Love your videos!! As a knitter, I’m going to push back slightly on the wool/cotton/nylon sweater. Nylon adds to the durability of the finished fabric so I often make socks and sweaters from fiber consisting of wool with a small amount of nylon. The sweater you pointed out did have a higher percentage of nylon than I might look for in yarn, but considering it’s made of mostly natural fibers I would give that a pass.
I always inevitably end up pinning a comment from a knitter! ❤️ That hands on knowledge is invaluable. I always try and express as much as I can that I’m not a hater of synthetic fibers in every situation because you are so right! They do have value in many situations! Thank you you for pointing that out. It’s so nuanced and can make your head spin sometimes when thinking about what’s good vs not great 😅
As someone who worked in retail it’s nice to see you fold the clothes you tried on neatly and leave them on the bench. There are people that leave the clothes on the floor 😑
Former retail as well 🤝 I even asked them if I could take the clothes back out and put them back when I was done 😂 I treat any store as if I just clocked back in for a shift. That feeling will never go away. That’s partially why I took a few weeks off at Christmas time. I felt like no retail store needed me walking around with a camera on top of all the holiday chaos 😅
A few years ago I bought 6 new Gap pieces online (big sale) and happily had great results: went with classic designs and only purchased 100% cotton or merino wool (they all still look great with many wears and care with laundering. The exception was a longer car coat that looks great, just a wool mix, with less wool feel than I would have liked-still happy with the purchase. -would love to see a J. Crew review. I was a life-long walking J. Crew ad, until the past few years…have a feeling your review might be similar to the Anthro review. Love this series ❤
Back in the 90's my most worn jeans were Gap jeans that I bought at a thrift store. I had bought 3-4 prs (likely the same donor), wore them all the time, and they lasted tilI donated them 20 yrs later. They were good, sturdy jeans.
Banana Republic had 40% all their cashmere during Black Friday. I took full advantage. Would love to see a review of them since it’s in the same family as Old Navy, Gap and Athleta. Also, Free People has been coming out with some real trash garments poorly constructed in the name of “oversized” would love to see your review of them!
I agree about Free People - as a thrifter I found a great Sherpa jacket for my DIL which on the outside was so cute, the inside lining was trashed & spent an afternoon repairing it. No wonder it ended up at Goodwill. At $148 retail price the quality was shameful.
@ honestly I bought a few things online from them and will never buy from them again. I’m plus sized so never used to buy them so I have nothing to compare it to but when I lost weight I was so excited that I could finally buy from the brand only to find that I can find better quality at my local Target 😞
The Gap from the late 90s early 2000s was it! I used to love going shopping there. I only thrift these days and I’ve been really looking for more quality pieces because of these videos! Thank you for being so knowledgeable!❤
Great info with lots of much needed details. It is amazing to me how unfinished clothing is, bad button holes, puckering, crooked seams, piling before it leaves the store…etc. with the tariffs clothes are going to get even more expensive and I think the thrift will always prove to be the best value if you put in the time and can’t afford some of the really high end pieces. Thanks Lara
I tend to buy a lot of clothes from the Gap, but I always wait for 40% off. Not everything hits the mark but I appreciate that it’s possible to find clothes that are 100% natural fibres, which is hard to find at that price point! I also have a lot of their activewear - including tights I’ve washed at least a couple times a month for the past 8 years and they still look great!
I’ve been exclusively wearing gap jeans for the past 6 years. I wear them nearly every day, even in the summer. My favorite are the high rise vintage slim and I alternate between 3 pairs/colors every day of the week. One pair of jeans, worn on average 2-4 times per week, lasts approximately 2 years with washing every few wears. I only buy them when they’re 50-60% off (around $30-40) so I think they’re a really great deal and the high rise vintage slim fits my body type really well. I’ve never seen that rivet issue on mine!
I also want to mention- lasting 2 years means that the fabric just gets a bit thin by then because I put them in the washer and dryer. They’d probably last even longer if I air-dried. They are still wearable by 2 years, just looking a bit “worn”.
I’m new here. Heard about you from Lori Tata. Love your content! This type of review is great. You just won another subscriber! Will definitely come back. 😊
5:19 oh my gosh ~ I love Quince! I immediately recognized the sweater you were wearing in this video because I have the same one. There’s been only one sweater I’ve purchased from Quince that I am not really happy with. It’s a baby alpaca/wool blend diamond stitch sweater that I want to love, but after just one wearing, it is pilling so bad. I know alpaca is known for that, but this is bad. I’m going to shave it & wear it again & see if it’s just the initial shred before I return it. Other than this one sweater, I am in love with everything else I have purchased (& I’ve purchased a lot!:). I just love these videos, thank you for your time & efforts 😊
Would be fun for you to check out tj maxx/ross/marshalls! Obviously stock in stores varies widely just based on the day on location, but could make an interesting experience!
I’ve been buying some basics from them and the tanktops have surprised me, theyre opaque, cotton, and well fitting. Also like 10-13 depending on the sale 🕺
Your site is unique. There are some influencers who hold the line on quality, whether it is a splurge or budget-friendly. I value their opinions the most.
All of my Quince garments have pilled and look terrible after about 5-6 handwashes. I am still trying to figure out why everyone is so ecstatic about them. I think they have some nice garments but I don't find it clear exactly where they come from, nor are a lot of them worth more than some other readily available brands.
