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Most famous branded products provide some discounts such as coupons so your purchases will be cheaper. However, brand-less products don't really give out as much discounts as branded ones.

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Answer (1 of 6): Brands are important from three points of view: 1. They have a role to play in the market place. 2. The consumers are impacted by brands in their purchase decision 3. Finally, there is a company or a corporate perspective as to the role of a brand.

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Refunds allowed if you don't like the product

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Refunds allowed if you don't like the product

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E.G.: ZARA (HK), Nordstrorm, Wal-mart......

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Savvy retailers realize that not every gift is a hit: It might not fit, it could be a duplicate, or that smartwatch may not be very smart. These retailers have generous return policies that focus on customer satisfaction.

When shopping during the holidays, use this list of seven stores with the best return policies to make life easier for your gift recipients. Most of the stores listed below will return or exchange an item without a receipt and give you 90 days or more to make the transaction.

1. Nordstrom

Nordstrom, which technically has no return policy, says it handles returns on a case-by-case basis "with the ultimate objective of making our customers happy." In other words, if you bought the item at Nordstrom, the high-end retailer probably will take it back and reimburse you. There are no time limits on a return, and you don't need a receipt. Store associates will look up your purchase in the company database; if they cannot find a record of sale, the refund will be provided on a gift card at the current price of the item. It may take up to 14 days to issue a refund on credit card purchases. But Nordstrom won't take back special-occasion dresses, so don't expect to return that New Year's Eve party frock after the ball drops.

2. Kohl's

Kohl's refers to its return policy as "Hassle-Free Returns." On most purchases, there are no time restrictions or receipts required. If you don't have a receipt but paid in cash, your refund will be in the form of a merchandise exchange or store credit based on the lowest 13-week sale price. But if you paid with a major credit card, Kohl's will refund the charge with or without a receipt. Gift receipts are only eligible for an even exchange or a merchandise credit.

3. REI

REI rocks with a "100% Satisfaction Guaranteed" return policy. The fitness and outdoors retailer will replace or refund any item within a year from the date of purchase. You can even return an item that has been worn or used as long as it's cleaned or laundered, although REI notes exceptions for ordinary wear and tear or damage. But you need your receipt or proof of purchase to make a return - unless you're an REI member.

4. Bed Bath & Beyond

An item bought in a Bed Bath & Beyond store can be returned at any of its locations. The only exception is for large items delivered by a Bed Bath & Beyond truck; you'll have to arrange a pickup time with the store for those returns. The home merchandise chain also accepts returns by mail for online purchases and will cover your shipping fees. There are no time restrictions if you have a receipt; returns without one are accepted up to a year after purchase. If that is the case, and the item cannot be associated with a credit card, gift card, checking account or some other store record, Bed Bath & Beyond will exchange the item at the current selling price minus 20%.

5. L.L. Bean

There are no time limits on a return at L.L. Bean. The outdoor recreation chain does not require a receipt (though it helps if you have one; cash purchase returns without a receipt probably will result in a store gift card). If you have a receipt, the chain will reimburse you in the original method of payment. Returns also are accepted by mail, but unless you have an L.L. Bean Visa card, the retailer will deduct $6.50 from your refund for shipping charges.

6. J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney offers full returns with no time limit in most states and will reimburse you in your original form of payment if you have a receipt. Without a receipt, you'll get a merchandise voucher for the lowest selling price of that item within the last 45 days. The retailer has additional restrictions on returns on furniture, fine jewelry, appliances, small electronics and other categories.

7. Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart accepts returns only within 90 days of purchase, but you don't need a receipt if you do the return in a store. Without a receipt, you'll get an even exchange, a cash refund or a Wal-Mart gift card, depending on the amount of the purchase. Wal-Mart's policy has some restrictions on returns of electronics and "regulated items" such as groceries and home goods.

There's a lot of fine print in each store's policy, so it's best to read it online before making returns. Apps such as Slice can help you record your online purchases and keep track of your receipts in case you need to make any returns or exchanges.
Updated Dec. 8, 2016.

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7 Stores With the Best Return Policies - NerdWallet

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Savvy retailers realize that not every gift is a hit: It might not fit, it could be a duplicate, or that smartwatch may not be very smart. These retailers have generous return policies that focus on customer satisfaction. When shopping during the holidays, use this list of seven stores with the best return policies to make life easier for your gift recipients.

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Branded products are reliable as they remain consistent with their products and their quality.

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Branded products are reliable as they remain consistent with their products and their quality.

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Some branded name products were made by some well-known fashion designers, wear these kind of products can make you feel very proud of yourself

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Some branded name products were made by some well-known fashion designers, wear these kind of products can make you feel very proud of yourself

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Brand name products are estentially everywhere

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Brand name products are estentially everywhere

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According to the Collins dictionary a brand name product is essentially one that is made by a well known manufacturer and has the manufacturer's label on it.

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Brand-name product definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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Brand-name product definition: A brand-name product is one which is made by a well-known manufacturer and has the... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples

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Everything depends on how you look, people won't just randomly ask you why you are wearing whatever you are wearing. Nowadays, everything depends on social media. When you post a picture, the clothes are more important than the face

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Everything depends on how you look, people won't just randomly ask you why you are wearing whatever you are wearing. Nowadays, everything depends on social media. When you post a picture, the clothes are more important than the face

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We can already define social media according to the terms. When we say media, the ideas that come to our mind are instruments used for communication like a radio or a newspaper. Social media, by the way of being social, is composed of society or persons interacting with each other. Social media is a social instrument of communication, as it is described in the best way.

