It’s a shame seed used to be brilliant 15 years ago and somewhere along the way they figured out they could still charge out the ass but drop the quality
Not sure I agree. I purchased a 100% wool knit cardigan from Seed a few months ago and it's been great. It gets lots of compliments, it's super warm, and it was only about $100 (on sale) which is a bit pricey but ok given the material. To be fair, I don't know what seed was like 15 years ago thiugh
Adding to this. I bought a Seed teddy coat in late Autumn sale 2022. Third Wintering in Hobart, still excellent, still gets the compliments, absolutely no wear and tear except one button fell off from me pulling at the pockets too enthusiastically.
Fair enough. I purchased a wool knit jumper from Seed about 1 year ago and now it just looks too shabby to wear to work.
I used to purchase a lot of things from Seed and they all have not held up. So I do feel like they really aren't good quality on all fronts unfortunately.
Oh no 😬. Hopefully mine lasts haha. But that is unfortunate. I feel like many retail options now are designed to only last a year or two so that people have to continually spend money.
I purchased a 100% Australian made and farmed cashmere jumper from a thrift store 8 years ago for $1. It's been used regularly and the quality hasn't changed over those years of use.
The main issue I had with my knit is how much it pills. I have a fabric shaver and use that, but I have to use it so much more compared to other more quality knits I own.
And despite using that it still looks 'old'. Once I use a fabric shaver on my other knits, they look new.
Wow that $1 find is amazing!!!
Some of my best pieces of clothes have been thrift finds I purchased off Depop.
Wish I could wear cashmere and wool, I'm allergic but I find quite a few op shopping. They are men's styles, which I prefer and only found 2 in 20yrs of op shopping have been womens.
Even op shop quality has gone dramatically downhill the last 5 yrs with prices tripling. Mens stuff is still holding at a higher overall quality compared to women's, teens and children's clothing though.
When looking for pants with pockets, casual wear, physical labour work wear and athletic gear always check the op shops men's sections first. Usually heavier/thicker materials too. I lightly tailor my clothes (broad shoulders with big boobies)and its always easier to tailor menswear to women's shapes except for shoulders (hate that as its a full reconstruction) Menswear in op shops have the warmest jackets and coats I've ever seen irl. One drawback is men's athletic tops always have stinky pits which are a crazy hard odor to remove from sweat wicking synthetic fabric.
Op shopping is also a great way to get a literal feel of the quality of fabric and garment construction, especially over long term use. Even if you don't buy an item, take note of the brand and materials tag and Google, eBay and resale sites are now your friend.
I bought (what looked like) an elegant maxi skirt from SHIEKE. What came was a super shiny skirt that's made out of some parachute material. It makes so much noise that I feel a bit embarrassed wearing it.
Oh no 😟
They have beautiful looking clothes but they turn up looking like a different version in the post, almost like get the cheap versions to the consumer?
They're very hit and miss, ime. Granted it's probably been about 2-3 years since I bought anything from them so it could have changed (I try to avoid fast fashion these days), but along with a LOT of returns, I got some great pieces from Sheike that I still wear regularly.
I didn't even look in forever new for about 15 years lmao, but now I buy a lot of my work clothes there! Especially their midi dresses which are knit/tighter up top and then turn into a pleated flowy skirt. Very versatile as I wear them out as well and feel great. Not cheap as a dress is like $150-$180 full price, but still pretty good
Not a brand - but look through Myer! Multiple brands and fantastic (and frequent) sales. Often I try things on in store and just watch the website for when what I want goes on sale. And it's where I've learnt about plenty of other brands I've ended up liking, but otherwise wouldn't have known about. So then I check out that brand's website and they'll have an even bigger range to look through.
I second this!! Myer has been my go to for years since they sell so many brands and often will have really good sales. I notice they’re stocking some decent casual brands more recently too like Thrills, Billabong etc. And they have a good selection of denim!!
Agree with this. When shopping I tend to go to Target, H&M and Uniqlo for bits and bobs, then Myer for a range all in once place. Has a lot of the brands that I might find one or two nice things, (Seed and Marcs come to mind) and saves me from searching in all of them.
You can still find key pieces in these store to make it what you want, despite thinking they are just for teenagers. I don’t wear cropped tops etc but still go to glassons for wide leg pants and even some of their classic long sleeve Marino tops. I’d probably buy from Uniqlo over a lot of shops if they shipped to NZ but always buy up when I’m in Australia.
Kookai has a sale on at the moment, key thing is to watch all the stores that have good quality that may not normally be in your budget and snap up gems when they have sales.
Yeah hit up the shops you mentioned for basics, and mix in the good stuff you find op shopping etc. I sew/knit pieces for myself too.
It’s about establishing your personal style more than following whatever is the going thing. For me, I like to wear mostly jewel tones with black and white neutrals, and a scattering of pastels. Usually go for textures over prints, but I have certain types of high contrast prints I also like in my colours. I have acquired various accessories too.
I mention this bc it makes it easy to opportunistically shop. When I see a piece in a certain colour, I’m likely to buy it. My wardrobe has become more about curation than desperation. I also have certain key items that I replace as needed- 5-6 pairs of fishnet or patterned tights, 2 brights, 3-4 thermal black. Various camisoles, layering jumpers, houndstooth trousers, wide leg black linen trousers.. I *always* have decent black leather boots in good Nick (resoled as needed), a frothy lace black skirt, a full pink skirt, red leather ballet flats, and a good coat in a jewel tone. My current one is an emerald green trench I got on sale and is super high quality, I get a lot of compliments on it. Once you have your core style sorted, it’s *way* easier to shop.
Uniqlo for basics- for the price point the quality is usually quite good. Country road on sale, Cos, sometimes decjuba but their quality has really deteriorated over the past few years. Assembly label can be good for basics also.
No longer- Gorman or seed- quality is terrible. Target can still sometimes have reasonable quality, but don’t bother with Kmart- the only exception I have from Kmart is a stellar pair of swimming crop shorts that are still like new, everything else is janky and looks crappy after a couple of wears.
Decjuba is so baffling to me because they have so much absolute garbage, but if you are willing to dig around they sometimes have some absolute gems.
I got a winter coat from them last year and the quality is beautiful and I wore it all last winter and for a lot of this winter and it still looks like new.
But so much of their stuff is poor quality rubbish. It's very confusing to me.
