers, so low-budget brands will often cut corners by skimping on the extra seam work it takes to create a garment that retains its shape and structure over time.

Look for loose threads along the seams, and check for signs of unraveling, missed stitches, loose stitches, snags, crooked lines, and other imperfections.

You can also grab the fabric on each side of a seam and tug lightly to see how well the garment holds together.

Check whether the patterns line up at the seams — it takes more material to align the seams correctly, and those costs add up.

Also pay attention to how the seams are finished on the inside — unfinished edges are a sign of poor quality, and they won’t hold up as well over time.

#4. Lining

Unlined or partially lined garments are typically a sign of lower quality.

Lining helps clothing lay neatly on the body, and a lined garment will generally hold its shape better than unlined. It also gives your clothes a neater finish on the inside, which looks and feels nicer.

Also, the lining of a garment absorbs some of your skin’s natural oils, which can prolong the life of the piece.

If the garment is lined, check to be sure the lining isn’t sticking out from the hemline, or around your wrists in blazers and coats.

The lining also shouldn’t pull anywhere. There should actually be a slight amount of excess fabric to allow for body movements. If the outer fabric has wrinkles even though it’s not creased, it’s probably a sign that there isn’t enough of the lining fabric.

Things that are more flowy and loose-fitting don’t always need to be lined, but more tailored garments should be. (Look for the words “fully lined” on item descriptions.)

#5. Fit and tailoring

Cheaper brands often cut corners in the tailoring.

They will try to save money by using as little fabric as possible to produce a garment, so sometimes sleeves are a little too short, or there’s not quite enough room through the shoulders, or the clothes don’t drape or fit well.

Look for blouses and dresses with darts so the fabric doesn’t bulge under the bust, coats and blouses with a shoulder yoke for a neater fit around the shoulders and a smoother drape across the front and back, and coats with seams that follow the curve of your back.

Also, more attention to detail usually equals higher quality — jeans with a fabulous wash, sweaters with some contrast stitching, dresses with extra seaming to flatter a woman’s curves, shoes with an interesting heel shape, etc.

Ultimately, though, no matter how well-made, if a garment doesn’t match the outlines and proportions of your body, its a no-go.

Fit is very individual, and often clothing off the rack needs some tailoring for it to fit just right.

Things To Know About Denim

The quality of a pair of jeans depends largely on the quality of the cotton used to create them and how it was woven, but you can find good quality fabrics on lower priced jeans.

What really drives up the cost of a pair of jeans is the wash and the workmanship that goes into the finishing details.

This is less a matter of quality and more about the production costs, but it’s what separates a $50 pair of jeans from a $250 pair. Denim with more complex washes — over dye techniques, rips, tears, and custom finishes — will be more expensive, especially when done by hand.

One of the major factors that sets an expensive pair of jeans apart from a cheaper pair when it comes to finishing details is the whiskering. (Whiskers are the tiny lines on the front of pants near the zipper and inner thighs of jeans.)

Whiskering is done by hand with sandpaper, and it takes years to learn the craft. It’s actually considered something of an art form. Cheap whiskering done by a hastily trained worker ends up looking like straight lines across the fabric. (This is one of my biggest pet peeves with cheaper denim.)

When done by a skilled hand, the whiskers will have dimension, asymmetry, and curves that look natural to what a body would create.

Here are two pairs of popular denim brands… can you tell which one is cheaper pair, just by the whiskering alone?

Seams and grommets are two other areas to look at when discerning the quality of a pair of jeans. High-quality denim will have flat-felled seams with a clean finish, rather than a regular seam with the raw edges finished with merrowing on an overlock machine.

Better quality jeans will also have sturdy grommets with a nice clean finish, whereas cheaper jeans might have fabric stuck in their grommets. Yes, these are minor details. You get to decide if they matter to you or not.

I’ve never noticed the grommets or seams, but I’m super picky about the wash on my jeans.

And finally, like with any other garment, higher quality jeans generally fit and flatter better and feel nicer on.

A lot of this is subjective, so it’s important to consider cost per wear and how much you care about each of these factors.

Things To Know About Cashmere

I’ve shared a lot of cashmere sweaters over the past few months, some as low as $40 and some as high as $400, and I often get asked how they compare.

First of all, you should know that cashmere is the fine hair from the undercoat of cashmere goats — mostly from Mongolia, China, Italy, and Scotland, where the harsh climates force the goats to adapt by developing a double fleece.

Inner Mongolia is generally seen as the best origin for cashmere because their harsher winters produce the longest, thinnest, and softest hair. When you see “100% pure Mongolian cashmere” in the description, you should be getting the finest cashmere available.

