They don't make wide calf versions. I'm not a huge person, I just have really muscular calves, so they don't fit. I've yet to find any brand rubber boots that fit.....

All the short boot versions don't work for me either, same problem, only tight at the very top of the boot, which on short boots is a horrible spot to get a blister.

Agree with the ‘ it’s not the brand it’s how it’s made’ sentiment. 100% cotton, densely woven but not velour. That’s all you really need to look for.

I still have towels I bought at Sears when I went off to college, 1990, other than faded a bit, still good. Had and wore out the Target towels from our wedding registry. I guess they were not Targets top tier towels. Still have both children’s nap time towel from kindergarten -Walmart towels!- oldest is now a junior in college and younger is a freshman. The applique on both has worn out but pleasantly surprised at how sturdy snd long lived they have been.

My mom would win the ‘bought the best towel ever’ game though. Moved to England to marry my dad in 1968. Only brought a suitcase of clothes, had to buy household goods when she arrived. Bought a plaid woven towel at some high end department store in London. Still using it, not even faded. 54 years and counting.

I'll add: it's not cheap to have it done professionally, but it's also something that doesn't need to be done but once every 15 -20 years depending on the wear and use. My dad bought a gorgeous leather winter coat in London in 1968. It's seriously groovy. He's had it conditioned twice. Still wears it every winter.

I second taking this to a pro for professional clean up snd conditioning. Carefully vet any dry cleaners you might take it to, most send it out to a specialist. Or just find a furrier, they do leather too.

Yup, even if you take it yo a shop fit a professional tune up at $100 or so, still worth it :) Great find, enjoy.

The company has several lines, some are better than others. Some fabrics hold up better than others as well, even if the construction is good. Their men’s dress snd casual shirts are as good as they have ever been, their denim is still great. If you buy a lightweight polyester dress, it’s just not going to have the longevity.

Most tablecloths you get at Target or Walmart are the worst polyester blends that will indeed stain terribly. Using higher end densely woven polyester like restaurants use is one way to go, the other is all natural fiber like cotton or linen. I have my grandparents linen table cloths & napkins. They used them every day for 50 years, no stains, because it was easy to treat. They are so soft, I've been tempted to make a dress from the tablecloth as it's a size that does not fit my table.

Yeah brand specifics are good to know in general, but I can only give the ones I personally have found to be true BIFL. I’m to stocky for Ann Taylor, the beautiful blouses never fit me in the arms. Such is life.

Some of my best clothes were thrifted. I shop a lot of places, but the highest quality clothing I've thrifted mostly came from private church thrifts or Junior League thrifts. Don't overlook consignment second hand type shops if you are shopping specifically for a professional wardrobe.

Learning about fabric is a biggie, and I have no shortcuts to offer, all require time & touching the good stuff. I've sewn since I was a kid, so spending time with fabric is something I grew up doing.

You can go to a high end department store & look through the clothes, particularly the business wear. Feel the jackets, pants & skirts. Good suits for both men & women have a minimal amount of manmade fiber. Touching a pair of jackets where one is 100% wool and the other 60%/40% will give you a good lesson that no internet or book description can match. Nice infographic with lots of names you might see on labels: https://sewguide.com/textile-fibers/

Know which brands actually last vs. are trendy and popular. How does this shirt you know was popular two years ago look in the thrift store? that low end fast fashion stuff will teach you just as much because you can see what to avoid. Find two similar items & compare them. Look at the seams, look at fiber content, look at what wore out/ tore/ stretched badly.

Personally I look for Ralph Lauren for both me & my husband, Geoffrey Beene for him, Talbots for me. There are other good brands, but these fall into our specific 'will always fit' (hubs is a XXLT) or 'will always suit my style & work dress needs'.

I wish you luck!

Yes, but nana always had really good sheets and usually a light cotton blanket in between. So you only noticed it if you left your arms out or something.

Slept under the one my grandmother got when she went off to college. She graduated in 1940. Yes, they really are that good snd last that long. I did not inherit it, but I also live where we have generally very mild winters. My cousin who lives in the mountains got it.

Corningware baking dishes. Vintage or new, doesn't matter. Got this as a wedding gift, still going strong 24 years (and the marriage too) https://www.corningware.com/product/french-white-18-piece-round-oval-set

Mom has these, also a wedding gift, never broken one in 54 years, use them multiple times a week. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1260962956/corning-ware-cornflower-vintage?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_e-home_and_living-kitchen_and_dining-cookware-casserole_dishes&utm_custom1=k_CjwKCAiAzKqdBhAnEiwAePEjkoUQrZ5sU_ZOUCgS2nk6G7HB24cAGLXk1ycImttCoRtFKeQ0nSEvwxoC2rAQAvD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_1844702805_70809537318_346429646849_aud-1184785539738:pla-305374519816_c__1260962956_129054899&utm_custom2=1844702805&gclid=CjwKCAiAzKqdBhAnEiwAePEjkoUQrZ5sU_ZOUCgS2nk6G7HB24cAGLXk1ycImttCoRtFKeQ0nSEvwxoC2rAQAvD_BwE I do see these second hand quite often

A good, clear glass2 cup liquid measuring cup. Clear glass, not plastic, not opaque.