In regular media, you only have one-way communication in which the material only provides the information. Example of this is television. This media could provide visual information however, we, as viewers and receiver of the information can't give feedback to the one who sent the message.

On the other hand, social media is a two-way communication that gives us the ability to communicate to.

In other words, social media follow the process of communication.

The communication process contains different elements. These elements are the message, the sender, the channel, and the receiver. The channel used in the social media is the internet. Just like being in a conversation, the receiver is able to give feedback to the sender. This is advantageous because the sender will be able to know if the message was delivered appropriately and also, the sender will also know the view of the receiver to the idea he/she has received.

Now we hear social media and social news. Many confuse one to the other because they associate news to media as if the two are similar things. The fact is, social news site is also a social media site and it falls as a category of the latter.

Social news falls only as a subpart of social media. Social news is different to social media as an apple a different thing to fruits. However, fruit can also be banana, grapes, lemons, and strawberries. There are also other categories of social media like social networking and social wikis.

Now that we know what social media is, we go to social media websites. Social media is broad and covers a lot of websites. Though there are a variety of social media websites, their most common denominator is that there is interaction to websites and visitors.

Social Bookmarking is a category in which websites are tagged and searching sites that were bookmarked by other people.

Social news interacts to people through voting read articles and commenting on them. Articles are decided as good if they hit a lot of likes and positive comments and feedbacks. The most common example is yahoo news. This is good because people can voice out their reactions to certain issues.

Social networking is another category of social media and is very popular. A huge example of this is Facebook. In Facebook, like all other social networking sites, you can comment on profiles, join different groups and have discussions with different kinds of people online.

Social photo and video sharing are also a hit on the internet. People upload video and viewers can comment on the uploader's submission.

Wikis like Wikipedia and Wikia are informative and interact by articles and editing existing articles.

There are still other categories of social media that are not mentioned. Any websites that lets you join to the website and interact with other guests can be classified as social media.

In this generation, social media are very much accepted by the society. It is even already part of people's life that roles might change if it is taken away. Social media is not only for communication and entertainment purposed. It also can be used in business only if the right button is pushed.

Businesses don't embrace social media because of their fear of loss of data. But this risk can be overcome through the application of technology and other controls. Security can be provided to protect the site from being infiltrated by hackers. Social media can be used to find, communicate, and deal with customers.

There are already a lot of online shops. A businessman can post their product online and shoppers can buy through the internet. It is quite popular nowadays since it is more convenient to anyone who doesn't want to go out to shop.

Other form of businesses also make their websites to introduce their company and as a form of advertisement.

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The Role of Social Media in the Society - Pinoy Link Exchange

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We can already define social media according to the terms. When we say media, the ideas that come to our mind are instruments used for communication like a radio or a newspaper. Social media, by the way of being social, is composed of society or persons interacting with each other.

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Branded products makes people feel stronger and may boost the persons self confidence in ones self.

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Branded products makes people feel stronger and may boost the persons self confidence in ones self.

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If you brake or loose your branded product, a recipt pf your item will get you another new pair of the exact same product

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If you brake or loose your branded product, a recipt pf your item will get you another new pair of the exact same product

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north face gives you lifetime warranty

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Please make sure that the shipping is prepaid and the package is insured for full replacement value. Enclose a short note identifying the problems, and remember to include your street address or a place where someone will be home to sign for a package, since we return items by United Parcel Service.

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Some branded products have special features that may benefit the buyer.

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Some branded products have special features that may benefit the buyer.

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Adidas now have a new feature named ultra boost which would allow the person who wears it be more comfortable.

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Branded name products has a better quality

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Branded name products has a better quality

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Brand-name products have a better quality and it can last longer and it won't damage your skin

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Branded goods help people to find things easily. 

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Branded goods help people to find things easily. 

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If a person goes shopping, he or she would know what brand the product is, making it easier to find to item you want.

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Branding has played a large part in the jewelry industry for many years now as it has in all merchandising. Why is wearing someone else's brand so important to our society, instead of deciding on our own what is good taste and what is not?

The jewelry in your store might be as beautiful and as well made as the branded names, yet customers will walk past your store to shop for branded merchandise at a store down the street, sometimes paying more for a product no better than the one you carry. A solitaire is a solitaire, but put it into a powder blue-colored box and suddenly it has added value. Why?

1) Wearing branded merchandise sets us in a specific economic category, a certain rung on the socioeconomic ladder. It tells others where we are on the economic scale. There is a certain pecking order in society and wearing branded merchandise tells those with whom we come in contact that we are in a lower group, the same group or a higher socioeconomic group than they are, depending upon the prestige and price point of the items worn.

2) It allows us to feel as though we fit into society and belong to the group. Humans aren't solitary animals any more than monkeys are. Wearing similar and familiar brands helps us to relate to others in the group and feel a part of something larger than ourselves.

3) There is, of course, the sense of pride of ownership. Everyone wants to own beautiful and well-made things, and branded merchandise tends to be of high quality. There is a sense of pride when you walk up to the three-pronged hood ornament that decorates your shiny Mercedes. Each time you shut the car door and hear that classic "thud" it gives you the sense that you have purchased a well-made machine. Every morning when you get up and slip that stainless steel and gold watch over your hand and hear it snap solidly onto your wrist, you take a moment just to appreciate its art.