The most important factor in the quality of cashmere is the length and fineness of the fibers. Longer fibers can be spun into a finer yarn, and fine yarn can be more tightly bound, which makes the fabric stronger, more durable, and less prone to pilling.

Longer fibers also tend to make a softer yarn, another indicator of quality.

The other big difference between luxury cashmere and sweaters under $100 is the weave, or number of plies. (This goes back to the discussion about density in the Fabric section above.)

When I’m comparing cashmere, I look at how dense the knit is and how it feels to the touch. Some of the lower-priced brands like Halogen feel soft compared to other materials like wool or acrylic, but when you try on a cashmere sweater from Naadam or Vince, you can immediately tell the difference.

Even Nordstrom Signature, Nordstrom’s higher end in-house brand, feels quite different from their Halogen cashmere sweaters. (In fact, I highly recommend shopping the Nordstrom Signature line — you get a lot of bang for your buck because you aren’t paying for a designer label, but you’re getting similar quality.)

This is not to say I never buy Halogen cashmere — I do, but I don’t expect it to last more than a couple seasons, and it doesn’t feel nearly as luxurious as the higher end brands.

Things To Know About Leather Goods

Leather is another area where you’ll find is a large disparity of quality and price point when shopping for apparel, shoes, and handbags. I have so much I could say about shoes alone, but that’s another post.

There are basically three types of leather: genuine leather, top-grain leather, and full-grain leather.

Did you know that when an item says”genuine leather,” that doesn’t just mean that the product is made of real leather? It is, but it also means it’s the lowest quality of real leather.

Mind blown. (I just learned that today!)

Genuine leather is actually several layers of low quality leather bonded together with glue and then painted to look like a better-quality leather. You’ll find this in a lot of lower-priced belts, shoes, and handbags.

Top-grain leather is considered the middle-of-the-road leather quality. Its surface is sanded with a finish coat, which makes it less breathable and gives it more of a plastic feel. It’s fairly durable, but eventually it will break down and look worn. Top-grain leather has better stain resistance and is less expensive than full-grain leather, so you’ll find it used in a lot of mid-priced wallets and handbags.

Full-grain leather is the best quality leather money can buy. It has not been sanded or buffed to remove natural imperfections, and it’s characterized by its luxurious, smooth surface. Rather than wearing out, full-grain leather develops a beautiful patina over time, and it will last you a lifetime if properly cared for. Full-grain leather is typically used in making high-quality footwear and furniture.

One way to discern a quality leather is the smell. (Leather should smell like leather.) I will never forget buying my first pair of Frye boots. They are leather inside and out, and every time I put them on, I could smell the leather — a far cry from the leather boots I typically buy.

Also check the edges. If the edging is blue, the tannery didn’t let the leather tan properly. Often they paint leather edges to hide blemishes.

Finally, look at other areas of the item — good leather quality will usually have quality stitching to match, so check for flaws in stitching, hardware, and lining.

Like all other fabrics, the look and feel will tell you a lot.

The more different price points you look at and try on, the better you will get at discerning the quality of items you’re shopping for. This goes for all categories, not just leather.

In Conclusion…

I share all this not to suggest that you should only buy top quality everything, but so we can all be better informed shoppers.

At the end of the day, buying based on quality is just part of the equation. Budget and preference obviously come into play when making purchasing decisions.

Some people appreciate the finer details and value quality more than others, and some really don’t care, but most of us are somewhere in between.

Quality means different things to different people, and each woman gets to decide where to allocate her clothing budget based on her needs and personal preferences. Isn’t that awesome?

That’s where cost per wear comes into play.

Really consider how often you will wear an item, how long you want it to last, and then use the guidelines in this post to help curate a wardrobe that works for you.

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57 Responses

  1. Ever since you mentioned (in a previous post?) that you were working on this post, I’ve been looking forward to it. Wow…so much information here! W/ regards to the cashmere, I think Naadam has spoiled me for any other cashmere. Even if I have to wait for their end-of-season sales. I rarely can wear regular wool, even if the wool is a tiny percent of the total fabric. It just is itchy to me, but the Naadam cashmere is amazingly soft. I absolutely love it. So interesting about the leather too. I bought a pair of Freebird boots a year or so ago, and as soon as I opened the box, I could smell the leather. Amazing. But I never knew that genuine leather was considered a low-quality leather.

    And even though I am currently wearing a pair of Kut from the Kloth jeans (and they’re super comfortable and I like them a lot), my AG jeans are my favorite…both for comfort and the washes.

