Submitted by ye110wsub t3_11vua6s in BuyItForLife
As I got older I’ve tried to move away from fast fashion.
I’d like to buy secondhand but I don’t always have the time to sift through thrift shops, and I live in a relatively smallish city with not many good thrifts anyways.
What are some of your favorite clothing brands that have lasted you? I’m a woman and live in a city with all seasons.
Thanks!
Thanks this is a great list
Currently wearing some raw denim imogene and Willie pants. My first ever non outdoorsy BIFL clothing item. The quality and style is amazing!!
A Barbour waxed canvas coat will last forever. They require some care unlike anything else I own, y'know, 'cause it's the only garment I own that needs wax reapplied periodically, but it ages like a fine antique and is built to last.
I thought about buying one recently, but how do you clean the inside part of it well?
I just sponge it off & let it dry. It's outerwear, so I'm always wearing other clothes under it. It doesn't tend to get dirty.
I have their Border model from around 2000. I periodically send it back to Barbour and they reproof the coat and also stitch up anything that needs it. Last time I did it was less than $50. I just dropped it off to Orvis and they took care of sending it in. Yes, I could reproof it myself but well worth to just have them do it. Looks new when it comes back.
IMO, a lot brands CAN be BIFL if you are willing to learn clothing repair. I have a T-shirt I was gifted 15 years ago, which was owned by an in-law for years before that. It has a couple little holes which I have covered up with some fun embroidery designed. (Embroidery can survive the washer/dryer with the right technique and care.)
This comment is the truth. I have been focusing on buying from brands that feel higher quality and have some sort of ethical compass, but being able to repair a hole will make clothes last a lot longer regardless of the quality.
Furthermore, properly washing and drying them also goes a long way. Actually reading the tags and washing them in cold and only drying things you know aren’t going to shrink will make things last much longer.
I found a sweater at a goodwill ‘dale of Norway’ and not only is it wool, but it’s lined… Worn it for two winters now and can stand in 20F weather and feel comfy. Paid 5.99 and these retail around 3-400 and higher..
My god I'm jealous. Those are 150€+ secondhand here anyday
It was purely by chance… love it though
Darn Tough, Duluth Trading, Red Wing, Magellan, Teva, and old-school Columbia gear are the only things I can endorse as part of the 8+ yr club.
I guess Henschel hats and a few Carhartt items have also made.it that long but the hat hardly gets worn and the new Carhartt stuff is shit. Columbia is the same way, old stuff is amazing, then they became a lifestyle brand and it went to hell.
Keep in mind I'm a big ol grizzly bear of a dude who does outdoor and extreme sports and works a blue collar job, so I'm putting this shit through the crucible.
> Magellan ? Like the Academy Sports brand?
I've noticed the same issue with Columbia, my 10 yr old shirts are awesome, still going strong. New ones tear easily, shrink like crazy too. Love my darn tough socks, only brand I own.
Ya, the academy brand.
I've got shirts from them that hold up as good or better than serious outdoor brands at a third of the cost. They're basically a Columbia dupe at this point.
Same honestly goes for their coolers, rods, and chairs.
If you like bold prints, look into Zuri dresses! Very versatile!
I am very curious about Zuri, as it always shows up in my FB feed. I don't know anyone who has purchased from them.
Ooooohhhh they are LEGIT. Craftsmanship is on point, ethically and transparently sourced, does not lose its retail value so you can resell it for full price, and you can wear them literally Anywhere in the world. They are appropriate for any occasion. They have a rabid and devoted following (I am one of them, we are legion 😂) but it's because these dresses (or however you want to wear them) are truly buy it for life.
I have no skin in the game, so if I'm coming across like I'm a spokesperson for them I am not!....it's just that these dresses really are that good.
Thank you! I go to their website at least once every couple of weeks to look at the selection. I have wanted to gift dresses to my two sisters as I think these would be most flattering. Love the colors and prints. I am going shopping! Thanks again!
