Not all garments are made equally, and some retailers may exaggerate quality or skip key details to push sales. Whether you’re shopping off the rack or online, here are 10 telltale signs that a piece of clothing may not be worth your money.
- 1. Price That Seems Too Good to Be True
- 2. They Look Better On the Hanger Than On You
- 3. The Fabric Feels Suspiciously Good
- 4. Vague or Generalized Sizing
- 5. Sloppy Construction and Pattern Mismatches
- 6. Uneven Finishing and Poor Layering
- 7. Visible Wear—Before You’ve Bought It
- 8. Suspiciously Trendy Replicas
- 9. No Information About Materials or Construction
- 10. You Just Don’t Like Wearing It
- Well-Made, Well-Worn: Here’s the Proof
- Want to Shop Smarter?
- FAQ
- Recommended Reads for Smarter, More Confident Dressing
1. Price That Seems Too Good to Be True
While price isn’t always a perfect indicator of quality, abnormally low prices—especially for materials like cashmere or fine wool—should raise questions.
Don’t Let Discounts Cloud Your Judgment
Truly rare and labor-intensive fabrics don’t come cheap, and it’s unlikely that one retailer has cracked the code on producing luxury garments at bargain-bin prices when no one else has.
The exception to this rule? Thrifting. A well-made, underpriced item can sometimes be found secondhand when the seller isn’t familiar with the garment’s true value. But in retail settings, deeply discounted luxury is rarely what it claims to be.
Thrift Store Shopping
2. They Look Better On the Hanger Than On You
Some garments are designed to look impressive when stationary—either on a hanger or pinned on a mannequin. That visual appeal may not hold up once you start moving.
A shirt or jacket might appear tailored and flattering until you try lifting your arms or sitting down, which is why it is so important to try garments on whenever possible.
Comfort and movement reveal more about quality and fit than mirror poses ever will.
3. The Fabric Feels Suspiciously Good
High-quality fabrics often start off feeling structured or slightly stiff but improve with age. That initial firmness is actually a sign of durability—materials like wool or fine cotton become softer and more comfortable over time. By contrast, low-quality fabrics are often treated with chemical softeners to feel luxurious from the start. However, once the coating wears off, what’s left may feel coarse, limp, or cheap.
You should also be cautious of too-good-to-be-true pricing. If a fabric feels decadently soft but comes at a very low cost, it may contain a high percentage of synthetics or be masking its poor quality with surface treatments.
Always check the fabric content label. While some synthetic fibers—like modern viscose or rayon—can add value when blended with natural fibers, others, such as low-grade polyester or acrylic, are often used purely to cut costs.
That doesn’t mean all synthetics are bad. A small percentage of elastane, for example, can be helpful in tailoring garments with better movement and stretch—especially for muscular or broad builds. The key is balance. Look for garments where at least 80% of the material is a natural fiber like wool or cotton, with synthetics used only to support functionality.
Pro Tip: Quality polyester resists wrinkles. If it creases easily, it’s likely low-grade.
4. Vague or Generalized Sizing
True quality often comes in specific measurements. Jackets, shirts, and trousers should ideally be sized by chest, sleeve, waist, or inseam—not just labeled Small, Medium, or Large.
The Pitfalls of One-Size-Fits-Most
A “Medium” in one brand may fit like an “Extra Large” in another.
While simplified sizing can work for casual basics, it’s a red flag when used for tailored garments like coats or sport jackets. Precise sizing tells you the maker understands fit—and expects you to care, too.
Learn the differences between Cut, Size, and Fit
5. Sloppy Construction and Pattern Mismatches
Even if a garment isn’t handmade, it should still reflect attention to detail. Obvious signs of poor construction include uneven seams, misaligned buttonholes, and loosely finished hems.
- Misaligned or unfinished buttonholes are a telltale sign of rushed or careless manufacturing.
- Visible seam irregularities suggest poor construction and lower attention to detail, even in machine-made garments.
But perhaps the most visually telling sign is poorly matched patterns. Plaid or striped jackets, for example, require pattern alignment across visible seams, especially around patch pockets.
If the pocket breaks up the jacket’s pattern in a way that’s clearly crooked or off-angle, it’s not just an aesthetic issue. It reflects a rushed production process and minimal quality control. This level of disregard often carries over into other aspects of the garment as well.
Pockets in Menswear: The Complete Guide
6. Uneven Finishing and Poor Layering
Small visual cues—like an off-kilter shirt placket, crooked pocket flaps, or misaligned zip guards—are subtle but telling. They may not affect function, but they suggest a lack of precision that can signal deeper flaws in workmanship. Well-made garments, even machine-produced ones, should still demonstrate symmetry, balance, and consistency.
7. Visible Wear—Before You’ve Bought It
If you notice loose threads, unraveling hems, or pilling in-store, don’t assume it’s a one-off. These issues are likely to get worse with wear. Excessive wrinkling on display—especially in synthetics—is another red flag. While some fabrics (like linen) wrinkle naturally, most quality materials resist it when properly constructed and stored.
