Strategies to Use When Shopping for Clothing

Check Points for Buying Quality Garments

PRICE

Ask these questions when shopping for clothing to help determine the "real" value of the garment.

• Does the price calculate to quality versus design, brand name, or current fashion or fad?
• Does the price reflect an investment in a garment that will be worn many times or last for a long time?

Use the Clothing Efficiency Formula to determine the value of what you spend for clothing:

Cost of garment
_______________ = cost per wearing

estimated number of wearings

Example: A child's coat costs $89.00 and the coat will be worn five times a week for nine months of the year and the child will be able to wear it two years. (40 weeks per year x 5 wearings per week x 2 years.) The clothing efficiency formula for the coat would look like this:

Cost of garment ($89.00) = 0.2225
________________________
estimated number of wearings (400) = 22.25 cents per wearing

It is obvious at 22 cents per wearing, this coat is a good price if it is of substantial quality that will hold up throughout the estimated wearings.

For the true cost of an item of clothing, ask the following:

1. How long will the item stay in fashion?
2. How much of the year can it be worn?
3. How well does it fit in the person's wardrobe?
4. Can it be worn in a variety of settings and situations?

QUALITY CHECK

A wise consumer will always check the following before making a clothing or apparel purchase:

Care label

• Check the label to determine if you are willing to care for the garment the way it directs you to. If the garment needs dry cleaning or special care it will add to the total cost.
• Does the fiber content, fabric construction, and/or special finish perform like you want it to. Will it resist soil, stains, wrinkling or do you mind if it doesn't?
• Is the fabric colorfast or will it bleed when wet or fade in sunlight?
• Can all parts of the garment be cleaned in the same way?
• Does the garment require little or no ironing or easy care?

Fabric

• Is the fabric and design of pattern on-grain?
• Do plaids or stripes match at seams, pockets, etc.?
• Is the fiber content appropriate for the use of the garment?
• Is the fabric construction appropriate for the way the garment will be used?

Seams

• Does the thread match or blend with fabric?
• Are seam allowances adequate for wear and altering ease?
• Are there proper seam finishes?
• Are there 10-12 stitches per inch?
• Do seams hang straight and are they free from puckers?

Zippers

• Is stitching even and inconspicuous?
• Is the zipper and zipper pull covered?
• Is the zipper opening flat and pucker free?
• Is the zipper sturdy and does it slide easily?

Closures (buttons, snaps, hooks, etc.)

• Are closures securely attached?
• Is there a shank or thread shank to provide for bulk?
• Is the button the correct size to keep the garment closed?
• Is the button (etc.) of good quality and consistent with design and use of garment?
• Quality garments include extra buttons inside garment or at the hemline in case one is lost.

Buttonholes

• Are buttonhole stitches even, smooth, and securely stitched?
• Are buttonholes even and adequately spaced?
• Are buttonholes straight and on-grain?

Hem

• Is the finish suitable to the garment design and fabric?
• Is the hem proper and even width for the garment style?
• Does the hem lie flat, free from puckers and grain pull?
• Does the hem hang evenly?
• Is the hem invisible from the outside of garment?

Finish and Details

• Lining will add quality and life to skirts and pants. It should lie smooth and free from binding.
• Topstitching and detailing should be even stitched, smooth and attribute to garment design.

Author: : Louise P. Young, Clothing Specialist, Utah State University Cooperative Extension.

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Revised 8/18/05