I bought a Zuri dress with large mushrooms 🍄 all over it and it is the BEST. Well made, fun, funky, and I get tons of compliments on it. I always feel really cool wearing it.
I have that one too! Love it!!!
I buy Darn Tough socks. They are a wool blend with a lifetime guarantee. No joke. They get a hole, send 'em back and you get a new pair. Been wearing them for 11 years and haven't sent back a pair yet!
Pendleton sweaters (and blankets), and very weirdly LTT Store underwear (holding up better than my MeUndies)
I second Pendleton. They've been around since 1863 for a reason. Expensive, but with them you get what you pay for. Also, there's a reason humans have been making clothing out of wool for thousands of years.
I've had a sweater for 4 years now and it feels like I just got it broken in. I love it. I bought my wife a blanket for our anniversary last year and it's just as amazing. they are expensive but now that I've experienced the longevity of them I can justify the price. (also look for the sales! the blanket was 30% off because the size was discontinued)
Aero leather. Made in Scotland. Hebtroco. Made in England.
How about made in Ireland? Many cities have an Irish gifts store with hand made clothing
Outdoor Research, Patagonia, Darn tough,
I don't deliberately seek out BIFL clothing, but I find that I can get a lot of wear from "regular" brands. A decent % of my wardrobe dates back 10+ years. Even my cheapo ($15) TJ Maxx jeans are good for at least 5 years before getting all saggy/frumpy. Is it still "fast fashion" at that point? *shrugs*
But to summarize my experience...
GOOD:
-Blundstone boots (it hasn't been 10 years, but I've worn the same pair most days for the last 5-ish years and they're holding up great)
-Brooks Brothers shirts (I'm wearing the same collared shirts that I bought for interviews right out of college)
-WHBM dresses (a LBD from 2010 is still my go-to cocktail dress)
-Smartwool socks and mittens
And pretty good luck from J Crew, Boden, LL Bean so far, including an LL Bean athletic shirt that I've often worn climbing since 2015/2016.
With darn tough, I appreciate their thicker hiking socks, but I can wear toe holes in the thin ones pretty quickly.
Also kind of random, my aunt bought me a Tommy Hilfiger shirt in middle school. I haven't grown much since age 12, and I STILL wear that plain, long-sleeved T all the time (mostly as a PJ shirt, but it's crazy to think how many washes that's been through).
NOT GOOD:
-Sperry boots (mine were cracked and leaking in less than a year)
-Everlane (all the tops I've gotten have been incredibly thin material, and the sweaters developed holes after just a few wears)
-Kotn was another brand I wanted to like, but their sizing was tiny to start with...and then shrank horribly in the wash
Heard Blundstones aren't what they used to be. Redback boots are still made in Australia and supposedly much better quality.
However, I love my Jim Greens! The Stockman is in the same style but is actually also resoleable.
Mine are from 2017-ish, and I wear them pretty much all fall, winter, and spring (unless it's a particularly snowy or mushy winter day, in which case I have toasty lined LL Bean duck boots).
They still look almost new, but even if they started to crack at this point, I would consider that a reasonable lifespan for the price point.
I'll keep those other brands in mind, too!
I had some Blundstones that I got in 2008, when they first offshored production to China. Last month both just completely separated from the soles. Corresponded with Blundstone a bit with the pics and customer rep said fill out a warranty claim. They approved it and sent me a brand new pair! I found a place in Oregon that resoles Blunnies and will send off since I love my old ones. But great customer service.
That's awesome, but probably depends on where you're located - I doubt they offer anything remotely like that here in Europe.
Brooks Brothers was given as a present by the Luxottica monopoly's owner to his idiot son, who ran it into the ground (what happened to giving your spoiled offspring a Ferrari?). Quality has gone down dramatically.
That's too bad. The shirts I have are from 2009-ish. I bought another last year, but of course it's too early to call that BIFL...
It's a common theme whenever this question pops up, though. You can't call something BIFL unless it's been at least several years ... and by then, ownership and manufacturing standards may have changed!
