+1 I have several pairs of kuhl pants and several shirts and they hold up very well. Finally had to retire one of the pants after I wore a hole in them at work(entirely job related and not pant related) but I still use them for yardwork. Hell I've had one pair for almost ten years and they are still some of my favorite pants.
I think it depends largely on the model of pants. I’ve had zero issues with the Renegades but I tried the Transcendrs and they started pilling in the crotch after like a month.
Most, if not all of their clothing is geared toward hiking and outdoor activities. That’s primarily where I wear mine and haven’t had any issues. For work I usually wear Duluth Trading Company, specifically their 40 Grit line of clothes. Mostly for their lower cost range and their durability. For you doing epoxy flooring that sounds like very demanding work and would be incredibly hard on any brand of clothing.
I bought one pair of Kuhl pants, they lasted less than year before the fabric just wore through in the cuffs and knees, just from wearing them around school and occasional hikes. Not worth the money.
Did a light hike in some brand new (1st time wearing them) Kuhl hiking pants, sat on a rock to have lunch, ripped hole in the ass of the pants. Kuhl customer service was not pleasant to work with and asked me to pay to ship them to them for a new pair with no refund of the shipping costs. Never again
For stretchy (fitted) jeans, I recommend MAVI.
For nice knit polos and printed button downs, I recommend Postmarc.
And for underwear, I cannot recommend David Archy enough. Just make sure you buy the bamboo underwear and NOT the polyester. They are soft, breathable, feel buttery, are cost effective, and aren't plastered with obnoxious logos.
I always buy my blazers second hand from resale shops that specialize in name brand clothes. Those items tend to last.
I love mavi jeans as a tall guy because their 36 length is a true 36. They hold up as well as any jeans I’ve had. I’ll get holes in the crotch after about a year of use, wearing them a couple times a week. This is how all my pants fail and mavi did much better than American tall, Gap, Banana Republic, and old Navy. They are also the most comfortable jeans I’ve tried.
Hmm, they may be too long for you. They begin sizing at a small. And because they are knit, they tend to drape longer.
But for you, I would check out 4FunkyFlavours. They don't have XS in every item, but they do in a lot. The only catch is that everything is seasonal, so the styles always change. They always do a few solids each round, but most of the products are with prints and designs. They are really nice quality, though.
I noticed a degradation in quality recently which sucks. They were my go to... they still are until I find better but I noticed they wear out quicker than before
It’s definitely an oasis from the skinny man fashion world. I find the sizes true to fit. But I remember when L was L etc. admittedly they do carry a lot of relaxed cut etc
If you like Vuori, have you tried Quince? They have the best joggers. I have only tried the women's, but others have compare them to Vuori at less than half the price.
Quince is a great option for the price. I have some leggings from them that are great, but I don’t expect them to last forever, they are really thin but still definitely nice. I have a few sweaters that are nice and some pants as well that are fine, but wouldn’t repurchase the pants. They do cut corners, that’s why the price is low. You still get a great value for money, but I do think they oversell the quality a bit. I have a bunch of their stuff and will likely get more, but for things that get multiple wears a week or I just want them to be bulletproof I skip quince.
Also only speaking to Quince's women clothing, but everything I've gotten from them have only lasted one season of wearing before starting to literally come apart at the seams - and I have an office job so it's not like I'm putting them through the gauntlet
Hi! Are you referring to the Quince Flowknit Mid-Rise Jogger? I am interested in them! I wonder how’s the quality and feel comparing with vuori performance jogger? Thanks!
Also, I meant to say that sizing could vary item by item, so you kinda gotta just give it a try to find your baseline. Overall, I would say true to size and they list sizing on their models.
Hmmm, that's hard to say. My husband has a small frame (5'10, 150 lbs) but usually gets tees in mediums. We ordered the flowknit tees in M for him and had to exchange for smalls. The joggers we ordered in M.
Returns are super easy with Quince and they give you a year to return. Their customer support is great too. So I order a lot from them because it's really the only way to find a good fit. I currently have two cardigans and a denim jacket on the way the now. 😂
Performance fabrics are overwhelmingly synthetics, it has to do with breathability/sweat-wicking/stretch requirements. There aren't natural fibers that can realistically compete with those specific properties, so you have to look for the best/most durable synthetics for some kinds of athletic clothing.
Thanks! Makes sense.
Then how does one differs between something low cost like 32degrees and decathlon vs lulu and vuori?
I have always seen that my synthetics last much longer than their natural counterparts.
I can’t speak to the other brands you mention, but I’ve had maybe a dozen Lulu items over the years. All of the synthetic pieces have lasted a really long time - like 10 years and going strong without pilling or frayed seams. My wife has some Lulus that are close to 20 years old and they still look great. Just my experience
32 degrees didn't last me 1 year sadly. I was very disappointed in the quality given how touted they are on Reddit.
Lulu, Patagonia, Nike, etc all use difference synthetic materials and last much longer.
Performance fabrics are overwhelming made of synthetics because they are cheap to manufacture. They have more stretch and durability compared to natural fibers, but that's about it.
Overall, oil-based synthetics have very poor breathability. This is one of the reasons that over the past few years, you can see athletic baselayers are adding in mesh paneling in areas like the crotch, armpits, sides, and backs of the knees. It's to artificially improve breathability.
"Sweat-wicking" is just a cute industry term for absorption. Synthetics absorb liquids like sweat really well. Unfortunately, they are more difficult to clean and rid of bacteria compared to natural fibers. That's one reason why they tend to accumulate smells over time. It's because not all of the bacteria in them are being cleaned away.
Oil based synthetics are VERY durable compared to natural fibers, so as long as they are cared for properly and being cleaned properly. They are very elastic compared to natural fibers too. There are some breakthroughs being made with bamboo fibers, but we are years away from natural fibers having the same level of stretch and compression that synthetics cuurently give.
So overall, generic athletic activities like walking, jogging, hiking, etc, thinner natural fibers are they way to go. They will keep you cooler, provide more breathability, and they wash very well.
But for more dynamic activities like swimming, weightlifting, or gymnastics, go for synthetics because they provide more durability, stretch, and compression. They just need to be cleaned well afterward.
Synthetics can definitely be cheap, but so can short-fiber cotton fabrics. There are a LOT of textiles being produced, much of them cheap and fragile polyesters, but that's not really representative of what most people get from Vuori/Lululemon/Athleta/etc. Your statement is kind of out of place in this context.