I can’t say Quince is amazing across the board, I have a few pieces that felt lackluster as well. But I haven’t found anything that’s in the same price range for the type of fabric you can get. They remind me of a slightly lower scale Everlane when they first started. Good quality for the price…but the supply chain is always something to question. But with more and more polyester creeping into clothing, I think they are one of the few brands still leaning towards natural fibers at an affordable price.
I have cashmere from Quince, JCREW, and Ann Taylor. All have pilled. This happens with soft fibers. You can see this in the animals, even. I use a 100 grit nail file while wearing them to get rid of the pills, and these sweaters look like new. The AT one is over 10 years old and looks like new when I de pill it.
For the last several years, I have started to look at what a piece is made of, and although sometimes there are good blends… I do like to buy natural materials… cotton sweaters or Merino wool sweaters. I can’t wear cashmere or alpaca or anything like that cause it makes me itch like crazy so God spared me in that way… I won’t have to spend a ton of money for cashmere! I do love Merino wool! I so appreciate you educating the public and bringing us to stores that a lot of us shop at… I have shopped at gap for probably as long as they bit around… And I have in the past really loved their jeans, and other pieces as well from time to time…❤
New subscriber! I love your attention to detail! Im 57yo and grew up with Gap and all its stores. Clothing quality has diminished while prices skyrocket. Sweaters now have more synthetic and pill. Cottons are stiffer/bulkiers. I prefer softer drape of any fabric (including knit sweaters) for my petite frame.
I generally hold out for cotton, merino, linen etc. All the blends and thin fabrics don't feel or wear the same. Even natural fibres vary in quality and a good, dense linen is harder to find and pricier. I find banana republic has good fabrics but of course, you do pay for that. I'll take a look at quince.
Gap is one of my favorite place to buy kids clothing. Their pants especially : they often have 100% cotton options, the legs are long enough and they last well through years
I used to work at the Gap twenty years ago and can say that the quality of their clothing, shoes and accessories has gone down significantly. Almost all of their shoes and bags back then were genuine leather or suede. Scarves and coats were 100% wool. And we DID used to sell some 100% cashmere. Those days are long gone. I worked there during college for 3 years and even in those 3 years, I saw them make changes to their fabric content, lowering the amount of natural fibers and increasing synthetics. There were many brand loyal customers who would come in and ask for what Gap called “The Perfect T-shirt” that they had purchased a few years ago and after seeing the new version, they would get very upset and leave buying nothing. I don’t even think they make it anymore but it was a Gap staple for a very long time.
I worked at Gap Corporate HQ from 1998-2007 and yes, you are spot on. I loved using my discount back then, the clothes were SO nice, especially from Banana Republic. I STILL have a BR cashmere beanie, it is literally 25 years old and it is still in incredible condition. Sadly the Fisher family's greed, especially after Don died, have ravaged these brands.
ON & Gap always have sales. I feel their sale prices are much more reasonable & in line with the quality (especially now) Both Gap & ON quality of fabrics is less than 15/20 yrs ago. I have basic white cotton ON tees I bought about 15 yrs ago & they're still going. A soak in oxyclean & they're great. Compared to a wite tee now, not only isn't it as thick of cotton it isn't usually 100% cotton either. No one wants a tissue paper thin, transparent polyester tee shirt.
I would be really interested in a video about low vs high quality 100% cotton. I found a ribbed t shirt from Zara that's 100% cotton but I don't really know what to look for to figure out if it's going to last
This was fascinating to watch! I love the level of detail you provide, totally not negative. Would you say you prefer Quince cotton sweaters to the 100% GAP ones? I've shopped at quince and I've been curious about gap.
I love the quince sweaters but I’d say if you spot the Gap sweaters on sale, it might end up being a better deal. But that’s only if they drop down a significant amount. Otherwise Quince was by far the better price point ❤️
Laura, I'm really enjoying this series! The collar of the tee you're wearing in this video looks so neat and lies nice and flat. Would you mind sharing where it's from? Thanks! ❤
I buy essentials from there, and the quality is pretty good. I don’t buy there whimsical items nor winter clothes besides sweatshirts and puffer vest. I like the because they have talls! Majority of brands don’t tailor to longer bodies ex. Hip to crouch area also needs to be longer not just the leg! I hope the next time you have levels of looking at item, meaning basics (t shirt, long sleeve) and then extra items like blouses, dresses, etc
I really appreciate this perspective, it's what I have needed to understand how to buy better quality clothes. Even if I don't shop at these places. I would be curious to know if these guide points also can apply to children's clothes or are children's clothes going to have a difference in the materials out of necessity? Appreciate your expertise.
That’s a really good question! I’d hate to weigh in incorrectly on this so I don’t have a solid opinion. I’m not a mother and I just can’t even begin to imagine the pressures that come with all of those decisions. I have read conversations and arguments against any polyester for babies because of body temp and regulation, but that’s really the only concern I’ve read about. I think as far as fabric and craftsmanship goes though, a lot of these brands I’m reviewing are still really good safe bets for a growing kid. ❤️❤️ if I ever come across any additional literature though I’ll definitely mention it when I can!
I love GAP, but nothing their current stuff would never compare to the early and mid 2000's to 2010's stuff. The quality then was better than most fast fashion brands.
