What designer produces good quality materials without hurting checkbooks?

[purexelegance]

I was wondering as I looked through the "What is the most overpriced designer?" thread...

And I wondered what designer makes affordable yet chic clothing and accessories?

I am still a college student and I don't consider getting a loan for a birkin anytime soon, so I was wondering if anyone can suggest any affordable designers. Thanks!

 

[Doctor Caroline]

Id say Ralph Lauren, I completely loathe his designs cuz thyre so boring but they're definately worth the money most of the time, his material is actually rather good.

 

[rach2jlc]

I think I've said this many times before, but Dries van Noten seems to me to be one of the designers who has always been reasonable with pricing while providing good quality, materials, and style. A pair of pants may still run $250, but the same pair from Galliano would be $595 and from Yohji would be $850.

As for Ralph Lauren, unless you're talking Purple Label (which is hardly affordable with $3000+ suits and $700 shoes), I've never been impressed with his quality, materials, style, or anything else. A $135 Polo oxford with so-so cotton and plastic buttons? No thanks.

In terms of overall quality without paying attention to price, it seems to me that the Gibo produced designers (Hussein Chalayan, Galliano, Viktor&Rolf, Marc Jacobs) all have really good quality and nicer materials. I am, of course, talking about menswear. It may be different for the ladies.

John

 

[travis_nw8]

^ i'd second dries- i'm always pleasantly suprised when i turn over the pricetag. Alot of detail and work for the money- but he doesn't manufacture in italy (and doesn't advertise)- which proberly explains the price.

 

[rach2jlc]

^ i'd second dries- i'm always pleasantly suprised when i turn over the pricetag. Alot of detail and work for the money- but he doesn't manufacture in italy (and doesn't advertise)- which proberly explains the price.

Exactly; a lot of his items are made in places like Morocco (suits and such), Japan, etc. Nevertheless, with a suit retail price of $1100 or so, I'm sure not complaining. Valentino makes suits in Egypt and Armani in Turkey with less detail and cheaper fabrics than Dries; Valentino suits are at least $1500 and Armani $1700+.

John

 

[faust]

^ i'd second dries- i'm always pleasantly suprised when i turn over the pricetag. Alot of detail and work for the money- but he doesn't manufacture in italy (and doesn't advertise)- which proberly explains the price.

3rd. And, it doesn't really matter, plenty of "made in <insert Western European country here>" is not really true, at least Dries is being honest. Besides, for example, best embroidery is done in India, so there is nothing to smirk at Dries's embroidered shirts bearing a "made in India" tag.

 

[vanilla fairy]

Exactly; a lot of his items are made in places like Morocco (suits and such), Japan, etc. Nevertheless, with a suit retail price of $1100 or so, I'm sure not complaining. Valentino makes suits in Egypt and Armani in Turkey with less detail and cheaper fabrics than Dries; Valentino suits are at least $1500 and Armani $1700+.

John

are u sure about the armani and the valentino thing? @@
iv never bought one nor seen the tags
but why whould they? i mean i know the material and the employment in such places(morocco and egypt) arent that expensive, why would they cost so much then?
please dont tell me the design

 

[faust]

are u sure about the armani and the valentino thing? @@
iv never bought one nor seen the tags
but why whould they? i mean i know the material and the employment in such places(morocco and egypt) arent that expensive, why would they cost so much then?
please dont tell me the design

Yes, it's a well known fact. It's a funny question about why they'd cost so much... because they want to make a ton of money, I assume

 

[tricotineacetat]

are u sure about the armani and the valentino thing? @@
iv never bought one nor seen the tags
but why whould they? i mean i know the material and the employment in such places(morocco and egypt) arent that expensive, why would they cost so much then?
please dont tell me the design

Valentino has several licensing deals going and is also being owned by Marzotto Group, which also owns Hugo Boss.

 

[zamb]

i belive in dries

 

[luckyme]

not to mention if you buy dries or another designer from yoox you can really find some affordable deals there. who cares if it last seasons design, as long as it is a great piece of clothing?

 

[sarah13]

Where else do they sell Dries van Noten?

 

[purexelegance]

Wow. Thanks for the feedback... I tend to find that the cheaper brands of major labels (like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Michael by Michael Kors, etc.) has so-so quality material.

But some things are good buys, like Marc by MJ's leather bags for 200 dollars.

 

[rach2jlc]

Yes, it's a well known fact. It's a funny question about why they'd cost so much... because they want to make a ton of money, I assume

Exactly! Armani and Valentino quickly caught onto the fact that many idiot consumers will spend the same amount for a product just because of the name attached.

So, why spend $500 in material making a nicer suit in an Italian factory (like Ma.Co, Belvest, St. Andrews, Lardini, Piombo, Tombolini, or any other nicer suit manufacturer) when you can spend $50 on it in Egypt, Bulgaria, Turkey, Tunisia, or China and sell it for the same high price???

Just as an example, I have a Lardini suit (the suit maker that makes for Dolce&Gabbana, Burberry, et. al) and just the Loro Piana fabric on the suit cost more in material than probably an entire Valentino Egypt made model, labor, stitching, lining, fabric and all. But, interestingly, the Lardini was only $700 or thereabouts and the Valentino more than twice that. The difference? Only that the Lardini didn't have the little V enclosed in a circle on the tag.

John

 

[faust]

not to mention if you buy dries or another designer from yoox you can really find some affordable deals there. who cares if it last seasons design, as long as it is a great piece of clothing?

Speaking of which, lucky size 7 gets a $128 pair of cool white boots for fall - yoox seemed to have mispriced them.

 

[Meg]

I don't know where you can find dries pants for $250. Women's is diff. than men, but over here, Dries tshirts sell for over £100 or $200 USD. something basic and simple will usually be around £250 - 300 or around 500 - 600 USD. I'm not saying dries is overpriced but not cheap either. Yoox is a good place to get him.

 

[faust]

I don't know where you can find dries pants for $250. Women's is diff. than men, but over here, Dries tshirts sell for over £100 or $200 USD. something basic and simple will usually be around £250 - 300 or around 500 - 600 USD. I'm not saying dries is overpriced but not cheap either. Yoox is a good place to get him.

It's absolutely true, but we are comparing here, I think. As compared to other major houses, he is on the lower end of the price spectrum (I wish I could say that about Ann Demeulemeester ).

 

[belletrist]

Do you think "made in italy" is still a quality label?
I mean... I don't know why, but when I see "made in italy" on a tag (dior tag most of the time), i'm worry about the quality...
On the other hand, some italian brands (bottega) have a super good quality
But i'm still sticked to the "made in france"

 

[faust]

Do you think "made in italy" is still a quality label?
I mean... I don't know why, but when I see "made in italy" on a tag (dior tag most of the time), i'm worry about the quality...
On the other hand, some italian brands (bottega) have a super good quality
But i'm still sticked to the "made in france"

Sure, it does, in many cases. Italy still has top tailors, cobblers and leather tanneries in the world.

 

[stilettogirl84]

Do you think "made in italy" is still a quality label?

Absolutely-

Italian made shoes are still the best in my opinion