Tips To Use When Shopping For Clothes

Many people have several articles of clothing sitting in the wardrobe that they have either never worn before or that they stopped wearing. Why? Many times, it's due to careless buying. The piece of clothing had been paid for before the new owner got home and realized something was not right. Does that sound like you? Then read up these tips I found on shopping for clothes smartly.

Check the Material

The first thing you do after you look at a garment (and you kinda like it!) is to touch it. But what do you look for by touching it? Is it just the softness of the material, or do you check for any other parameter? I don't say that the 'fabric-must-feel-good' notion is wrong but purchasing it just on the "feel factor" is not recommended.

Usually, what needs to be checked is whether the material is '100% natural' like cotton, silk, and wool, or is it 'mixed' or 'synthetic', like nylon, or polyester.

Check the Seams

The first thing that you should do while checking for quality of a garment is to turn the garment inside out and check the seams carefully. Seams are those lines of stitches that run down along the sides and join two pieces of cloth. As a beginner, start looking out for loose threads and broken stitches. You can also hold the cloth from both sides of the seam and pull the stitches (a little!) to see if they are loose. Double seams are usually stronger than single seams. The density of seams also matter -- usually 8-12 stitches per inch should be the ideal density. Checking these little points can guarantee you a sturdy piece of clothing.

Check the Hems

Hems are edges or the ends of a piece of cloth which are folded inside and sewn in order to prevent the fabric from unwinding. It is seen that nowadays to manufacture and complete the garments faster, the hems are sewn by advanced computerized sewing machines. But quality hems are the ones that are stitched by hand. The only garment that can be an exception for a visible hem is a pair of jeans. Other than jeans, no other garment should have a top-stitched hem. Ideally, the hem should be stitched in such a way that it should not have any puckering or crookedness and should blend magically with the fabric.

Check for Lining

Lining is the extra piece of clothing that is stitched to the inner side of a garment. It is observed that lined garments are more durable than unlined ones. Contrary to the belief, a lining should never be tight. Speaking from a practical point of view, it should actually be a little loose so that it allows ease of movement without tearing or ripping apart. Also lined clothes usually are easier to glide on and provide a better fit.

Check the Buttons and Zippers

The first thing to observe about buttons are if they are complete, broken buttons are an indicator of poor quality. The harder and shinier buttons are usually considered superior. You should also check if they are sewn tightly and also if they fit into their respective buttonholes or not. The buttonholes should also be checked for poor stitching. Quality buttonholes are the ones that are stitched by hand and have a slight irregularity in the stitches. Coming to zippers, I would recommend metal zippers from my personal experience. They zip and unzip better and usually do not run out of track. Do not go for plastic zippers unless absolutely necessary.

Check for Design Matching

Design or pattern matching is nothing but a parameter to judge quality craftsmanship. If the designs blend with each other at the seams in such a way that the complete garment seems to be made of a single piece of cloth, then it is an indicator of superior quality. If the designs and patterns don't align, it shows that the garment was made hurriedly by the manufacturer to produce quantity rather than quality.

Check for Discolorations, Blots, or Any Other Damage

It is also during its stay in the department store that the garment can undergo damage. Check thoroughly for any rips, stains, discolorations, or any other visible or the not-so-visible damages before taking the garment home.

Check the Instruction Tag

Here's a tip for post-purchase care of your prized possession. Check the 'instructions for care' tag. If a garment is tagged 'dry clean only', it is impractical that you will visit the dry cleaner every time you feel the need to wash a garment. However, you can at least do it for the first time. Diligently following the instructions, like 'dry in shade', 'do not wring' or 'do not iron' will save the garment from getting ruined permanently.

Extra tip: If you are buying new shoes, do not decide to take them after trying them on while seated. Ensure you walk in them to confirm that you actually can!

Tips via Buzzle

Cover image via Wealthmastery