You know that scratchy, white tag on the inside corner of your shirts? The one with the one point font and laundry hieroglyphics? Yeah, that thing is actually pretty important. I’ve touched upon this topic before, but being a savvy shopper is easier when you are an informed shopper. Of course, style is not about the quality of your clothes or the money in your pocket, but knowing how to make smart buying decisions can help you build a better wardrobe for less in the long run. Part of that involves actually reading your tags before you cut them off, for the-love-of-all-that-is-good.
Firstly, you probably already know that they are two general types of fabrics, those made with synthetic fibers and those with natural fibers. Generally speaking, more expensive, higher quality clothing will be made from natural fibers. For example, a wool sweater will cost quite a bit more than an acrylic one. That isn’t to say you should always be buying natural by any means, just that you should be aware of how much you’re spending on what.
The most common types of natural fabrics are cotton, linen, wool, and silk. Furs and leathers would fall under this category too, but this, of course, raises the topic of animal cruelty. Honestly, no one really wears real fur anymore anyway, mostly for these reasons. When it comes to animal goods, such a fur, leather or even silk, there are just as many options for faux polyester furs and polyurethane, excuse me, “vegan leather” jackets. So, when I say buy natural fibers, please don’t go out hunting for rabbits.
On the other end of the spectrum we have synthetic materials, or chemically engineered fibers, made in a lab. These are your everyday fabrics like polyester, rayon, viscose, and modal. What’s great about synthetic is that they’re nigh indestructible … with the exception of maybe being flammable. Don’t set your clothes on fire. But fur real (ha!), you might be surprised at how much of your clothing is made of polyester. That’s because it doesn’t wrinkle, retains its shape, and is pretty cheap. The downside is some synthetics can be scratchy, and low-quality fabrics can look pretty cheap. They can also be incredibly warm since they trap in heat.
This is why you hear so much about the power of cotton. Most natural fibers are excellent at wicking away sweat and keeping you cool. The sacrifice is that natural fibers can be harder to take care of since they lose their shape more easily. So what’s a girl (or guy) to do?! Enter the cotton blend. Blends can be great because they combine the stretchy power of a synthetic with some of the nicer quality of natural materials. Ultimately, of course, it’s up to you and your preferences, and it depends on the article of clothing itself and the price. But guess what? All the information you’re looking for is written on that little white tag.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, good. Just kidding. Honestly, you could probably disregard all of this and continue to shop based on style rather than fabric and be fine, especially if you don’t have any complaints about the clothes you’ve been wearing. But if you do want to step up your shopping game, here are a few things I like to look for when picking through the rack:
- Price: Unless it’s a one-of-kind style you’ll never find anywhere else, don’t pay crazy prices for synthetic materials. Chances are you can find something similar for much less, especially since they are a popular choice in fast fashions, i.e. things you probably won’t be wearing in a year or two.
- Quality: Don’t be afraid to test-drive your clothes. Pull on the seams, stretch the fabric, and make sure you are not buying something that’s going to fall apart the first time you throw it in the wash.
- Fabric: It’s really up to you, but I generally prefer to buy natural fibers because I find them more comfortable. I don’t buy much other than 100% cotton when it comes to t-shirts and comfy tops. Maybe a cotton-modal blend is more your speed if you don’t want to deal with wrinkles. I’m also really fussy with sweaters. I hate feeling trapped in a hot, acrylic, or polyester sweater. I look for cotton, wool, or a blend of both. As I said before though, if you’re spending $20 for something specific or something quick, it probably doesn’t really matter. If you’re going to pay $100 or more for an item, buy something that will last.