After I was done filming this I remembered I have a vintage gap jacket thats 100% genuine leather. Nothing was leather in the store. 😭😭😭 I’m working on another thrifting series right now where I thrift vintage items and compare it to the newer styles to see just how much things have changed. Can’t wait to find more vintage gap because it’s fascinating! ❤️❤️
@lauravonv Fast fashion brands rarely make leather garments nowadays 😢 I saw a few leather belts from Mango, that's about it. Only the mid range brands have a decent amount of leather items, like Massimo Dutti or even COS. Fast fashion brands are trying to make cheap garments and leather is expensive and harder to work with.
It was. Even their tees back then were great quality. In 2001ish my mom bought my sisters and I a bunch of gap basic tops with scattered rhinestones on them. I grew out of mine and wore their hand-me-downs for 6 years. The tops kept their shape for the most part and those rhinestones NEVER fell off 😳 And we did not launder gently… I miss those Gap days.
Mid2000s GAP quality and design were outstanding. I still think of my favorite black and white pinstripe wool flannel bootcut trousers which I sadly had to give up when I gained weight. They were low rise, which worked for my proportions, which is the only thing keeping them from being timeless. The black cotton velveteen Edwardian inspired blazer with a dozen buttons that I frequently wore with them now belongs to my daughter and it still looks fantastic. I also think about a wool blackwatch plaid peacoat that I impulsively donated when I moved to a warmer climate and the most perfectly cut, fitted at the hip, wide-leg chino trousers in a perfect shade of camel and black cotton band collar split neck long sleeve t shirt that I wore until they fell off my body from wearing it constantly. WTH is going on with quality in general? Clothes seem to be more cheaply made these days no matter the price point.
I have that cash soft ribbed cardigan, and while I like the feel of it, the fit is a bit akward, and the sleeves are extremely long. I'm tall, and I normally like slightly longer sleeves, but since they are fitted around the wrist, it makes the whole sleeve bunch up. I should have returned it but waited too long, of course, so I guess I'll take it to get the sleeves shortened.
After watching some of your videos, I have been looking thru my closet and my family's closet. Odd finding is that my 3yo daughters clothes seem better quality than a lot of stuff from the same brand I own, like mostly 100% cotton wheras the women's stuff is mostly blend with synthetic. You mention checking the men's clothing, so maybe check the kids clothes too?
I ha e a lot of Cash Soft pieces. They feel great on but do not have great lasting quality. The sizing and fabric work really well for me so, Ill continue to buy them.
Not sure what they have on the women’s side, but the first coat made me think of a coat I got from Uniqlo recently. Same price of just about $200 but the outer fabric was 90-10 wool cashmere blend. It’s cut a bit oversized with longer sleeve and it’s not very heavy, but I can always get the sleeves shortened and It’s more a casual coat anyways. Again, not sure what it looks like for Uniqlos women’s offerings, but I was quite satisfied. Especially since i got it for $55 off. Edit: I checked and right now, they pretty much have the same coat style for women on sale for $80 in a 42% Nylon, 37% Wool, 21% Polyester blend
That’s a great tip! Thank you 🙌 I’m a huge Uniqlo fan and can’t wait to do a review for them. I think some people will shocked with what you can get from them.
I buy my Jeans and Chinos at Gap. The materials is perfect but the quality is meh, i feel like they are not thick enough so we buy more often but the fit is perfect for me. Looking at Jcrew and BR for casual shirts.
Ohhhh that would be fascinating! I have some weird history with Brandy Melville because they bought a bunch of clothing from my vintage store when I lived in LA. So I always hade a sense they were buying older clothing and copying the fit and patterns.
I worked at Gap Corporate HQ from 1998-2007, and as another commenter said, the quality has fallen off a cliff in the past decade-plus. I loved using my employee discount back then, the clothes were SO nice, especially from Banana Republic. I STILL have a BR cashmere beanie, it is literally 25 years old and it is still in incredible condition. Sadly the Fisher family's greed, especially after Don died, have ravaged these brands.
I'm ok with blends as long as the natural fibre (wool, cotton or linen) has the highest percentage. Some of these "wool" coats are ok if you if you don't need it to be too warm ( live in a moderate climate & like the style) But I agree, some of these items are over priced considering the fabric & fabrication is nothing special.
I recently purchased a $200 Calvin Klein coat at Macy’s. It was on sale for 50% off. It started pilling in the 1st week of wear. I recall now that the tag said Calvin Klein Made for Macy’s. It definitely turned out to be $100 Macy’s quality fabric. Listening to your comments about the red coat made me even more annoyed with my purchase.
Here's the deal with polyester as part of a blend in wool items, knits or wovens. Polyester fiber is a strong plastic line, when it rubbed against itself or something else like a cross body bag, the polyester fibers get stretched, but they don't break, they 'snap back' instead, creating that pill effect. You can 'groom' your garments to get rid of the pills using a safety razor (same one you shave your legs with).
Have you watched the documentary ‘The True Cost’? If not, please do. Gap/ Old Navy is one of the ‘worst’ fast fashion brands in every way. Rana plaza. It is interesting to see someone who still believes that there are some wonderful people in any fast fashion chain who just love fashion and are trying to provide clothing others will enjoy. Must be nice to live in your world.
