I am fed up with shoddy clothing--here's my letter to Lands' End:

Dear xxx:

I am writing you today because I've been buying Lands' End clothing for a very long time, and I'm seeing changes that I do not like. This is true especially in women's clothing.

I see more and more emphasis on style, instead of quality. Now, I know that women's clothing has long been on the short end of the stick when it comes to quality; it's well known that men's clothing is better made, more durable, and much less likely to be changed due to style considerations. The new women's shirts, for example, are all frilly, very short sleeves, no top stitching, plus they skim close to the body. Maybe this appeals to the 20 somethings, but it sure doesn't appeal to me. I want well-made, well-sized and durable clothes. Back in the 80's and 90's, Lands' End clothing used to be made this way. No more.

I watched, in increasing dismay, as my favorite shirts were altered beyond recognition, and then not being made at all. For instance, the Lands' End mock turtle, in short sleeves. They used to have banded sleeves, they were cut generously through the body, and they had top stitching. The sleeves were also longer, much more attractive than the cap sleeves of today. And why were these changes made?

I think I know why. Those details cost money. And so it was decided by the powers that be that women wouldn't notice these changes, since we are so foolishly more concerned with fashion. Or if we did notice, well, we can always shop somewhere else. I can only speak for myself, but I sure as heck noticed. Over the years, I have voiced my concerns and my dismay to various operators, all to no avail. Big surprise, not. And so today, I have had enough. Time to get this in writing, and hopefully far enough up the ladder to be noticed.

My anger, my sense of disappointment, both can hardly be expressed adequately enough. Lands' End has put its profits ahead of truly caring for its customers. The company has decided, along with many companies, that exploiting (or maybe even helping to create) women's sense of fashion would be the best way to institute changes that would cost less, and make the clothing cheaper to make. And since women do not care about quality, then all would be well. Decrease the cost of making the clothes, and don't raise the prices (not by much, anyway) and the bottom line would be preserved. The customers would not be the wiser.
I see changes like these everywhere I shop. Everywhere companies are cutting corners, while they keep prices down, or increasing them only slightly. Maybe it's thought that the American public is too dumb, or too busy to notice, but I'm neither dumb nor busy.

So, now, I'm buying the men's shirts. The sizing is a little different, but I can adjust. Still, nothing would make me happier than to see the return to the values and the quality of yesterday. I would eagerly buy the now-vanished short-sleeved mock turtles I love. But they would have to be identical to the ones you folks made back in the 80's and 90's.
I suspect that I speak for many. And I sincerely hope that you will listen, and, more importantly, act.

Sincerely,
xxx

made of polyester.

Men's clothes have pockets, are designed to be alterable, have clear and consistent sizes, come in fun colors now, have natural materials and classic non-stupid styles. It's all good.

I returned a Lands' End women's polo shirt because the sleeves were too short. A friend of mine told me she did the same thing for the same reason. You see, the Whole Point of women's clothes is to display women's bodies and keep them buying different clothes for different times of year and different clothes every year. Other than that, they're practical.

But your points are spot on about the fashion stuff.

I. Am. Fed. Up.

I wonder if I'll get a response...

their double needle cotton tailoring shirts were wonderful...and required less starch.

Alas, in California, no such thing.

I love their men's woven shirts for my husband.

I always enjoyed Factory outlet shopping. It can be fun and a lot more relaxing than the mad rush of box store shopping like mall-mad-shopping. Now I shop at Harry Rosen, though expensive, but reason to look good at the office.

from land's end. he really likes them.

www.rei.com

www.reioutlet.com

www.sierratradingpost.com

Agreed! Women's clothes are cheap & badly made from most retailers. They fall apart after one season & guess what...time to go shopping again!

I'm a size 8, have a runner's physique, & have actually had to buy shirts in XL. Normally I wear a M.

:shrug:

I am sick of getting over charged for crap that doesn't fit right, cheap materials and gawdawful designs.

I think that was the start of the decline. I have a couple of turtleneck shirts I bought from them probably 15 years ago and they still hold up well. I don't think I can say that about the stuff they have now.

Why would anyone buy from Land's End any more?

The whole thing is now based on a scheme by Eddie Lampert to "unlock the shareholder value" of Sears and KMart's real estate. He doesn't actually care about retailing. He's a financier.

The 7 year old LE fleece slippers I'm wearing now would never be sold in their current catalog. Too long lasting!

I bought the wrong size. I sent it back, I was waiting and waiting for the new item.

To make a long boring story short, I had to contact them to see what was going on.

Got my refund but not some good explanation as to what happened.

I've never had a problem with an exchange.

But of course, things can change...

My mother has worn pantsuits for decades--that's all she wears. And of course, her whole wardrobe is doubleknit. I'm trying to find some cotton, linen or any fabric that is NOT polyester--I'd even take rayon. But you look in the stores and even the high end stuff is polyester.

All their knit clothing in the regular every-day clothing catalog is cotton.