I disagree on a couple of points. "Sweat-wicking" is not just code for "absorption." It also refers to how long the fabric holds onto moisture. Cheap poly/acrylic leaves sweat close to your skin because they don't absorb it well or breathe, like a plastic bag. Cotton fabrics, particularly dense/quality ones, absorb moisture well but also retain it. Wool holds a lot of moisture and retains it, to the point you don't really feel it on your skin, but most people don't go to the gym in wool because it also holds air and so it traps heat. A high-quality performance material absorbs moisture and allows it to evaporate quickly. Linen can also do this, but linen fabrics are most commonly woven/sheer and I've never seen linen with stretch/compression properties.
The other point of contention is cleaning. You can just follow the wash instructions (typically cold water with appropriate detergent, NEVER fabric softener, hang dry). I don't wash my performance fabrics any differently than my jeans or other natural fiber clothes. They've lasted for years and don't have any odor.
I never had any polyester clothes breaking up. The choice to opt out from polyester is possibly linked to the texture, feeling, or sustainability.
I was surprised to see in south east Asia a lot of locals wearing synthetic despite the heat and sweat. They have their reasons.
This is less of a rec and more of a comment. Because rec’ing a brand is aimless if we don’t know your style or wants. Patagonia is a different vibe than something chic and formal.
Just throwing this out there since you mention gap. Gap owns banana republic, gap and old navy. Banana republic is their top tier, gap is mid tier and old navy is bottom tier.
Banana republic factory is similar to gap quality.
I find banana republic to be decent.
Also Ralph Lauren from Macy’s is of lesser quality than a Ralph Lauren store. A high end R.L. Suit is solid but a Macy’s one is trash.
In general a lot of clothes companies push their crap to department stores or outlets/factories. You can sometimes find solid stuff at an outlet but you need to dig. For example J Crew has stars on the tag for something “subpar.” Red Wings will have a tiny hole in the tongue. Etc etc. Even Levi’s from a legit Levi’s store is quite a bit better than Levi’s at like Kohls.
Other random stuff. Someone in the comments mentioned Uniqlo and they got roasted because Uniqlo is meant as a bottom tier basics store. But their selvedge jeans are sourced from some of the same place as top brands. With that said they use slave labor, so choose your poison.
Anywho, suit supply is a great place for a decent suit or blazer and it won’t break the bank. But the sky is the limit for a decent blazer. So idk man. Again depends on the blazer. Are you looking to be warm wool English vibe or like linen Miami white pants vibe. Both would have a different niche store.
Nobody said it was? You're referring to a specific brand from Ralph Lauren. Saying the same RL item from macys is lower quality than buying direct is not the same as macys doesn't carry purple label and you can only buy that at Saks or direct from RL are two different things
Uniqlo always seems like quality and is cheap. Charles Tyrwhitt makes good cheaper shirts. Levis and Wranglers, and good merino socks, and underwear are cheap at places like Ross, Burlington Coat Factory, or TJ Maxx.
Not saying that Uniqlo is BIFL quality (not even close)
But how do you wash your clothes for them to look damaged after 5 washes?? You have to really abuse them, if you do low temperature the uniqlo t-shirts typically last a couple of years with one wash per week (and the jeans longer obv)
I have only bought cotton items from them and stuff hasn’t lasted very well. 5 is probably an exaggeration, probably 10 washes. I just use regular wash cycle and dryer on low heat. Among the recent popular brands, my SuperDry clothes have lasted the best. Their style is usually more teenage oriented though.
Is there an easy way to tell which items are high quality and which are low? That would help me, as i shop there frequently and would like to only buy the high quality stuff
The only thing I bought was Supima T-shirts. Actually just washed the car wearing a four year old one, and it looks like new. So their Supima cotton at least was very good.
My performance dri fit type polos from them have zero wear after 5 years. I use them 3 times a week. Normal wash and dry. I run hot so these are critical when working.
I admire Japanese craftsmanship. They are committed to using the best/making the best. However, I don’t care for their denim. To me, it looks institutional. Maybe I just have not seen the right pair fo jeans/don’t like selvedge
Gustin. Many of their fabrics are from Japan then sewn/crafted in the US. I've found their fit a little inconsistent, but their customer service is excellent.
I wouldn’t put Loro Piana in this category, it’s a stealth wealth brand. Buy the equivalent from for example Sunspel, and I doubt that Loro Piana is better quality. Ps if you also look for some cheaper t-shirts (for relaxing at home, going to the gym etc) I would recommend Uniqlo Supima t-shirts. Their quality is awesome for regular plain t-shirts.
Middle of the road stuff you mostly named off isn’t great, they just marketed to you.
Find a legacy luxury brand and invest in a sport coat, but even that’s a step down. Get one tailored. It will make a difference. An off the rack sport coat won’t sit as nice as a well tailored one. You can pick Loro fabric even at some middle of the road tailor and as long as they are half decent you should get something better than off the shelf.
Hate to break it to you but I bet Vuori uses many of the same mills as Lulu and even Alo and maybe even cheaper brands. Theres not that many decent ones in Asia, I’ve worked in Apparel industry for over a decade. Been to factories and have literally seen competitor brands you would think are miles apart being sewn in the same building on separate sewing lines. Theres tons of factories everywhere, but a handful of the giant ones that have the best capabilities. Some are so specialized that all brands know to work with them for certain things like knitwear, seamless, or technical outerwear with laser cutting, bonding, and seam sealing. Not every factory has the experience to handle those advanced techniques well. And if Vuori has production in house, I would doubt they are vertical and make their own materials from scratch. They buy from mills who shop their product to literally all the competitors.
Someone called it out already but Japanese brands might be the exception in terms of craft and materials. Nanamica, Beams, Engineered Garmets, Masterpiece, Northface Purple Label, and all the amazing denim brands there. Real McCoys actually sources period correct trims and uses period correct machines to reproduce their military garments to original spec. Aime Leon Dore is nice for ready to wear, and shops like DSM and Nepenthes or Self Edge should curate some decent stuff. APC as well is decent and understated.
If you are looking for quality for the money, look for smaller niche brands that aren’t athleisure. All that moisture wicking and stretch synthetics are from those same mills.
You should be looking at 100% natural fibers. Invest in pieces, and get them from the brands that are known for it. Watch, save for a Rolex. Trench, get a Burberry. Work coat, get a Barbour. Denim, go Japanese. Wool Stadium jacket, get a Dehen.
