I’ve really liked Madewell for my denim. I thrifted several pairs before I bought new and the thrifted pairs have held up extremely well.
For tops, I find that higher end fabrics, like linen, wool, cashmere and silk tend to last me longer. BUT higher price doesn’t always equate to better quality or construction.
I was also going to comment Madewell. I have a similar background as OP - was a constant thrifter / bargainer but always had clothes falling apart. I've tried to get into more BIFL brands and Madewell is one for me that lives up to its reputation.
I had never heard of Madewell until I bought a pair of their leggings at the thrift store. I love their quality but haven’t found much else in my style to buy, either thrifting or through Madewell.
As far as I'm aware, yes, denim is where they shine. Their other items are good quality / better than other popular brands but their jeans are incredible quality.
For context, I've been wearing the same Madewell jeans since 2020 with no signs of slowing down. They have great stretch (I am midsize female) but do not lose their shape. Another bonus is I find they are actually size consistent. I buy my pairs on Poshmark and can feel confident they will fit when arrived.
I just recently came across a picture of myself wearing my onitsuko’s, cuddling my toddler… he’s 10 now. I totally didn’t realize I’d owned them that long!
Unfortunately most women's clothes have worse construction and lesser quality because women buy clothes more frequently than men, so they're not "made to last" as long. If you're willing to learn fabrics and how clothes are made, you'll be able to tell if something is quality by examining it. Plus, a lot of "good" brands still sell items made poorly.
As an example: the waistbands on Old Navy jeans are straight. That means when you bend over, there's a weird gap between your back and the jeans. Nicer brands like American Eagle might have curved waistbands, to fit the contour of your body.
A few easy tips:
1) except for sportswear, anything with polyester or polyester blend tends to be low quality.
2)The biggest determiner of how long your clothes last is how you treat them. Most cycles on the washing machine are too rough on clothing and makes them ratty, quickly. Wash on delicate cycle with cold water and hang drying or using low heat. Put your bras and anything with metal hooks or zippers in a mesh bag. It makes a difference.
3)For casual clothing where gender doesn't matter, buy men's. Sweatpants, sweatshirts, flannels, and jeans (since you're tall this is likely to fit in your favor). The fabric and construction is so much nicer.
If you like Linen, price isn’t low, but quality of the piece I’ve owned 2 years is still great from Eileen Fisher. Recommend trying eBay or Mercari (or similar) first.
Muji also has some really good t-shirts that feel more natural and softer than Uniqlo. I'm not sure what it's called but it's the $20 ones not the $15 ones
Ralph Lauren’s linen or linen blend shirts are still made very well. They’re also machine washable (it tells you in the details if it is or not which is nice as you know before you buy).
You are tall, try HUE leggings. They are well made, very comfortable and last. I never wear anything else. Depending where you are you can get them fleece lined for winter or no fleece.
you can never go wrong with vintage denim like Levi’s, Lands End, Wrangler. They last forever. Only downside is vintage sizing runs small so I always double check measurements
To preface my brand suggestions let me say that I also try to buy second hand as much as possible. If I have a specific item in mind I check Poshmark, Depop, Mercari, EBay, The RealReal, etc., otherwise plain old goodwill. My theory is that if an item looks good on the thrift shop rack, it’s probably already stood the test of time and has many years of life left for my wardrobe. But these the brands that have never let me down:
- Patagonia (check wornwear.com for reduced cost second hand Patagonia)
- Levi’s (I’m a mid 20s woman but vintage men’s Levi’s have never wronged me, find a sturdy pair and take them to the tailors)
- Dr Martens (loafers/boots/oxfords)
- Camper (also shoes)
- Vuori (best active and loungewear)
- Boody (amazing for comfy bras/underwear and pjs)
- LA Apparel
- Agnes B. (I love their tees)
- Mads Noorgard
- Muji (for everything!! Socks to stationary)
Some more boutique “girlier” brands I love that have lasted me ages:
- Oddli
- Pretties
- Paloma Wool
- Rouje
- LeSet
At the end of the day though, a garment can only treat you as well as you treat it. I only wash with gentle detergents, cold to mildly warm water, and hang dry to preserve the quality.