I'd call and ask...

I loathe polyester!

:hi:

in that stuff.

My shoulders have spurs, and knits work much better for me. Much easier on and off...

This is an example of their short sleeve mock turtle...

I was at an open mic, reading my poetry...

...you look so Manhattan Beachy! I love it! :hi:

:hi:

:silly:

probably does not "need" spandex..and it's likely that the woman buying it does not want to accentuate every little bulge by wearing sausage casing..

harder to get out. Plus it shrinks.

Rubbers absorb oil...that is why it's a PITA
And I am guessing that maybe this is by design....spandex blends...stain sooner, must replace, can't go around wearing a stained outfit....

If the shirt hugs too tightly, you need to go a size up.

an found the "largest" one to be smaller than than smallest sized one..

and after washing & drying, they end up being given to a "skinny" friend:)

My friend got a really nice shirt from me once and said.. "I" can't wear this..it's an XL...but then she tried it on and said.. "Sheez, it's almost too tight":)

In the trendy "young-folks" sections, I can understand spandex, but in the "grown-up/chubby-lady" sections (where we shop for comfort), spandex is not all that desirable:)

So easy to wear and comfy. I buy soft cottony knits, nothing harsh. I wear a 16 and I always find pretty clothes.

I rarely put on a non-knit top. And I don't iron, lol.

I've been getting some LLBean stuff, but they're still made pretty boxy, which isn't all that attractive on me.

that actually fit, they make everything stretchy, which makes most women look like sausages.

I'm having a suit made from scratch so that I can get one to fit out of material that won't make me sweat too much.

Land's End prices. I switched to Orvis, but I'm starting to see the same thing there. Actually I buy most of my clothes (except for knit tops) at thrift shops. But, oh, where to get the knit tops, now!

It's made the same way it has always been made: well.

I like it.

I'm waiting to see how it performs in the wash...

If it shrinks too much, or in the wrong direction, I'll go up a size.

You might try those polos.

stopped making womens shirts in wrinkle free fabrics back in the 80's. It seems men could go to work without having to stand in front of an ironing board for a half hour first, but women couldn't. I love the way they look (I just have to roll up the sleeves.

I love the mens shorts with the draw string waist bands, the all cotten tee's, and the lovely cotten socks. Even the men's flip flops and better made. And...those lovely shorts have really, really nice pockets.

And sweats? Mens, of course.

I am tall, very tall. Women's large sizes seem to get wider and not longer. Ever notice there is little difference in length of the sleeves between a size 12 lady's shirt and a 16? I could write a book on that shit. Oh, and OSFA??? LMBO!

Drives me nuts.

www.pendletonusa.com (At least I think that's the link) is still making beautiful clothes.

Nice tops and sweaters, beautiful wool skirts and jacket, etc.

KnR

Thanks for the rec...

i have to buy clothes that are x-large or xx-large. i still have some tops from the late 80s, early 90s which are size small and they fit me.

in most catalogs.

When I got home from Russia and was 115 lbs. I still had a '31 inch waist. It was weird needing 'large's. That's when I gave up wearing women's pants, because by the time I got the waist to fit, they were too baggy. Or they usually came up far too high. I've never looked back.

stand anything tight especially around the waist.

many years ago i worked in the garment center. the sample size was 11. i was never able to buy the discounted samples because they were too big for me.

I have an... um... ample chest, but the rest of me is rather small - especially for having two kids (one over 10 pounds, the other just under 9 pounds) and two C-sections. I'm only 5'1"!!

I can wear an "8" (whatever that means) in pants, but have to buy and XL in shirts to fit over my chest - and... it's not THAT big. Seriously.

I'm glad this thread was started. I was beginning to thinks I was ill-proportioned. What I am is normal!

would go shopping she would look at the clothes and say "who can wear this? maybe kelly". kelly is my niece who at the time was really tiny and thin.

I'm busty as well and in the last few years I've had to keep increasing the size I buy from LE. I kept thinking that I couldn't have gained THAT much weight when the smaller sizes I bought years ago still fit. Whew! I feel a little better about myself now!

hers - bought in the women's dept. - do not.

The women's clothes are meant to be worn skin tight. She teaches at a university law school, and that look is not cool.

for real people, they look awful. Most people I see wearing them....shouldn't. I sure as hell won't.

Women's shirts never are big enough. I am 5 feet tall and ample too but I think women's shirts are made for children or something. I buy an XL or L, depending on the shirt.

I'm buying extra large all the time. I pull out a Talbot's Christmas sweater from 10 years ago, a medium, and it fits better, feels better, looks better than the XLs.

Land's End is a little too pricey for me http://www.transprism.com/sizeCharts.html Unless people are prepared to kick the price up a few notches to retain them; allot of the little accents you refer to are being deemed less than essential on a broad commercial basis - not by me though clearly by someone. Whether: Land's End, Liz Claiborne or Tommy Bahama from a distance we may look like we bought high-end stuff at Wal-Mart

She likes J. Jill now and passes along some stuff to me that doesn't fit her quite right...mostly things that are too big (she is 5 feet).