What Poor Quality Looks Like—Up Close.
Spot the Fray Before You Pay
Think of it this way: if it’s already pilling under perfect store lighting, imagine what your laundry cycle will do to it.
8. Suspiciously Trendy Replicas
We all recognize the appeal of a jacket worn by a favorite character or celebrity. But when you find an online store offering a “1:1 replica” of a designer piece at a suspiciously low price, it’s usually just that—a cheap imitation.
These garments rarely look or feel like the original. If you’re serious about a screen-used look, it’s better to commission a reproduction from a reputable tailor or find a quality item inspired by the original.
Style with intention, not imitation.
Inspired, Not Imitated
If you’re drawn to a signature screen look—à la Don Draper or James Bond—there’s a better way than buying cheap knockoffs. The goal of great style isn’t to replicate, but to reinterpret with quality and personality.
We explore exactly how to do this in our Thematic Dressing Guide—a resource that shows how to channel iconic outfits while staying authentic, timeless, and well-dressed.
9. No Information About Materials or Construction
Brands that value their products usually talk about them. Makers that highlight fabric origin, weaving techniques, stitching methods, and hardware choices tend to do so because they know it matters—and because it justifies their pricing. If a garment description focuses solely on vague style notes and sale pricing, it’s often because the maker has nothing else to say.
Learn how fabric is woven, spun, and finished the right way.
10. You Just Don’t Like Wearing It
At the end of the day, the most telling sign of a bad purchase is simple: you just don’t enjoy wearing it. Whether it’s the fit, the feel, or the look, your discomfort is worth listening to. Don’t second-guess your instincts—sometimes, it’s not about your body or your posture. It could simply be a poorly made or poorly designed garment.
Even experienced dressers get it wrong sometimes. Yes, even Raphael admits to an occasional misstep! Making style mistakes is part of developing your taste, and each misfire teaches you something new about what you actually value in clothing. Our team has shared personal stories about the pieces we wish we hadn’t bought:
Well-Made, Well-Worn: Here’s the Proof
Today, I am wearing a double-breasted olive suit. I absolutely love wearing olive—it’s just one of those colors that, when you go out, people don’t expect you to be wearing it. So, it’s really fun.
Underneath that, I’m wearing a pink OCBD shirt. I love green, and then pink—they go very well together. The tie that I’m wearing is from the Fort Belvedere shop. It has blue, and it has some green to it as well, so I feel like it goes really well with what I’m wearing.
For my pocket square, I’m also wearing a Fort Belvedere pocket square. This does have some browns, some green—again, just kind of keeping it very earthy with all of the tones that I have with my accessories.
For my shoes, I am wearing a pair of dark brown cap-toe Oxfords in suede. And for my fragrance today, I am wearing Oxford from the Roberto Ugolini collection.
For this fragrance, as well as the accessories I’m wearing, make sure to check out Fort Belvedere.
Want to Shop Smarter?
If you’d like a detailed checklist for identifying quality shirts, suits, or accessories, let us know in the comments. We’re happy to expand this topic into specific garment guides.
FAQ
How can I tell if something is low quality?
There isn’t just “one” thing that determines if something is of low or high quality. Some of the most common benchmarks to look at are fabric composition, workmanship & pricing. It also is important to consider a garment’s purpose. A t-shirt you work out in doesn’t need to meet the same standards as a bespoke suit.
What should I look out for when buying clothing?
Look to see if something is made of natural or artificial fibers. How the seams, detailing & construction is handled & if the presentation is good when trying to determine its quality.
Can you find good clothes for cheap?
While there isn’t a “shortcut” to buying quality clothing new per say outside of catches sales, but if budget is a major concern, look into thrifting. You can find much higher quality items for a fraction of the price if you’re willing to look and know the hallmarks behind quality clothing.
I’m scared to make a bad purchase, help!
No matter how educated you are on clothing, you’re bound to make an occasional bad purchase or get something that doesn’t end up meeting your standards. It’s all a part of the journey, and while we try to limit the mistakes we make, don’t get too down on yourself if you make a purchase you later come to regret. It’s just clothes after all!
I can’t afford an article of clothing I like, should I get something cheaper in the meantime?
This will really depend on its purpose & your lifestyle. If this is something that is more of a “want” or “apirational item” and you have things to get you by, it might make sense to wait so you can splurge on something that will make you truly happy. But, if there’s a time limit, and you need this for a specific purpose, or you don’t have an alternative, then it might make sense to just buy what you can afford for now and upgrade it later down the road. Just depends on the context.
Recommended Reads for Smarter, More Confident Dressing
Why You Secretly Hate Your Clothes
Discover the hidden reasons your wardrobe doesn’t feel right—and what to do about it.
How to Wear Winter White Like a Gentleman
Learn how to pull off winter white with confidence, elegance, and ease—without looking out of place.
How to Be Comfortable in Dressy Clothes
Think sweatpants are the only path to comfort? Discover timeless alternatives that look and feel better.
Great article. I’ve printed it out and will refer to it whenever I shop for clothing.