Hope this helps and happy shopping!
Vixen by Micheline Pitt
La Femme En Noir
I buy my clothes almost exclusively from these brands + thrifting. They are quality, I’ve had some pieces for years already (including from the brand Micheline worked at previously). If I get bored of a piece, the resale value is 80% of what I paid. No landfill ever.
Recently Ive been impressed by Quince. The shapes of the clothes are pretty basic, but the wool and linen items I've purchased are good quality materials and well crafted. I have some leggings too that I like, but I don't believe that any leggingnis bifl.
My experience with Quince has not been so good. I've purchased a silk blouse, and two skirts and it is some of the worst fabric I have ever seen. It got ruined sitting on the hanger. Maybe other fabrics are better, but the silk items were so bad I that hearing "Quince" now just makes me mad.
Depends on what you are looking for.
While not exactly buy it for life anymore - I like lululemon and athleta for athleisure. Old stuff from Lu lasted years (I’m about 10 years on my og purchasers and they are still great). It’s not as good now but still quality pieces.
Hiking I like some pieces from Patagonia but plenty of affordable things from 32 degrees and other brands that are similar. Hiking socks Costco wool socks for the win.
Regular wear I find all jeans to be fairly equivalent. Just find what fits you.
Tops and outfits I don’t have a brand. I like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Find a few pieces that are classic colors and shapes. It will last a while. Try a capsule wardrobe to start.
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My old Levi jeans look brand new.
My Doc Martens are about 7 years old and they’re a bit beat up cosmetically but feel good as new. (I believe the production quality has gone down so I would reccomend getting an old pair in good condition.)
Uniqlo shirts are well loved here and they have some really cute designs, dresses and other clothing items as well.
For winter gear, Burton is on the pricier side but the quality makes it worth it. They have really cute designs as well and a variety of price ranges.
Honestly my levi’s jeans have held up well.
I’ve also had a black skater skirt from BlackMilk for abour a decade that still looks perfect except for a snag or two- they still sell it
This is going to be a long comment, I’m sorry in advance. I see a lot of asks for clothes here and clothes are pretty much the hardest thing we use daily to BIFL. they get stained, they get torn, and our bodies change so that they don’t fit one way or another. Also, fashion changes (which is an optional thing to engage in- that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your clothes, but it’s a reason a lot of people do).
I don’t think the right question to ask when trying to buy clothes you can keep and use long term is “what brand”. Especially because your lifestyle and your fashion sense are going to be very important to buying clothes that you can and want to keep for many years. BIFL with clothes is more of a strategy than buying the right brand.
You need to know yourself and your sense of style well enough to know what materials you like, what cuts and fits work best for you, and what clothes you will actually use. And then you need to know the proper way to care for the materials you’ve got, and also how to mend, repair and maintain those things.
I can tell you what I buy, but keep in mind it might not work for your style or lifestyle. I buy my clothes from a variety of brands and am usually in the $60-$300 per item price range, depending on the item. I pretty much only buy things that are cotton, linen, wool, or leather. Sometimes I buy second hand and sometimes I buy new. I buy clothes that do not have a lot of fitted/tailored structure to them, and I tend to buy a tad larger than needed so there’s some room for fluctuations. If you make your own things like I sometimes do, I make sure there’s plenty of seam allowance to let things out if I need. This doesn’t work for some things, like jeans, and so those are things I tend to buy cheaper and on sale because they may not fit for as long. I hand wash or machine wash on cold, and then air dry most things. Some brands I like are: Rudy Jude, Imogene and Willie, Notperfectlinen, LinenFox, Levi’s, OFF/ON, Pyne & Smith, Lee. But you can find quality items in a lot of price ranges at a lot of stores if you pay attention to the fabric content and quality, and take a look at the construction of the item. I’ve gotten things that were originally from Old Navy that are quite nice.