4) Branding takes the thinking out of a purchase. When a man goes shopping for his wife and he knows she likes a certain brand, he doesn't have to think any further than the brand name. Anything that has that particular name on it will please his wife. Our society has turned over thinking to the few designers who rule our fashion world. Individuals no longer think about what is good design or bad; if it has some well-advertised name on it, it must be good. It's gotten to a point that we now wear sweaters with names across the front and no design at all.

Let's take a look at some brands. My favorite example is Rolex. Rolex unquestionably is a good product but they haven't greatly changed their look in years. Many of you may not even know that Rolex makes a line of dress watches. They aren't nearly as popular as their Oyster watch line, which is an immediately recognizable status symbol that tells others we can afford a high-end, luxury item. It also, of course, gives the wearer a sense of pride of ownership, which, while it shouldn't be overlooked, consumers also can get from many other fine watch brands not so commercially known or recognized.

Pandora has been a phenomenon in recent years, running circles around its competition in the bead market. Pandora is an example of "fitting in" to the group as a brand. People all have a story to tell, and Pandora allows them to do so proudly on their arm. Their recognizable bracelets telegraph to others that they are loved by their families and are a part of something greater than themselves. A woman wearing Pandora can easily relate to and feel a kinship with another woman wearing a similar-yet-still-different Pandora bracelet.

If you aren't a Pandora dealer but carry other beads, you may have experienced a customer coming in looking for a bead to add to their loved one's bracelet, only to have them leave because the beads you carry aren't from Pandora. The beads you carry might be just as good as or better than Pandora's, yet it's Pandora they will buy.

Purses, too, are the perfect example of branding, placing women in a position on the social ladder. Purses are large and have intrusive names or initials emblazoned across them, and they are put down on the counter right in front of you. "Take that!" the carrier seems to say as they plunk down 15 pounds of beige and brown vinyl with leather trim onto your countertop.

Young people today want to fit into society as much as any previous generation, but they may do so without the same branding as we've seen in the past.

The biggest brand today adorning the younger generation isn't a purse, a car, clothing or jewelry ... it's tattoos. Humans will always want to adorn themselves and will always do something to tell others where on the socioeconomic ladder they fit. Young people are wearing permanent jewelry: ink. You don't have to insure it or worry about losing it. It telegraphs to other young people that you are hip and a part of their generation. It says, "I'm cool and I belong," not to my parents' generation but to the new generation.

Branding is a part of our society and if you don't have branded names in your store, you're going to lose sales to the stores that do carry branded names.

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going out and getting a tattoo!
Retailer Jim Alperin owns James Alperin Jewelers in Pepper Pike, Ohio. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Branding has played a large part in the jewelry industry for many years now as it has in all merchandising. Why is wearing someone else's brand so important to our society, instead of deciding on our own what is good taste and what is not?

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Many popular brands gift their customers discounts, gift cards or free products if they constantly buy the brands, and enjoy them.

Also, over time, if customers constantly buy products form the same brand, and the products are constantly of a high quality, they start becoming attached to the brand, and will always buy it.Some customers will have certain attachments or affinities for a particular brand or its style or design. Customers would go out of their way to buy products of one particular brand, even if it is at a more expensive price.

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The Art of Customer Loyalty: How to Build A Company Customers Love

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Building customer loyalty isn't easy, but it's worth the effort. Our free 40-page guide is full of research, tips, and ideas on the art of customer loyalty.

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branded products have been proven for higher quality

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branded products have been proven for higher quality

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could use this website for rebuttal and PEE

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Two opinionated writers give us their points of view on whether brands really matter.

Brand Name Buyer
By Shari Eisen
Tired of being told that brand name clothing just isn't worth the price, and that by wearing them you're being superficial? Well, buying brand names go beyond what the critics say.

If I walk into a store and see a plain t-shirt for $20 and a popular brand I recognize on sale for $25, I'm far more likely to buy the brand because I know that I'm buying a good quality product from a reliable company. After all, high-end companies will ensure superior quality in order to uphold their reputations. And if I get great shirts from a particular brand name, I also expect other products by the same brand to be well made. However, I'm not sure what I'm getting with no-name labels.

Generally, the first impression that someone has of you is focused on the image that you choose to project. For instance, if you don't take care of your appearance, others may think that you're disorganized. Brand name clothing gives a positive impression to everyone around you.

If you see someone else sporting your favourite brand, it's easy to spark a conversation. Even if you're shy, you will be much more self-assured because you know that you've got something in common with the other person. Self-esteem is a huge part of being a young woman, so a small boost in confidence can have a tremendous effect. Confidence allows us to try new things without the fear of rejection or failure. So, why shouldn't we have something that gives us that "I'm unstoppable" feeling?

I'll admit that part of the appeal of brand names may be how something looks, but I can't help it if I love the look of Diesel jeans or a Coach bag! "I like being the centre of attention sometimes," a friend tells me.

Brand name clothing and accessories are designed to appeal to consumers, and they do so very well. There's no point in buying something that you don't like, so if you like the brand name item, go for it!

Brand name products bring us good quality merchandise, confidence in ourselves and great looking items. That certainly sounds worth it to me.

No Name Necessary
By Arfeen Malick
Michael Kors, Coach, Juicy Couture, Burberry, Chanel: brand names swirl around in your head. The big names come with even bigger price tags. You pause for a millisecond and think, "Why am I wearing someone's logo and advertising for them?" The thought quickly disintegrates as another trendy label catches your eye. You've already picked out the perfect skirt to complete the outfit.

