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Comment by Hextinium | Hacker News Reader

I think a major contributor that isn't pointed out in the article is that clothes can last forever. I haven't needed to step into a department store in over two years not because I don't want to but because I don't need to. I wear the same clothes year-round and they have worked for the last 3-4 years before they even start to show wear. The only thing I need are new shoes and socks. Heck now with microfiber underwear those last forever too.

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Flip side I’ve been trying to buy new clothes but everything out there seems to be poorly cut or nothing but slim/althletic fit. If I go big and tall they’re also disproportionate. These games shirts I have from a couple years ago are perfect. The ones they sell now are horrible.

Go custom.

Depending on your preferences you can go made to measure online, or old school fly-to-southeast-asia and get them tailored in person. Either will be approximately as expensive as reasonable off the rack wardrobe and will fit 100% accurately.

If you fly, be sure to take enough time in one location so that they can do a second and third measure. Also get enough suits at once to offset the cost of the flight.

I love the clothing by Rapha - while they are known for their high quality athletic cycle wear, they also have a city range, that looks exceptional off the bike. I'd categorize it as fucntional fashion and due to their athletic roots it will fit very well for slim bodies. [1]

Another alternative is Outlier - a small brand that focuses on high quality, durable fashion. [2]

For more afforadable basics I like Uniqlo - say what you want, but I think it's very worthwhile clothing for the price. [3]

[1] https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/

[2] https://outlier.nyc/

[3] https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/home/

Rapha and Outlier make some good clothes. The most interesting new category of clothing is coming from outdoor technical apparel retailers who are moving into more urban/city clothes, and reinventing everything using better fabrics and technical features, and, in keeping with the conventions of the technical apparel industry, everything they make is field tested up the wazoo.

I bought these cycling pants from Arcteryx, they're the best pants I've bought. They're Teflon coated, presumptively to shed road splatter, but they shed everything else as well, they don't get dirty! I've worn them 20 times, they haven't been through the wash yet. I spilled flour, spaghetti sauce and coffee on them, there's no visible evidence that any of that has happened.

https://arcteryx.com/ec/en/shop/mens/A2B-Commuter-Pant

I agree. I do buy clothes towards the higher end of the cost spectrum, but they routinely last 4-5 years, after which the old T-shirt’s simply get cycled into the “wear at home and for sleeping” set.

Higher end clothes last longer. However, what is availably priced for most people are poorly made clothes that will last a year if they don't fall apart in the wash before then.

Take a look at what's available at Kohl's, Walmart, Old Navy etc and you will see what I mean.

It's all in what you buy, though. I have clothes from Walmart I've been wearing daily for nearly a decade - they're Carhart and Dickies jeans and sweatshirts however. That's better runs than I've gotten out of higher-end pants that cost 5x more. But I'll admit, I've no idea how women's clothing compares; men's clothing is blessedly simple and robust and fashions change at glacial paces.

Women's clothing is generally terrible - fragile, thin fabrics that snag way too easily and pill up after a few machine washings. Oh, and random shiny things and frills sewn on.

On top of that, we get to pay extra for the privilege.

I want simple, unornamented women's size and proportioned tops and trousers made out of the fabrics men's clothes are.

My impression, as a husband and father who admittedly doesn't shop very often, was that lots of women's clothes on sale - obviously not high-end ones - are all the things you said, but relatively inexpensive and supposed to not be used a lot of time, with the idea that you buy many and change them often.

Also women build outfits. So a new dress requires a new purse and jacket sometimes.

My mom noticed this in the 1950s, and started wearing dress shirts from the mens or even boys department. The only difference was the orientation of the buttons. She got a reputation for it, but it didn't actually seem to bother anybody.

I think that higher end clothing tends to be higher quality, but higher quality is not the same thing as lasting longer.

You can spend tons of money on a S200s suit, but it won't last as long as a cheap poly-wool blend. At a minimum I would suggest that you get two pairs of pants.

I've found this to be true in a limited sense if I buy clothes made from better fabrics geared toward what I would call semi-athletic or outdoorsy style. For instance I have some hiking pants that are made from a synthetic fabric, and they are greatly outlasting jeans or khakis. One thing is that the synthetic material doesn't seem to take on permanent stains as easily.

There's a sweet spot between expensive and designer though. The best quality often comes from rather obscure brands.

I agree. However, a $5 shirt from Walmart certainly isn't in that sweet spot.

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