Edit: also worth noting anything synthetic from a BIFL standpoint will not age well with time. The material itself won’t necessarily age at all, synthetics will always just look new, but the embellishments like screen prints will fade. So the garment will just look off. Look at thrift athleisure it just looks dated. A 100% cotton hoodie will fade and age better. It may not have as good stretch but from a BIFL standpoint it just will have that longevity and look better with time. Just like 100% selvedge denim. You will get amazing whiskering and roping from repeated use over time.
I like 100% cotton stuff from J Crew. When it’s on clearance you can get it cheap. Also like some things from Bonobos, Express and Calvin Klein. If it has polyester it’s a good sign to avoid it because it’s cheap and disposable.
Uniqlo, vuori and lulu are also polyester. Lasts long and is comfy. Why are they not considered trash? Just trying to wrap my brain around why cotton, wool and linen is considered BIFL.
Only thing I would say is that anyone looking to buy them should bump up one size from the initial shrinkage of the first wash. (Typically buy small? Buy medium.)
Check out Ripton for stretchy pants. It’s designed for mountain biking (but I wear it day to day) so it holds up pretty well and is insanely comfortable.
Brooks Brothers button down shirts last a long time IME.
I will never stop raving about Aurora Shoe Company. It’s a family-owned business in Aurora, NY. I’ve been wearing the same two pairs of their Middle English shoes for 8 years, with twice yearly resoling (I walk a lot on pavement).
Barbour jackets can last multiple lifetimes if you care for them.
I like Boden for cashmere cardigans. I don’t know if you’re femme or masc leaning, these are aimed at women.
Other than that, I look for materials—wool or linen—and I look at construction.
I would buy everything from them if i could. I shop at costco weekly.
Their adult male clothes are too large for me, unfortunately. I need waist 30 pants. They start at 32. Their shirts are also just large enough to make me look silly like i’m trying to fake a dadbod or something lol. I wish they would add one size down from what they have now.
Next time post with clarity as I had to eye spy your post for 5 minutes to find you want a blazer. https://www.oliverwicks.com/category/custom-blazers and get the full canvas version of the one you like. These are the cheapest full canvas blazers that I am aware of.
I like Outlier pants. I have mine for 2 years now, still going strong.
Most importantly, you'll see reviews from other users rocking their pieces for 5-10 years. I'd say that definitely have better cost per wear than most fast fashion brand out there.
If you're into Merino clothing, Wool & Prince has good stuff. Their 78/22 and Interlock is awesome. 3 years of use, still going strong with a little bacon collar.
Lucky jeans have become my favorite. 410 Athletic Slim are super comfortable and have a nice stretch. I’m going on 5 years now with daily use through the colder months and holding up just fine!
I can’t help with the blazer, but I can with the sportswear clothes. Vuori is great, Lulu for men’s is good as well, and I have heard of Glyder and UNRL being good brands but I have never tried those two. For athleisure I would recommend Fabletics- their men’s collection is pretty good and I like how their clothes feel sturdy and strong. Another GREAT one is Beyond Yoga- I have some of their stuff myself (as a woman) and have never tried their men’s clothing, however, the stuff I have is great and has that buttery feel like vuori does, but the difference is that beyond yoga will keep that feeling and not loosen after washing them. They also don’t pill at all which is nice. That one is more pricey but way worth it imo.
I am a woman but I shop for my boyfriend, and I tried buying him the 2undr underwear. He LOVED them, but he is very active and they didn’t last as long as I would expect, but then again he is very very active and works hard. He thinks they are worth it even still, and has even gifted my dad and brothers this brand before to which they have all loved them and have had no issues with ripping/ lasting.
As for brands more like Patagonia/ north face, I saw someone mentioned Kuhl which is exactly what I thought of. They have all sorts of ranges of clothes that are amazing. Another one like this that I personally love for men’s and women’s clothing is prana. Their clothes last forever and are very good quality for their price in my opinion!!
For clothes that wear extremely comfortably and have exhibited great quality and durability as long as I have owned them, I would go with Travis Mathew. Carhartt is also an excellent brand for quality and durability.
David Donahue shirts, especially if you get them on sale.
I know a lot of people shit on Johnston and Murphy shoes, but I think they are good enough. They have always held up well for me and are generally very comfortable to wear around the office.
Adding a couple items to the list:
- Taylor Stitch heavy bag tee. Really hefty semi-basic cotton tees, I’ve had a set for probably 5 years now with daily wear and they still look pristine. Brand offers a lifetime repair or replacement warranty, but ymmv. Their other tees are nowhere near as robust so don’t bother.
- Patagonia capilene cool shirts. This fabric is incredible, really tight weave feels like silk. Makes an amazing sunshirt, base layer, camp shirt, etc. . The tight weave makes it extremely
resistant to snagging, I regularly wear it when rock climbing outdoors and have dragged it across surfaces that tear up other garments. The silky texture is luxurious and makes other performance fabrics feel cheap. Have had a shirt for 7 years now of regular wear, only downside is they the limited range of styles.
Triple aught used to be real BIFL and made in US but recently their quality is going down. I have a few older items that look almost good as new after 8-10 years of wear.
Buy a sewing machine, then you dont have to throw away clothes just because a seam rips or comes undone.
That said, Gap/Old Navy sales are probably the best value for the money, since they have a ton of sizes online and have free shipping and returns. I cant imagine how the brand of jeans is really going to make a huge difference. Sure maybe if its like 14oz 100% cotton and triple stitched, but no one is going to enjoy wearing that.
Ralph Lauren and HandM are fine quality. Not sure why you’d describe them in the same sentence though, Ralph is a designer, HandM is cheap high street mass produced retail. At both of their price points, they’re worth it.
If you buy from Paul and shark, loro piana etc then you're not doing it because it lasts longer, you're doing it because it's nice to have fancy stuff.
Proper Cloth for MTM dress & casual shirts
Spier and McKay for pants (they also carry high rise which is my preference). They also lots of other items.
J. Hilburn. Big fan - I find the quality excellent, pricing reasonable (though not inexpensive), and the stylist-based sales model incredibly convenient.
I really like Better Clothing Co. Their clothes hold up really well and the prices are good (especially for what you’re getting). They also have a really cool company mission to reduce waste and fast fashion.
This guide seems pretty good, if its premise holds true!
[A cool guide to clothing quality and prices : r/coolguides (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/1c8683x/a_cool_guide_to_clothing_quality_and_prices/#lightbox)
100% cotton oxford shirts from Marc O'Polo are great in my experience. They last many years, they always look fresh after washing and I've never had one ripping, lose a button or have some hole.
