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Comment by darpa_escapee | Hacker News Reader

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.

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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 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.

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.

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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