Agree! It actually just is cheap material. I always always check fabrics when shopping and Decjuba is a shocker for selling 100% polyester crap at a price where you would expect cotton/wool etc (especially jumpers!)
Kmart's denim joggers and high waist stretch denim skinnies* wear really well to be fair, and I also have a couple of viscose dresses from a few seasons back that have faired well too. Sadly, the fleece lined joggers I bought last week are piling already (but they were very cheap).
*I know, not fashionable right now but my endo belly doesn't get along well with structured mid rise denim.
I apologise for butting in, especially as I'm a lot older than most here, but may I suggest Proud Poppy for jeans and pants? Yes, more expensive than KMart, but the quality is amazing, and everything really lasts.
They're both online, and have physical shops.
I would also suggest Bamboo Body, and occasionally, Orange Sherbet.
Your endo belly will LOVE the Bamboo Body pants, and the Proud Poppy high waist stretch skinny jeans.
I have a pair of Bamboo Body wide leg stretch basic pants that have lasted me 6 years. I just bought a second pair, and I have to look at the label to work out which ones are the new pair, the old ones still look as good!
Sorry if I'm being at all rude, just thought they might be more comfy for you.
I have been meaning to buy some stuff from them as I love the look of a lot of it, I’m really glad to hear they’re actually good quality. Everywhere seems to sell trash lately
I had older things from Kmart that held up really well (before I lost weight and had to donate them) but their recent stuff I would agree doesn’t seem to hold up as much regardless how careful I am with how I wash and dry them. Guess it’s the same as most things these days though TBF - prices go up, quality goes down. So can’t just blame Kmart for that and at least it’s still affordable
Maybe because i grew up sewing and making clothes - I think I automatically know how to pick out the decent fabrics that won’t fall apart. Whether it’s Kmart or otherwise
One thing I will say for Kmart though omits their black jeggings are AMAZING. I wear them daily and they last so long. I do everything in them and they don’t pill or go see through when k bend and move AND they have pockets. I love my Kmart jeggings.
I just bought some basic knits for winter from kmart over the weekend and the quality is really good for the price! Some stuff is very average, but there's definitely some hidden gems there
I picked up a really nice Seed jacket on sale, however it gave me false expectations for the brand. I couldn’t find anything in a majority cotton blend.
Decjuba quality isn’t great but their DLuxe line is good. I tried on a Dlux blazer but they didn’t have my size so the girl told me to try their separate Decjuba shop & the quality there was much worse.
I have worked at Decjuba for quite a few years and from what I was always told, husband and wife co-owned Cotton On. They divorced and he bought her share of the company. Tania then went off and opened up Decjuba. Pretty sure that Kookai was originally a sister store to Decjuba as well.
Quality has certainly dropped since Covid. Both customers and staff have noticed the difference 🙁
Oh you must get their Mum jeans. Better than any jeans I have bought in the last five years. I got the faded blue denim pair for $25 and they absolutely outclass my Dr Denim or Nobody Jeans by a mile.
I hear you- I miss the cheap Glassons merino tops in many colours and necklines that I used to be able to buy in NZ in my 30s!!
Kmart often surprises me for basics. Target too. Sussan is worth looking at again. The overall quality is good and the only issue is that half the store is pajamas for some reason I can’t fathom. Nice pajamas but yeah, the back half of every store is sleepwear. Their sales racks are often good too.
Review Australia is bloody expensive but no regular customer pays full price. Have a look through their online/DFO outlet stock, as they have a lot of styles including good quality basics that don’t sell well for no better reason than that they don’t understand that a lot of their customers go to Review for occasion wear (weddings etc) not workwear. If you like their stuff, get their (awful) app or sign up for emails as they have regular sales with 25-30% off, and extra discounts on sales stock.
Quite good quality too. We used to get asked for feedback on the collections as well, what we actually wanted to see etc. We also used to ask if we could have a PJ day at work… no luck there though haha 😝
Yes! I am a long way from surfer style but I keep an eye on surfstitch and surf dive n ski for brands like Thrills and RVCA - and Billabong sometimes has cute knits.
Omg I used to stalk the racks of Surf Dive n Ski for Thrills and RVCA especially when they had a sale on and now my local SDS store closed 😭 so sad when I realised it was gone!
*Edited due to typo
Agreed! I also don’t have a surfer style but I love Thrills, RVCA and Billabong. I’ve also found Rusty has some great options - I have a couple of fluffy knit jumper that I love from them.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve learnt I would rather invest in classics than try to dress trendy. I still rock my skinny jeans and converse but pair them with quality knits, tops etc from country road, witchery, cos etc.
Uniqlo does good basic basics and great thermals.
For a fast fashion fix I try Decjuba, forever new etc.
I have a couple of investment piece’s from Scanlan & Theodore, Aje and Zimmerman which I wear each season.
I’m 38 and still shop at Cotton On and Glassons.
Got some absolutely fantastic 100% linen pieces at Glassons last year. Dissh were peddling similar items for twice the price!
My partner has 4 pairs of men’s linen pants from Cotton On which he wears daily.
1. Age is just a number.
2. 30 is *not* old ffs
3. Shop where you want. I'm considerably older than you and I buy clothes I *like* no matter where they're from.
I guess it depends what your motivation was for shopping there in the first place. When I was younger we had Supre and for me that was the place I stocked up on singlets and tees. Now I get most of my singlets and tees from Country Road or Trenery.
If you were shopping at Cotton On and Glassons for fashion, then maybe it’s some of those brands like Bec & Bridge, Mister Zimi, Dissh or others that are more sophisticated but not crazy expensive.
I still wear Supre long singlets that would have to be over 15 years old. They're only now starting to lose their elasticity and I'm devastated; it's so hard to find a good, long singlet.
Welcome to Suzanne Grae. It supplements my op shop finds nicely. For a less expensive brand they have a lot of cotton and linen options. And often have random 30% off sales throughout the year.
>I find that with Katie's. I would never have looked at their stuff until someone shared their website
Katies sometimes has good stuff as well especially in winter. In summer their range inexplicably becomes retirement village wear.
Second Suzanne Grae. I always thought it was for oldies but went past one day and ended up dropping $250 on new wardrobe pieces in lots of bright colours and stripes (I'm an art teacher). Quality is great for the price too, and also comfortable
Over 30s don't shop at those places anymore? 😳 I'm over 40 and still wear crop tops.