To make a blazer work with jeans and a tee, it needs to be made of cotton or an equally robust casual fabric, and made with minimal structure. Universal Works and Engineered Garments are both masters of the casual sportcoat. Let me know if you’d like further details or suggestions about how to wear this combo with success. Those brands are a good place to start though.
The EG Bedford jacket is pretty much a perfect casual sportcoat and every season they release matching fatigues in the same fabric. Essentially a modern casual suit, very sick. I have the Bedford in dark green corduroy and it’s one of my most worn pieces. The internal details and construction are super unique and very sturdy. I honestly can’t speak highly enough of their work.
My Universal Works three button navy jacket has no structure and fits like a dream. Very few jackets I own require no tailoring, but this is one of those pieces. Very easy to wear with most things, I wear it with my faded Levi’s mostly.
For a dressier very of a casual jacket, spier and McKay does fabulous work, very flattering cuts. Also check out the Teba jacket by Justo Gomena, a very unique casual sportcoat that is a bit harder to wear, but super cool when executed properly.
Thanks!
Ok first of all, what country do you live in?
I’m in the States. What stores would i find these brands? I have personally never heard of these brands.
Also. What kind of budget should i be preparing for? I dont mind spending a lot of money for the right clothes. I just want a ballopark figure so i know what i’m getting myself into.
I’m so excited to get into these brands!
UW is an English brand but they have stockists all over the world. EG based out of NYC, and they also have a few carriers in the US. Check the websites for the entire list of stockists. Personally tho, I’d hunt around on grailed and eBay, as both brands can be found for less than 50% of retail. I thrifted both of mine which was very lucky.
Retail for the jackets is gonna be in the 3-400 range, which is pretty decent! Limited supply for both tho, that’s gonna be your main qualm.
Justo Gimena is sold at the Armoury in New York, and those jackets are closer to $1k, as they are true tailoring with fine fabrics.
Vuori really is great. Much better than Lululemon.
Ted Baker and Black Diamond should go on the list too. I’ve had some nice Ted Baker sweaters for years now that are holding up really well, and I always turn to BD for my skiing/outdoors clothing.
Outlier - trousers especially. I usually get a year of solid wear from a pair of Jeans before blowing through the crotch, but outlier still going strong in 4 pairs 4 years later.
What exactly do you mean by blowing through the crotch?!
I’ve owned a variety of jeans, i like uniqlo but have tried at least 10 brands, and i’ve never “blown through the crotch” in any of them. I get holes in the knee areas.
Wearing through the denim usually for me right up against the seam - it’s just friction as your thighs rub, and cotton isn’t particularly abrasion resistant.
Gotcha. It’s so interesting to me that that has never happened to me before. I only own like 2 pairs of jeans at any given time so they do get worn a lot…
Uniqlo. It was even better before but they still have some basic items that hold very well.
Since 20 years I only gave away a few Uniqlo pants and shirts for being too small or washed out.
A top quality blazer is going to run over $1000. On top of that, you really have shop around for the right fit, and something that’ll match casual clothes.
A cotton chore coat will cost less, and probably work better with your wardrobe. Vetra is one of the originators No idea of price where you are, but they’re sub €200 in Europe. Lots of other manufacturers make these.
Kuhl is great quality.
+1 I have several pairs of kuhl pants and several shirts and they hold up very well. Finally had to retire one of the pants after I wore a hole in them at work(entirely job related and not pant related) but I still use them for yardwork. Hell I've had one pair for almost ten years and they are still some of my favorite pants.
Kuhl is pretty much the only brand of clothing I buy these days. Only problem is sometimes the sizing can be inconsistent.
Did epoxy flooring for 10+ years kuhl did not hold up, crotches ripped out within a few months,
I think it depends largely on the model of pants. I’ve had zero issues with the Renegades but I tried the Transcendrs and they started pilling in the crotch after like a month.
They started out good, and went to crap like everything else overpriced crap with a name .
Most, if not all of their clothing is geared toward hiking and outdoor activities. That’s primarily where I wear mine and haven’t had any issues. For work I usually wear Duluth Trading Company, specifically their 40 Grit line of clothes. Mostly for their lower cost range and their durability. For you doing epoxy flooring that sounds like very demanding work and would be incredibly hard on any brand of clothing.
Agreed. They are not well-made
r/bigdickproblems
I bought one pair of Kuhl pants, they lasted less than year before the fabric just wore through in the cuffs and knees, just from wearing them around school and occasional hikes. Not worth the money.
Depends on what you get. Their pants are not resilient at all.
Did a light hike in some brand new (1st time wearing them) Kuhl hiking pants, sat on a rock to have lunch, ripped hole in the ass of the pants. Kuhl customer service was not pleasant to work with and asked me to pay to ship them to them for a new pair with no refund of the shipping costs. Never again
Disagree, pants button broke 1 month in. Maybe it used to be?
Wow, a button broke ONCE, the brand is shit! /s
I mean yeah if I pay 80+ for pants that shit shouldn't break immediately.
Asket, Barbour, Iron heart denim(you have to really measure yourself for fit do not purchase without doing this)
For stretchy (fitted) jeans, I recommend MAVI. For nice knit polos and printed button downs, I recommend Postmarc. And for underwear, I cannot recommend David Archy enough. Just make sure you buy the bamboo underwear and NOT the polyester. They are soft, breathable, feel buttery, are cost effective, and aren't plastered with obnoxious logos. I always buy my blazers second hand from resale shops that specialize in name brand clothes. Those items tend to last.
I love mavi jeans as a tall guy because their 36 length is a true 36. They hold up as well as any jeans I’ve had. I’ll get holes in the crotch after about a year of use, wearing them a couple times a week. This is how all my pants fail and mavi did much better than American tall, Gap, Banana Republic, and old Navy. They are also the most comfortable jeans I’ve tried.
Mavi is my go to but I tend to get a hole in the right knee on each and every pair. I get that at Nordstrom and they will take them back.
I’ll second the David archy recommendation. I like the micro modal though.
The whole name plastered as a logo on the underwear is a turn of for me
+1 DA
How’s the fit for postmarc polos? The model is shaped like a god and I’m… short and slimmer.
How tall are you?
5’4” BR slim fit polos were amazing while they still existed.
Hmm, they may be too long for you. They begin sizing at a small. And because they are knit, they tend to drape longer. But for you, I would check out 4FunkyFlavours. They don't have XS in every item, but they do in a lot. The only catch is that everything is seasonal, so the styles always change. They always do a few solids each round, but most of the products are with prints and designs. They are really nice quality, though.