Perhaps in all this confusion you ignore the price or maybe you're sucked into this brand name world without knowing it. Whatever the reason, you walk up to the $50 designer label t-shirt, pull it off the rack and head towards the dressing room. The almost identical (but lacking the right label) $15 t-shirt from the previous store is forgotten along with your budget for today.

So why do some people put in the extra cash for the logo while others couldn't care less? Jackie Burkhart (played by Mila Kunis), the fashion-conscious member of the gang on That 70s Show, feels more secure in her brand name clothes. On the show, in response to accusations of her being insecure, she screams, "I am not insecure! This is a designer sweater, this is designer eye shadow and those are designer shoes, and they make me feel INCREDIBLY secure!" Is she right? Perhaps those teens buying strictly brand names are looking to their clothes for self-confidence. By wearing the hottest t-shirt they try to avoid the awkwardness of fitting in, thinking that their clothes will provide comfort, much like a security blanket. They believe wearing brand names will automatically put them into a category labelled "cool & trendy". To some, fitting in right away based on appearance is more appealing than making friends based on personality. Of course, our clothes should somewhat represent our personalities but they shouldn't replace them.

Brand names have become a method to display status. Label kings and queens say they buy clothes and accessories because they represent who they are, but really, how can a t-shirt that is owned by nearly half the population represent an individual?

Also bizarre is the fact that some people will buy a plain 100% cotton, white tank top for way too much money because it has some sought-after tag sewn into the back (where no-one can even see it!), while a similar top can be found elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. Some suggest that the higher the price the better the quality, but isn't 100% cotton just 100% cotton?

Some also argue that brand names spark conversation. Someone across the room might approach you wondering where you bought that "great" (code for designer) bag! While this might be true, do you really want to talk to someone who only approached you because of something you are wearing?

Although brand names are more expensive, perhaps the appeal is that you aren't only paying for the logo but also for status, confidence, and for the ability to fit in. But wait a minute, can't I get all those things for free?

Even More Stories You May Like (courtesy of Google)

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Fashion Debate: Brands vs. No Brands | Faze

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Two opinionated writers give us their points of view on whether brands really matter. By Shari Eisen Tired of being told that brand name clothing just isn't worth the price, and that by wearing them you're being superficial? Well, buying brand names go beyond what the critics say.

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Why your brand is better than your product

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Why your brand is better than your product

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Why Your Brand Is More Important Than Your Product

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Kevin Roberts, global CEO of the advertising powerhouse Saatchi & Saatchi, says focusing on your product first is an outdated way of thinking.

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Why your brand is better than your product

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Why your brand is better than your product

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A shoe wouldn't have much value without the famous Nike swoosh if it was from Nike right? Brands add value to a product.

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Branded products have a reputation for their good quality products and for its comfort.

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Branded products have a reputation for their good quality products and for its comfort.

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There are some brand-name product which are cheaper than non-branded name product but has a better quality than it.

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There are some brand-name product which are cheaper than non-branded name product but has a better quality than it.

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A brand is like a promise. People only buy a branded product because they believe in the value the product will provide them with. For example, a branded product like Adidas is definitely more promising than a brand-less product.

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In one sense, perhaps the most important sense, a brand is a promise. Think of some top brands and you immediately know what they promise: McDonald's, Coca Cola, Budweiser, Ford, , .

You know what you're going to get with a well-branded product or service.

In another sense, a brand is a specific combination of logo, words, type font, design, colors, personality, price, service, etc.

It's also a bundle of attributes. Think of Volvo, for instance, and your first thoughts are probably going to be something like " well built, comfortable, Swedish" and, most of all, " safety."

The promise, look, personality and attributes can eventually acquire a special patina of what I call " me" appeal. Buying a certain brand says something about the person who buys it. Apple has that patina. So does Prius. The booze and clothing businesses are filled with patina products: Cristal, Guinness, Ralph Lauren, Manolo Blahnik.

All of this can lead to sub-brands, like iPhone and iPad which acquire the aura of the parent brand.

It takes a lot of time, money and very hard work to build and maintain great brands like that, brands that can speak volumes in just a few syllables.
That's why I'm usually rendered speechless when a prospective client asks us for a quick "Brand".
It happens a lot more often than you'd think. I love developing brands from scratch but when the client needs something quick, there'd better be a strong existing brand already in place.

If you're going to develop your brand, the last thing you want to do is follow the beaten path. You want to head down your own road. Your brand has to plant itself in the hearts and minds (especially hearts) of prospects and customers.

It also has to be memorable. Your brand is the focus of all your marketing efforts (yes, it needs to say something about your company, connect with your target market, be motivating in some way and always create loyalty).
Sometimes a brand is memorable because of the little things.
TD Bank has a special place in their branches for you to deposit all those coins you collect in jars. It's called the Penny Arcade and makes it a fun game and you can even win prizes. If your kids collect coins, you might want to open a TD account so they can enjoy the process of saving their money there. Years ago Dime Savings Bank in New York had a small dime carrier it gave to kids and then they'd fill up the 50 slots with a dime in each one (Dime Bank, get it?) and bring it to exchange for a $5.00 bill. Little things can mean a lot (and little things are all do-able on the smallest budget.)

When you think about your brand, think about all the elements: promise, personality, look, voice, service, attributes, memorability, even patina. There's a good chance that if you ask customers, prospects and competitors about it, you'll be surprised at how strong your brand actually is.