I went through my fabric stash a couple of years ago and found that there is a huge difference in what you can find in fabric stores, too. If you can find the 100% cotton, it's thin and sleazy and it's just not worth it to put a few hours into making your own tailored shirt if it's going to fall apart, fray or otherwise decompose within half a dozen washings. You just can't win if you're female, not if you buy ready made and not if you try to make your own.

I'm sick to death of never being able to find classic clothing in natural fibers. Everything is either geared to the youth market or is super saturated crayon colors, synthetic and knit, guaranteed to make most of us look like hell.

There's a massive untapped market in this country of women over 40 who want classic and durable clothing. They haven't taken jeans away from us yet, but the tops are a huge problem.

the bargain finder has some good deals. the shirts usually last me 3-5 years.

edit: link http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Clearance/Bargain-Finder/index.cat?breadcrumb=women-clearance#ppl=%7Btype%3A%22hide%22%7D

I'll check it out...

I also usually like Coldwater Creek, though I haven't received a catalog in at least a year. Gotta check back and get my name re-cataloged.

But I find his clothes not really suitable for how I live.

Once in a while, though, I find something really fantastic...

a bit pricey, but they wear well:)

Their t-shirts are amazing. they last so long that I get tired of them and pass them on to my sisters. I am a frequent shopper of their super clearance page. I have a pair of sandals I purchased about 5 summers ago. Those things will just not die!

I tired to shop Land's End, but their virtual model wouldn't even set up with my measurements, and I'm really not THAT big.

I completely understand! I have been unable to find decent clothes for myself. I'd find like..wow...great style, great color, great made, but they're usually made for Plus Sizes! My own size clothing sucks so I'd end up buying men's t-shirts, etc.

Way to go to designers of Plus Size women clothing.

i think it looks good on them, but that's the extent of my knowledge of women's clothes.

:shrug:

I'm so tired of going shopping only to find that the only size I can wear is Omar the Tent Maker.

The fashion industry is really fucking with us, and I hate it.

I'm not a size zero, and that's okay with me. But I don't weigh 1,000 pounds, and sizing clothing as if I were is something I DO NOT like.

not in appliances, not in automobiles. Cheaply made components hurriedly assembled according to rapidly churned out designs and foisted on the public as top of the line. Companies have been merged and resold and claimed bankruptcy to reorganize to the point that you no longer know who is in charge of producing a once great product. We just purchased a new washer and dryer and the dryer had to be replaced first thing. It was a lemon. Plugged it in and it never started.

Electronics and small appliances are the worst culprits, along with clothing. The worst part of it all is that there's no way to recycle much of it. No wonder we're filling up landfills faster than we can dig them.

I throw my Land's End catalog in the garbage the minute I get it now.....they quit their sponsorship of "A Prairie Home Companion" and I quit them. :grr: :grr: :grr: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

doesn't make me feel happy to wear shoddy new clothes. I try to buy vintage American made from thrift stores. You can have something custom made. There are a lot of seamstresses on etsy.com

seamstresses on etsy. :thumbsup:

I hate to shop and their stuff was always of good quality and reliable. Sadly, it's gone the way of Land's End. A couple of years ago I did a tally of American-made items in one of their catalogs and found only a couple of things. I've stopped buying from them. In fact, I've stopped buying from just about everyone. I've taken to going to rummage sales in search of "new old," good quality, AMERICAN made clothing and accessories.

:toast:

Thanks for taking the time to write them. As you said, I'm sure you speak for many, most of whom would not have taken the time to write. I hope you see the change you desire.

The choices for women's clothing are pretty much horrible. I can't believe the number of times I've returned from the store empty-handed, declaring, "There's nothing to buy." I especially have a difficult time with jeans for my daughter. She's a senior, and refuses to wear the low-rise, skin-tight jeans most females her age wear. She said she has no desire to walk around all day with a wedgie. I :toast: her for not going with the flow, however, finding a pair of jeans that she finds comfortable is all but impossible. She found a pair last year through LLBean, but when we recently tried to order her another pair we found out that they no longer make them. We seem to be on an endless hunt for jeans for her. It's very frustrating.

wearing EXTREMELY TIGHT stretch jeans lately--they almost look like leggings (along with lycra tops, with resulting "muffin-top" flesh bulges over the waistband), and I think, "When did this become the style?" So unflattering and uncomfortable! I can't find ladies' jeans that aren't "stretch" anymore, although men's jeans are still 100% cotton. Why can't I have 100% cotton non-Mom jeans?

I'm lucky - I can buy men's jeans. The lower - but not too low - and larger waist is good for me.