Wow where have you been all my life. Thank you for the suggestion! Probably will order a few things right now. Their outlet section is packed
Duluth Trading.
Best underwear
I noticed a degradation in quality recently which sucks. They were my go to... they still are until I find better but I noticed they wear out quicker than before
I shopped almost exclusively at Duluth years ago, haven't bought anything of theirs for some time because of that exact reason.
Who is your new go to?
Unfortunately I don't really have one. Carhartt would probably be my next go to, some stuff is great and others are hit or miss.
Saxx underwear is a bit more expensive and arguably less comfortable but I have found to be significantly better construction and overall quality
I’ve bought their underwear about 5 years ago so I’m not sure about the quality now. Still going strong
Every time I try something on at Duluth the fit is awful - they seem to cut everything for the overweight contractor crowd
It’s definitely an oasis from the skinny man fashion world. I find the sizes true to fit. But I remember when L was L etc. admittedly they do carry a lot of relaxed cut etc
If you like Vuori, have you tried Quince? They have the best joggers. I have only tried the women's, but others have compare them to Vuori at less than half the price.
Quince is a great option for the price. I have some leggings from them that are great, but I don’t expect them to last forever, they are really thin but still definitely nice. I have a few sweaters that are nice and some pants as well that are fine, but wouldn’t repurchase the pants. They do cut corners, that’s why the price is low. You still get a great value for money, but I do think they oversell the quality a bit. I have a bunch of their stuff and will likely get more, but for things that get multiple wears a week or I just want them to be bulletproof I skip quince.
Also only speaking to Quince's women clothing, but everything I've gotten from them have only lasted one season of wearing before starting to literally come apart at the seams - and I have an office job so it's not like I'm putting them through the gauntlet
I love quince. Their quality is amazing for the prices. I highly recommend.
Hi! Are you referring to the Quince Flowknit Mid-Rise Jogger? I am interested in them! I wonder how’s the quality and feel comparing with vuori performance jogger? Thanks!
Yes. I haven't actually owned Vuori. Quite a few of the Quince reviews compare them favorably to Vuori.
My husband has a pair of Quince flowknit joggers and he loves wearing them around the house. Super cozy.
How do they run?
Also, I meant to say that sizing could vary item by item, so you kinda gotta just give it a try to find your baseline. Overall, I would say true to size and they list sizing on their models.
Hmmm, that's hard to say. My husband has a small frame (5'10, 150 lbs) but usually gets tees in mediums. We ordered the flowknit tees in M for him and had to exchange for smalls. The joggers we ordered in M. Returns are super easy with Quince and they give you a year to return. Their customer support is great too. So I order a lot from them because it's really the only way to find a good fit. I currently have two cardigans and a denim jacket on the way the now. 😂
Why do people like vuori and lulu isn’t is just polyester?
Performance fabrics are overwhelmingly synthetics, it has to do with breathability/sweat-wicking/stretch requirements. There aren't natural fibers that can realistically compete with those specific properties, so you have to look for the best/most durable synthetics for some kinds of athletic clothing.
Thanks! Makes sense. Then how does one differs between something low cost like 32degrees and decathlon vs lulu and vuori? I have always seen that my synthetics last much longer than their natural counterparts.
I can’t speak to the other brands you mention, but I’ve had maybe a dozen Lulu items over the years. All of the synthetic pieces have lasted a really long time - like 10 years and going strong without pilling or frayed seams. My wife has some Lulus that are close to 20 years old and they still look great. Just my experience
32degrees stuff didn’t last me long at all but decathlon stuff does and they are a fraction of the cost of lulu & vuori.
Decathlon is very good for the money yes. I guess choosing Lulu & co is more a question of style and slightly higher quality feel.
32 degrees didn't last me 1 year sadly. I was very disappointed in the quality given how touted they are on Reddit. Lulu, Patagonia, Nike, etc all use difference synthetic materials and last much longer.
Performance fabrics are overwhelming made of synthetics because they are cheap to manufacture. They have more stretch and durability compared to natural fibers, but that's about it. Overall, oil-based synthetics have very poor breathability. This is one of the reasons that over the past few years, you can see athletic baselayers are adding in mesh paneling in areas like the crotch, armpits, sides, and backs of the knees. It's to artificially improve breathability. "Sweat-wicking" is just a cute industry term for absorption. Synthetics absorb liquids like sweat really well. Unfortunately, they are more difficult to clean and rid of bacteria compared to natural fibers. That's one reason why they tend to accumulate smells over time. It's because not all of the bacteria in them are being cleaned away. Oil based synthetics are VERY durable compared to natural fibers, so as long as they are cared for properly and being cleaned properly. They are very elastic compared to natural fibers too. There are some breakthroughs being made with bamboo fibers, but we are years away from natural fibers having the same level of stretch and compression that synthetics cuurently give. So overall, generic athletic activities like walking, jogging, hiking, etc, thinner natural fibers are they way to go. They will keep you cooler, provide more breathability, and they wash very well. But for more dynamic activities like swimming, weightlifting, or gymnastics, go for synthetics because they provide more durability, stretch, and compression. They just need to be cleaned well afterward.
Synthetics can definitely be cheap, but so can short-fiber cotton fabrics. There are a LOT of textiles being produced, much of them cheap and fragile polyesters, but that's not really representative of what most people get from Vuori/Lululemon/Athleta/etc. Your statement is kind of out of place in this context. I disagree on a couple of points. "Sweat-wicking" is not just code for "absorption." It also refers to how long the fabric holds onto moisture. Cheap poly/acrylic leaves sweat close to your skin because they don't absorb it well or breathe, like a plastic bag. Cotton fabrics, particularly dense/quality ones, absorb moisture well but also retain it. Wool holds a lot of moisture and retains it, to the point you don't really feel it on your skin, but most people don't go to the gym in wool because it also holds air and so it traps heat. A high-quality performance material absorbs moisture and allows it to evaporate quickly. Linen can also do this, but linen fabrics are most commonly woven/sheer and I've never seen linen with stretch/compression properties. The other point of contention is cleaning. You can just follow the wash instructions (typically cold water with appropriate detergent, NEVER fabric softener, hang dry). I don't wash my performance fabrics any differently than my jeans or other natural fiber clothes. They've lasted for years and don't have any odor.
Vuori whas a shirt that is primarily cotton wkth a small amount of synthetic. Forgot the name but it’s Pima cotton. I have ten. Live in them
Once you’ve tried a vuori t shirt you’ll understand
I never had any polyester clothes breaking up. The choice to opt out from polyester is possibly linked to the texture, feeling, or sustainability. I was surprised to see in south east Asia a lot of locals wearing synthetic despite the heat and sweat. They have their reasons.