Senior Lady Here I have a process for any item I purchased natural fabrics always win over synthetic fibers, meaning 100% cotton beats All man made fabrics so does wool, silk, etc
I think GAP has become more like Old Navy over the years, I think BR has become more premium/expensive, while the other 2 lines have gotten worse in quality/more expensive
I really wish stores would start ironing/pressing the more expensive items--at the minimum!! Would buy that red coat (perfect for cool TX winters) but wouldn't pay $200!! Clean visual aesthetics are so important to sell clothing. If Zara in Japan can keep it up, others can, too. First thing I do when I buy any clothes is to wash, at-home dry clean, or take them to the pro cleaners to get them cleaned and pressed.
I'm disgusted with the quality of garments being spewed out by the fashion industry. I'm also annoyed with the online descriptions for these pieces. There's a lot of fantasy/aesthetic marketing copy. What are the exact measurements and specific fabric contents? Everything else is useless to me. You should send this video to Gap.
Polyester isn't always bad. They are different levels of quality in polyestor, just like their are different levels of quality in cotton, cashmere, etc. I dont get all these polyester hate videos. It's like content creators are copying off each other demonizing Polyester without really knowing what they are talking about.
I talk about this a lot. I just can’t mention it in every video 😅 Polyester is not the enemy all the time. I think Issey Miyake is the best case study we have of this. That’s a designer that knows how to properly work with polyester. And made a lifetime of experimenting with it. Cheap polyester however….
I Don’t Buy On Line.. I Like To Be In Store 1. 1.Feeling The Material, 2.Trying On The Garment For Fit. 3. The Actual Real Color of The Item 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
Cashmere and angora wool harvesting causes pain in rabbits.They are shaved or their fur is torn off by hand often without pain relief, leading to physical restraint and screams of pain. Therefore my ethics won't allow me to buy and wear it. No matter how luxurious it is!
@@m.b.ortega544I’m wondering how you know this as fact? These fibres are expensive and, as someone who also raises animals, it is in our best interest to care for the animals to the best of our abilities since they are our livelihood. The goats and rabbits are either sheared or combed to ensure the best hairs are harvested. The hair grows back and after some time it’s harvested again…..it is not one and done.
@Katepwe It is a myth that all animal keepers treat their animals with respect and love. Just look at the industrial animal farming for example. These facts are online for everyone to see and to investigate. There is a lot of greed and cruelty when it comes to animal farming and keeping.
Fee people? Seems like a lot of there stuff is so thin and raw hems and just crap. In the 90s Gap had the best thick cotton tee shirts. Can’t find that anywhere anymore
Omg, I’m so glad you’re back! 🥹 Hi, I’m a new fan of your content and just wanted to say how much I’ve been enjoying it. I never usually comment on RUclips, but I’ve really missed your videos! 🥹
I see commercials for TJ Maxx and Marshall’s advertising that they hunt for the best quality products. Would those have a chance to be better than the singular brand store? They don’t have decent online stores to check what products and their material lists.
Love your videos!!
As a knitter, I’m going to push back slightly on the wool/cotton/nylon sweater. Nylon adds to the durability of the finished fabric so I often make socks and sweaters from fiber consisting of wool with a small amount of nylon. The sweater you pointed out did have a higher percentage of nylon than I might look for in yarn, but considering it’s made of mostly natural fibers I would give that a pass.
I always inevitably end up pinning a comment from a knitter! ❤️ That hands on knowledge is invaluable. I always try and express as much as I can that I’m not a hater of synthetic fibers in every situation because you are so right! They do have value in many situations! Thank you you for pointing that out. It’s so nuanced and can make your head spin sometimes when thinking about what’s good vs not great 😅
@ absolutely!! I always appreciate your viewpoint
As someone who worked in retail it’s nice to see you fold the clothes you tried on neatly and leave them on the bench. There are people that leave the clothes on the floor 😑
Former retail as well 🤝 I even asked them if I could take the clothes back out and put them back when I was done 😂 I treat any store as if I just clocked back in for a shift. That feeling will never go away. That’s partially why I took a few weeks off at Christmas time. I felt like no retail store needed me walking around with a camera on top of all the holiday chaos 😅
Would love to hear your take on Nordstrom and Macys.
I’d love to see a video on Madewell. Given their whole schtick, I’d love to know if they really are made well…
Their garments are so NOT made-well, and the ones that do, have astronomical prices like a wool coat for $500
The older Madewell you can get thru posh or thrift really are well made. I can’t afford the new madewell which is hundreds
A few years ago I bought 6 new Gap pieces online (big sale) and happily had great results: went with classic designs and only purchased 100% cotton or merino wool (they all still look great with many wears and care with laundering. The exception was a longer car coat that looks great, just a wool mix, with less wool feel than I would have liked-still happy with the purchase. -would love to see a J. Crew review. I was a life-long walking J. Crew ad, until the past few years…have a feeling your review might be similar to the Anthro review. Love this series ❤
Back in the 90's my most worn jeans were Gap jeans that I bought at a thrift store. I had bought 3-4 prs (likely the same donor), wore them all the time, and they lasted tilI donated them 20 yrs later.
They were good, sturdy jeans.
Loved the 90s GAP jeans. Regret getting rid of mine.