I am over 40 now, with a poochy belly, can't get away with tight. But the current styles don't even look good on young girls with trim figures--they just look slutty and cheap. And even though I like boot-cut jeans, I see that tapered-leg skinny jeans are coming back. Yuck.

just isn't an issue. I get things narrowed because I'm rebelling against all my pants my mother hemmed coming out like bell bottoms because of where they were cut off. I also ride a bike a lot, so narrower is better.

I have a 42" chest and 8.5 shoe. I was supposed to be someone taller.

Oddly enough, the ONLY thing I've bought the past 20 years that had the right sleeve length for me is my USAF leather flight jacket. It's a short cut. Fits great.

I loathe stretch jeans. 100% cotton or nothing!

I liked their styles, but something was always wrong with everything I ordered. Seams went awry, it didn't hang right, etc. I've had much better luck with LL Bean, although it seems like there are fewer styles in their catalog that interest me anymore.

I'd prefer things weren't quite so straight up and down and boxy, but I've found things here and there that work. And they do last better.

I still occasionally use Lands End for swimsuits. Finding a suit with underwire in a D or DD cup (at least) is HARD. I usually can find at least one in their catalog. But I don't wear them day in and day out, so longevity is less important there.

Men's clothing has deteriorated as well. Jeans, forget about it, they last for months now, not years before they start to fall apart. This is pretty much across the board, no matter the brand.

T-shirts, I went out and bought my usual football T-shirt, and a month later the stitching had come unraveled in the arm.

On and on it goes. I think that the industry model is that of built in obsolescence. That way, as clothes fall apart quicker, corporations can sell more and more. I'm starting to think that it might be best to start making your own.

many years ago I worked in the clothing industry. Always try on clothes because they sometimes sew in two size tags and when the orders come in they rip out one or the other. If they make a mistake they just trim the needle marks off which can result in you losing a whole size and they resew.

head straight to the men's section, buy the sweaters, and sturdy suit tops.
I asked my oldest son , who is 6 foot 5, to give me all his worn out shirts. That was my spring wardrobe. I cut off the sleeves and voila I was dressed. I gave up on women's clothing lines long ago.
Im almost 60 yrs old. there is nothing out there I like. I do not wear clothes that some inane 30 yr old designer decides will look good on a woman. tight little babydoll crap with midriffs showing, ultra slutty frills and spandex. wtf.

I like comfort. Im sure Coco Chanel would agree.

and women's clothes are cheap crap. a LOT of women I know buy only mens clothing. its durable and well made.


good letter. very good.

There's a lot of clothing out there that was purchased and never or hardly ever worn. E-bay is a great source for this stuff. Yesterday I wore a pair of jeans, a turtleneck and some fabulous Italian boots (all off of E-bay) with a cute, fitted wool blazer/jacket I got at on clearance a few years ago at TJMaxx. While working, the guy from a local paper came up to me and asked if I would do the little style section thingy they do. I couldn't believe it, frankly I think it was the boots.

Not only can you find stuff that looks very nice for much less than in the stores, it's well made stuff.

Julie

when they closed their last plant here in the states they lost a lifelong customer. I'll never go back now no matter what. I hear you load and clear but that may just be because I have the same complaint but to different companies. The stupid is so thick I wonder how any of the top executives make it to work each day. See if this sounds about right. First they lay off their usa work force so they can make more money by offshoring, or what ever the right word is, then they start cutting the quality all the while raising the prices so they can make more obscene profits. Now we have a shit for quality product that is over priced and a whole slew of people who can't buy the trash even if they wanted to because they are barely making ends meet because their jobs when the way of the do-do. Stupid I'm saying they are stupid. We're for the most part used to hardship so we can take some more but they aren't used to it and when the whole system fails they won't have a clue as to how to handle it. Stupid I say, plain ass stupid people is what they are.

gotta shut up cause I have granddaughter in my lap now wanting to play on the computer.

They are greedy. Selfish. Mean. Self-centered. Evil.

They would only be stupid if they thought their actions would help the company and make it an enduring part of America's commercial base. But they don't care about any of that. All they want is a huge short influx of money for themselves. To hell with workers, the country, their grandchildren, and anyone else.

To this end they are smart. Surely then know they must have money now to spend and enjoy because, without a doubt, they are going to hell.

Thats what I'm saying

These guys goldien parachute out with their bonus billion before, or even as, the mess they have created touches them.

Spandex in jeans is an abomination. I won't buy any jeans that aren't 100% cotton. Period.

Jeans without stretch are so uncomfortable to me--if they're loose enough to not bind me across my thighs and in my dainty area when I sit down, they're too baggy when I stand up. I get unbearably cranky in anything but non-stretch jeans. It honestly wouldn't have occurred to me to think that spandex, just a bit, in jeans wasn't anything but the best thing since sliced bread. (I bet the 100% cotton ones are hard to find these days, although I do come across them sometimes. Have you tried thrift stores?)

To each her own!

has much better men's cloths -- both IMHO in style, and definitely in durability.