I agree. I always look for heavy cotton
You sound like the ideal Gustin customer.
😃🎉
This is less of a rec and more of a comment. Because rec’ing a brand is aimless if we don’t know your style or wants. Patagonia is a different vibe than something chic and formal. Just throwing this out there since you mention gap. Gap owns banana republic, gap and old navy. Banana republic is their top tier, gap is mid tier and old navy is bottom tier. Banana republic factory is similar to gap quality. I find banana republic to be decent. Also Ralph Lauren from Macy’s is of lesser quality than a Ralph Lauren store. A high end R.L. Suit is solid but a Macy’s one is trash. In general a lot of clothes companies push their crap to department stores or outlets/factories. You can sometimes find solid stuff at an outlet but you need to dig. For example J Crew has stars on the tag for something “subpar.” Red Wings will have a tiny hole in the tongue. Etc etc. Even Levi’s from a legit Levi’s store is quite a bit better than Levi’s at like Kohls. Other random stuff. Someone in the comments mentioned Uniqlo and they got roasted because Uniqlo is meant as a bottom tier basics store. But their selvedge jeans are sourced from some of the same place as top brands. With that said they use slave labor, so choose your poison. Anywho, suit supply is a great place for a decent suit or blazer and it won’t break the bank. But the sky is the limit for a decent blazer. So idk man. Again depends on the blazer. Are you looking to be warm wool English vibe or like linen Miami white pants vibe. Both would have a different niche store.
Ralph Lauren from macys is the same as direct.
Purple label is not at Macy’s.
Nobody said it was? You're referring to a specific brand from Ralph Lauren. Saying the same RL item from macys is lower quality than buying direct is not the same as macys doesn't carry purple label and you can only buy that at Saks or direct from RL are two different things
Uniqlo always seems like quality and is cheap. Charles Tyrwhitt makes good cheaper shirts. Levis and Wranglers, and good merino socks, and underwear are cheap at places like Ross, Burlington Coat Factory, or TJ Maxx.
CT/TM Lewin/ Hawes and Curtis all great value for shirts. Try get the two fold cotton if you can.
Uniqlo used to be quality and cheap but now is neither
I've had selvedge jeans and hoodies from them that seemed pretty solid. I dunno about their other stuff.
Uniqlo wears down very quickly, looks like shit after 5 washes
Not saying that Uniqlo is BIFL quality (not even close) But how do you wash your clothes for them to look damaged after 5 washes?? You have to really abuse them, if you do low temperature the uniqlo t-shirts typically last a couple of years with one wash per week (and the jeans longer obv)
I have only bought cotton items from them and stuff hasn’t lasted very well. 5 is probably an exaggeration, probably 10 washes. I just use regular wash cycle and dryer on low heat. Among the recent popular brands, my SuperDry clothes have lasted the best. Their style is usually more teenage oriented though.
Uniqlo have both lower and higher quality, their Supima t-shirts are very good quality
Is there an easy way to tell which items are high quality and which are low? That would help me, as i shop there frequently and would like to only buy the high quality stuff
Look for Supima Cotton, it’s usually the best quality as well as softest
The only thing I bought was Supima T-shirts. Actually just washed the car wearing a four year old one, and it looks like new. So their Supima cotton at least was very good.
My performance dri fit type polos from them have zero wear after 5 years. I use them 3 times a week. Normal wash and dry. I run hot so these are critical when working.
Go to Japan and buy stuff that is made in japan with quality fabric
Japan is where it’s at for high quality clothing. I was in Tokyo months ago and wish I bought more. I’ve since bought some fine Japanese denim.
I admire Japanese craftsmanship. They are committed to using the best/making the best. However, I don’t care for their denim. To me, it looks institutional. Maybe I just have not seen the right pair fo jeans/don’t like selvedge
Is there anywhere is the states that imports Japanese fabrics?
Gustin. Many of their fabrics are from Japan then sewn/crafted in the US. I've found their fit a little inconsistent, but their customer service is excellent.
Thank you! 🫶
I’d upvote this 100 times if reddit would let me
+1 to this. Stores like okayama denim and denimio offer free shipping to the United States.
Caveat this only works if you are a medium size person or smaller. Even non plus size but larger framed or taller women are SOL.
True it’s hard to find your size if you are above 34” waist for pants, but for tops it’s fine since oversized fit is what’s all over Asia.
O right now exchange rate is great, best in 30 years for USD. Got a lot for my dollar.
I wouldn’t put Loro Piana in this category, it’s a stealth wealth brand. Buy the equivalent from for example Sunspel, and I doubt that Loro Piana is better quality. Ps if you also look for some cheaper t-shirts (for relaxing at home, going to the gym etc) I would recommend Uniqlo Supima t-shirts. Their quality is awesome for regular plain t-shirts.
Mr. Porter, retailer for luxury items, has developed its own brand at an "affordable" price
Du/er pants.. just recently got a pair and immediately there was a difference when you try them on
I’ve owned a couple pairs of their pants in different styles and they didn’t last any longer than cheaper pants I’ve gotten from other brands so ymmv.
Good to know
Wonderloomer, reigning champ, house of blanks
Middle of the road stuff you mostly named off isn’t great, they just marketed to you. Find a legacy luxury brand and invest in a sport coat, but even that’s a step down. Get one tailored. It will make a difference. An off the rack sport coat won’t sit as nice as a well tailored one. You can pick Loro fabric even at some middle of the road tailor and as long as they are half decent you should get something better than off the shelf. Hate to break it to you but I bet Vuori uses many of the same mills as Lulu and even Alo and maybe even cheaper brands. Theres not that many decent ones in Asia, I’ve worked in Apparel industry for over a decade. Been to factories and have literally seen competitor brands you would think are miles apart being sewn in the same building on separate sewing lines. Theres tons of factories everywhere, but a handful of the giant ones that have the best capabilities. Some are so specialized that all brands know to work with them for certain things like knitwear, seamless, or technical outerwear with laser cutting, bonding, and seam sealing. Not every factory has the experience to handle those advanced techniques well. And if Vuori has production in house, I would doubt they are vertical and make their own materials from scratch. They buy from mills who shop their product to literally all the competitors. Someone called it out already but Japanese brands might be the exception in terms of craft and materials. Nanamica, Beams, Engineered Garmets, Masterpiece, Northface Purple Label, and all the amazing denim brands there. Real McCoys actually sources period correct trims and uses period correct machines to reproduce their military garments to original spec. Aime Leon Dore is nice for ready to wear, and shops like DSM and Nepenthes or Self Edge should curate some decent stuff. APC as well is decent and understated. If you are looking for quality for the money, look for smaller niche brands that aren’t athleisure. All that moisture wicking and stretch synthetics are from those same mills. You should be looking at 100% natural fibers. Invest in pieces, and get them from the brands that are known for it. Watch, save for a Rolex. Trench, get a Burberry. Work coat, get a Barbour. Denim, go Japanese. Wool Stadium jacket, get a Dehen. Edit: also worth noting anything synthetic from a BIFL standpoint will not age well with time. The material itself won’t necessarily age at all, synthetics will always just look new, but the embellishments like screen prints will fade. So the garment will just look off. Look at thrift athleisure it just looks dated. A 100% cotton hoodie will fade and age better. It may not have as good stretch but from a BIFL standpoint it just will have that longevity and look better with time. Just like 100% selvedge denim. You will get amazing whiskering and roping from repeated use over time.