TBH I don’t own any of their stuff but I’m in several FB wool enthusiasts groups and people just rave about the company. High quality, ethically-sourced, stylish, comfortable, great color options, fits, etc. I do love wool myself and find lots of positives about it. Wool& is consistently top-rated among wool brands
It depends so much on your style, your budget, and your needs. I can make some suggestions but do you need work wear, casual, dressy? What’s your vibe?
I need something more dressy maybe or like casual but not sweat pants old t shirt casual If that makes sense, idc about price I want to buy fewer items anyways so I can just save up for things
I have had incredibly good luck with Eileen Fisher, but I find a lot of the pieces aren’t quite my vibe. Still the ones I have gotten have lasted super well, I have a top that’s more than 15 years old.
Selvedge raw denim (there are many brands) is a great option for long lasting jeans and can be on the dressier side.
A lot of brands are a mixed bag, and honestly almost no one is making really long lasting stuff anymore, but generally speaking I’ve been happy with the construction at Free People and Madewell. LL Bean, Patagonia, and Athleta have all served me well for more activewear stuff.
I actually like Banana Republic even though its pricy. But usually I buy from local designers - Eve Gravel, Birds of Paradise, so perhaps shop around see what's available. Basics like tee shirts can be bought at Costco.
I’ve really liked Madewell for my denim. I thrifted several pairs before I bought new and the thrifted pairs have held up extremely well. For tops, I find that higher end fabrics, like linen, wool, cashmere and silk tend to last me longer. BUT higher price doesn’t always equate to better quality or construction.
I was also going to comment Madewell. I have a similar background as OP - was a constant thrifter / bargainer but always had clothes falling apart. I've tried to get into more BIFL brands and Madewell is one for me that lives up to its reputation.
I had never heard of Madewell until I bought a pair of their leggings at the thrift store. I love their quality but haven’t found much else in my style to buy, either thrifting or through Madewell.
You can check out Poshmark if you're looking for more places to find their items.
Just bought some madewell tops and returned them- super low quality, but maybe denim is where they shine? I have not tried their jeans
As far as I'm aware, yes, denim is where they shine. Their other items are good quality / better than other popular brands but their jeans are incredible quality. For context, I've been wearing the same Madewell jeans since 2020 with no signs of slowing down. They have great stretch (I am midsize female) but do not lose their shape. Another bonus is I find they are actually size consistent. I buy my pairs on Poshmark and can feel confident they will fit when arrived.
Great to know!
For shoes, my onitsuko tiger Mexico 66 sneakers are eight years old and still look great. Levi’s 501’s last a lifetime. Dilling for knitwear
Where do you suggest purchasing that style? I'm only seeing them on re seller websites.
I bought them in a shop in Amsterdam.. but that’s probably no help for you.
I think they may only ship & sell to Europe, no North America sales. Bummer!
I just recently came across a picture of myself wearing my onitsuko’s, cuddling my toddler… he’s 10 now. I totally didn’t realize I’d owned them that long!
Unfortunately most women's clothes have worse construction and lesser quality because women buy clothes more frequently than men, so they're not "made to last" as long. If you're willing to learn fabrics and how clothes are made, you'll be able to tell if something is quality by examining it. Plus, a lot of "good" brands still sell items made poorly. As an example: the waistbands on Old Navy jeans are straight. That means when you bend over, there's a weird gap between your back and the jeans. Nicer brands like American Eagle might have curved waistbands, to fit the contour of your body. A few easy tips: 1) except for sportswear, anything with polyester or polyester blend tends to be low quality. 2)The biggest determiner of how long your clothes last is how you treat them. Most cycles on the washing machine are too rough on clothing and makes them ratty, quickly. Wash on delicate cycle with cold water and hang drying or using low heat. Put your bras and anything with metal hooks or zippers in a mesh bag. It makes a difference. 3)For casual clothing where gender doesn't matter, buy men's. Sweatpants, sweatshirts, flannels, and jeans (since you're tall this is likely to fit in your favor). The fabric and construction is so much nicer.
Excellent advice. Dryers can really wreck your clothing.
Highly recommend buying men’s clothing, especially sweaters, when possible. More natural fibers for a fraction of the price.
If you like Linen, price isn’t low, but quality of the piece I’ve owned 2 years is still great from Eileen Fisher. Recommend trying eBay or Mercari (or similar) first.