I absolutely hate buying women's clothes for the very reason you said California Peggy. Sizing, style, are pitiful.

I haven't bought shirts from Lands End in years. Fortunately what I have now is classic and hopefully will last until I need to buy more clothes.


And once upon a time, you could buy from Lands End separate clothes like a top and a pair of slacks from and the colors would match. The last set I bought about 2 years ago were two vastly different shades of the same color.

I lost about 20 lbs and I am seriously considering altering my dress slacks, which are in the style I love, because it's unlikely the store I bought then from will carry this style again!

Really, shopping by brand does not work anymore. Brands mean nothing. That which used to stand for high quality now stands for a license to use a logo and nothing more.

She took me on an eye-opening tour of a high-end department store, where we looked at the construction of different womens clothes.

What I came away with is that there is NO relationship between the amount spent on a piece of clothing and how well it is made. Some of the most expensive is very poorly made, and will fall apart quickly.

Also, sizes are an abstraction, as well, because most clothing is made by subcontractors, and there is variation between how they manufacture. There is also the variation between individual sewing machine operators, whose sense of, say, a 34" waist can be a little bigger, or a little smaller.

This is why I never buy anything I can't try on. The variability is just too much.

Awhile back I was shopping for jeans. I tried on different ones until I found the right fit in one particular brand, model and size. They were great, so I bought two of them, exactly the same.

Got them home, and one was a good two sizes larger than the other one! Lesson learned -- not only try things on first, but try on EACH ONE you're going to buy even if they're supposedly identical!

One washing and the clothes would look like you bought them at WalMart.

As more American women have become plus size, the plus size dept at Target has shrunk. I'm plus size and it used to be I could find some stuff there. Not any more. What little is left is terrible quality and the sizing is not consistent. I get my clothes from specialty plus size stores now because apparently most department stores just don't want to serve an ever-growing (no pun intended) customer base. I guess our money is not good enough for them...

Sometimes I even fish through the men's department at the local Goodwill store, where I can find sweaters and shirts and hoodies that actually feel comfortable because they're big enough.


One complaint I have about most women's clothing is that it looks like it's made for 20 or 30-somethings.

I'm 57. I definitely don't want to dress like someone's grandma, but geez...who the hell wants to see my sags, flabs, and wrinkles either? And I don't want stuff that's going to be "in style" for a year or two, then get thrown into the back of the closet to rot. Give me basic stuff.


Anyway, there are a couple of plus size brands I buy consistently, and often they can be bought way less expensively on eBay as seconds or "pre worn". I hardly ever pay full price for clothing.

Their stuff is for adult women, not teen age girls. Torrid is for teens and Lane Bryant (the stores, not the catalog) is trendy, too. However, I do like LB's jeans because they make them for different body types. Fashion Bug has plus size clothes, but the quality is poor, IMO.

http://catherines.lanebryant.com/

which is my favorite store.

http://www.cjbanks.com/home/index.jsp

Dress Barn?

http://www.dressbarn.com/

Good selection of plus sizes, excellent quality!

Biker's Old Lady

Land's End has 3 different "cuts" of women's clothing. I don't have a catalog at hand, but one of the cuts is "modern" (closer to the body) and the others are more "classic" (looser, and/or boxy).

I've purchased quite a few things from LE, and have never had any problems.

I especially like their swimsuits.

In my opinion, LL Bean's womens' clothes have absolutely no style.

:applause:

Always makes me feel better to get it off my chest and sometimes one actually gets results! Even when I was on the receiving end of such a letter, I always appreciated that a customer took the time to write a coherent missive instead of just calling up and screaming at someone.




Here's hoping they don't send you a cap-sleeved mock-T by way of apology. ;)

I hope they don't, either!

;-)

I have a hellish time trying to find comfortable shoes. About 12 years ago Lands End had a sueded, all-weather shoe in their cataloge that was perfect for me - comfortable, a good fit and ok to wear to the office with pants. I bought my size in a number of colors, most of which I still have and wear. But I frequently wear khakis and a black top to the office, so the black ones got the most wear. Needless to say, they have gone and changed them to solid leather and they no longer fit. The last pair I bought I can't wear - they give me blisters. I gave them to Good Will. And the quality, or rather lack thereof, of their khaki pants and cotton polo shirts? Don't get me started. Good luck and let us know if you get a response. I suspect it will be of "sorry you are unhappy, you are welcomed to find another store to patronize" variety.

Yep, sure suits me well...NOT!

A preview of Captain Hilts' Wardrobe for Spring:

OMG.....:wow:

Someone hates women...!!!

:spray:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

moronic ensemble.

who creates this crap???

because she'd have to strip down to nothing to pee.

Honestly, this stuff looks like it was designed by people who hate women. Even the super skinny models look like hell in it.

They'd wear a more normal everyday version of it.

The quality has gone in the toilet. The buttons on their slacks crumble after several washings. I have been shopping there on a regular basis since the early to mid 80's and this is the first time I have had to replace all of the buttons on the cords. I buy Dockers Metro now for chinos and a few of LE tops, but I'm phasing them out. What a shame.