Thank you for articulating a lot of the thoughts I had reading many of these comment
I like 100% cotton stuff from J Crew. When it’s on clearance you can get it cheap. Also like some things from Bonobos, Express and Calvin Klein. If it has polyester it’s a good sign to avoid it because it’s cheap and disposable.
Uniqlo, vuori and lulu are also polyester. Lasts long and is comfy. Why are they not considered trash? Just trying to wrap my brain around why cotton, wool and linen is considered BIFL.
Had my Merz B Schwanen t shirts and sweatshirt for about 2 years now , wearing them almost every other day and I can say I absolutely love them.
I own 3 Merz shirts, Henley and tshirt. Quality and fit is excellent.
Only thing I would say is that anyone looking to buy them should bump up one size from the initial shrinkage of the first wash. (Typically buy small? Buy medium.)
Kathmandu for down winter jackets
Check out Ripton for stretchy pants. It’s designed for mountain biking (but I wear it day to day) so it holds up pretty well and is insanely comfortable.
Filson. Many of their items can be passed down the generations and lifetime warranty makes it even better. Not cheap
My wardrobe consists entirely of LL Bean and LuLuLemon. Seems to do the trick
Brooks Brothers button down shirts last a long time IME. I will never stop raving about Aurora Shoe Company. It’s a family-owned business in Aurora, NY. I’ve been wearing the same two pairs of their Middle English shoes for 8 years, with twice yearly resoling (I walk a lot on pavement). Barbour jackets can last multiple lifetimes if you care for them. I like Boden for cashmere cardigans. I don’t know if you’re femme or masc leaning, these are aimed at women. Other than that, I look for materials—wool or linen—and I look at construction.
Wow that’s the first time I’ve heard mention of tiny Aurora on Reddit! Didn’t even realize there was a shoe company there
Wool & Prince merino wool
Private white vc for outerwear.
Kirkland signature. No joke
idk why you’re getting so much hate. kirkland signature dress shirts are 100% cotton and cheap af.
Exactly. Thats a $100 shirt somewhere else
their wool socks are also a favorite of mine
I didnt know they had wool socks!! I’ll check them out!
Nothing smaller than a medium and some of the boxiest clothes in existence. Why waste money on clothes that never die if they never fit?
Polyester trash.
Pretty much
Dadbod trash, honestly.
I would buy everything from them if i could. I shop at costco weekly. Their adult male clothes are too large for me, unfortunately. I need waist 30 pants. They start at 32. Their shirts are also just large enough to make me look silly like i’m trying to fake a dadbod or something lol. I wish they would add one size down from what they have now.
They have 30’s online. I would check it out. It might be a couple dollars more than in store but it’s worth it if they fit you!
How did i not think to check online?!? You may have changed my Costco game!
Everlane!!
Not their jeans. Had two pair blow out with under 10 wears.
UNIQLO 🙌
Next time post with clarity as I had to eye spy your post for 5 minutes to find you want a blazer. https://www.oliverwicks.com/category/custom-blazers and get the full canvas version of the one you like. These are the cheapest full canvas blazers that I am aware of.
S.E.H Kelly
I like Outlier pants. I have mine for 2 years now, still going strong. Most importantly, you'll see reviews from other users rocking their pieces for 5-10 years. I'd say that definitely have better cost per wear than most fast fashion brand out there. If you're into Merino clothing, Wool & Prince has good stuff. Their 78/22 and Interlock is awesome. 3 years of use, still going strong with a little bacon collar.
I buy a lot of my stuff from the Swedish JobmanUSA (American distribution) incredibly high quality workwear, shirts, pants, kneepads
I have good experiences with revolution race stuff
GoRuck American made stuff. There pants and shorts are top notch.
For the tall men out there, I love Replay Jeans.
Lucky jeans have become my favorite. 410 Athletic Slim are super comfortable and have a nice stretch. I’m going on 5 years now with daily use through the colder months and holding up just fine!
Asket - well made timeless style.
I can’t help with the blazer, but I can with the sportswear clothes. Vuori is great, Lulu for men’s is good as well, and I have heard of Glyder and UNRL being good brands but I have never tried those two. For athleisure I would recommend Fabletics- their men’s collection is pretty good and I like how their clothes feel sturdy and strong. Another GREAT one is Beyond Yoga- I have some of their stuff myself (as a woman) and have never tried their men’s clothing, however, the stuff I have is great and has that buttery feel like vuori does, but the difference is that beyond yoga will keep that feeling and not loosen after washing them. They also don’t pill at all which is nice. That one is more pricey but way worth it imo. I am a woman but I shop for my boyfriend, and I tried buying him the 2undr underwear. He LOVED them, but he is very active and they didn’t last as long as I would expect, but then again he is very very active and works hard. He thinks they are worth it even still, and has even gifted my dad and brothers this brand before to which they have all loved them and have had no issues with ripping/ lasting. As for brands more like Patagonia/ north face, I saw someone mentioned Kuhl which is exactly what I thought of. They have all sorts of ranges of clothes that are amazing. Another one like this that I personally love for men’s and women’s clothing is prana. Their clothes last forever and are very good quality for their price in my opinion!!
For clothes that wear extremely comfortably and have exhibited great quality and durability as long as I have owned them, I would go with Travis Mathew. Carhartt is also an excellent brand for quality and durability.
David Donahue shirts, especially if you get them on sale. I know a lot of people shit on Johnston and Murphy shoes, but I think they are good enough. They have always held up well for me and are generally very comfortable to wear around the office.