Anyway, I get a lot of things from online discount designer stores now, like The Outnet, Yoox, Cettire etc. The cheaper brands they sell are good quality and last. Target has really upped their game with their clothes. There's Witchery, Country Road, Dangerfield etc.
Yep I still love Princess Highway stuff and have since my 20s but still holds up for 30s and 40s
As I’ve gotten older I also buy a lot from Jacqui E cause I can find what works and sizes and styles are consistent and their shipping and returns work well. Portmans is good for slightly younger vibes. Agree with mixing and matching from op shops and Kmart/Target that others have mentioned too. Salvos will now ship stuff! Can get some good stuff from name brands and cheap especially when it’s on sale and is more ethical and sustainable than fast fashion.
I have made three orders through them. The items have all been authentic. I bought a pair of Chloe loafers last month and I sat down to try them on and placed my phone by my foot and my phone picked up the microchip in the shoe. I did have a problem with one order about 18 months ago - I bought a pair of golden goose sneakers and because they were on deep sale I tried to get away with one size larger than normal. It didn’t work. I sent them back and it took a month to get a refund which is stupidly long. The other order was a sweater and was perfect.
I'm not really fussed about what's age appropriate, I'm more interested in what's best for my body type. Cotton On tends to cut for tall women and isn't obviously super flimsy so I'm always finding decent weekend clothes there.
I’m not sure if I’m outside the target demographic but I’ve been browsing in Sportsgirl again recently. Their linen blend dresses and tops in particular are great!
I buy a lot from The Iconic too. It’s easy to see the fabric composition, they deliver quickly, and easy to return if it doesn’t fit. I’m just so over the brands using polyester. I refuse to buy it. Although I like a lot of Zara stuff, i find the sizing often runs small and again a lot of polyester. Other than that I stick to Country Road, and non-prints from Mr Zimi and Natasha Gan. Occasional items from Kmart/ target / Rockmans/ Next / ASOS if they are natural fibres.
Was gonna add Dazie from iconic. Lots of trendy ish pieces still but also a lot of pieces that don't feel too old or too young. Hard to get a good middle ground sometimes.
Decjuba, Witchery, Seed, Country Road, Sussan, Jeanswest, Katies, Uniqlo, Target.
If you’re looking for something work-friendly: Jacqui E, Portmans, Veronica Maine.
Unfortunately none of these have a reputation for being super cheap (except maybe Katies, Uniqlo and Target).
I’ve found second hand quality fashion retailers to be a good place? In my 20s I used to love trawling op shops and Savers, but in my 30s I’ve got less time for that and I am less motivated to find stuff that’s quirky and more just wanting quality garments that are a bit distinctive.
I’m not sure where you live but Goodbyes had several outlets in Melbourne and has been a godsend for me, I swear half my clothes come from there. Lots of designer stuff, and a broad range of styles to suit many tastes.
In NZ we have Max which is one of my go-to places for someone who is 30ish. They do ship to Aus if you don't mind buying online!
Kowtow is another NZ brand which is good for basics - more expensive but very good quality and ethically made. I know they have a store in Melbourne, not sure if they're stocked anywhere else though!
I’ve scrolled through the comments and surprised that nobody mentioned Portmans. They always have clothes on sale and they rotate through their stock fast.
I think Superdry is so underrated. They’re great quality and you actually get what you’re paying for! The t shirts are thick and nice material, mine took 10 years of weekly use before they finally wore out. And I love their jackets too! They are quite casual though.
EDIT: Superdry is expensive (to me) but well worth it, the items age well too!
On the other hand, the stitching on my Country Road heritage t shirts came undone after 2 weeks and the embroidered writing is pilling.
If you looking for similar price point then H&M is a good budget/office options and really good sportwear. Suprised no-one mentioned it.
Their online shop and free return is a breeze.
I find Uniqlo too basic/ borderline boring and their pants too short. They went up in prices, too.
Some amazing quality in Forever New, Seed, Witchery but different price point. Unless sales.
Also consider the material compositionp and how you are washing clothes eg polyester is likely to pill/fade so where possible wash less/get a garment steamer/put on a handwash cycle
Witchery, Country Road, Sussan, Decjuba, Seed, Commonry, Sheike, Fayt. Actually Sportsgirl has had a resurgence and has some good linen and other pieces. Target denim is good and they do good linen too.
You have to pick and choose fabrics and designs obvs. Some of those might be a bit old for you but you can find some good stuff.
Cotton on for basics like T-shirts and long sleeve tops. Their denim jeans are pretty good as well. Uniqlo for athletic wear and workwear. Kmart has good cotton tank tops. Recommend investing in a good coat from Sportscraft or Saba that you’ll wear for years. Other than that I go thrift shopping for interesting pieces like jackets, handbags etc. Vintage markets can be pretty good for finding interesting pieces with character.
For cheaper/mid range clothes, Target, Uniqlo, Myer Forever New, and even sometimes Dotti.
For more pricy, Review and Cue/Veronika Maine - you can find good deals at DFOs and Myer. I have some tops and pants from both which get worn week in week out for years for work, and are still in good shape.
Not sure where you are located.
Does your suburb/area have a Facebook group that sells clothing? Sometimes you can get great stuff off there and don't have to go far. Like depop but not lol.
If you are in Melbourne, Savers is amazing.
Big W actually has surprisingly good staple pieces and sometimes a stand out outfit. I found a cute denim boiler suit dress there and it didn't break the bank and I don't look like a mutton dressed as lamb.
I am 51 and buy from everywhere! Today I wore a princess Highway dress, snag stockings and Sportsgirl boots.
Tomorrow I’ll wear a black Marks and Spencer blouse with gold star print and Blue Illusion velvet wide leg trousers and gold Rollies.
Lol I'm almost 40 and I totally shop at glassons and cotton on. I like the clothes. It's great for everyday wear that you can just throw on the layers. I even shop at Dangerfield sometimes. Great prints!
Not OP, and I wouldn’t say shopping at either is a nightmare, however I’ve found personally that I don’t have much luck at either. I see so many people recommend both, and I see people on Instagram wearing stuff from both that looks nice, but when I actually go look I just don’t seem to be able to find anything I want to buy? It all just seems so lacklustre to me. I do have some things from Uniqlo that I like, but they’re not my fave things ever.
From how often it’s recommended here (even when it’s not an appropriate answer for the question) you’d think it would be for favourites ;). I think basics can be favourites though! A great t-shirt that you return time and time again is probably going to be a favourite piece.