The fit is off on many items, the material is often shoddy now.

Never used to be that way. I have called and written, took ages to get them to notice.

I am just about to send back an order of shirts to LandsEnd...cheap stuff.

was nasty polyester.

"Pilling." It's not just for knits any more. Nowadays, virtually every type of fabric gets pills soon after you wear/use the item. Regardless of price and/or name brand. Martha Stewart sheets @ original retail $80? Pilled immediately.

Just say no to crappy construction and fabrics. :rant:

...so nice to have a $200 pair of slacks and after one wearing...the ass end looks like it has been cat scratched.

:mad:

I'm a man; I used to buy stuff from Land's End, but they've lost my business forever. I tried one of their raincoats last year, and found it to be really thin and shoddy construction - and way overpriced. Had to drive across town to Sears to make a return. OTOH, LL Bean's and Woolrich's stuff seem to have retained some quality. For dress shirts, LL Bean simply cannot be beat, although many items in the catalog have been "Walmartized" Woolrich makes great casual outdoors wear, especially tshirts. I like Patagonia for their shorts and pants, but don't buy too much from them because they are so damn expen$ive.

They used to be the best for all mens clothing. Have not been in a BB store for ages.

crazy expensive.

AND the stuff is no longer made in the US as it used to be.

although you can still find a few good things on sale. A lot of their stuff is now made in China, but with tons of markup. If you like that sort of clothing, you may want to check out J. Press. Still very expensive, but occasional good deals on sale.

their website (good deals).

www.woolrich.com

Sometimes, there are limited sizes and colors, but the sales are gerat!

they often have the same items on the website or catalog at substantial savings... the only way I will shop with them. 570 769 7401

my size 8 khakis one day in the 90s that I had bought less than a year before that. When I tried on their latest I couldn't cram myself into a size 12. Everything had been resized for anorexic Asian teenagers (no hips, no boobs).

The last few years J.Jill has become unwearable. The clothing previously had a nice boxy cut (which if you have big girls and a short waist is a good fit). I could wear a large, x-large or sometimes even a medium. They have changed all their cuts to be tightly fitted and now I can't cram myself into their x-larges. My friend who used to work in the rag trade for Gap and Banana Republic opines that they are trying to get a younger demographic ala Gap in the 90s. Too bad for them--I don't think the younger demographic is interested and I don't buy them anymore.

Lands End sucks anyway. At least to me.

It's all made by the same foreign vendors using the same lousy cuts and the same crap fabric.

I can't expect a company to modify their clothes just for me. Maybe Lands End has had other complaints that are just the opposite of this one, and they're trying to make changes. This isn't the 80's and 90's anymore. Fashions change. Styles change. I'd either find a company that is still stuck in the 80's and 90's (if that is what I liked, which I don't) or find a brand that suits me better. Just my thoughts.

Same vendors. Same lousy fabrics. Same wretchedly bad cuts that don't fit European women, especially those over 40 well. Get it yet?

THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE.

Changing labels doesn't work if the same bad offshore vendors are doing multiple labels.

Changing stores does not work because it's the same manufacturer supplying all of them. Changing labels doesn't work because the same manufacturer uses a lot of different labels.

One industry that needs to start up again in the US and pronto is the garment industry.

I'd be happy with a lot less clothing if I could be sure that clothing would last more than a few short months with constant wear.

I buy from many different places. I don't buy from catalogs though.

You can find decent stuff if you look in the right places. Hell if you like older styles why NOT go to a goddamned consignment store. I know people who run one and they have really nice stuff, some of which is designer label stuff never EVER worn.
FWIW, the problem is the better stuff tends to be a little more expensive. Which I have a feeling is NOT an issue for the OP.
But people like Liz Claiborne make some really fine clothing.

it aint all the same. but it may seem the same because merchants follow similar trends. people have been hung up on tight jeans for a while- but the boyfrind (looser) fit has been around for a couple years now too. you;d never know it from this thread though. lots of tees are cut very loose now, it;s not necesarily that they are for a bigger customer, it;s the trend is to wear them looser.
also re quality: the customer actually looks at price and forces manufacturers to cut corners. while the rest of us are taking pay cuts here in the usa, china's factories will not undercut eachother, they are holding strong and not cutting prices. the savings have totally come out from quality.

First, :applause: to you, CaliforniaPeggy for writing to them. I write letters (well, emails) pretty frequently; I've even gotten good results on occasion. This is industry wide however, so it will take many many women (men too, you're invited) speaking up to make a difference.

anyway, I'm feeling too angry about sexism to say much more right now--I think I need to step away from the computer.




