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by the way...the coach outlet has a massive sale today! I brought home a beautiful steel colored leather bag
It was originally from regular Coach store and sold for $360. I could tell because the hardware was actually brass and it was more detailed than factory store bags. It was on the 50% off clearance wall and it was the last one. Also for Labor Day they had a 30% of everything sale going on so I ended up paying $125 for a medium sized leather purse!
I have heard Coach is a great place for leather handbags and I would say if you go during sales at an outlet store you can pick up a quality leather handbag that is stylish for a fair or even low price.
I hit Dillards' end of season sales each fall and spring, and have gotten some really nice Nygard, Antonio Melani, and Sharon Young pieces. They last very well. I got them for 65 percent off PLUS 30 TO 40 PERCENT off THAT price (one day sale - I get the email and go that morning). I just bought a $75 shirt for $15! I also got two $80 bathing suits for about $25 each.
I go through stores like Ross and TJMaxx. I've gotten a lot of Calvin Klein, Chinese Laundry (shoes), Tahiri (suits), and other name brands there.
Otherwise I shop at the outlet mall, with my favorites being GAP and Banana Republic and Nine West.
You can find things that will last at places like old navy if you pay attention to the fabric. I got several pairs of capri's there that lasted a decade and still looked pretty new.
I have some Old Navy sweaters that I like, such as an apple green pullover with shawl collar I got a couple years ago. It's a little pilly on the upper arms but it has retained its shape, and I love the color. Old Navy carries sweaters in talls, which is great for me and my long arms. I have a few thinner cardigans, and they are hit or miss. The medium-weight, cable-knit stuff holds up better IME. I have a couple cardies in camel and winter white that still look fine. The thinner stuff tends to stretch, warp, or get little holes after a while.
For about the same price, I would look at Lands End sweaters as well. Don't get me wrong, Old Navy has some decent buys and tends to carry trendier styles and colors. Lands End has cashmere stuff for more than $100, and they have cotton-blend stuff in the $30s. That's also where I would look for a winter coat if you need one. Sign up for emails, and wait for a sale. Every now and then you'll get a coupon for 30% or 40% off, and you can score a really good down coat for $100 or so. They are made well and guaranteed forever. (All their stuff is. If your sweater starts falling apart, take it back and they will replace it. Old Navy won't.)
Something interesting is I was having a conversation with my friend's mom who was talking about how they used to make clothes built to last forever, that would be passed down from generation to generation. Now she can't find things like that. She brought up how a suit from Channel would probably last forever but stated that she bought most of her stuff from Gap and it only lasts a year or two..maybe 3 if she is lucky.
It's like the companies engineer clothing to fall apart so people have to keep replacing things. It's all marketing I guess
I am still trying to get my head around your using Old Navy as a standard for quality clothing. Most of that sort of store is for clothing that is cheap, and you wash it a few times and it has shrunken and gotten out of shape, so you get rid of it.
From my own experience of fairly cheap clothing that lasts a few seasons, wash after wash, is Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, and a few others. Most cheap fashion is only intended to last a season.
I agree with you regarding Old Navy...their fabrics feel cheap, and their clothing doesn't appear to be very well-made.
Personally, I've had very good luck with companies like Lands End, LL Bean and Eddie Bauer. I wouldn't describe their prices as "inexpensive", but if you figure the cost divided by the number of years they last, over the long run, they turn out to be a good deal. I have some turtlenecks and short sleeve interlock polos from Lands End that were purchased eons ago, and they're still in good shape.
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