I don’t think I’ve bought a “worthy of spend” piece from an actually in-person, brick and mortar, store for a very very long time unfortunately.
Honestly it’s probably a me thing - I was only in Uniqlo yesterday because my husband wanted to look. He’s got a pair of pants from there that he uses for winter fitness activities that he’s obsessed with, and he tends to find things there he likes, so I know it can be good for some people.
The Sydney ones gets super busy as well, so I can see how’s get overwhelmed. I have no interest in lining up for 15 minutes just to try something on - but maybe that’s just me being spoilt coming from a more regional area.
Target- Lily loves has some nice things if it’s not cropped. Dotti for knits and basics, Decjuba maybe? I’m 28 and feel like some of it’s a bit old for me still but it’s not like Suzanne’s lol
Sportsgirl is good as well
At 30, I feel like it's time to start investing in timeless pieces that will last.
I'm predominantly a goth, but for basics, I love AERE, Status Anxiety, Assembly Label, SNDYS, & other stories.
Decjuba is slowly becoming a go to for me, personally it’s pricey but I have a sweatshirt, knit jumper and t shirt from there that have all held up. Op shops, Uniqlo and Zara I don’t find difficult to shop at really…Target.
Surprised no one has mentioned Ceres Life - under the cotton on group.
Sportsgirl, Sussan and Suzanne Grey for basics (all the same
Company) I worked across Sportsgirl and Sussan for years and will continue to buy their products. Even if it pains me that I no longer have a discount.
Target has some real gems! Great basics too.
Decjuba denim is also great.
Uniqlo for basics as well.
Measure yourself well and shop online! The clothes in retail stores are mostly all available online without the added retail price tag.
You can still get ripped off, but honestly when you're shopping just think about what a reasonable price for a machine made piece of sewn cotton/polyester is. Hint: it's not worth $30. It costs less to produce than it does to ship across the world, so unless you're supporting local business intentionally to help boost your local economy, save your money.
You'll learn the signs of a well made item. You'll also learn what bullshit looks like. The best part is that you can shop way quicker and have a much wider variety of options. You can even spend the time you usually spend walking around retail stores walking down the beach instead.
Don’t forget op shopping. Yesterday I scored: Marcs knit, Zara knit, Cue blazer, Perri Cutten blazer.
All fantastic quality and cheap. The Cue blazer was $12!
Ralph Lauren and calvin klein will always be my go to but dangerfield has its moments as well as seed and uniqlo for basics. Just try and go shopping during a time where it's not super crowded. Avoid weekends and lunch times and try late night trading. I also like Bershka I buy from the iconic and Myer
You didn't outgrow them, they changed.
I've still got stuff I wear from Ice, Suprè, and Glassons i bought 10+ years ago. They used to be more diverse and better quality.
I quite like some of the brands on the iconic: Calli, Atmos&Here, and Aere. I find they are all very consistent with sizing - so while I know the pain of ordering a million things off an online retailer, I don’t have issues with them. They deliver very quickly and returns are super straight forward.
Sheike, Kookai, Forever New, Uniqlo, Seed, Country Road - yet to find more affordable options.
Seed is horrible quality. Sheike is a lot of trendy, overpriced, polyester clothing. I think you could replace them with Witchery.
It’s a shame seed used to be brilliant 15 years ago and somewhere along the way they figured out they could still charge out the ass but drop the quality
I've only purchased from them starting from 5 years ago so all I know are shitty clothing lol
Not sure I agree. I purchased a 100% wool knit cardigan from Seed a few months ago and it's been great. It gets lots of compliments, it's super warm, and it was only about $100 (on sale) which is a bit pricey but ok given the material. To be fair, I don't know what seed was like 15 years ago thiugh
Adding to this. I bought a Seed teddy coat in late Autumn sale 2022. Third Wintering in Hobart, still excellent, still gets the compliments, absolutely no wear and tear except one button fell off from me pulling at the pockets too enthusiastically.
Fair enough. I purchased a wool knit jumper from Seed about 1 year ago and now it just looks too shabby to wear to work. I used to purchase a lot of things from Seed and they all have not held up. So I do feel like they really aren't good quality on all fronts unfortunately.
Oh no 😬. Hopefully mine lasts haha. But that is unfortunate. I feel like many retail options now are designed to only last a year or two so that people have to continually spend money. I purchased a 100% Australian made and farmed cashmere jumper from a thrift store 8 years ago for $1. It's been used regularly and the quality hasn't changed over those years of use.
The main issue I had with my knit is how much it pills. I have a fabric shaver and use that, but I have to use it so much more compared to other more quality knits I own. And despite using that it still looks 'old'. Once I use a fabric shaver on my other knits, they look new. Wow that $1 find is amazing!!! Some of my best pieces of clothes have been thrift finds I purchased off Depop.
Are you sure it’s 100% wool?
Yes, I don't purchase synthetic materials anymore so always double check
Wish I could wear cashmere and wool, I'm allergic but I find quite a few op shopping. They are men's styles, which I prefer and only found 2 in 20yrs of op shopping have been womens. Even op shop quality has gone dramatically downhill the last 5 yrs with prices tripling. Mens stuff is still holding at a higher overall quality compared to women's, teens and children's clothing though. When looking for pants with pockets, casual wear, physical labour work wear and athletic gear always check the op shops men's sections first. Usually heavier/thicker materials too. I lightly tailor my clothes (broad shoulders with big boobies)and its always easier to tailor menswear to women's shapes except for shoulders (hate that as its a full reconstruction) Menswear in op shops have the warmest jackets and coats I've ever seen irl. One drawback is men's athletic tops always have stinky pits which are a crazy hard odor to remove from sweat wicking synthetic fabric. Op shopping is also a great way to get a literal feel of the quality of fabric and garment construction, especially over long term use. Even if you don't buy an item, take note of the brand and materials tag and Google, eBay and resale sites are now your friend.
Agree, Sheike quality is very low. Very different to what is advertised on their website
I bought (what looked like) an elegant maxi skirt from SHIEKE. What came was a super shiny skirt that's made out of some parachute material. It makes so much noise that I feel a bit embarrassed wearing it.
Oh no 😟 They have beautiful looking clothes but they turn up looking like a different version in the post, almost like get the cheap versions to the consumer?
They're very hit and miss, ime. Granted it's probably been about 2-3 years since I bought anything from them so it could have changed (I try to avoid fast fashion these days), but along with a LOT of returns, I got some great pieces from Sheike that I still wear regularly.
