CHOOSE A QUALITY GARMENT

We often talk about checking the quality of a garment before buying it, and estimating its quality / price ratio.

However, this quality criterion is quite confusing, since several designs conflict. There are those for whom a quality garment is:

• Solid and functional,

• Beautiful and well cut.

In this article, we look at the relationship between these two criteria.

CHOOSE A QUALITY MEN AND WOMEN WEAR, WHEN YOU HAVE A VERY FUNCTIONAL AIM

Many readers discover BonneGueule when they have for several years had a purely functional approach to clothing.

"I dress to protect myself from the cold in winter and not be naked ."

Following this criterion, we would choose a garment only according to its technical characteristics:

• keep warm,

• raincoat,

• solid,

• comfortable,

• Lightweight.

Indeed, this is the best way to think about when planning a hike on the GR20.

A good product (based on these criteria) requires specific attention to the material and finish. For example, a T-shirt that is antiperspirant, non-irritating to the skin and that regulates heat well requires technical material. In the same way, for a raincoat to be perfectly waterproof, there is a real research and development work to be done on the seams (there are, for example, waterproof seams which are heat sealed).

This type of clothing is very easy to find at Decathlon, and they are rather inexpensive. However, these garments are generally aesthetically unsuccessful. And that's normal: it is not part of the list of criteria of customers and designers .

HOW TO DRESS WELL WITH STYLE AS A CRITERION

If we replace the "functional" criterion with the "aesthetic" criterion.

The well-cut shirt replaces the t-shirt won at the cognac marathon. The jacket and coat replace the old parka, which is too big. We drop the waterproof seams in favor of a breathtaking style.

So let's admit that we put all the functional criteria aside to focus on these aesthetic criteria:

• style,

• chopped off,

• design,

• easy to match.

Brands that focus only on these features succeed in producing inexpensive and successful designs. This is the case of Zara or H&M.

However, these garments are generally very poor in quality with regard to the materials used, the finishes or their solidity.

A “stylish” coat bought for less than € 50 in PAP has a good chance of not keeping you warm or protecting you from the rain. And after a season of heavy wear, it will have lost its shape and the pockets or lining may have torn.