It's shorthand for what you are.

Does your brand make you feel great about your own company? This is our logo on the wall when you walk into our agency office. It always makes us smile!

Let me know and please comment below.

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In one sense, perhaps the most important sense, a brand is a promise. Think of some top brands and you immediately know what they promise: McDonald's, Coca Cola, Budweiser, Ford, Apple, MetLife. You know what you're going to get with a well-branded product or service. In another sense, a brand is a [...]

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You definetely want to be wearing the most comfortable brand name product there is right

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Brand name products are  better than a brand with a better quality

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Brand name products are  better than a brand with a better quality

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Although there are brands with better quality products, brand name products are still better. Yes, it is more expensive than smaller brands with better quality products, but buying a brand name product, you will feel like the king of the world!! For example: Using a pair of Nike will make you feel invincible.

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Brand-name products are made from better qualities.

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Brand-name products are made from better qualities.

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The quality of the material used to make the product would be better and would not break as easily.

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Branded products have been proven for higher quality

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Branded products have been proven for higher quality

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Today's post about whether expensive clothes are worth it is from my awesome staff writer Jordann. Are expensive clothes worth it? You'll learn about the difference between cheap and expensive clothes. Are expensive clothes worth it? Enjoy!
Like lots of people, I love clothing. I'm not a clothes horse per say, after all, I tend to have a minimalist wardrobe, but I definitely appreciate a piece of well crafted clothing that fits properly, is well made, and priced right.

I'm pretty careful about what I buy these days. Back when I was a starving student I would only buy the cheapest clothing.

I didn't have a lot of money to spend and I just couldn't justify dropping a huge portion of my piddly clothing budget on a single expensive piece of clothing with a credit card. The downside of this strategy was that my clothes didn't last long before they shrunk, got holes, or were otherwise compromised.

Since I didn't have much money to spend on clothing, I was usually very sad when something I bought only before fell apart, even if it WAS only $5.

Then, after I graduated from university and got my first real job, I found the wonderful world of brand name clothing. I did a complete 180 on my clothing philosophy.

I still wasn't buying much for clothing, since I had a ton of debt to pay down, but now I was only buying expensive clothes that I thought were much higher quality and much more suited to a recent graduate. Of course, once I fully grasped the magnitude of how much debt I was in, that spending habit stopped.

So, is buying expensive clothing worth it? I've had the chance to buy both bottom of the barrel clothing and reasonably high quality clothing, and the two are very different.

The verdict? Sometimes.

Not the definitive answer you were looking for right? Unfortunately, that's the truth. Sometimes it's worth it to spend the extra money on well made clothing, and sometimes it's just not. Here are my top instances where buying expensive clothing is worth it, and when it's not:

Technical Clothing

I'm running a half marathon this Spring. To prepare for this, I've been running a lot. In fact, some of my runs are over two hours in duration. For these situations, I need high quality performance gear.

I've run in the expensive Lululemon gear and the cheaper alternatives, and the expensive gear performs better every time. It's worth it to get quality gear from REI rather than relying on cheap gear. While this might not make a huge difference for the weekend runner, for me it's the difference between making it through a run unscathed or making it through with blisters the size of quarters.

Timeless Pieces

No, your Uggs don't count. I'm not talking flash in the pan fashions that'll be gone in a few years, I'm talking a simple grey winter coat that'll stay in style and last for years. I'm talking about black dress pants or a suit.

These things will still be perfectly acceptable to wear in several years, so paying for a quality item that won't fall apart is worth it.

Accessories

Personally, I don't spend a ton of money on accessories. My reasoning for this is that I can easily update my wardrobe by purchasing a few accessories every year that are in style. Since those styles are apt to change in a few years, spending a huge wad of cash on those items wouldn't really be worth it.

Rarely Worn Items

I've definitely spent more than a few minutes drooling over a party dress or bathing suit. The truth is though, when it comes to clothing I'm rarely going to wear, I don't like to spend a lot of money on it.

My $15 bathing suit is three years old and looks brand new because I wear it about three times a year. An expensive one wouldn't look much better at this point.

The same goes for that party dress, which, since I'm so frugal, wouldn't be worn any more often than the bathing suit. For clothing that I don't often wear, I tend to go for the more economical purchases.

When it comes to buying clothing, everyone is different. Some people might think I'm crazy to even be considering buying expensive clothes, while others are drawn to brand names like a magpie.

I try to balance spending as little as possible with buying enough quality items that I don't have to head back to the store every month to replace clothing that's no longer wearable. To me, that's a good balance between frugality and fashion.
Are expensive clothes worth it to you? Do you swear by brand name items or do you shop exclusively at thrift stores?

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Is Buying Expensive Clothing Worth It - Cheap vs Expensive Clothes

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Today's post about whether expensive clothes are worth it is from my awesome staff writer Jordann. Are expensive clothes worth it? You'll learn about the difference between cheap and expensive clothes. Are expensive clothes worth it? Enjoy! Like lots of people, I love clothing.

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Brand-name products allow other people to admire and get inspired

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Brand-name products allow other people to admire and get inspired

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Most brand name products allow you to return a product in a certain amount of days but non-brand name products don't have that policy

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The quality used to make the products would be better.

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The quality used to make the products would be better.

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Clothings that are made

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" 1. Brands provide peace of mind.

