when did the quality of clothing in this country deteriorate to total crap?

i like to buy staples: classic pieces that will never go out of style and are made to last a long time. seems simple, right? recently i went looking for a pair of brown pants. nothing crazy, just something basic that i can mix with tops and jackets i already have.

well, after searching nearly a whole day i came home empty handed. it would appear that all of the pants being sold in this country are made of chintzy material, are unlined and cost 70 times what they should. i’m sorry, ralph lauren. you can’t expect me to spend $250 on a pair of pants with no lining that are practically see-through.

brown wool pants should be available at department stores like macy’s or saks or (one of my faves) nordstrom. nothing. macy’s was particularly disappointing. i remember going there for everything one upon a time. they carried apparel staples and fun pieces. now, it’s just cluttered racks of subpar, cheaply made, throw-away garments that are expensive but no better than what you can get at forever 21.

i know i’m shopping for pants in the wrong season. as of january, every store put the spring stuff and resortwear out. the fall and winter stuff gets marked down and people like me are trying to build a quality wardrobe on the cheap. instead, everything is just cheap.

learning how to sew a few years ago has ruined me on clothes shopping. now that i know what goes into making a garment, how much it costs and what some “best practices” are, i find the inventory at most retail stores severely lacking in quality for what they’re asking in price. that includes so-called high-end boutiques and luxury department stores. boo on you, barney’s!

eventually, and as soon as i find some free time, i’ll get the sewing machine back out and make what i need.