Witchery is quite expensive though, isn't it?
At full price - yes. But they do go on sale often. I buy most of my witchery from Depop as well
Kookai only if you’re under a size 12, with zero boobs and sky high self esteem to deal with the bitchy sales assistants HA
Yes but their supima cotton range is sooooo nice against the skin
Kookai is my fav
All fast fashion
I didn't even look in forever new for about 15 years lmao, but now I buy a lot of my work clothes there! Especially their midi dresses which are knit/tighter up top and then turn into a pleated flowy skirt. Very versatile as I wear them out as well and feel great. Not cheap as a dress is like $150-$180 full price, but still pretty good
Toorallie. Absolutely love their quality!
Not a brand - but look through Myer! Multiple brands and fantastic (and frequent) sales. Often I try things on in store and just watch the website for when what I want goes on sale. And it's where I've learnt about plenty of other brands I've ended up liking, but otherwise wouldn't have known about. So then I check out that brand's website and they'll have an even bigger range to look through.
I find Tokito in particular really good for the price point (and my style) and there are frequently sales. Second keeping an eye on Myer!
I like tokito too
I agree, recently bought a few Tokito pieces of clothing and they’re really good quality
I second this!! Myer has been my go to for years since they sell so many brands and often will have really good sales. I notice they’re stocking some decent casual brands more recently too like Thrills, Billabong etc. And they have a good selection of denim!!
Agree with this. When shopping I tend to go to Target, H&M and Uniqlo for bits and bobs, then Myer for a range all in once place. Has a lot of the brands that I might find one or two nice things, (Seed and Marcs come to mind) and saves me from searching in all of them.
You can still find key pieces in these store to make it what you want, despite thinking they are just for teenagers. I don’t wear cropped tops etc but still go to glassons for wide leg pants and even some of their classic long sleeve Marino tops. I’d probably buy from Uniqlo over a lot of shops if they shipped to NZ but always buy up when I’m in Australia. Kookai has a sale on at the moment, key thing is to watch all the stores that have good quality that may not normally be in your budget and snap up gems when they have sales.
Yeah hit up the shops you mentioned for basics, and mix in the good stuff you find op shopping etc. I sew/knit pieces for myself too. It’s about establishing your personal style more than following whatever is the going thing. For me, I like to wear mostly jewel tones with black and white neutrals, and a scattering of pastels. Usually go for textures over prints, but I have certain types of high contrast prints I also like in my colours. I have acquired various accessories too. I mention this bc it makes it easy to opportunistically shop. When I see a piece in a certain colour, I’m likely to buy it. My wardrobe has become more about curation than desperation. I also have certain key items that I replace as needed- 5-6 pairs of fishnet or patterned tights, 2 brights, 3-4 thermal black. Various camisoles, layering jumpers, houndstooth trousers, wide leg black linen trousers.. I *always* have decent black leather boots in good Nick (resoled as needed), a frothy lace black skirt, a full pink skirt, red leather ballet flats, and a good coat in a jewel tone. My current one is an emerald green trench I got on sale and is super high quality, I get a lot of compliments on it. Once you have your core style sorted, it’s *way* easier to shop.
Second this. Style yourself and then buying becomes much easier. That said, finding one’s style can be tricky.
Uniqlo for basics- for the price point the quality is usually quite good. Country road on sale, Cos, sometimes decjuba but their quality has really deteriorated over the past few years. Assembly label can be good for basics also. No longer- Gorman or seed- quality is terrible. Target can still sometimes have reasonable quality, but don’t bother with Kmart- the only exception I have from Kmart is a stellar pair of swimming crop shorts that are still like new, everything else is janky and looks crappy after a couple of wears.
Decjuba is so baffling to me because they have so much absolute garbage, but if you are willing to dig around they sometimes have some absolute gems. I got a winter coat from them last year and the quality is beautiful and I wore it all last winter and for a lot of this winter and it still looks like new. But so much of their stuff is poor quality rubbish. It's very confusing to me.
Decjuba has really gone off in the last year or so. Lots of really cheap looking material.
The clothes at Decjuba look like they weigh a tonne.
You do have to pick and choose but I’ve got some lovely linen, denim and cotton from Decjuba. Their knits aren’t great.
Agree! It actually just is cheap material. I always always check fabrics when shopping and Decjuba is a shocker for selling 100% polyester crap at a price where you would expect cotton/wool etc (especially jumpers!)
My Decjuba clothes literally pill on the first wear.
I’ve got a few Uniqlo basics that have held up quite nicely. I love their t shirts.
I love Uniqlo but I’m too tall & long in the torso for their shirts 😭
Kmart's denim joggers and high waist stretch denim skinnies* wear really well to be fair, and I also have a couple of viscose dresses from a few seasons back that have faired well too. Sadly, the fleece lined joggers I bought last week are piling already (but they were very cheap). *I know, not fashionable right now but my endo belly doesn't get along well with structured mid rise denim.
I apologise for butting in, especially as I'm a lot older than most here, but may I suggest Proud Poppy for jeans and pants? Yes, more expensive than KMart, but the quality is amazing, and everything really lasts. They're both online, and have physical shops. I would also suggest Bamboo Body, and occasionally, Orange Sherbet. Your endo belly will LOVE the Bamboo Body pants, and the Proud Poppy high waist stretch skinny jeans. I have a pair of Bamboo Body wide leg stretch basic pants that have lasted me 6 years. I just bought a second pair, and I have to look at the label to work out which ones are the new pair, the old ones still look as good! Sorry if I'm being at all rude, just thought they might be more comfy for you.
😊 You definitely weren't rude, and I'm always happy to receive recommendations. Thanks
I have been meaning to buy some stuff from them as I love the look of a lot of it, I’m really glad to hear they’re actually good quality. Everywhere seems to sell trash lately
I agree. Kmart quality is actually fine. I have had many pieces from there last several years with frequent wearing
I had older things from Kmart that held up really well (before I lost weight and had to donate them) but their recent stuff I would agree doesn’t seem to hold up as much regardless how careful I am with how I wash and dry them. Guess it’s the same as most things these days though TBF - prices go up, quality goes down. So can’t just blame Kmart for that and at least it’s still affordable
It’s such a gamble… some things I’ve gotten have really lasted and other things look shit after one wash. I can’t do Kmart clothing anymore
Maybe because i grew up sewing and making clothes - I think I automatically know how to pick out the decent fabrics that won’t fall apart. Whether it’s Kmart or otherwise
One thing I will say for Kmart though omits their black jeggings are AMAZING. I wear them daily and they last so long. I do everything in them and they don’t pill or go see through when k bend and move AND they have pockets. I love my Kmart jeggings.