Consumers want comfort, happiness, and satisfaction in their lives, and they get it in part through the products they buy. If the brands they use consistently deliver a positive experience, consumers form an opinion that the brand is trustworthy, which gives them peace of mind when buying.
2. Brands save decision-making time.
So you are in the market for a new HDTV and decide to search Amazon. You type in "HDTV" and get 101,685 results. How do you cull the list down to a manageable number of choices? You choose a brand. Type in "Samsung HDTV," and you reduce your choices to 1,319. Picking a brand helps reduce the clutter, making it easier to find what you are looking for.
3. Brands create difference.
Any grocery store aisle has more product options than anyone can reasonably consider purchasing. What allows us to select one peanut butter brand over another or over a generic product? Branding helps define-in an instant, with a minimum of thought-what makes your product different and more desirable than comparable products.
4. Brands provide safety.
People, by nature, generally avoid risk and seek safety. Imagine you're on a business trip in an unfamiliar city, and you need to pick a restaurant for dinner. You're most likely to pick a national restaurant brand over a local one because you're familiar with the national brand. It's the safe and predictable choice because you know what to expect. Brands offer safety and reduce the risk of disappointment.
5. Brands add value.
Why do consumers pay higher prices for brands compared to unbranded or generic products? Is it better quality, the look and feel, or is it the brand's stature in society? It's probably a combination of each. Successfully branded products make more money for their companies by commanding premium prices.
6. Brands express who we are.
What smartphone do you own? What car do you drive? What shoes do you wear? The brands we use make a statement about who we are and who we want to be. People become emotionally attached to the brands they use and view them as part of their self-image. Apple's classic "I'm a PC/I'm a Mac" campaign shows how brands can reflect the personalities and self-perceptions of their users.
7. Brands give consumers a reason to share.
We all have opinions about the things we experience, and we like to share them with others. Whether it's a good book, a good movie, or a great meal, we become brand advocates when we share positive brand experiences. In our increasingly social world, we have more opportunities than ever to spread the benefit of our experiences. Strong brands give consumers a reason to share their experiences."

source : 7 Reasons Why Brands Matter To Your Consumers | MicroArts Creative Agency

"Understanding the motives and interests of your target market helps in making product decisions, developing a store layout and promoting your business. Product resellers must decide what mix of brand name products and generic goods to provide. Consumers generally buy off-brands for price benefits. They buy brand names for a variety of reasons.
Confidence in Experience
Consumers generally buy a product for the first time in hopes that it provides a quality experience. They hope a computer works efficiently and helps them perform personal or work tasks effectively. They buy food hoping for a quality taste or nutritional value. Recognized brand names typically have shown a consistency in product quality that has contributed to the evolution of the brand. Often, consumers rely on prior experiences or public word-of-mouth when selecting brands.
Social Acceptance
People have a desire to fit in, whether at school, work or in social circles. For this reason, people sometimes buy brands because they believe the brands will contribute to greater social acceptance. This is especially true in fashion. Consumers often buy clothing brands that are either perceived as fashionable, trendy or high class, or that fit into a particular subculture or peer group. The "Keeping up with the Joneses" mentality epitomizes this brand buying motive.
Loyalty
Over time, consumers develop loyalty to brands that provide a consistent, high-quality experience. Loyalty is essentially an emotional attachment to a brand. Some car buyers have a strong affinity for the Ford brand, while others have a similar commitment to Chevrolet. Brand loyalty causes customers to inconvenience themselves or spend more for a particular brand. Developing a strong company brand or carrying desired product brands leads to more customer loyalty and long-term business benefits.
Personal Image
Just as company or product brands have identities, people do as well. Some people buy certain brands to support their personal or professional image. Cutting-edge, tech-savvy consumers buy Apple technology to correlate with a desire to be perceived as "techie." Buying a Lexus or other higher-priced car brand or Armani suits can contribute to your image as a high-class, well-to-do or sophisticated professional."

source : Why Do People Buy Brand Names?

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Why do most of the people prefer branded products in clothing and footwear?

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Answer (1 of 4): "1. Brands provide peace of mind. Consumers want comfort, happiness, and satisfaction in their lives, and they get it in part through the products they buy. If the brands they use consistently deliver a positive experience, consumers form an opinion that the brand is trustworthy...

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Brand name products make you look better, and impress others.

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Brand name products make you look better, and impress others.

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For example, if you're about to attend a business meeting, or anything that is of utmost importance, you definitely would want to be in a smart designer suit, right? The phrase "dress to impress" didn't just originate from nothing. For instance, your boss or client in a meeting would undoubtfully be impressed at first sight if you are dressed in nice, brand-name clothing.

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Today I want to talk about my £200 designer wardrobe and why designer clothes are better...

When I was younger I was always told that designer clothes we're just the same as basic brands and that we were paying for the label. However, as I've grown into frugal adulthood I've actually found the opposite. I'm going to show you why designer clothes are better...

When I first met my partner Helen a couple of years ago she used to spend every lunch hour in the budget retail store, Primark. Her entire wardrobe was made up of budget outfits from budget retailers.

Clothes are simply one item where I feel you get what you pay for. By which I mean, designer clothes are made to last. But that's not all. Designer clothes are also more comfortable and make you look and feel great. Whilst Helen had opted for the buy more - cheap. I'd gone for the minimalist designer approach with five pairs of trousers and eight t-shirts.

Who's The Better Shopper?

For you to really see the effect of both our spending habits we're going to need to look at this from a five-year perspective.