But here's a book available at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Women-Pay-More-Marketplace/dp/0936758341
Why Women Pay More : How to Avoid Marketplace Perils (Paperback)
~ Frances Cerra Whittelsey

Editorial Reviews
Review
This book will open your eyes to the widespread discrimination against women in the marketplace. It is a well-known fact that, across the board, women earn about 70% of what men do. It adds insult to injury to realize that women pay more than men in the world of consumer goods and services and are discriminated against more often in the marketplace, especially when it comes to obtaining credit. A one-time consumer reporter for Newsday and The New York Times, Frances Cerra Whittelsey takes aim at the prime abusers, such as the healthcare, fashion and automotive industries, and looks at the many ways advertising fuels this fire. This book is guaranteed to make your blood boil with solid confirmation for those ripoffs you always suspected and probably questioned in the back of your mind, but never really protested (maybe because you didn't know how). Here is valuable information that every woman should have her hands on to avoid getting burned. -- From The WomanSource Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women; review by Ilene Rosoff

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It makes my blood boil too...

:hug:

:hi:

Go to a nice consignment store. They tend to have older fashions that are well made AND affordable. Yeah, they aren't cutting edge fashion but they generally have some good stuff.
Good Will and Salvation Army have some pretty good stuff as well for people on budgets.
Lets stop this nonsense about not being able to find good clothes. You have to look around but its there.

Back in the 90s, I bought all my clothes at Bauer. Well made, good materials, affordable, and great clearance sales. I'm still wearing some of the shoes I bought. Now it's flimsy, overpriced crap.

Then why should they improve the women's shirts?

I'm reading their labels, and I haven't seen any clothing made in China. VietNam, Thailand, Peru, and so on...

I do buy men's shirts for my husband from LE, and they are high quality. They wash and wear well, and last well.

They haven't improved women's shirts for the reasons I stated in my letter.

OK, I just looked at the label in my husband's shirt...Hong Kong. China. It is very well made, however.

Cheaply made (but expensive) Chinese crap. Falling apart even though I barely ever wear them. I'm sticking to the thrift stores in future.

Back when I could afford to order from them, not once did they fulfill an order.

They always sent a slip saying said item was out of stock. Every single time.

But the whole thing about Women's clothing is that few things are well made. Not even designer clothing.

noticing and something I wish I had said something about earlier.

I just want a few professional clothes that have some 'shelf life' vis a vis quality and style...Although I hadn't visited Land's End recently, it is said to know they have gone the way of fashion...I am over 50 - I work out seriously with cardio machines, weights, etc. But I can't find any clothes that I want and none that fit me properly.....

Those hip hugger jeans that everyone wears look AWFUL..on even those who are skinny enough to wear them :puke:

Denim used to be compfortable and last = one can no longer find good quality cotton denim...the only exception I will make is that I bought some coveralls in Oklahoma - very useful for doing my gardening or other 'fowl weather' work such as shoveling snow in some of the many blizzards we've had on the east coast this winter.

Now that I am almost retired and no longer in graduate school, I am spending more TIME at home to make handcrafts - I also am getting out the sewing machine and will start making my own clothes to avoid what all of you have so eloquently described.

that was one of the first things I learned to do in home ec! No wonder things dont fit anymore!

often. The stuff fits tightly in the wrong ways.

They work great. but I've been buying the playtex secrets bras and don't need them any more. They have a little extra padding. I used to hate that, but now don't mind.

eom

They expect you to wear something a few times, get rid of it, and buy something new.

It's all made so cheaply by little brown hands in desperate countries, and it's flooding the market.

I get all my clothes second hand. I fully embrace the notion of clothing as being short-lived, and when it's inexpensive as what I pay, it doesn't hurt a bit. I find Lands End in thrift stores, too, BTW. When I'm done with it, it goes back to the thrift store.

I haven't bought anything but (overstock) shoes from Lands' End in over a year.
I am totally fed up with the ultra-short sleeves and the way-too-tight polos and tees. I buy the 3x, the same as in any other store, but I can no longer wear their clothing. It makes me very sad, because Lands'End is a local company, just on the other side of the state.

You have inspired me to write as well. They need to know why they haven't heard from me.

:hi: :hug:

I have a specific email address you can send it to, and that way it'll have more impact...

I'd give it to you now, but I'm on my way out the door and I need to get going...

You WILL hear from me later!

I'm so proud to have inspired you, my dear Rev!

:hug:

I'll pm you my copy that is waiting to be sent. I'm sending them a link to this entire thread. They need to see how many people have responded with similar complaints.

or something.

I knew as soon as Sears bought them the employees would get screwed.

Sure, the jeans are durable, but they just don't fit right any longer. It's pretty sad when you can get the exact same sizes and cuts but different brands and there is simply no comparison in the fit (or unfit) between them. Outsourcing has ruined fitting standards.

Now, for alternatives, I would suggest organic cottons, like some of the naturally colored cottons, hemp and hemp/cotton or hemp/flax blends. Here are a few places I know of for clothing in these fabrics:

Whole Earth Provision Company (Texas only) Pricey, but very durable and nice styles, at least what I have seen (and bought) for menswear.