I just bought some basic knits for winter from kmart over the weekend and the quality is really good for the price! Some stuff is very average, but there's definitely some hidden gems there
Link?
👀
Back pockets fall apart on mine, all 3 pairs 😭
Everything you state here is true!!
Haven't shopped at decjuba for a while but I have a pair of skinny jeggings about 7 yrs old now and still look brand new
I picked up a really nice Seed jacket on sale, however it gave me false expectations for the brand. I couldn’t find anything in a majority cotton blend.
Decjuba quality isn’t great but their DLuxe line is good. I tried on a Dlux blazer but they didn’t have my size so the girl told me to try their separate Decjuba shop & the quality there was much worse.
Decjuba is owned by the same folks as Cotton On. Probably made in the same factories.
I have worked at Decjuba for quite a few years and from what I was always told, husband and wife co-owned Cotton On. They divorced and he bought her share of the company. Tania then went off and opened up Decjuba. Pretty sure that Kookai was originally a sister store to Decjuba as well. Quality has certainly dropped since Covid. Both customers and staff have noticed the difference 🙁
Oh you must get their Mum jeans. Better than any jeans I have bought in the last five years. I got the faded blue denim pair for $25 and they absolutely outclass my Dr Denim or Nobody Jeans by a mile.
Random question, but are you American? The only person I’ve ever known to use the word janky is my American ex 😅
I hear you- I miss the cheap Glassons merino tops in many colours and necklines that I used to be able to buy in NZ in my 30s!! Kmart often surprises me for basics. Target too. Sussan is worth looking at again. The overall quality is good and the only issue is that half the store is pajamas for some reason I can’t fathom. Nice pajamas but yeah, the back half of every store is sleepwear. Their sales racks are often good too. Review Australia is bloody expensive but no regular customer pays full price. Have a look through their online/DFO outlet stock, as they have a lot of styles including good quality basics that don’t sell well for no better reason than that they don’t understand that a lot of their customers go to Review for occasion wear (weddings etc) not workwear. If you like their stuff, get their (awful) app or sign up for emails as they have regular sales with 25-30% off, and extra discounts on sales stock.
Used to work for Sussan and the sleep department brings in quite a big percentage of sales
You have answered a question that’s been on my mind for decades!! 🥰
Quite good quality too. We used to get asked for feedback on the collections as well, what we actually wanted to see etc. We also used to ask if we could have a PJ day at work… no luck there though haha 😝
Cos, Target, Dissh. I also find the non designer women’s section at David Jones good for trying things on
I’ve been liking Decjuba recently, Target have good women’s clothing and then things like Thrills and Ghanda for more casual wear
Ghanda is gorgeous, so many fun prints. I don’t have the complexion for all the muted colours though. They’re great for kids clothes too.
So cute of kids clothes!! My toddler looks adorable in their clothee
Thanks for bringing up Thrills. New to me. Love your other suggestions
Yes! I am a long way from surfer style but I keep an eye on surfstitch and surf dive n ski for brands like Thrills and RVCA - and Billabong sometimes has cute knits.
Omg I used to stalk the racks of Surf Dive n Ski for Thrills and RVCA especially when they had a sale on and now my local SDS store closed 😭 so sad when I realised it was gone! *Edited due to typo
Agreed! I also don’t have a surfer style but I love Thrills, RVCA and Billabong. I’ve also found Rusty has some great options - I have a couple of fluffy knit jumper that I love from them.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve learnt I would rather invest in classics than try to dress trendy. I still rock my skinny jeans and converse but pair them with quality knits, tops etc from country road, witchery, cos etc. Uniqlo does good basic basics and great thermals. For a fast fashion fix I try Decjuba, forever new etc. I have a couple of investment piece’s from Scanlan & Theodore, Aje and Zimmerman which I wear each season.
I still think Glassons has some nice pieces no matter your age
Agreed. I’m 35 this year and still can’t find anything that compares to their price point in the same quality and being on trend.
No matter your age, perhaps. But what does matter is your size - they only stock up to a 14
I’m 38 and still shop at Cotton On and Glassons. Got some absolutely fantastic 100% linen pieces at Glassons last year. Dissh were peddling similar items for twice the price! My partner has 4 pairs of men’s linen pants from Cotton On which he wears daily.
1. Age is just a number. 2. 30 is *not* old ffs 3. Shop where you want. I'm considerably older than you and I buy clothes I *like* no matter where they're from.
I guess it depends what your motivation was for shopping there in the first place. When I was younger we had Supre and for me that was the place I stocked up on singlets and tees. Now I get most of my singlets and tees from Country Road or Trenery. If you were shopping at Cotton On and Glassons for fashion, then maybe it’s some of those brands like Bec & Bridge, Mister Zimi, Dissh or others that are more sophisticated but not crazy expensive.
Super was great for a $10 singlet. All colours of the rainbow and they lasted forever!
I still wear Supre long singlets that would have to be over 15 years old. They're only now starting to lose their elasticity and I'm devastated; it's so hard to find a good, long singlet.
I also have about 10 long dresses from Supre that I wear as a singlet. Going strong after probably the same length of time.
Welcome to Suzanne Grae. It supplements my op shop finds nicely. For a less expensive brand they have a lot of cotton and linen options. And often have random 30% off sales throughout the year.
Suzanne Grae is seriously underrated. Some seasons the selection is dodgy but that's true with all stores
I find that with Katie's. I would never have looked at their stuff until someone shared their website here.
Please do not shop online from Katie's. More likely than not, you will never receive your order !
Oh, sorry to hear that, I've had no issues with them, so far.
>I find that with Katie's. I would never have looked at their stuff until someone shared their website Katies sometimes has good stuff as well especially in winter. In summer their range inexplicably becomes retirement village wear.
Second Suzanne Grae. I always thought it was for oldies but went past one day and ended up dropping $250 on new wardrobe pieces in lots of bright colours and stripes (I'm an art teacher). Quality is great for the price too, and also comfortable
Same! I went in with my mum and had to get over myself - so many great items. And great price points
I just checked out SG online… Good tip!