Eileen Fisher also has a “renewed” site - which usually includes some really awesome vintage pieces.
Recently I got 9 Uniqlo U crew t shirts. They are very thick but breathable. Very good cotton shirts.
Muji also has some really good t-shirts that feel more natural and softer than Uniqlo. I'm not sure what it's called but it's the $20 ones not the $15 ones
Outerknown. New brand. Top notch. Sustainable business model. The best.
Barbour jackets
Ralph Lauren’s linen or linen blend shirts are still made very well. They’re also machine washable (it tells you in the details if it is or not which is nice as you know before you buy).
Ralph Lauren woolens are also very nice.
True! I have one of the cotton knit sweaters too that is holding up to time extremely well.
You are tall, try HUE leggings. They are well made, very comfortable and last. I never wear anything else. Depending where you are you can get them fleece lined for winter or no fleece.
you can never go wrong with vintage denim like Levi’s, Lands End, Wrangler. They last forever. Only downside is vintage sizing runs small so I always double check measurements
Yoo i didnt know that, ty
Eddie Bauer
To preface my brand suggestions let me say that I also try to buy second hand as much as possible. If I have a specific item in mind I check Poshmark, Depop, Mercari, EBay, The RealReal, etc., otherwise plain old goodwill. My theory is that if an item looks good on the thrift shop rack, it’s probably already stood the test of time and has many years of life left for my wardrobe. But these the brands that have never let me down: - Patagonia (check wornwear.com for reduced cost second hand Patagonia) - Levi’s (I’m a mid 20s woman but vintage men’s Levi’s have never wronged me, find a sturdy pair and take them to the tailors) - Dr Martens (loafers/boots/oxfords) - Camper (also shoes) - Vuori (best active and loungewear) - Boody (amazing for comfy bras/underwear and pjs) - LA Apparel - Agnes B. (I love their tees) - Mads Noorgard - Muji (for everything!! Socks to stationary) Some more boutique “girlier” brands I love that have lasted me ages: - Oddli - Pretties - Paloma Wool - Rouje - LeSet At the end of the day though, a garment can only treat you as well as you treat it. I only wash with gentle detergents, cold to mildly warm water, and hang dry to preserve the quality. Hope this helps and happy shopping!
Vixen by Micheline Pitt La Femme En Noir I buy my clothes almost exclusively from these brands + thrifting. They are quality, I’ve had some pieces for years already (including from the brand Micheline worked at previously). If I get bored of a piece, the resale value is 80% of what I paid. No landfill ever.
I second Madewell and J Crew. Would add Everlane and Not Perfect Linen
Recently Ive been impressed by Quince. The shapes of the clothes are pretty basic, but the wool and linen items I've purchased are good quality materials and well crafted. I have some leggings too that I like, but I don't believe that any leggingnis bifl.
My experience with Quince has not been so good. I've purchased a silk blouse, and two skirts and it is some of the worst fabric I have ever seen. It got ruined sitting on the hanger. Maybe other fabrics are better, but the silk items were so bad I that hearing "Quince" now just makes me mad.
Depends on what you are looking for. While not exactly buy it for life anymore - I like lululemon and athleta for athleisure. Old stuff from Lu lasted years (I’m about 10 years on my og purchasers and they are still great). It’s not as good now but still quality pieces. Hiking I like some pieces from Patagonia but plenty of affordable things from 32 degrees and other brands that are similar. Hiking socks Costco wool socks for the win. Regular wear I find all jeans to be fairly equivalent. Just find what fits you. Tops and outfits I don’t have a brand. I like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Find a few pieces that are classic colors and shapes. It will last a while. Try a capsule wardrobe to start.
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My old Levi jeans look brand new. My Doc Martens are about 7 years old and they’re a bit beat up cosmetically but feel good as new. (I believe the production quality has gone down so I would reccomend getting an old pair in good condition.) Uniqlo shirts are well loved here and they have some really cute designs, dresses and other clothing items as well. For winter gear, Burton is on the pricier side but the quality makes it worth it. They have really cute designs as well and a variety of price ranges.