A good double wall cookie sheet: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nordic-Ware-Aluminum-Insulated-Baking-Sheet-16-x-14/396693702?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=4102&adid=22222222277396693702_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-1651068664746:pla-294505072980&wl5=9027985&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=396693702&wl13=4102&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=CjwKCAiAzKqdBhAnEiwAePEjknWGytblkdcxC8ezXX3Rm7fbnJvfaga-a1b3HaEWrGoHU-TJtfRy6hoCMv0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

a good double wall jelly roll pan: (because there's a difference, and both are useful for more than their namesake) https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nordic-Ware-Natural-Aluminum-Half-Sheet-Cookie-Pan-18-x-13/715076865?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=4102&adid=22222222277715076865_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-1651068664746:pla-294505072980&wl5=9027985&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=715076865&wl13=4102&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=CjwKCAiAzKqdBhAnEiwAePEjklj1x153-ZFdaMzgEoATK2RW5naBO9bAi5icD8D8xAuYCjMPWb_yVBoC4Z0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

SPLURGES:

Odd Measures I adore mine and use them all. the. time. Instead of the normal 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup 1 cup, the set is 2/3 cup, 3/4 cup, 1 1/2 cup, and 2 cups.

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/williams-sonoma-round-measuring-ultimate-set-of-14/?pkey=s~odd%20size%20measuring%20cups~2&sbkey=default

A push-up measure great for butter, peanut butter, honey, vegetable paste and anything thick that's really hard to get out of a spoon. cleans up easily too. In searching I discovered there a big 2 cup versions as well! I love my little teaspoon/ tablespoon size.

Had to edit, forgot the am azon rule

I have a Coach coin purse I’ve used since 1990. It’s almost black from sitting in the bottom of my purses all that time. I also have a Kate Spade wallet I’ve carried 15+ years. Both sit in my King Ranch purse that I have been carrying 10+ years. I don’t like changing bags or wallets very often.

Have a slightly older Panasonic sharpener I snagged from grandmas house after she passed. Hubs thought I was crazy. It's older than that one and still runs beautifully.

The 10” shears are for sewing only. The kitchen scissors have done other name I can’t remember right now.

Most ‘craft’ scissors have dreadful handles, but a good sharp pair that fit your hand nicely will make a huge difference. Try as many as you can, a fabric store often has some packaged in such a way that you can actually put your hand in them.

Cutting cardboard, just know that you’ll have to sharpen them frequently. Look for ones with an adjusting screw at the hinge, not a rivet. This means they can be tightened after sharpening. Riveted scissors only have 3-4 sharpenings in them, then the blades don’t meet properly anymore.

You can also look to quilting rulers and utility knives with a good cutting mat underneath for the bigger cuts. Those blades are cheaper and easier to replace.

Henckles 10" shears. I gave a link a few posts down, not outrageous in price considering. My shears are 20 years and counting, my embroidery snips are 40 years & counting.

https://www.zwilling.com/us/knives/kitchen-shears-scissors/

Yeah those look like nice all purpose household scissors, chop up the junk mail, open boxes, don’t loose them because bright yellow handles. :)

Clearly you don’t know anyone who sews, or at least haven’t been in their sewing space ;)

All the really good brands make lefties, it’s just a matter of digging them up on the websites/ better quilting shops. My brother is a leftie and decades ago I gave him a set of Heinkles paper scissors. Still used them.

I confess to being a scissor snob. While I do like Olfa rotary blades, the handles on that pair look miserably uncomfortable. I use Olfa blades in a Fiskars handle for the same reason, the Olfa handle sucks to use for more than thirty seconds.

My favorites are Heinkles. They are comfortable to hold, light which makes long term use nice, and murderously sharp. I have kitchen shears (intended for cutting boned poultry), some lovely fabric shears that no one in my family is allowed to touch, embroidery snips & a pair of paper scissors.

Honestly that sounds like an issue of the specific environment. Dust covers can only do so much. If the space is exceptionally dusty or musty, DampRid and a fan with an air filter are going to help more.

How dusty are these clothes getting between wearings? or are they things not being worn?

I'm familiar with musty smells, they originate in high humidity or water exposure, but dust itself I never thought of as having a smell? maybe I'm odd?

Go pick one up & carry it around the store if you have never cooked with these. As lovely as they are they are heavy even empty.

Bought Ethan Allen bedroom set (King bed, dresser, lingerie chest, 2 nightstands) 25 years ago for $6000. Still using it, still like the style. They only quit making that particular line in 2020. Very pleased with how it's held up. My husbands treatment of it I could say other things about :looking at gouges on his night stand: