The power of quality clothes

When I was freelancing early in my career, I worked part time at a high end boutique in Philadelphia. The owner was an amazing curator and carried beautifully made designer clothing, shoes and accessories. She’d often ask me to try new items on to get a sense of how they’d look on an average woman - i’m 5’2” about 135lbs on a good day.

Wearing beautiful clothes was transformative. I couldn’t believe how good I looked… and felt. A menswear inspired pair of trousers that skimmed my hard to fit thighs, a long black wool military coat that I would have insisted would make me look too short actually made me look taller, and a pleated cotton poplin skirt that I would never had tried, fit me perfectly. I experienced an “ah-ha” moment again and again that changed the way I felt about clothes and my body forever.

Good quality clothes look better and feel better. They are more forgiving, they are made better, and they last. I still have those trousers and the coat, and a few other cherished items from that boutique owner and I still wear them and love them, over 15 years later.

Be patient and buy the best version of the item you need; it’s worth it.

xo, laura

photo courtesy of @thisisbarkerland