Well, this took courage and I admire it! I'd love for more influencers to backtrack on (or just update) their recommendations, as I'm left wondering why nothing works for me when it works for everyone else. Univ Standard is a great example -- I know you love(d) it for years, yet I could never find that one perfect piece. Same with Quince linen. And Old Navy button front shirts. And blah colors everywhere. Thanks for updating us on your current thinking re these brands.
I love this post - I think we should all reflect back on what we are buying to see what was a win and what wasn't. I have stopped shopping so many brands on looking at what is in my donation pile each year. I agree that many retailers are making poorer quality across the board. The worst is when you try to repurchase a past year favourite and they have made it poorly compared to when you originally bought it. It feels like a bait and switch!
This is really great, Alison. I find that when I haven't shopped a brand for a while and I go back, I'm pretty galled by the slip in quality. I'm not sure what the solution is. Buy vintage? Buy fewer and better things? And don't even get me started on the outlets...in general it's an avoid, avoid, avoid sitch.
So it's not just me, huh. Really appreciate this perspective, as I wonder have I just become a curmudgeon/contrarian that is disappointed in so many things that others seem to love. The rare pieces that I do find that fill the bill of fit, comfort and my style go into heavy rotation though, so guess that is good.
I look at the clothes available today and just think “no”. So many of them look cheap in every aspect—finish, design, fabric (like you mentioned simultaneously too big and too small). The colors seem to run together into realtor “sell this home”, with beige or grey mixed into everything to turn into a tired, faded melange of blah. I’ll keep my current clothes, which make me feel somewhat dowdy and uninspired, but at least they have color.
I have also noticed reduced quality in many clothing brands that I once favored. I share your same observation about quince clothing and universal standard clothing. Which brands do you recommend for dresses and work wear for ladies who wear size 18, size XL, or size 1X?
I agree on the quality of what’s out there - I’ve never been happy with a Quince purchase after keeping - have swore them off. Life is so much more casual since covid so my closet just collects dust as I move into more comfort pieces that I actually wear. Selling it all off. I don’t need anymore work stuff and I don’t need anymore “what if” purchases. I like what I buy now and wear it all the time and enjoy brands like ALO and AYR. This year I found (based on a random comment) a great pair of wide leg linen pants at Old Navy (hero pants- never shop there actually), a trench at ZARA and a houndstooth coat at Levis (both surprising) and I haven’t stopped wearing my Everlane Fleece Barrel Sweatpants. I wear/wash/wear/wash the Hazy Mock sweatshirt from ALO since it arrived.
I feel this about Universal Standard. I still wear some of my OG Universal Standard cool tops from the first couple of years but other than replacing some jeans that fit when I changed sizes this year (got back my cancer weight loss finally) I really didn't have a lot of interest in Universal Standard's current offerings. I'm gonna rock that pink velvet tuxedo from a year or two back forever but most of what they put out now is too middle of the road.
BTW, I am long-legged and need 32-33" full length jeans and really wish they offered multiple helm lengths so you and I could both get the lengths we need. Also I'm mad at Land's End for getting rid of most of the different hem lengths and hem to request service.
Great post. I also have been disappointed with the few clothes items I've bought from Quince. They aren't interesting, and the fabric could be better quality. I'm also unhappy with their boring and limited selection of items in plus sizes. So many people rave about Quince, but I'm not one of them.
Really interesting to read this, Alison. Personally, I like hearing about what didn’t work & the reasons why. It’s as some others here were saying: an item might work for one person but not another for a multitude of reasons. And how many times have we purchased something we think we’ll love but after a few wears, it’s not working?
And you are right about so many clothes being poorly made now. It’s frustrating to buy something and then have it ruin quickly. I feel like I go through phases where I love certain brands & have a run of good luck with what I buy. But then, it goes so wrong! Ha!
Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking for more than a while now. Universal Standard is just not the same as it used to be. While I did pick up some nice T-shirts, I’ve given up on most of their other stuff. It just isn’t the same anymore.
Like you I feel I am too short for most Universal Standard choices. Even tops are too long. They have almost no petite options now—even in basic styles.