Helen - Bargain Shopper

Helen goes out to Primark, all her tops are worn. The zip on her jeans has gone. The colour has faded she needs to replace some stuff.

She buys three new outfits each made up of trousers and a t-shirt.

The t-shirts cost her £5 each and the trousers cost her £12 each. Her three outfits come to £51 - bargain!

Except four months later Helen is back where she started. Her tops are worn, the zip on her jeans has gone. The colours have faded and she needs to replace those three outfits she bought just four months ago.

Helen repeats this process three times a year for the next five years and ends up spending a total of £755

Me, The Mini Millionaire - I Love Designer Clothes

The time has come where I renew my wardrobe. I go out the same as Helen and look for three new outfits each made up of a t-shirt and trousers. Except, mine are designer. Because, of course. I believe designer clothes are better...

My t-shirts cost me an average of £30 each and my trousers £50. That means each outfit costs me £80 and all three outfits cost a total of £240.

My shopping spree has cost almost five times the amount of Helen's - Yikes!

However, when Helen comes to me four months later with her broken jeans I'm still wearing mine, they're great! When she comes to me with a top that's faded mine still look as fresh as when I first bought it.

In fact, I only needed to renew my wardrobe five years later when Helen was on her 15th shopping spree.

My £240 designer goods have lasted me five years or fifteen times longer than Helen's bargain clothes. This means that I spend a third of what she did saving myself over £500 over the course of five years.

Applying The Comfort Principle

If my investment method hasn't convinced you that designer clothes are better, then it's worth applying the comfort principle.

Unless you're a nudist then it's likely you find yourself wearing clothes for 100% of the time in which you're awake. By the time you're 80 that's going to have been 52 years of your life in which you've been in some form of clothing that's the equivalent of 65% of your lifetime.

Which means if you're buying budget you're spending 65% of your life in clothes that are worn and uncomfortable.

After just one year you'll have spent over 5,000 hours in some form of clothing. If you spend £500 on six great designer outfits and wear them for an entire year it's going to cost you £0.10 per hour.

All this comes down to is applying for the most money where you get the highest return on investment.
A bad return on investment would be spending £25,000 on a new car if you work from home and have zero commuting time. That's before we get into the depreciation discussion.
You can also use this same equation for working out how much it'll cost you every time you wear the item/outfit. This is especially good for items you're unlikely to wear as much or more than others.

Applying The Good Enough Principle

I noticed a huge difference between mine and Helen's clothing. An average outfit of hers cost £17 and mine cost £80. However, I noticed a much smaller difference in quality - if any between my outfit at £80 and my mum's average outfit at £150.
Another example of this is that we noticed a huge difference between a three-star hotel and a four-star hotel, but a much smaller difference between a four-star hotel and a five-star hotel.
As with any purchase, there is a fine line in finding the best return on investment. Unfortunately, this tends to come down to personal experience. What is good quality for one person isn't for another, so you're going to need to try out multiple designer brands in order to find out which particular brand provides the best return for you.

Designer Clothes Are Better Because They Make You More Money

The phrase 'dress to impress' didn't come from anything... If you're heading into the office with a smart designer suit on you're going to feel the business. This confidence is going to come across in your meetings, presentations, in absolutely everything you do whilst at work.

Designer clothes are better because not only do they help you to feel great, they help you to look your very best. Stats show you're more likely to get a promotion if you're in a more expensive suit. You're also more likely to be taken seriously in interviews for promotions or important sales pitches.

How To Buy Quality Designer Clothes

If you've never bought a high-quality garment in your life then it's hard to know what real quality looks like. I'd, therefore, advise either looking at the outfits the people in your office are wearing or going to a high-end store that you know stocks high-quality clothing (whether it's in the budget or not doesn't matter) to get a good point of reference.

The difference is often in the detail so take note of the fabrics on the label, try it on to get an idea of how the fabric feels on your skin. Be sure to take a look at the buttons and the stitching.

Just because a brand produces designer clothes doesn't always mean it's going to be of the highest quality. Which is why it's important to try any item of clothing on before you buy it to test the quality and the fit.

If you're looking for a suit it may be worth visiting a tailor to get the highest quality and the best fit. You may cost an extra ten percent on top of what you would usually pay however the item should pay for itself with it's fit and quality.

Designer Clothes Are Better Because You Can Sell Them

Buying designer clothes can sometimes be a risk... I mean what if you put on weight? lose weight? change your style? etc. etc. That investment in designer clothes has then surely been wasted, has it not?

No. Your money hasn't been wasted, the reason being that designer clothes can be sold second hand for good money.

Whilst there's nothing actually stopping you from selling your second-hand clothes from the likes of Primark and H&M you're unlikely to see it sell quickly, or for any worthwhile amount of money. That's because the consumer can simply go direct to that shop and buy the item themselves, brand new for such little money it's not worth the hassle for them to buy it second-hand

However, second-hand designer clothes are seen as affordable. I can often get between 50% to 70% on clothes that are over three years old that I've worn hundreds of times, provided they are clean and damage free.

The Budget Always Comes Up Trumps

Unfortunately, you're not always going to be able to apply any of the above principles.

While this is a long-term saving method it's also an investment. If you're already struggling financially it's worth finding other ways to save money.

It's safe to say that Helen has seen the light, she too now believes that designer clothes are better. This has meant that we've been able to go a year without buying clothes. Let me know in the comments if you shop budget or designer.