Banana Republic had 40% all their cashmere during Black Friday. I took full advantage. Would love to see a review of them since it’s in the same family as Old Navy, Gap and Athleta. Also, Free People has been coming out with some real trash garments poorly constructed in the name of “oversized” would love to see your review of them!
I agree about Free People - as a thrifter I found a great Sherpa jacket for my DIL which on the outside was so cute, the inside lining was trashed & spent an afternoon repairing it. No wonder it ended up at Goodwill. At $148 retail price the quality was shameful.
@ honestly I bought a few things online from them and will never buy from them again. I’m plus sized so never used to buy them so I have nothing to compare it to but when I lost weight I was so excited that I could finally buy from the brand only to find that I can find better quality at my local Target 😞
The Gap from the late 90s early 2000s was it! I used to love going shopping there. I only thrift these days and I’ve been really looking for more quality pieces because of these videos! Thank you for being so knowledgeable!❤
Great info with lots of much needed details. It is amazing to me how unfinished clothing is, bad button holes, puckering, crooked seams, piling before it leaves the store…etc. with the tariffs clothes are going to get even more expensive and I think the thrift will always prove to be the best value if you put in the time and can’t afford some of the really high end pieces. Thanks Lara
I tend to buy a lot of clothes from the Gap, but I always wait for 40% off. Not everything hits the mark but I appreciate that it’s possible to find clothes that are 100% natural fibres, which is hard to find at that price point! I also have a lot of their activewear - including tights I’ve washed at least a couple times a month for the past 8 years and they still look great!
You are a joy to watch! As a fellow thrifter and analytical shopper/consumer, I so appreciate your point of view. Please, keep doing what you do!
I’ve been exclusively wearing gap jeans for the past 6 years. I wear them nearly every day, even in the summer. My favorite are the high rise vintage slim and I alternate between 3 pairs/colors every day of the week. One pair of jeans, worn on average 2-4 times per week, lasts approximately 2 years with washing every few wears. I only buy them when they’re 50-60% off (around $30-40) so I think they’re a really great deal and the high rise vintage slim fits my body type really well. I’ve never seen that rivet issue on mine!
I also want to mention- lasting 2 years means that the fabric just gets a bit thin by then because I put them in the washer and dryer. They’d probably last even longer if I air-dried. They are still wearable by 2 years, just looking a bit “worn”.
I’m new here. Heard about you from Lori Tata. Love your content! This type of review is great. You just won another subscriber! Will definitely come back. 😊
5:19 oh my gosh ~ I love Quince! I immediately recognized the sweater you were wearing in this video because I have the same one. There’s been only one sweater I’ve purchased from Quince that I am not really happy with. It’s a baby alpaca/wool blend diamond stitch sweater that I want to love, but after just one wearing, it is pilling so bad. I know alpaca is known for that, but this is bad. I’m going to shave it & wear it again & see if it’s just the initial shred before I return it. Other than this one sweater, I am in love with everything else I have purchased (& I’ve purchased a lot!:). I just love these videos, thank you for your time & efforts 😊
Would be fun for you to check out tj maxx/ross/marshalls! Obviously stock in stores varies widely just based on the day on location, but could make an interesting experience!
Very interesting! I had no idea GAP was a larger retailer than Walmart! Great video - happy new year, Laura!
I’ve been buying some basics from them and the tanktops have surprised me, theyre opaque, cotton, and well fitting. Also like 10-13 depending on the sale 🕺
Your site is unique. There are some influencers who hold the line on quality, whether it is a splurge or budget-friendly. I value their opinions the most.
I'm a huge fan of Gap high rise stride wide leg jeans. Great quality for the $! Plus the come in multiplr lengths.
All of my Quince garments have pilled and look terrible after about 5-6 handwashes. I am still trying to figure out why everyone is so ecstatic about them. I think they have some nice garments but I don't find it clear exactly where they come from, nor are a lot of them worth more than some other readily available brands.
I have some too. Stitching is unraveling on the linen pants. Silk shirt had some huge damage after one wear. I had to throw it away. Very disappointed
I can’t say Quince is amazing across the board, I have a few pieces that felt lackluster as well. But I haven’t found anything that’s in the same price range for the type of fabric you can get. They remind me of a slightly lower scale Everlane when they first started. Good quality for the price…but the supply chain is always something to question. But with more and more polyester creeping into clothing, I think they are one of the few brands still leaning towards natural fibers at an affordable price.
I have cashmere from Quince, JCREW, and Ann Taylor. All have pilled. This happens with soft fibers. You can see this in the animals, even. I use a 100 grit nail file while wearing them to get rid of the pills, and these sweaters look like new. The AT one is over 10 years old and looks like new when I de pill it.
Interesting. I have been happy with a linen dress and light weight down jacket I got from there. I wish they had in person stores.
For the last several years, I have started to look at what a piece is made of, and although sometimes there are good blends… I do like to buy natural materials… cotton sweaters or Merino wool sweaters. I can’t wear cashmere or alpaca or anything like that cause it makes me itch like crazy so God spared me in that way… I won’t have to spend a ton of money for cashmere! I do love Merino wool! I so appreciate you educating the public and bringing us to stores that a lot of us shop at… I have shopped at gap for probably as long as they bit around… And I have in the past really loved their jeans, and other pieces as well from time to time…❤
Another reason to thrift! When you find these items thrifting you get to see how well it has worn and if worth purchasing for the loooong run!
