Clothing Quality Tips
A good deal on clothing is hard to pass up. There are so many discount stores out there now where the price of an item can sometimes make it easy to overlook the quality of the item. 
Yeah, it might only be $7 for that shirt, but are you going to get your moneys worth out of it? I have too many items I bought for very cheap without thinking of quality, only to have them donated to a thrift store or shirts I wear only when cleaning because they quality became mis-shaped or the color faded. Every time I look at the dark green tank I bought for $5 that ended up turning light green after 5 washes, I sigh because I haven’t even owned it a year and it no longer matches the flip flops I bought in the same shade. Being able to look for quality in a garment is going to save you money in the long run. Especially on basic items that never go out of style, like boot cut or straight leg jeans, plain colored t-shirts, button-up shirts, and basic hoodies. Here are some quick tips on what to look for.
+ Check the seams for openings, uneven stitching, and loose threads. Any items with these are a no-no as they are going to fall apart a lot quicker.
+ On business apparel, such as jackets, pants, and skirts, look for a lining. Linings help prevent wrinkles and help the item keep its shape.
+ If the shirt has darts, like on most button-ups, they shouldn’t fall below the bust line. If they do, the proportions of the item are probably off and it isn’t going to fit just right.
+ Check for loose or missing buttons. Especially if it doesn’t come with spare ones.
+ Touch the material. You can tell a lot about quality by the texture of the fabric. High quality fabrics are smooth and soft, low quality ones feel rough. Also, if the fabric is sheer when it shouldn’t be, pass on it.
+ Check the zippers. They should move up and down easily, they should never have to be forced.
+ If the store uses sensors on their items, make sure that they are through a seam. Otherwise, they make tiny holes in the item that can, and will, expand with washing and wear.
Logical Harmony is a fashion & beauty blog based out of the San Francisco Bay Area run by Tashina. This blog focuses on fashion, cruelty free & vegan beauty, celebrity style, diet, and lifestyle. Glamour magazine Glambassador. This site is iFabbo & Total Beauty approved. [
I just looked at your last four posts – I love how often you are posting now! Good tips on the vegan pregnancy stuff. I always debate how I will eat when preggers and how I will feed my kids. On one hand, I know that processed and junk food is awful for you, but on the other, I’m afraid that if they aren’t exposed to it once in awhile, they will end up getting sick when they do end up eating it, inevitably, at a friend’s house, etc. I want a healthy baby who eats organic, but also one who isn’t at odds with the ‘normal’ world.
Also, great post on clothing quality. I actually like buying tons of tanks – like at Forever 21 – when I have the money and know they will probably just last me a season – but I have definitely had some clothes fall apart on me.
Last time I bought a bag I thought of your bag post, BTW… It’s a gold ‘Ecko Red’ bag from Ross, but the stitching, although really neat and straight and matching, is loose in some places. Also, the emblem on the front is slightly off-center. I know Ross tries not to carry knock-offs and my boyfriend insisted it’s probably just faulty, but I am pretty sure it’s a fake! I carry it anyway though.
Hope you are making some good money with your posting. Your flickr pics of your pets are adorable and make me want a pet even more, and your blossoms make me oh-so-jealous because, yeah, we had snow here recently, and a couple days ago was the rare only day in literally months that I could walk outside without a jacket and be comfortable. And that was only because I was right in the sun. I love Oregon in the warm/sunny months, but this time of year when the nostalgia and novelty of winter has worn off is my least favorite.