Yes, but there is the Lindy Effect, that the longer something has been running, the higher its chances of survival, which is why old companies proudly flaunt "Established YYYY".
I ALWAYS get holes in my smartwool socks. Stopped buying them. Now I own Darn Tough and they almost last too long. I have about 20 pairs now because I like when they come out with new designs and keep buying them. These socks won’t die and now I can barely close my sock drawer.
That's funny - I wonder if it's all hit or miss depending on the specific pair or which batch you end up with?
I started with a thinner pair of Darn Tough socks (maybe it was the "lightweight" or "lifestyle" kind?) and developed holes in the big toes within a few months. To their credit, they stick by the lifetime warranty and replaced them.
Since then I only buy thicker Darn Toughs with a bit of padding (hiking style socks) ... those are both more comfortable and have proven more durable.
With Smartwool, I've only owned 2 pairs of their socks and a pair of convertible glove/mittens, but those are still going strong.
FWIW, my sister’s foot was run over by a Jeep Cherokee while wearing Sperry duck boots. The people at the ER were shocked when she only had bruising and swelling but no broken bones. (Not that one anticipates being run over on the daily…)
Hahah noted. I'll keep that in mind if I'm running late and plan on a day of aggressive jay-walking? FR though, I would assume that actual work boots / steel-toed boots are also made to last?
Glad your sister was ok!
Duckworth, Imogene and Willie, American Giant, Camber
any recommendations on sizing imogene and willie? their stuff looks amazing but jeans are just so... challenging (big butt gang)
For me, I’m wearing a size or two down that what I would’ve expected. I will say their customer service and return/exchange policy and service was amazing. It was my first foray into nicer quality clothing and took me a while to get the right sizing but it was an awesome/easy experience with them. The quality is amazing! Wearing the Diana as we speak!
Carhartt, hooded winter coat going on 25 year for mine still no rips or tears
L.L.Bean
Harris tweed
Just want to second Duckworth- amazing Montana made wool items. Their Vapor tee is my go to for everything.
And Imogene and Willie- currently wearing their Diana pleated jean. It was my first BIFL clothing item I ever bought and it feels worth every penny!
American Giant for their joggers and leggings.
Edit to add Raleigh Denim for their raw denim jeans.
And Bomba with the wool blend in particular have held up immensely well. The ones without wool I haven’t been as impressed with. They now make underwear too, hopefully with the same quality.
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Outlier
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and I love my Filson. Haven't had to use the warranty on clothes yet, but I had a backpack with a strap that was getting wonky and It was zero hassle getting it fixed for free.
I too am a PNW kid. Flannel is life.
I keep things simple. That being said, I own and still wear Levi's from 9 years ago. It's more about clothing care than quality.
Also, in my opinion, BIFL shouldn't pertain to clothing because significant weight gain can throw that idea out of the window.
Duluth Trading company firehose products
I have multiple pairs of pants from them that I've had for almost a decade of daily work use in a garage
Despite constant kneeling down to do tires, oil and other fluids, and an estimated thousand miles on them and as many washes they have no holes, and only the black and camoflauge pants seem to have any fading to them after so many washes
Mountain Hardware outer wear: I have a soft shell fall/spring jacket that looks new after 5+ years of everyday wear. Also have a winter shell that is my go-to ski jacket outer and rain cover. That one is about 9 years old. Both have many years left in them.
Duluth Trading; Madewell; Fjallraven; Prana. For athleisure, I love the Joy Club line at Target
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I don't care for brands. Usually, things will last years when well-cared for. Follow care instructions, and if that info tag fades, go with cold water and a trusty detergent. When a hole appears, or a stitch becomes loose, mend it ASAP before it becomes a big issue.
5.11
fruitofthepast t1_jcuwr2g wrote
Duckworth, Patagonia, Suay LA, Johnson Woolen Mills, Gamine Workwear, Ecologyst, Imogene + Willie, Beaton Linen. I've also had really good luck with jackets from LL Bean and Eddie Bauer.