New subscriber! I love your attention to detail! Im 57yo and grew up with Gap and all its stores. Clothing quality has diminished while prices skyrocket. Sweaters now have more synthetic and pill. Cottons are stiffer/bulkiers. I prefer softer drape of any fabric (including knit sweaters) for my petite frame.
Just found you! New subscriber and thrift junkie. Hoping to become a consummate thrifter from your vids!💃
I generally hold out for cotton, merino, linen etc. All the blends and thin fabrics don't feel or wear the same. Even natural fibres vary in quality and a good, dense linen is harder to find and pricier.
I find banana republic has good fabrics but of course, you do pay for that. I'll take a look at quince.
I LOVE your videos. I’ve learned so much from you in such a short period of time. Would love to see you do a Nordstrom one.
Too many departments.
@ You would be overwhelmed and unable to focus? 😂 She’s a professional Dear. I think she’ll figure it out.
Gap is one of my favorite place to buy kids clothing. Their pants especially : they often have 100% cotton options, the legs are long enough and they last well through years
I used to work at the Gap twenty years ago and can say that the quality of their clothing, shoes and accessories has gone down significantly. Almost all of their shoes and bags back then were genuine leather or suede. Scarves and coats were 100% wool. And we DID used to sell some 100% cashmere. Those days are long gone.
I worked there during college for 3 years and even in those 3 years, I saw them make changes to their fabric content, lowering the amount of natural fibers and increasing synthetics.
There were many brand loyal customers who would come in and ask for what Gap called “The Perfect T-shirt” that they had purchased a few years ago and after seeing the new version, they would get very upset and leave buying nothing. I don’t even think they make it anymore but it was a Gap staple for a very long time.
I worked at Gap Corporate HQ from 1998-2007 and yes, you are spot on. I loved using my discount back then, the clothes were SO nice, especially from Banana Republic. I STILL have a BR cashmere beanie, it is literally 25 years old and it is still in incredible condition. Sadly the Fisher family's greed, especially after Don died, have ravaged these brands.
The perfect tee still exists, although I think they renamed it the Vintage tee....?
ON & Gap always have sales. I feel their sale prices are much more reasonable & in line with the quality (especially now) Both Gap & ON quality of fabrics is less than 15/20 yrs ago. I have basic white cotton ON tees I bought about 15 yrs ago & they're still going. A soak in oxyclean & they're great. Compared to a wite tee now, not only isn't it as thick of cotton it isn't usually 100% cotton either. No one wants a tissue paper thin, transparent polyester tee shirt.
Thank you ! I am very excited about a GAP review 🎉
🎉❤️❤️ 🙌 Let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see next ❤️
Would love to hear your take on Everlane!
I would be really interested in a video about low vs high quality 100% cotton. I found a ribbed t shirt from Zara that's 100% cotton but I don't really know what to look for to figure out if it's going to last
This was fascinating to watch! I love the level of detail you provide, totally not negative. Would you say you prefer Quince cotton sweaters to the 100% GAP ones? I've shopped at quince and I've been curious about gap.
I love the quince sweaters but I’d say if you spot the Gap sweaters on sale, it might end up being a better deal. But that’s only if they drop down a significant amount. Otherwise Quince was by far the better price point ❤️
Laura, I'm really enjoying this series! The collar of the tee you're wearing in this video looks so neat and lies nice and flat. Would you mind sharing where it's from? Thanks! ❤
It’s from Uniqlo! Definitely my favorite for basic tees ❤️
@lauravonv awesome! Thanks! 🥰
Thank you for this video!! I love that white cotton top near the beginning of the video!
Would also love to see a review of J Crew.
I would love to see you do this at abercrombie!
I buy essentials from there, and the quality is pretty good. I don’t buy there whimsical items nor winter clothes besides sweatshirts and puffer vest. I like the because they have talls! Majority of brands don’t tailor to longer bodies ex. Hip to crouch area also needs to be longer not just the leg!
I hope the next time you have levels of looking at item, meaning basics (t shirt, long sleeve) and then extra items like blouses, dresses, etc
I really appreciate this perspective, it's what I have needed to understand how to buy better quality clothes. Even if I don't shop at these places. I would be curious to know if these guide points also can apply to children's clothes or are children's clothes going to have a difference in the materials out of necessity? Appreciate your expertise.
That’s a really good question! I’d hate to weigh in incorrectly on this so I don’t have a solid opinion. I’m not a mother and I just can’t even begin to imagine the pressures that come with all of those decisions. I have read conversations and arguments against any polyester for babies because of body temp and regulation, but that’s really the only concern I’ve read about.
I think as far as fabric and craftsmanship goes though, a lot of these brands I’m reviewing are still really good safe bets for a growing kid. ❤️❤️ if I ever come across any additional literature though I’ll definitely mention it when I can!
I love GAP, but nothing their current stuff would never compare to the early and mid 2000's to 2010's stuff. The quality then was better than most fast fashion brands.
After I was done filming this I remembered I have a vintage gap jacket thats 100% genuine leather. Nothing was leather in the store. 😭😭😭
I’m working on another thrifting series right now where I thrift vintage items and compare it to the newer styles to see just how much things have changed. Can’t wait to find more vintage gap because it’s fascinating! ❤️❤️
@lauravonv Fast fashion brands rarely make leather garments nowadays 😢
I saw a few leather belts from Mango, that's about it. Only the mid range brands have a decent amount of leather items, like Massimo Dutti or even COS. Fast fashion brands are trying to make cheap garments and leather is expensive and harder to work with.
