Sharp Eyes = Sophisticated Style: How to Spot High-Quality Clothes
Didn't you get that shirt recently? But after wearing it a few times, you've noticed stitches starting to come loose? Oh boy. I guess you better get a new one. Just do yourself a favour and go with high-quality clothes built to last. You don't want a shirt unravelling in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Like an ear for music and a nose for news, an eye for high-quality clothing is a skill that gets better the more you hone it. Work on the skill and become a connoisseur of high-quality clothes that look better and last longer.
But where do you start? Right here, we have four ways you can spot high-quality clothes that will make you the most polished man in the room. Let's begin by looking at something simple: the label.
The Label: What It's Made Of (and How Much)
No, we don't mean the cost. But the quality of the material and how much of it is in your garment will give you an idea of the cost. Natural fibres like wool, cotton, cashmere or silk make for high-quality clothes. They're more expensive but hold up well to wear and tear. And they're way more breathable than synthetic fibres.
When you shop online, take the time to study the product details. It tells you what you need to know about the material's quality (and quantity). And what if you find more synthetic materials than natural fibres? Well, take your business elsewhere.
Just because your clothing has a lot of natural fibre doesn't mean it's high-quality. Turning it inside out and looking at the construction and stitching will tell you much more. For example, turning a sock inside out and seeing hand-linked toes signal a high-quality dress sock that will feel comfortable all day long.
Look Under the Hood to Spot High-Quality Clothes
Determining the quality of clothing requires a keen eye for detail. To study what manufacturers don't want you to see, turn the item of clothing inside out to look at the stitchwork. You'll see the quality of the construction and how much the manufacturer cares about the details. Look for these characteristics to spot high-quality clothes:
- Imperfections - Look out for missed or loose stitches, crooked lines and seams.
- Secured Buttons - Assess the stitching for the buttons. If it's loose before you buy it, what can you expect when you wear it?
- Finished Hem Work - Pay attention to the hem and make sure it has finished, tight, and secure stitches.
- Lots of Stitches - The more, the merrier when it comes to stitches. Bonus points for extra top stitching.
Poor workmanship serves as a warning sign of low quality. Make informed decisions by looking where manufacturers of low-quality clothes don't want you to look.
High-quality clothing manufacturers have nothing to hide. They welcome you to look at the seams and stitches to see the quality for yourself. You can find it in the quality of the material, the construction and the accessories they use.
Hardware Tell a Story of Quality
It's easy to overlook buttons and zippers. But high-quality buttons and zippers contribute to high-quality clothes. You find them in stress points, so YOU DO NOT want them malfunctioning at the wrong time. Plastic buttons and zippers separate high-quality clothes from low. Get your Sherlock Holmes hat on and look out for these qualities in your garment's accessories:
- Wood, Metal, or Pearl Buttons - These materials are more substantial than plastic. They look better and will last longer.
- Spare Buttons - High-end manufacturers will provide extra buttons just in case.
- Buttons Where They Should Be - It should go without saying, but you don't want to discover buttons that don't line up or missing altogether.
- Button Holes - Make sure the stitching is neat and tight. The holes need to be the right size too.
- Metal Zippers - Durable zippers are a must! If they're not metal, they're not good enough.
It's easy to overlook zippers and buttons. But when you spend an extra ten seconds inspecting them, you'll end up with high-quality clothes you can enjoy for years.
3 More Questions You Must Ask to Spot High-Quality Clothes
Once you've inspected the label, accessories and stitching, step back and feel the garment. Here are three questions you need to ask to spot high-quality clothes:
- How heavy does it feel? - The heaviness of a piece of clothing tells you the manufacturer didn't skimp on material. Get your hands on the item of clothing and feel how much it weighs compared to similar pieces.
- How thick is the garment? - Like heaviness, thickness tells you how much material the manufacturer used to make the item of clothing. Hold the garment to the light and see how much light shines through to determine its thickness.
- Do the patterns look right? - Matching patterns like stripes or plaids takes more time and material. Cheap manufacturers won't go to the trouble of matching patterns at the seams. It doesn't always affect construction, but pattern matching is something high-quality manufacturers prioritize.
It takes a discerning eye to spot high-quality clothing. But as you develop this skill, you'll also get a better sense of the quality brands that use high-quality materials and construction.
Identifying quality brands makes it easier for you when you shop. You know you're getting quality the moment you see the brand. Look for handcrafted garments from small-scale producers (ahem, Aklasu). Look at reviews and read their website.
If it sounds like too much trouble—trust, us, it's not. Not if you expect to spend a good chunk of change for an item of clothing you'll wear for decades.
Discover how Aklasu creates refined essentials you can wear for decades using superior materials, understated designs and legendary Italian craftsmanship. Read The Aklasu Way.
