Labels Worth Your $.

[Thefrenchy]

I usually look at it two ways depending on the brand positioning: is it worth the money because it's special from a design point of view and I feel like I can't get it anywhere else? is it worth the money because it's reliable and will be an easy staple in my closet?

Top of my list: Dries van Noten has a very honest price-to-quality ratio for me. I've been buying Dries for years and never felt like I had been ripped off.

A bit higher up but always feeling like it's worth my money is Loewe. I've quite a few pieces from them (mostly runway outerwear) and the quality is outstanding. Same goes for Bottega (at least the old Bottega, because I didn't buy anything from Blazy apart from intreciatto boots from his Fall 22 show). I collected a lot (too many) of Daniel Lee's pieces and I've never ever been disappointed.

Finally, totally different segment but equally happy about them are ERL and Carhartt.

 

[visvim2001]

AMI is good though.
It’s not the most creative brand but I think the product is honest. Well made decently priced. And I’m talking about the serious stuff, not the merch.


And I would N21 because it’s actually good. It’s not extraordinary but it’s honest.

Agree, AMI used to be fairly priced for Made in Portugal stuff, especially when on sale. But they’ve hiked prices again.

The same with Polo RL, the non outlet stuff. Their chinos are still quite good, you used to be able to get them for under a 100 usd.

As you move into true luxury prices, I don’t think any of the big fashion houses really cut it anymore. You’re better off looking at Pringle of Scotland or Purdey for quality cashmere, for example.

 

[Lola701]

Agree, AMI used to be fairly priced for Made in Portugal stuff, especially when on sale. But they’ve hiked prices again.

I started to buy when they started womenswear obviously and I think the quality is really good for contemporary. Great tailoring: pants, blazers, coats and jumpsuits.

However, as the brand is expanding (and it’s also more present in menswear), they have changed part of their production.

It seems like they are producing the runway collection in Portugal and Moldavia and the other part in China and Tunisia.
The product quality has not suffered but it also explain their current issue with more fakes around.

But AMI on sales or retail is solid I think.

The same with Polo RL, the non outlet stuff. Their chinos are still quite good, you used to be able to get them for under a 100 usd.

But RL is one of those brands that produces stuff for outlets no? So if you want some sort of real deal, it’s always better to go to the flagship store even on sales…

 

[yslforever]

I usually look at it two ways depending on the brand positioning: is it worth the money because it's special from a design point of view and I feel like I can't get it anywhere else? is it worth the money because it's reliable and will be an easy staple in my closet?

Top of my list: Dries van Noten has a very honest price-to-quality ratio for me. I've been buying Dries for years and never felt like I had been ripped off.

A bit higher up but always feeling like it's worth my money is Loewe. I've quite a few pieces from them (mostly runway outerwear) and the quality is outstanding. Same goes for Bottega (at least the old Bottega, because I didn't buy anything from Blazy apart from intreciatto boots from his Fall 22 show). I collected a lot (too many) of Daniel Lee's pieces and I've never ever been disappointed.

Finally, totally different segment but equally happy about them are ERL and Carhartt.

yes, Dries has been consistent with his honest pricing and the quality, which never claimed to be over the top but is always passing quality-control imho, never had to return any thing.
I would have added all the Lanvin from Albert and Lucas era.

 

[donyan]

It’s not extraordinary but it’s honest.

I think that’s the keyword in all of this discussion about prices and luxury. I’ve long been over the idea that the more expensive something is the more it will elevate my social status. I used to be so obsessed with brands and fashion, but lately seeing people wearing certain hyped and logo’ed clothes makes me pity them more than anything, and I know a lot of people who have the same reaction. I’m not sure if this was the desired result of the endless price hikes, in the end it has given the whole luxury industry a bad name.

 

[GoldenPetals]

I think that’s the keyword in all of this discussion about prices and luxury. I’ve long been over the idea that the more expensive something is the more it will elevate my social status. I used to be so obsessed with brands and fashion, but lately seeing people wearing certain hyped and logo’ed clothes makes me pity them more than anything, and I know a lot of people who have the same reaction. I’m not sure if this was the desired result of the endless price hikes, in the end it has given the whole luxury industry a bad name.

The entire industry is propped up by people's socioeconomic insecurities. Without that, it would all fall apart in seconds. And it takes real growth to peek behind the curtain and stop (literally) buying into it. And you can't help but cringe when you see people who still haven't outgrown it.

The saddest thing is it's all we've got. Creativity deserved better than this.

 

[donyan]

The saddest thing is it's all we've got. Creativity deserved better than this.

so true! In spite of all of this I still obsess about fashion and clothes, I’m just not that interested in most brands anymore, and going onto Lyst in search of something to buy is just plainly depressing. Seeing hundreds of pieces from brands that I used to love on sale everywhere is extremely off-putting because it feels like they’re worth nothing. Also, why should I buy anything at its normal price knowing that it’s all going to be available at reduced prices anyway? Once it’s on sale it’s lost most of its desirability for me and I end up buying nothing apart from those I mentioned earlier.

 

[vetements]

I believe there are certain "generic" brands that arent most high end, say Herno/ Moorer/ PT Torino that offer pretty high quality yet not breaking your bank accounts. Those are my default goto brands these days. Design elements or trends are subtle which means they last longer in the wardrobe. I wouldnt buy a coat from say Pull and bear or Zara or even Uniqlo though. The material and construction just wont make it, and I love my things to last.

I may like a certain miumiu jacket, but I find it hard to justify paying $8000 for something that is not made of leather or cashmere. The other question I ask myself is, will I still like as much if the logo isnt there? The price used to be ok but the last decade it has gone out of hand, It is true that sometimes we are just so blinded by all these fancy images in social media that is called Marketing.

 

[HigthaVandah]

I’ll chime in completely left field & unrelated to fashion to say I have spent more money than I’m willing to admit on fragrances; there’s something so sacred & personal to me when it comes to scents.

There's discussion in the online fragrance enthusiast community about whether the recent trend for smaller sillage and fragrances that wear off by the end of the day is a parallel to the decreased quality of luxury clothing. I actively prefer those lighter fragrances but there does seem to be some shrinkflation happening in terms of fragrance oils.

 

[Diggi]

Only know about menswear: For nice basics I like Comme des Garçons Shirt Forever or Black, Filippa K, No Nationality NN07, Closed, James Perse and Sunspel. Our Legacy and Sandro is okay too, if it's not branded.
A bit more special (and made in Germany with really nice fabrics) is A Kind of Guise. UJOH from Japan is really well-made.
The cuts and fabrics of Officine Generale are nice, but the prices are rising.
Rier is also a nice brand, although with a limited offering.
Ami when there is no heart.
Shoes always Common Projects or Ludwig Reiter.
Designer stuff only for accessories like belts, wallets, scarves, the odd pair of shoes.
The less branded, the better.

 

[tourbillions]

I think that’s the keyword in all of this discussion about prices and luxury. I’ve long been over the idea that the more expensive something is the more it will elevate my social status. I used to be so obsessed with brands and fashion, but lately seeing people wearing certain hyped and logo’ed clothes makes me pity them more than anything, and I know a lot of people who have the same reaction. I’m not sure if this was the desired result of the endless price hikes, in the end it has given the whole luxury industry a bad name.

i think in the past luxury wasn't about showing off. It was about owning something high quality with designs that are a good conversation starter. People bought luxury in the past because they adored the designers and the designs behind each collection, i couldnt really think of any rtw that people would buy just for the hype in the past. atleast not in the same level of all these logo t shirts that has absolutely 0 design.