    Thanks for all the work you put into this post!

  2. Jo-Lynne – This post reflects everything I love about your blog! You go beyond just showing us photos of the latest styles; the details you provide are so informative, whether your’re  talking about what what makes quality garments or how you put together an outfit. This was such a great post and I will definitely refer back to it when making future purchases. Would you be open to a future post about the retailers you go to who produce quality and sustainable clothing? I know you’ve mentioned some before, but as I am also looking to move beyond fast fashion, i would find that info very helpful. Thanks so much for your hard work. I really appreciate it! 

    1. I agree with you, too!  JoLynne always goes above and beyond.  This is a fantastic, informative post.  JoLynne is my favorite Blogger, too!

  3. WOW!! This post has a lot of GREAT info in it! Thank you for taking the time to research and then post…I really learned a lot this morning. Great job and thanks!

  4. Love the article, great info I was not aware of. I don’t like natural fibers- cotton, wool or linen because they cling to my body and I hate that. I prefer synthetic materials because they don’t cling.

  5. Jolynne, this is a wonderful and informative article! Thank you so much for taking the time to research all this information for us!! I know you worked hard and put in many hours!
    Have a wonderful day!!
    Paula K.

  6. Wow, this was so informative and helpful. This post is an example of how you go the extra mile and why you are my favorite blogger. It’s been almost two years since I began reading your blog, and I have learned so much and my style is so much better. I am no longer a fan of the fast fashion stores, and can tell poor quality a lot better. Thank you so much for this information!

  7. I’m so glad that you and some other fashion ladies are addressing this issue. It’s something I’ve worried about because I keep hearing about the millions of pounds of clothing that are disposed of each year. I fear that all the online ordering from Amazon and other sources is really adding to this issue. I’m just torn though because some of the brands that I’ve considered to be top-notch in the past, are producing everything in China or third world countries so what’s the difference? It’s hard to know….I’ve ordered from Nordstrom and Boden which I consider to carry nicer quality items have been really disappointed with the quality from time to time. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. 🙂

  8. Thank you for posting this. I’ve saved it to my style folder and will never shop Again without reviewing it. You really are the little sister that keeps you straight. You are actually too young to be little sister and too old to be daughter. Lol. In any case, I really appreciate you. 

  9. This type of post is the reason that you are my favourite blogger. Your blog is the one that I consistently read and if I have been away, I always make sure that I get caught up on the posts I’ve missed. Your posts are full of information and are must reads, This post is amazing and one that I will visit again to read again. Thank you for all of your time and effort, Jo-Lynne.

  10. Great info, thanks! I have questions about what stores and kind of stores to trust when buying high quality clothing. Some of the worst quality clothing I have bought have been from local, independent boutiques (read-$$$). So, does low quality not always equate to low prices? But, higher quality almost always equates to higher prices?And, is it better to stick with larger retailers with brand names and direct designer stores knowing you’ll get higher quality merchandise (for things you want to invest in)? It’s all so hard to decipher! Thanks! 

  11. This is such a timely post for me! I’ll be moving next year and sizing waaay down (As in less than half the square footage I live in now!) and one of the ways I plan to control the “stuff” is to buy fewer items that are better made and last longer. I’ve also always been able to pick out the well-made (and usually most expensive) item without looking at the price tag, but it’s nice to see the information broken down. The info on leather blew me away. Now I know why my Frye boots are so comfy! Thank you so much for all of the time you spent writing this post for us, Jo-Lynne. I have to agree with the other ladies. You’re my favorite blogger by far.

  12. So much great information! Thank you! Since following your blog, my wardrobe has been given an uptick in the quality department…this will help me even more : )

  13. Thanks for this helpful post! I am striving for quality over sheer quantity too. I try to cut back on “fast fashion”…. It seems like nothing is made in N America anymore which is sad. I try to look at where clothes are produced. It seems impossible to find clothes not made in China or Vietnam or other 3rd world countries. Do you or your readers have any tips?
    Your kitchen is coming along so quickly! Good for you! I’d still be in the “pondering” stage!😉

  14. Thank you for this very educational and informative post! As I’ve grown older, I’ve developed a less is more philosophy, and appreciate quality over quantity; so this information is very helpful for becoming a more discerning and prudent shopper. I would love to see a post for a spring/summer and/or fall/winter capsule wardrobe of quality basics that would include handbags + shoes.

  15. Loved this article so much- wow!! A wealth of good information. Thank you!

    I do have a quick question. Which pair of jeans you pictured is the higher quality? I’m giessing the ones on the right?? But I honestly don’t know. Ha! Thanks! 

