Tips to buy high-quality, low-cost clothes

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Have I mentioned how much I adore ShopSmart, a magazine put out by Consumer Reports? The latest issue (Jan. 2010) has a feature story on secrets to being a savvy clothing shopper. The key is to know your fabrics! I’ve highlighted some of the most important parts of the story below.

The best fabrics are:

cashmere (more affordable that it used to be, goes in the wash but lay flat to dry, watch out for moths and pilling.)
cotton (easy to clean and lasts long, wash on cool for longevity)
linen (durable but wrinkle prone, iron twice with the steam off for the best look)
wool (hardly wrinkles but moths love it, hang in a steamy bathroom instead of ironing)

The best blends are:

cotton + polyester (no ironing needed, turn inside out when washing to reduce pilling)
cotton + spandex (the stretchiness makes for a good fit, but can shrink or stretch over time)
wool + polyester (fewer wrinkles than 100% wool, buy at least 60 percent wool for the best look and feel)

Fabrics to avoid:

polyester (doesn’t breathe well and stains are difficult to remove)
rayon (reacts badly to being wet and is relatively delicate)
silk (wrinkles easily, direct sun fades it)

Five signs that clothes are well made:

no hanging or loose threads, which indicate there may be other problems you can’t see
finished seams, which are sewn with a blind hem stitch that you can’t see on the outside (cheaper seams are finished with a looping chain stitch that can come undone)
lining, which helps clothes hang better (but not every piece needs lining)
sturdy details, which means buttons are firmly sewn on, zippers don’t pinch skin, and stress points are reinforced
extras like spare buttons and comfy tags indicate extra care was taken

Bonus: you can read a few of this month’s stories and previous issues on their website.