Quality counts

Just because a garment is expensive -- does not mean it's well made. I'm a big fan of buying quality over quantity. InStyle had a great checklist in their September issue on what to look for...



Check beads and any extras. The fabric needs to be strong enough to hold the doodads sewn onto it. Make sure the seams around the areas aren't pulled or stretched.

Check the buttons. Gently tug to make sure they are attached well. (I think that is one of my biggest pet peeves when buying new clothing -- buttons that are ready to fall off before the item comes off the hanger.) Also, be on the look-out for extras -- either sewn into a hem or attached in a packet. Always good to have a back-up. I write the garment description on the envelope to help keep track in my button-box. In fact -- I did that just this morning.

Look at the lining. Make sure it feels cozy against your skin, and that it helps the item hang correctly when worn.

Patterns matter. Make sure they line up perfectly. I tried an inexpensive shirt on this summer - and, oh baby, the pattern was so off, it made my head spin. Back to the rack!

Check the seams. Make sure they are neat, and InStyle calls French seams (turned under and beautifully finished to hide raw edges) the very best!

Zip it! Does the zipper glide easily? Snags in the store only lead to bad things at home. Check it a few times to be sure.

There you go. Smart shopping tip for the day: look for quality on clothing items you plan on keeping for a few seasons.

-reenie