    1. Actually, the ones on the left are the better quality – at least so far as the workmanship that went into wash and whiskering. They are Citizens, and the right ones are Kut from the Kloth.

    2. Hahaha, I thought the right as well. The wiskering  in the other pair just seemed so obvious and high contrast like it was “painted on” but I do looove Kut jeans so I may just always be drawn to them 😆 

  16. Wow, what an interesting and informative post!  Thank you so much for doing the research to write this.  I mean this in a very positive way – when I started reading this, I felt like I was in class.  At the end of it, I was so happy that I participated in this class.  😄 Oh, your fridge and double oven look fabulous!  A double oven is so awesome.  Have a great day!

  17. Thank you for writing about this! It made me think back to the days in high school home economics when they taught this. Such important wise information.

  18. I’m really hoping buying quality and keeping for longer periods makes a serious comeback!! Assessing all of these characteristics really points to the need to see items in person. I keep being disappointed by buying online. The feel and look and drape of a fabric is everything to me. Sadly, many retailers’ sales floors don’t show us all they offer online (ie Nordstrom) so it’s getting harder, and I think we need to consider all the time we spend returning items and what that means for our carbon footprint. The debate about natural fibers vs synthetic is distracting us focusing on being more thoughtful about buying less and higher quality and taking better care of items. I have several designer polyester blouses that look like silk that I’ve had for years because I take good care of them.

    1. That’s why I tried to use words like generally where ever I could. 🙂 I did see an article that stated, there are no bad fabrics, but each type of fabric comes in different degrees of quality, and each has its place. That makes sense, but without doing a whole series, it’s hard to dive deeper than this.

      I hear ya on seeing items in person. That’s one reason I get stuck on particular brands and retailers. Once I have one I trust and I know fits me well and I get their sizing, I keep going back. Also, hopefully my try-on hauls are helpful in that respect.

  19. Thank you so much for this informative post! I learned so much and will keep it for future reference. I had no idea about the different types of leather. Thank you for taking the time to research so you could share all this info with us. You are a blessing!

  20. Wow!!!!  What a great post and I learned a lot about cashmere and leather I never knew.  Great informative information.  I’m sure it took you awhile to put this together and we all appreciate it I’m sure.  Nice appliances and I’m sure you are excited to see how they look with painted cabinets.  

  21. Great Post. I do love your appliances and look forward to seeing the next step.
    All of your ideas on quality were wonderful and easy to understand. However, my eye is not working so well this morning – I wasn’t sure which jeans had the bad whiskering! Maybe you could give the answer? LOL

  22. Great post JoLynne! Appreciate all your comments and hard work on this just to keep us all ‘in the know’….you rocked it! Definitely a keeper for future purchases (so I don’t have to bother you haha!!)
    Have a great day! 🙂

  23. Great post JoLynne! Your info on leather was very informative. I had no idea what the different terms meant. I do buy only good quality footwear. My mother always bought all five of us girls good quality leather shoes, fitted by a qualified salesman. That started me on a lifetime of well fitting, leather footwear. 
    I love cashmere sweaters but have never tried $400. cashmere. Yikes! I don’t think I could justify that cost. I usually stick to under $200 and usually shop the sales. 
    I buy fast fashion only when I buy trendy items that are not staples of one’s wardrobe and they will be Out in a year or two.
    My bet peeves are fabric patterns not lining up, zippers not running smoothly and obvious flaws in construction. These items never come home with me. 

  24. Thank you so much for this informative post. I’m curious as to what your thoughts are on polyester. There are so many cheap “fast fashion” garments made from polyester; yet I often get very pricey tops in my Trunk Club Box that are also 100%polyester. I find it very frustrating and honestly I send them back. I’m talking blouses from Joie, Ted Baker or Equipment, that are often $300+.  Is there a big quality difference in 100% polyester?  Thank you and many blessings! 

  25. Great post, I had been waiting for this one. Very informative and I will be referring back to it. I don’t mind a less expensive piece if I am buying a trend, but a good reminder to me to purchase quality for the staples, and items that I don’t see going anywhere anytime soon. I think the jeans on the right are the cheaper pair?? Such great info to take to the stores with me, and what an eye opener about the leather… Who Knew?? LOL

  26. Just checked my Rebecca Minkoff purse and it is genuine leather, and I thought it was higher end considering the price point.  What about good old polyester?  It seems more high end designers are using this synthetic material with a juicy price point as well.  Great article and hope to hear your thoughts.  Ty.