Cottonfield Organic Cotton Clothing - Another one I've been meaning to try, as their commitment to quality appears quite good.

GoodHumans Hemp Clothing & Organic Products
The Hempest
Rawganique - I have bought hemp shoes and belts from them, and they last longer than most non-leather shoes. I have always found the quality high. Most of the products they sell are made by ecolution.

Deva Lifewear - don't know if their fabrics are organic or hemp, but they do have sturdy forms of cotton.


Another alternative fabric is bamboo. It is very soft, but I don't know how durable it is...

but I have exactly the opposite problem with Lands End, and even considered writing them about it. I think their clothes are not fashionable enough, are too basic in style, and seem to never change from one season to the next. The one thing I can't complain about is the quality. How can two progressive DUers have such opposite views?:)

And I never could, either! I think their clothes wear just fine, but it's the style that makes me crazy. Especially in women's shirts.

Maybe we're getting different catalogs?

:)

My guess is yes -- and for years after you pass on.

Catalog Choice :D

So I may be biased, and I agree some of their stuff is crap. But the majority of clothing I have has been some of the best clothing I have ever owned. Please don't totally write them off yet.

I still buy and love many things...

Sport knit pants.
Now, the men's polo shirts.
Nightgowns.
and so on...

I just want to see them return to making some of the shirts the old way...like the wonderful short-sleeved mock turtlenecks. They no longer make those...

I love their shirts for men, the dress shirts. Not to worry!

Now, that I know you've put a link in your letter for this thread, I'll add my two cents too.

I thought I was the only one shopping in the men's dept, going to goodwill and wishing for the clothes that were available 10 or 20 yrs ago. I'm 50 and I don't want to look 30 anymore. I want to look my age without being frumpy but how is that possible shopping in the men's dept? I like the classic solid color looks and have resorted to wearing some of my husband's clothes; t-shirts, sweats and even his socks around the house. I can't find socks that fit and I have size 7.5 feet. I'm tired of clothes that shrink every time I put them in the dryer. Some of my favorite tops are from goodwill.

Lands' End Employees Say Tricked Into Seeing Giuliani



Many family members supported my boycott. None of us has bought from LE since then. And before that, I was a like-clockwork regular Lands' End customer.

Then they sold themselves to Sears, and I think (correct me if I'm wrong) many of their factory workers lost their jobs because guess what? The new owner(s) decided to outsource production! Quality has gone down, you say? Are you surprised?

In the old days, pre-outsourcing, I remember that they actually took pride in standing behind their products. They even advertised a return policy that has no time limit.

When corporations decided it was more important to make money by getting rid of expensive American employees and outsource the work overseas first to Mexico and then to China.

They also cut corners by using inferior materials.

I always think of three things: Levis, Tennis shoes, and cars.

Back in the day, there were 501s and one or two other styles.

Now you can't even find the same pair of Dockers a year later.

I once bought the most comfortable pair of Reeboks, in 1978, there were maybe 4 styles to choose from.

Now there are literally hundreds.

Many cars, especially European cars, had multiple interchangeable parts over many years of a given body style.

American cars, and now all cars it seems, have so many different styles that it's unrealistic to think you will find replacement parts.

It's a sad thing, it's not good for the environment, it's not good for our souls.

I miss the good old days.

:hug:

- with womens clothes, but in my opinion the quality of L.L. Bean's clothing is far superior to any others, including Land's End. So maybe that applies to Bean's womens line as well.

Have you ever tried them?

It still looks good. I have a top that hasn't faded or pilled or shrunk. It's soft and comfortable and I have no reason to part with it. But that was then, this is now. Over the years, the quality has changed drastically. I can't trust the fit any more. The clothes shrink and the new no iron shirts look like crinkle paper when they come out of the dryer (I had one from before that was amazing and never wrinkled).

I will say that customer service was still good the last time I had an issue, but I've stopped all mail order with them and haven't shopped their Sears store in a long time.

I figure they will just disappear one day.

I change with the times. I'm 49. I've learned its easier to just get rid of my clothes as the seasons change and try out the new stuff. I buy things from Ross, Eddie Bauer and JCPenny. I used to go to the higher end stores, but they are 50 or more miles away and its not worth it to me.

I have to restrain myself from buying more!

The knits of today are not the knits of yesterday. They are soft and comfy. Just becuase something has spandex, does not mean it is tight. Try it people!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO7VUklDlQw

After you finish enjoying the ad for American made clothes and hear the union song, look at the clothes the workers themselves are wearing!!!!

They Eff'n FIT right.. no puckers, no wrinkles around the arms, no sausage-like tops.


The leisure suits the men are wearing fit them (OK maybe the fashion police of today would haul them off.. but the stuff at least fit right).

These are just worker bees wearing nondescript clothes. No designer crap or labels. Just decently made and tailored.

Not size 0, 1, 2, 3 for everyone.

:)