It was. Even their tees back then were great quality. In 2001ish my mom bought my sisters and I a bunch of gap basic tops with scattered rhinestones on them. I grew out of mine and wore their hand-me-downs for 6 years. The tops kept their shape for the most part and those rhinestones NEVER fell off 😳 And we did not launder gently… I miss those Gap days.
Absolutely. I have a 22 year old pea coat and it’s 100% wool. Their shoes also used to be leather.
Mid2000s GAP quality and design were outstanding. I still think of my favorite black and white pinstripe wool flannel bootcut trousers which I sadly had to give up when I gained weight. They were low rise, which worked for my proportions, which is the only thing keeping them from being timeless. The black cotton velveteen Edwardian inspired blazer with a dozen buttons that I frequently wore with them now belongs to my daughter and it still looks fantastic. I also think about a wool blackwatch plaid peacoat that I impulsively donated when I moved to a warmer climate and the most perfectly cut, fitted at the hip, wide-leg chino trousers in a perfect shade of camel and black cotton band collar split neck long sleeve t shirt that I wore until they fell off my body from wearing it constantly. WTH is going on with quality in general? Clothes seem to be more cheaply made these days no matter the price point.
It’s so sad to see they aren’t steaming items in the store.
Agreed. I am a native of Finland, you should see how beautifully the clothes are displayed at the stores!
I have that cash soft ribbed cardigan, and while I like the feel of it, the fit is a bit akward, and the sleeves are extremely long. I'm tall, and I normally like slightly longer sleeves, but since they are fitted around the wrist, it makes the whole sleeve bunch up. I should have returned it but waited too long, of course, so I guess I'll take it to get the sleeves shortened.
After watching some of your videos, I have been looking thru my closet and my family's closet. Odd finding is that my 3yo daughters clothes seem better quality than a lot of stuff from the same brand I own, like mostly 100% cotton wheras the women's stuff is mostly blend with synthetic. You mention checking the men's clothing, so maybe check the kids clothes too?
Thanks for your videos! Have you seen Quince items? If so, what is your opinion?
I ha e a lot of Cash Soft pieces. They feel great on but do not have great lasting quality. The sizing and fabric work really well for me so, Ill continue to buy them.
Could you do a review of LLBean clothes!
Not sure what they have on the women’s side, but the first coat made me think of a coat I got from Uniqlo recently. Same price of just about $200 but the outer fabric was 90-10 wool cashmere blend. It’s cut a bit oversized with longer sleeve and it’s not very heavy, but I can always get the sleeves shortened and It’s more a casual coat anyways. Again, not sure what it looks like for Uniqlos women’s offerings, but I was quite satisfied. Especially since i got it for $55 off.
Edit: I checked and right now, they pretty much have the same coat style for women on sale for $80 in a 42% Nylon, 37% Wool, 21% Polyester blend
That’s a great tip! Thank you 🙌 I’m a huge Uniqlo fan and can’t wait to do a review for them. I think some people will shocked with what you can get from them.
Uniqlo has also been dropping the ball in quality though, most of their products are ill fitting and made of polyester. :(
I buy my Jeans and Chinos at Gap. The materials is perfect but the quality is meh, i feel like they are not thick enough so we buy more often but the fit is perfect for me. Looking at Jcrew and BR for casual shirts.
I have 8 cashmere sweaters. All but one came from Goodwill. That one was a gift from Quince, $50. (Any chance of a sandhill crane sighting, Laura?!)
So many Sandhills lately! I saw two earlier today walking along a bike path like they know the laws of the road 😂
Please do a video like this for Brandy Melville !
Ohhhh that would be fascinating! I have some weird history with Brandy Melville because they bought a bunch of clothing from my vintage store when I lived in LA. So I always hade a sense they were buying older clothing and copying the fit and patterns.
I worked at Gap Corporate HQ from 1998-2007, and as another commenter said, the quality has fallen off a cliff in the past decade-plus. I loved using my employee discount back then, the clothes were SO nice, especially from Banana Republic. I STILL have a BR cashmere beanie, it is literally 25 years old and it is still in incredible condition. Sadly the Fisher family's greed, especially after Don died, have ravaged these brands.
I remember the 100% cotton tees from The Gap in 1997 😩. Normal thing to find then .😩
I'm ok with blends as long as the natural fibre (wool, cotton or linen) has the highest percentage. Some of these "wool" coats are ok if you if you don't need it to be too warm ( live in a moderate climate & like the style) But I agree, some of these items are over priced considering the fabric & fabrication is nothing special.
I recently purchased a $200 Calvin Klein coat at Macy’s. It was on sale for 50% off. It started pilling in the 1st week of wear. I recall now that the tag said Calvin Klein Made for Macy’s. It definitely turned out to be $100 Macy’s quality fabric. Listening to your comments about the red coat made me even more annoyed with my purchase.
I like the gap and wish they would sell them in stores in Germany.