  27. Three things:
    The first is the pocket stitching. If you sew tailored clothing you would know that this longer stitch length line is there to keep everything positioned correctly until the other pocket details (such as a flap or bound edge) are in place. It is intended that the stitching be taken out when the sewing is complete…if it is sewn right in the first place it should look flat when finished and you are wearing it
    Two. I hate any kind of whiskering…makes all jeans look cheap. 
    Three. Cashmere is for the most part as you have described. When they reference the “ply” as two ply or three ply that describes the number of “singles” (one spun yarn) that are then plied together to make a yarn. Singles are spun in one direction of twist and the ply uses the opposite twist to put 2 or 3 singles together to make a stronger yarn than would be the case for just singles. The plied yarn makes the knitting (or weaving) more dense and therefore less likely to pill. Because cashmere is known and a “short staple fibre” it will pill some. Even long staple cashmere is considerably shorter than the 2 inch staple from many sheep breeds (staple is the term used for the length of the fibre from the outward tip to the inward end where it is cut from the sheep/goat). Cashmere that is a higher quality has more fibre spun into the singles and then the ply (2 or 3) adds more to the weight of the knit fabric….and yes the best way is to feel it since most manufacturers simply do not provide all the information about how their cashmere sweater is made. The other thing to note here is that cashmere, wool, mohair, etc. all have the natural oils and dirt washed off the fibres at many stages of the process. It is this processing that makes or breaks it for many people. Mostly this is done with harsh solvents, chemicals, detergents, etc. Because each individual fibre/hair is like human hair in its make up we would see a scale like surface under a microscope. These scales can hold onto some of what was used in cleaning and irritate your skin if you are sensitive. The solvents if used can actually damage the fibres making the surface rougher and therefore more irritating to your skin. Quality cashmere is washed in a more gentle way (as is wool)
    I could probably add more but this is enough of Fibre Class 101
    Spinner, Weaver, Knitter, Sewer/Tailor so any more questions just ask…..

    1. Plus I am finding that high end clothing’s quality has gone down with many designers.  They are using more polyester, instead of silk, low grade cotton that pills now, and cheaper other materials made in China that just leaves me astonished and rather annoyed!  Greed over quality unfortunately sometimes!!

    2. I actually buy vintage, thrifted clothing at times, as that is when real quality existed!  Now it is hit or miss, but much more “miss.”  Eventually, as the years go buy, designers, including high end designers start cheaping out, and send their business overseas, and that is when quality usually starts diminishing.  Thankfully, some designers stand by their product!

  28. Wow, this is a great post. Super informative and lots of interesting info.  I completely agree with the other comments, you’re the favorite. It’s evident you take a tremendous amount of time and put so much effort into everything you do for us. You never seem to be in a hurry and you’re so genuine!  Added bonus – you share your life (family, home, etc) with us.   

  29. Very informative! The info on leather was new to me. I, also, plan to purchase quality over quantity in the future. Being retired, I wear a small fraction of my wardrobe and I need to concentrate on the basics first. 

  30. Outstanding post, Jo-Lynne. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for the time spent to research and set forth in an EZ to follow format.  After losing 100 lbs over the last few years, I have purchased a ton of clothes to have appropriate, nice fitting clothing to wear. It has been great fun. Now that I’m settled in a size, I’ve shifted my focus to adding quality pieces only. This info couldn’t be more timely. The leather info is an eye opener. Who knew?
    Oh, and go me, I guessed the Kut jeans. I do like my Kuts but love my AG’s. Thanks for that 😉

  31. Great post, Jo-Lynne! Like many of the ladies who commented I had no idea about the differences in leather and the info on cashmere will be so useful for future purchases. I’ll be rereading this post many times as I shop for quality pieces. Thank you for all the research and hard work that went in to this post.
    Annemarie

  32. Hi Jolynne,
    This is why you’re my favourite blogger! You invest time and research your topics and keep us well informed.Thank you!

  33. I just wanted to thank you for this thoughtful post. I have been feeling convicted lately of buying up many things that are suggested without thinking about quality. Honestly, I do not need more of anything! I want to be thoughtful about my purchases and also give money to companies with integrity. I really appreciate that you posted about this topic!

  34. This is such a great post!  It’s like an article written for a good fashion magazine; it’s so informative.  The exact differences in hair for the different grades of cashmere was really helpful and I did not know which leather was better/best.    

    I agree wholeheartedly with another comment about this being a great example of what makes your blog stand out.  You give great information, not just a few photos of an outfit(s).  

    Thank you, thank you!!!! 

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