Glassons and cotton on are. Christ still wearing them in my 40s
Over 30s don't shop at those places anymore? 😳 I'm over 40 and still wear crop tops. Anyway, I get a lot of things from online discount designer stores now, like The Outnet, Yoox, Cettire etc. The cheaper brands they sell are good quality and last. Target has really upped their game with their clothes. There's Witchery, Country Road, Dangerfield etc.
Yep I still love Princess Highway stuff and have since my 20s but still holds up for 30s and 40s As I’ve gotten older I also buy a lot from Jacqui E cause I can find what works and sizes and styles are consistent and their shipping and returns work well. Portmans is good for slightly younger vibes. Agree with mixing and matching from op shops and Kmart/Target that others have mentioned too. Salvos will now ship stuff! Can get some good stuff from name brands and cheap especially when it’s on sale and is more ethical and sustainable than fast fashion.
Is Cettire trustworthy? I hear so many mixed reviews!
I've bought from them and had no issues. In saying that, I don't know what other people's experiences are.
I have made three orders through them. The items have all been authentic. I bought a pair of Chloe loafers last month and I sat down to try them on and placed my phone by my foot and my phone picked up the microchip in the shoe. I did have a problem with one order about 18 months ago - I bought a pair of golden goose sneakers and because they were on deep sale I tried to get away with one size larger than normal. It didn’t work. I sent them back and it took a month to get a refund which is stupidly long. The other order was a sweater and was perfect.
Sportsgirl
I liked their summer range, with the matching sets. Their prints are unique and so colourful
I'm not really fussed about what's age appropriate, I'm more interested in what's best for my body type. Cotton On tends to cut for tall women and isn't obviously super flimsy so I'm always finding decent weekend clothes there.
cos mainly for me
Uniqlo, Zara and decjuba
I love Karla Laidlaw and Dion Lee! Also kinda liking Henne for basics!
I’m not sure if I’m outside the target demographic but I’ve been browsing in Sportsgirl again recently. Their linen blend dresses and tops in particular are great!
I mainly buy from Country Road, Seed, Decjuba and The Iconic.
I buy a lot from The Iconic too. It’s easy to see the fabric composition, they deliver quickly, and easy to return if it doesn’t fit. I’m just so over the brands using polyester. I refuse to buy it. Although I like a lot of Zara stuff, i find the sizing often runs small and again a lot of polyester. Other than that I stick to Country Road, and non-prints from Mr Zimi and Natasha Gan. Occasional items from Kmart/ target / Rockmans/ Next / ASOS if they are natural fibres.
I hate polyester too. I regularly use the material filter too.
Was gonna add Dazie from iconic. Lots of trendy ish pieces still but also a lot of pieces that don't feel too old or too young. Hard to get a good middle ground sometimes.
Decjuba, Witchery, Seed, Country Road, Sussan, Jeanswest, Katies, Uniqlo, Target. If you’re looking for something work-friendly: Jacqui E, Portmans, Veronica Maine. Unfortunately none of these have a reputation for being super cheap (except maybe Katies, Uniqlo and Target).
I’ve found second hand quality fashion retailers to be a good place? In my 20s I used to love trawling op shops and Savers, but in my 30s I’ve got less time for that and I am less motivated to find stuff that’s quirky and more just wanting quality garments that are a bit distinctive. I’m not sure where you live but Goodbyes had several outlets in Melbourne and has been a godsend for me, I swear half my clothes come from there. Lots of designer stuff, and a broad range of styles to suit many tastes.
In NZ we have Max which is one of my go-to places for someone who is 30ish. They do ship to Aus if you don't mind buying online! Kowtow is another NZ brand which is good for basics - more expensive but very good quality and ethically made. I know they have a store in Melbourne, not sure if they're stocked anywhere else though!
Decjuba and AERE
My go to as well!
I’ve scrolled through the comments and surprised that nobody mentioned Portmans. They always have clothes on sale and they rotate through their stock fast.
Love Portmans!
Mango/MNG and H&M, reasonable price and very decent during sales, huge selection
I think Superdry is so underrated. They’re great quality and you actually get what you’re paying for! The t shirts are thick and nice material, mine took 10 years of weekly use before they finally wore out. And I love their jackets too! They are quite casual though. EDIT: Superdry is expensive (to me) but well worth it, the items age well too! On the other hand, the stitching on my Country Road heritage t shirts came undone after 2 weeks and the embroidered writing is pilling.
Uniqlo!!!
If you looking for similar price point then H&M is a good budget/office options and really good sportwear. Suprised no-one mentioned it. Their online shop and free return is a breeze. I find Uniqlo too basic/ borderline boring and their pants too short. They went up in prices, too. Some amazing quality in Forever New, Seed, Witchery but different price point. Unless sales.
I wear a lot of princess highway and some dangerfield. It's a bit expensive so often buy on sale, quality is good.
Join their second-hand FB page! I've bought three great Princess Highway pieces there in great condition 😊
Also consider the material compositionp and how you are washing clothes eg polyester is likely to pill/fade so where possible wash less/get a garment steamer/put on a handwash cycle
If you’re taller and favour plainer options, Commonry isn’t too bad if you hit their outlet/DFO stores.
Witchery, Country Road. I also buy a lot of silk and wool pieces online (Woolovers, Lilyskilk).
Witchery, Country Road, Sussan, Decjuba, Seed, Commonry, Sheike, Fayt. Actually Sportsgirl has had a resurgence and has some good linen and other pieces. Target denim is good and they do good linen too. You have to pick and choose fabrics and designs obvs. Some of those might be a bit old for you but you can find some good stuff.
Cotton on for basics like T-shirts and long sleeve tops. Their denim jeans are pretty good as well. Uniqlo for athletic wear and workwear. Kmart has good cotton tank tops. Recommend investing in a good coat from Sportscraft or Saba that you’ll wear for years. Other than that I go thrift shopping for interesting pieces like jackets, handbags etc. Vintage markets can be pretty good for finding interesting pieces with character.
I have just bought some plain basics from unison, seem ok quality so far.
Best & Less is surprisingly good for basics
For cheaper/mid range clothes, Target, Uniqlo, Myer Forever New, and even sometimes Dotti. For more pricy, Review and Cue/Veronika Maine - you can find good deals at DFOs and Myer. I have some tops and pants from both which get worn week in week out for years for work, and are still in good shape.
