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4 Steps to Finding Clothing Brands You Love
NEWSLETTER
7/30/20264 min read
Last week I asked you what is hardest about achieving your style. One answers was that you didn’t know where to shop.
Of course I would love to say “get everything custom made by me”, but that just isn’t realistic from a budget or time perspective. There are plenty of times where off the rack makes more sense.
I’m not going to tell you where to shop, because my taste is going to be different than yours. Instead, I’m sharing a strategy to help you find clothing shops that meet YOUR style.
Note - these strategies have been drafted from an online shopping angle, but can be utilized to shop in person as well.
There are 4 basic steps:
Narrow it down & set a budget
Utilize your search tools & network
Evaluate if a brand fits your personality, ethics, and quality expectations
Minimize post buying fails by researching sizing and return policies
If you want more detail on how to perform these steps, read on.
Step 1: Narrow it down! Please please (please) don’t try to update your whole wardrobe at once – or even a full outfit. Shop for one piece at a time. If you need pieces that go together, start with one item and then shop for the second piece based on what you already purchased. Different stores are going to specialize in different items and it’s overwhelming to tackle multiple items at once.
As a part of your narrowing, get an idea of your budget. What’s the max you’re willing to spend on this item? You can always adjust your budget as needed, but it will give you a starting point to work from.
Example item criteria: I’m looking for jeans I can wear casually multiple times a week.
Example budget: $250 or less
Step 2: Utilize search sources. You don’t have to magic the brand out of your mind. Google, Claude, online articles, and social media are all great places to gather new ideas on where to shop.
I typically get some initial ideas from a search or article, then evaluate those ideas via social media and asking an AI tool for a comprehensive review of the brand.
In this search, I’m looking not for one winner, but for 4-8 finalists I can dig into. This is the start of the search, not the final judgement.
Another source we so often overlook? Asking a friend. When you see them wearing a piece you like, ask “where did you get that”. It’s not a bother – you’ve just complimented their outfit! It can be a shortcut to finding a new brand you love. Your friend can give you their opinion on the brand. You can see the quality of the piece up close and you know that you were already drawn to the brand. Don’t be shy - ask!
Example of what I’d google search: quality ethical small online jean brands
Example of article I’d click on: 10 Sustainable And Organic Cotton Jeans
Example of what I’d ask claude.ai: I’m thinking about buying a pair of jeans from buck mason. I’ve never shopped there before. How ethically made are their jeans? Can you pull a summary of their reviews from past customers please. What are the major pros and cons?
Step 3: Visit the sites on your short list and look for cues to see if this brand is a match for you. I evaluate this in 3 phases.
First is my initial impression of the aesthetic of the brand. When I look at the photos on the homepage do I think “that’s cute”. If you are scrolling through the homepage and the print, colors, or silhouettes just aren’t speaking to you, leave! Move on to the next site.
Next I navigate to specific product and evaluate quality.
I check out the fabric content - is everything polyester, or are there natural fibers like cotton or linen?
I look to see if the garment has added details like pockets, detailed stitching, or facings.
I look to see if the pictures are taken on a figure and if they have many pictures showing all the details of the piece.
All of these signal effort being put in above the bare minimum and attention to detail.
Finally, I dig into the ethics of the brand. I read their about page and their mission page to see if they align with my values. I also look at their models to see if they appear like real people with a variety of backgrounds and shapes? This is a signal of how thoughtfully the clothing is made for real bodies and how committed the brand is to being inclusive.
Step 4: Before I make a purchase, I like to hedge my purchase with some simple research. I minimize my chance of poor fitting items by understanding the general fit of the brand.
Does the brand run big, small, or true to size?
Similarly, is the average customer seeking a loose or tight fit?
For example, I like some of the styles at Lands End, but their average customer likes an extremely loose fit, so I size down 1-2 sizes below their sizing guidance when shopping there.
I also gain comfort from understanding clearly what the return policy is. Shops that have free returns with a long return window make testing out a new brand way less stressful.
That’s it! Those are the four steps. It’s not a quick activity, but I bet you that taking the time to find a high quality brand that aligns with your style, shape, ethics, and budget will land you with a piece that you will enjoy, and wear, much more.
If there is a specific piece that you want to be especially intentional and long lasting, consider getting it custom made. Or at least explore the idea. The initial exploration phase of my custom process is free and starts with a short 15 minute call. You can find more info here.
Happy shopping!