Well, this took courage and I admire it! I'd love for more influencers to backtrack on (or just update) their recommendations, as I'm left wondering why nothing works for me when it works for everyone else. Univ Standard is a great example -- I know you love(d) it for years, yet I could never find that one perfect piece. Same with Quince linen. And Old Navy button front shirts. And blah colors everywhere. Thanks for updating us on your current thinking re these brands.
I love this post - I think we should all reflect back on what we are buying to see what was a win and what wasn't. I have stopped shopping so many brands on looking at what is in my donation pile each year. I agree that many retailers are making poorer quality across the board. The worst is when you try to repurchase a past year favourite and they have made it poorly compared to when you originally bought it. It feels like a bait and switch!
This is really great, Alison. I find that when I haven't shopped a brand for a while and I go back, I'm pretty galled by the slip in quality. I'm not sure what the solution is. Buy vintage? Buy fewer and better things? And don't even get me started on the outlets...in general it's an avoid, avoid, avoid sitch.
So it's not just me, huh. Really appreciate this perspective, as I wonder have I just become a curmudgeon/contrarian that is disappointed in so many things that others seem to love. The rare pieces that I do find that fill the bill of fit, comfort and my style go into heavy rotation though, so guess that is good.
I look at the clothes available today and just think “no”. So many of them look cheap in every aspect—finish, design, fabric (like you mentioned simultaneously too big and too small). The colors seem to run together into realtor “sell this home”, with beige or grey mixed into everything to turn into a tired, faded melange of blah. I’ll keep my current clothes, which make me feel somewhat dowdy and uninspired, but at least they have color.
I have also noticed reduced quality in many clothing brands that I once favored. I share your same observation about quince clothing and universal standard clothing. Which brands do you recommend for dresses and work wear for ladies who wear size 18, size XL, or size 1X?
After writing this I remembered how Lauren Ralph Lauren hasn’t failed me yet https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/lauren-ralph-lauren/
I agree on the quality of what’s out there - I’ve never been happy with a Quince purchase after keeping - have swore them off. Life is so much more casual since covid so my closet just collects dust as I move into more comfort pieces that I actually wear. Selling it all off. I don’t need anymore work stuff and I don’t need anymore “what if” purchases. I like what I buy now and wear it all the time and enjoy brands like ALO and AYR. This year I found (based on a random comment) a great pair of wide leg linen pants at Old Navy (hero pants- never shop there actually), a trench at ZARA and a houndstooth coat at Levis (both surprising) and I haven’t stopped wearing my Everlane Fleece Barrel Sweatpants. I wear/wash/wear/wash the Hazy Mock sweatshirt from ALO since it arrived.
I feel this about Universal Standard. I still wear some of my OG Universal Standard cool tops from the first couple of years but other than replacing some jeans that fit when I changed sizes this year (got back my cancer weight loss finally) I really didn't have a lot of interest in Universal Standard's current offerings. I'm gonna rock that pink velvet tuxedo from a year or two back forever but most of what they put out now is too middle of the road.
BTW, I am long-legged and need 32-33" full length jeans and really wish they offered multiple helm lengths so you and I could both get the lengths we need. Also I'm mad at Land's End for getting rid of most of the different hem lengths and hem to request service.
Great post. I also have been disappointed with the few clothes items I've bought from Quince. They aren't interesting, and the fabric could be better quality. I'm also unhappy with their boring and limited selection of items in plus sizes. So many people rave about Quince, but I'm not one of them.
Really interesting to read this, Alison. Personally, I like hearing about what didn’t work & the reasons why. It’s as some others here were saying: an item might work for one person but not another for a multitude of reasons. And how many times have we purchased something we think we’ll love but after a few wears, it’s not working?
And you are right about so many clothes being poorly made now. It’s frustrating to buy something and then have it ruin quickly. I feel like I go through phases where I love certain brands & have a run of good luck with what I buy. But then, it goes so wrong! Ha!
Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking for more than a while now. Universal Standard is just not the same as it used to be. While I did pick up some nice T-shirts, I’ve given up on most of their other stuff. It just isn’t the same anymore.
Like you I feel I am too short for most Universal Standard choices. Even tops are too long. They have almost no petite options now—even in basic styles.
Super interesting. Thanks for posting this.