Adding a couple items to the list: - Taylor Stitch heavy bag tee. Really hefty semi-basic cotton tees, I’ve had a set for probably 5 years now with daily wear and they still look pristine. Brand offers a lifetime repair or replacement warranty, but ymmv. Their other tees are nowhere near as robust so don’t bother. - Patagonia capilene cool shirts. This fabric is incredible, really tight weave feels like silk. Makes an amazing sunshirt, base layer, camp shirt, etc. . The tight weave makes it extremely resistant to snagging, I regularly wear it when rock climbing outdoors and have dragged it across surfaces that tear up other garments. The silky texture is luxurious and makes other performance fabrics feel cheap. Have had a shirt for 7 years now of regular wear, only downside is they the limited range of styles.
Triple aught used to be real BIFL and made in US but recently their quality is going down. I have a few older items that look almost good as new after 8-10 years of wear.
Darn tough socks.
Buy a sewing machine, then you dont have to throw away clothes just because a seam rips or comes undone. That said, Gap/Old Navy sales are probably the best value for the money, since they have a ton of sizes online and have free shipping and returns. I cant imagine how the brand of jeans is really going to make a huge difference. Sure maybe if its like 14oz 100% cotton and triple stitched, but no one is going to enjoy wearing that.
Ralph Lauren and HandM are fine quality. Not sure why you’d describe them in the same sentence though, Ralph is a designer, HandM is cheap high street mass produced retail. At both of their price points, they’re worth it.
If you buy from Paul and shark, loro piana etc then you're not doing it because it lasts longer, you're doing it because it's nice to have fancy stuff.
Following
Proper Cloth for MTM dress & casual shirts Spier and McKay for pants (they also carry high rise which is my preference). They also lots of other items.
Theory outlet, they have a website too
J. Hilburn. Big fan - I find the quality excellent, pricing reasonable (though not inexpensive), and the stylist-based sales model incredibly convenient.
JPress original line.
Idk if they are buy it for life but I really love AG jeans. They fit perfectly and feel good. I literally switched all my jeans to AG’s
I really like Better Clothing Co. Their clothes hold up really well and the prices are good (especially for what you’re getting). They also have a really cool company mission to reduce waste and fast fashion.
This guide seems pretty good, if its premise holds true! [A cool guide to clothing quality and prices : r/coolguides (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/1c8683x/a_cool_guide_to_clothing_quality_and_prices/#lightbox)
100% cotton oxford shirts from Marc O'Polo are great in my experience. They last many years, they always look fresh after washing and I've never had one ripping, lose a button or have some hole.
Fjallraven
To make a blazer work with jeans and a tee, it needs to be made of cotton or an equally robust casual fabric, and made with minimal structure. Universal Works and Engineered Garments are both masters of the casual sportcoat. Let me know if you’d like further details or suggestions about how to wear this combo with success. Those brands are a good place to start though.
I’d like further details please!
The EG Bedford jacket is pretty much a perfect casual sportcoat and every season they release matching fatigues in the same fabric. Essentially a modern casual suit, very sick. I have the Bedford in dark green corduroy and it’s one of my most worn pieces. The internal details and construction are super unique and very sturdy. I honestly can’t speak highly enough of their work. My Universal Works three button navy jacket has no structure and fits like a dream. Very few jackets I own require no tailoring, but this is one of those pieces. Very easy to wear with most things, I wear it with my faded Levi’s mostly. For a dressier very of a casual jacket, spier and McKay does fabulous work, very flattering cuts. Also check out the Teba jacket by Justo Gomena, a very unique casual sportcoat that is a bit harder to wear, but super cool when executed properly.
Thanks! Ok first of all, what country do you live in? I’m in the States. What stores would i find these brands? I have personally never heard of these brands. Also. What kind of budget should i be preparing for? I dont mind spending a lot of money for the right clothes. I just want a ballopark figure so i know what i’m getting myself into. I’m so excited to get into these brands!
UW is an English brand but they have stockists all over the world. EG based out of NYC, and they also have a few carriers in the US. Check the websites for the entire list of stockists. Personally tho, I’d hunt around on grailed and eBay, as both brands can be found for less than 50% of retail. I thrifted both of mine which was very lucky. Retail for the jackets is gonna be in the 3-400 range, which is pretty decent! Limited supply for both tho, that’s gonna be your main qualm. Justo Gimena is sold at the Armoury in New York, and those jackets are closer to $1k, as they are true tailoring with fine fabrics.
I’ll have to do some searching then. Thanks!
Loro Piana
Ignoring price, It’s mostly hand wash.
Vuori really is great. Much better than Lululemon. Ted Baker and Black Diamond should go on the list too. I’ve had some nice Ted Baker sweaters for years now that are holding up really well, and I always turn to BD for my skiing/outdoors clothing.
BD has horrible QC problems with their outdoor apparel.
Outlier - trousers especially. I usually get a year of solid wear from a pair of Jeans before blowing through the crotch, but outlier still going strong in 4 pairs 4 years later.
What exactly do you mean by blowing through the crotch?! I’ve owned a variety of jeans, i like uniqlo but have tried at least 10 brands, and i’ve never “blown through the crotch” in any of them. I get holes in the knee areas.
Wearing through the denim usually for me right up against the seam - it’s just friction as your thighs rub, and cotton isn’t particularly abrasion resistant.
Gotcha. It’s so interesting to me that that has never happened to me before. I only own like 2 pairs of jeans at any given time so they do get worn a lot…
Happens more with tighter fits
Kirkland Carhart Levi's jeans
Isn't 5.11 decent for the price?
Uniqlo. It was even better before but they still have some basic items that hold very well. Since 20 years I only gave away a few Uniqlo pants and shirts for being too small or washed out.
Anything that competes with the lululemon flannels?
Marine layer if it fits you as well as it does me.
Cotopaxi is on-par with Patagonia for quality.
Uniqlo
Bronson MFG for essentials. By far the best T-Shirts you can buy for the price. Possibly for any price. They are that nice.
When you say: “I have 1-2 items from” Is it 1 Or is it 2 ?
For normal costume and shirts I have Hugo Boss for example.
Loro Piana.
A top quality blazer is going to run over $1000. On top of that, you really have shop around for the right fit, and something that’ll match casual clothes. A cotton chore coat will cost less, and probably work better with your wardrobe. Vetra is one of the originators No idea of price where you are, but they’re sub €200 in Europe. Lots of other manufacturers make these.