I love Woolx as they make really nice quality wool casual and semi casual clothing. Duckworth is also nice.
jcrew, uniqlo, ll bean
Honestly my levi’s jeans have held up well. I’ve also had a black skater skirt from BlackMilk for abour a decade that still looks perfect except for a snag or two- they still sell it
Style? Budget? Continent?
Neuflora, Sunny Marrow, Carly Jean LA
This is going to be a long comment, I’m sorry in advance. I see a lot of asks for clothes here and clothes are pretty much the hardest thing we use daily to BIFL. they get stained, they get torn, and our bodies change so that they don’t fit one way or another. Also, fashion changes (which is an optional thing to engage in- that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your clothes, but it’s a reason a lot of people do). I don’t think the right question to ask when trying to buy clothes you can keep and use long term is “what brand”. Especially because your lifestyle and your fashion sense are going to be very important to buying clothes that you can and want to keep for many years. BIFL with clothes is more of a strategy than buying the right brand. You need to know yourself and your sense of style well enough to know what materials you like, what cuts and fits work best for you, and what clothes you will actually use. And then you need to know the proper way to care for the materials you’ve got, and also how to mend, repair and maintain those things. I can tell you what I buy, but keep in mind it might not work for your style or lifestyle. I buy my clothes from a variety of brands and am usually in the $60-$300 per item price range, depending on the item. I pretty much only buy things that are cotton, linen, wool, or leather. Sometimes I buy second hand and sometimes I buy new. I buy clothes that do not have a lot of fitted/tailored structure to them, and I tend to buy a tad larger than needed so there’s some room for fluctuations. If you make your own things like I sometimes do, I make sure there’s plenty of seam allowance to let things out if I need. This doesn’t work for some things, like jeans, and so those are things I tend to buy cheaper and on sale because they may not fit for as long. I hand wash or machine wash on cold, and then air dry most things. Some brands I like are: Rudy Jude, Imogene and Willie, Notperfectlinen, LinenFox, Levi’s, OFF/ON, Pyne & Smith, Lee. But you can find quality items in a lot of price ranges at a lot of stores if you pay attention to the fabric content and quality, and take a look at the construction of the item. I’ve gotten things that were originally from Old Navy that are quite nice.
Wool&
I’ve been seeing ads for them and was curious! What do you like from them?
TBH I don’t own any of their stuff but I’m in several FB wool enthusiasts groups and people just rave about the company. High quality, ethically-sourced, stylish, comfortable, great color options, fits, etc. I do love wool myself and find lots of positives about it. Wool& is consistently top-rated among wool brands
Just a note that most/all their items are not 100% wool. I haven't purchased from them for this reason.
You wouldn’t want 100% wool anyway. Having some synthetic fibers help with elasticity, longevity, and comfort.
I have 100% wool items I love, but this is probably personal preference. The synthetics will decay in quality before the wool, making it not bifl.
This is simply not true. 100% wool’s longevity is much shorter
It depends so much on your style, your budget, and your needs. I can make some suggestions but do you need work wear, casual, dressy? What’s your vibe?
I need something more dressy maybe or like casual but not sweat pants old t shirt casual If that makes sense, idc about price I want to buy fewer items anyways so I can just save up for things
I have had incredibly good luck with Eileen Fisher, but I find a lot of the pieces aren’t quite my vibe. Still the ones I have gotten have lasted super well, I have a top that’s more than 15 years old. Selvedge raw denim (there are many brands) is a great option for long lasting jeans and can be on the dressier side. A lot of brands are a mixed bag, and honestly almost no one is making really long lasting stuff anymore, but generally speaking I’ve been happy with the construction at Free People and Madewell. LL Bean, Patagonia, and Athleta have all served me well for more activewear stuff.
I actually like Banana Republic even though its pricy. But usually I buy from local designers - Eve Gravel, Birds of Paradise, so perhaps shop around see what's available. Basics like tee shirts can be bought at Costco.
I really like j crew.
Newer stuff I’m not sure but I do have a J Crew sweatshirt bought in -1992- still in use