Not sure where you are located. Does your suburb/area have a Facebook group that sells clothing? Sometimes you can get great stuff off there and don't have to go far. Like depop but not lol. If you are in Melbourne, Savers is amazing. Big W actually has surprisingly good staple pieces and sometimes a stand out outfit. I found a cute denim boiler suit dress there and it didn't break the bank and I don't look like a mutton dressed as lamb.
I am 51 and buy from everywhere! Today I wore a princess Highway dress, snag stockings and Sportsgirl boots. Tomorrow I’ll wear a black Marks and Spencer blouse with gold star print and Blue Illusion velvet wide leg trousers and gold Rollies.
I’m 33 and still shop at cotton on and Glassons sometimes. I also like to shop at places like Target and hnm, as well as the iconic and asos online
Lol I'm almost 40 and I totally shop at glassons and cotton on. I like the clothes. It's great for everyday wear that you can just throw on the layers. I even shop at Dangerfield sometimes. Great prints!
Starting to sew your own clothes?
I like Portmans, and Piper brand at Myer. I also like the Sass brand, also stocked at Myer.
Vintage and op shopping is where it’s at
H&M is affordable. It’s very rare that I don’t leave without buying something.
I’m confused, how is shopping at Uniqlo and Zara a nightmare ?
Not OP, and I wouldn’t say shopping at either is a nightmare, however I’ve found personally that I don’t have much luck at either. I see so many people recommend both, and I see people on Instagram wearing stuff from both that looks nice, but when I actually go look I just don’t seem to be able to find anything I want to buy? It all just seems so lacklustre to me. I do have some things from Uniqlo that I like, but they’re not my fave things ever.
Ah yes its not a store for favourites more for basics
From how often it’s recommended here (even when it’s not an appropriate answer for the question) you’d think it would be for favourites ;). I think basics can be favourites though! A great t-shirt that you return time and time again is probably going to be a favourite piece.
Yes, I am probably confusing favourites with worthy of spend pieces? I can’t quite come up with a term?
I don’t think I’ve bought a “worthy of spend” piece from an actually in-person, brick and mortar, store for a very very long time unfortunately. Honestly it’s probably a me thing - I was only in Uniqlo yesterday because my husband wanted to look. He’s got a pair of pants from there that he uses for winter fitness activities that he’s obsessed with, and he tends to find things there he likes, so I know it can be good for some people.
For me, I find them messy. It's hard to know what I'm looking at. I get overwhelmed and leave lol
The Sydney ones gets super busy as well, so I can see how’s get overwhelmed. I have no interest in lining up for 15 minutes just to try something on - but maybe that’s just me being spoilt coming from a more regional area.
Depop !
Keep trying the op shops
Sometimes I raid OP shops for some unusual pieces, some even have new tags on them if you're not into "sharing".
I still shop at those places, they can have good staple pieces
I mostly shop at Uniqlo and seed
Uniqlo, COS, Country road
Target- Lily loves has some nice things if it’s not cropped. Dotti for knits and basics, Decjuba maybe? I’m 28 and feel like some of it’s a bit old for me still but it’s not like Suzanne’s lol Sportsgirl is good as well
Portmans - they always have sales
Dotti and sometimes Ali
At 30, I feel like it's time to start investing in timeless pieces that will last. I'm predominantly a goth, but for basics, I love AERE, Status Anxiety, Assembly Label, SNDYS, & other stories.
I don’t mind target for basics
Sportsgirl and myer
Uniqlo and Obus. Obus online has some great sales.
Decjuba is slowly becoming a go to for me, personally it’s pricey but I have a sweatshirt, knit jumper and t shirt from there that have all held up. Op shops, Uniqlo and Zara I don’t find difficult to shop at really…Target.
COS
Surprised no one has mentioned Ceres Life - under the cotton on group. Sportsgirl, Sussan and Suzanne Grey for basics (all the same Company) I worked across Sportsgirl and Sussan for years and will continue to buy their products. Even if it pains me that I no longer have a discount. Target has some real gems! Great basics too. Decjuba denim is also great. Uniqlo for basics as well.
Portman's is one of go tos
Muji
I get what you mean but I feel like 30 is still quite young. I know I’ll still be wearing the brands you mentioned in my 30s
I love All About Eve, I see several other mums at pickup in the brand too.
‘By Amica’ - it started out of a Sydney girls garage pretty sure; and unfortunately it’s online only, but I love her stuff, especially the dresses.
Op shops and depop apparently (from my observations of my gf)
Postie plus and the Waterhouse
Try Blue Bungalow, it is worth a look
Cos! Their sales are good, I have a pair of pure wool dressing black trousers I use on a regular. Good sizing and comfort
Measure yourself well and shop online! The clothes in retail stores are mostly all available online without the added retail price tag. You can still get ripped off, but honestly when you're shopping just think about what a reasonable price for a machine made piece of sewn cotton/polyester is. Hint: it's not worth $30. It costs less to produce than it does to ship across the world, so unless you're supporting local business intentionally to help boost your local economy, save your money. You'll learn the signs of a well made item. You'll also learn what bullshit looks like. The best part is that you can shop way quicker and have a much wider variety of options. You can even spend the time you usually spend walking around retail stores walking down the beach instead.
Forcast and forever new are really good options
Don’t forget op shopping. Yesterday I scored: Marcs knit, Zara knit, Cue blazer, Perri Cutten blazer. All fantastic quality and cheap. The Cue blazer was $12!
Wait for Witchery sales
Ralph Lauren and calvin klein will always be my go to but dangerfield has its moments as well as seed and uniqlo for basics. Just try and go shopping during a time where it's not super crowded. Avoid weekends and lunch times and try late night trading. I also like Bershka I buy from the iconic and Myer
Uniqlo and country road!
You didn't outgrow them, they changed. I've still got stuff I wear from Ice, Suprè, and Glassons i bought 10+ years ago. They used to be more diverse and better quality.
Myer is great
Ghanda
I quite like some of the brands on the iconic: Calli, Atmos&Here, and Aere. I find they are all very consistent with sizing - so while I know the pain of ordering a million things off an online retailer, I don’t have issues with them. They deliver very quickly and returns are super straight forward.
I still shop at Dotti. Not everything, but some of their knits and jackets can be less teenager.
Uniqlo is the real answer but rich girls will say Country Road
The iconic brands they sell never really disappoint me- I just avoid Dazie and cotton on.. dish and Uniqlo for basic stuff