Here's the deal with polyester as part of a blend in wool items, knits or wovens. Polyester fiber is a strong plastic line, when it rubbed against itself or something else like a cross body bag, the polyester fibers get stretched, but they don't break, they 'snap back' instead, creating that pill effect. You can 'groom' your garments to get rid of the pills using a safety razor (same one you shave your legs with).
I stay away from recycled polyester. It breaks down too fast. Nylon is a strong material. A blend with cotton is great.
Maybe they’re saving their perfect Jean recipe for banana republic lol
I'm thinking the same thing! 😂 Sounds like my next stop needs to be BR 🔎
Have you watched the documentary ‘The True Cost’? If not, please do. Gap/ Old Navy is one of the ‘worst’ fast fashion brands in every way. Rana plaza. It is interesting to see someone who still believes that there are some wonderful people in any fast fashion chain who just love fashion and are trying to provide clothing others will enjoy. Must be nice to live in your world.
Senior Lady Here I have a process for any item I purchased natural fabrics always win over synthetic fibers, meaning 100% cotton beats All man made fabrics so does wool, silk, etc
Cashmere is just so much warmer and softer.
Now we’re talking 👀
I have the red coat. I love it. Wears well. Warm. 85.00 ish price on sale. Worn a bunch of times. Would buy it again
Thank you for sharing! At $85 that’s definitely a lot better price point 😅
I think GAP has become more like Old Navy over the years, I think BR has become more premium/expensive, while the other 2 lines have gotten worse in quality/more expensive
Not Quince! Everything I bought from them is cheap and ill fitting. It doesn't wear well over time. I feel like it's disguised fast fashion.
Is that how you spell quince? It's not like Spanish??
3:50 they didn't vet the product obviously because it's red.. lol
Why wouldn’t they vet because it’s red? Would love some context :)
@ the red looks terrible and doesn't match very many colors imo that's all
I really wish stores would start ironing/pressing the more expensive items--at the minimum!! Would buy that red coat (perfect for cool TX winters) but wouldn't pay $200!! Clean visual aesthetics are so important to sell clothing. If Zara in Japan can keep it up, others can, too. First thing I do when I buy any clothes is to wash, at-home dry clean, or take them to the pro cleaners to get them cleaned and pressed.
I'm disgusted with the quality of garments being spewed out by the fashion industry. I'm also annoyed with the online descriptions for these pieces. There's a lot of fantasy/aesthetic marketing copy. What are the exact measurements and specific fabric contents? Everything else is useless to me. You should send this video to Gap.
Polyester isn't always bad. They are different levels of quality in polyestor, just like their are different levels of quality in cotton, cashmere, etc. I dont get all these polyester hate videos. It's like content creators are copying off each other demonizing Polyester without really knowing what they are talking about.
I talk about this a lot. I just can’t mention it in every video 😅 Polyester is not the enemy all the time. I think Issey Miyake is the best case study we have of this. That’s a designer that knows how to properly work with polyester. And made a lifetime of experimenting with it. Cheap polyester however….
I Don’t Buy On Line.. I Like To Be In Store 1. 1.Feeling The Material, 2.Trying On The Garment For Fit.
3. The Actual Real Color of The Item
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
Yessss!!! I completely agree. Shopping in store is an art form at this point that I think we’re slowly losing. But it’s so important.
So agree! It's the experience of it all!
Thank goodness I can't wear animal hair. I don't have to worry about feel and quality vs cost, cause I'm not buying.
Oops, I spelled your name like my cousin, sorry, I know better.😂
Cashmere and angora wool harvesting causes pain in rabbits.They are shaved or their fur is torn off by hand often without pain relief, leading to physical restraint and screams of pain. Therefore my ethics won't allow me to buy and wear it. No matter how luxurious it is!
Cashmere does not come from rabbits, it comes from goats.
@Supmore You are right! I should have explained better. Anyway, in both wool harvesting of goats and rabbits is pain and unethical practices involved.
@@m.b.ortega544I’m wondering how you know this as fact? These fibres are expensive and, as someone who also raises animals, it is in our best interest to care for the animals to the best of our abilities since they are our livelihood. The goats and rabbits are either sheared or combed to ensure the best hairs are harvested. The hair grows back and after some time it’s harvested again…..it is not one and done.
@Katepwe It is a myth that all animal keepers treat their animals with respect and love. Just look at the industrial animal farming for example. These facts are online for everyone to see and to investigate. There is a lot of greed and cruelty when it comes to animal farming and keeping.
@@m.b.ortega544 perhaps not all but the vast majority do. If you have never visited a working farm you should so you can learn about animal husbandry.
This is insane polyester crap!!!
Fee people? Seems like a lot of there stuff is so thin and raw hems and just crap. In the 90s Gap had the best thick cotton tee shirts. Can’t find that anywhere anymore
Omg, I’m so glad you’re back! 🥹 Hi, I’m a new fan of your content and just wanted to say how much I’ve been enjoying it. I never usually comment on RUclips, but I’ve really missed your videos! 🥹
Omg Hi 🥹😭 Thank you!! So glad you’re enjoying it all! I feel like I’m finding a good groove with these reviews so feedback like this means so much!! 🤗
@ don’t stop with the thrift content either please! Those are my favorite! 🙏
I see commercials for TJ Maxx and Marshall’s advertising that they hunt for the best quality products. Would those have a chance to be better than the singular brand store?
They don’t have decent online stores to check what products and their material lists.