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4 Reasons You Should Only Buy Designer Clothes

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4 Reasons You Should Only Buy Designer Clothes Today I want to talk about my £200 designer wardrobe and why designer clothes are better... When I was younger I was always told that designer clothes we're just the same as basic brands and that we were paying for the label.

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People form social cliques from who is wearing the "in" and the "out" products

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People form social cliques from who is wearing the "in" and the "out" products

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Brand names affect people a lot more than you think. They can determine one fitting in with another group. Although they say "don't judge a book by its cover," many people still do, according to what they wear, and whether or not it is from a popular brand. Like if you were a new student, and you dressed in really cheap, messy clothes, you would probably not be as easily accepted than if you came in wearing the "cool" gear. It would be much easier to fit in, if you dressed just like another fellow student at your new school. It helps you fit in if you wear similar apparel. And even though this may cost you a lot more, most students still feel obliged to buy these brands instead of unbranded goods.

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Published 11:09 am, Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Uggs, North Face, Abercrombie, and Hollister. Walk through the halls of a typical high school and these brand name logos can easily be found plastered on students' clothes. It seems as if one day only five people have the new Vera Bradley bag and by the next week, all the girls in class are carrying it.

"I definitely find that people are obsessed with brand names, and they won't buy a similar item of the brand because it doesn't have its logo or brand name displayed," says Kelly Burns, a sophomore at Fairfield Warde High School.

Students can be motivated to buy brand name clothing to better fit in with their peers. In a sea of similar logos, students with the "in" apparel feel that they can better stay under the radar and blend in with the crowd.

"I feel that people who want to fit in wear more brand names than people who simply do not care what others think of them," says Aarya Shenoi, a junior at Trumbull High School.

For some teens, the pressure to have the latest styles is too great to resist. Even if they do not like the newest brand name, they will buy it in order to be like their classmates. In this way, students may sometimes compromise their individuality simply to dress similarly to their peers.

"Unfortunately, I do feel like I `need' to buy these products just because other people are wearing them," says Catherine Casey, a junior at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull.

Although teens regularly sport the latest brand name trend, the prices of these items can be quite high. However, some teens are willing to pay these high costs just for the popular logos.

"Many kids spend double the money on most clothes for a small insignia on the shirt or pant," says Shenoi.

Teens who do not regularly buy brand name items sometimes refrain from doing so because of the expensive prices. Certain savvy teens feel that the products do not match the prices or hype.

" `In' brands are never worth the price. I mean Uggs are made in China, but you're still paying $200 for them," says Jordan Kovacs, a sophomore at Shelton High School.

Some teens do not understand the logic behind spending extravagant amounts to get name brands regularly. In some situations, they indulge in brand names and yet they do not go out of their way to look unique. They are simply indifferent.

See Brands on Page B9

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Brands play important role in teens' lives

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Walk through the halls of a typical high school and these brand name logos can easily be found plastered on students' clothes. In a sea of similar logos, students with the "in" apparel feel that they can better stay under the radar and blend in with the crowd.

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Most branded products have a better quality and they tend to make it feel comfortable but you would feel unsure when you buy clothes from a market as it could break in your hands within seconds and you would not know what they did with that piece. At the same time, branded products are trusted as they had left a great impression in us with their quality.

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Branded products have a lower chance of copyright and tend to be more original.

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Branded products have a lower chance of copyright and tend to be more original.

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Famous brands are famous because of their ideas. However, some less popular brands out there want more fame, so they decided to copy other famous brand's designs to earn money. Wearing something that is copyrighted and unoriginal isn't that good, right?

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Products that are from brand names have warranty and some have lifetime warranties to. That would just help you save money so that you would have the makers of the product fix it for you, not some shop in the street which might have no idea on how to fix the product.

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Having a better brand is better than having a better product

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Having a better brand is better than having a better product

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In the marketing community, there is a struggle between two schools of thought. One school is focused on the product. The other school is focused on the brand.

The product folks believe the ultimate winner in every marketing battle is the better product. If this is so, goes the thinking, the role of a company's marketing program is to communicate the features and benefits that make a company's product clearly superior to its competitors.

Virtually every young person in the marketing community tends to join the product school. I know I did. And why not?

It's simple, logical and most important of all, the product school fits the facts everybody knows. Just ask yourself a couple of questions.

What's the best energy drink? Red Bull, of course.

What's the best coffee? Starbucks, of course.

What's the best smartphone? The iPhone, of course.

So if you want to become market leaders like Red Bull, Starbucks, iPhone and many others, you need to develop the better product or service. Then hire the best advertising agency you can find to communicate your superiority message.

How can anyone believe otherwise?
With all the evidence on the side of the product school, how can anyone believe the brand is more important than the product? The key insight is perception.

There are no facts. Everything in life is "perceptions." There are no superior products. There are only superior perceptions in consumers' minds. And so it is with many other "facts" we assume to be true.

Take another example. Grass is not green. The sky is not blue. Snow is not white. There are no colors in nature.

Color is created in your mind by the frequencies of the light reflected by the grass, the sky and the snow.

The role of perception
There's no question Red Bull has the perception of being the best energy drink. The same is true of Starbucks and coffee. The iPhone and smartphones.

What else do we know about perceptions? They are very difficult to change. Once a person holds a strong perception about a specific brand, it's extremely difficult to change that perception.

Developing a better coffee than Starbucks is a simple task compared to developing a better perception than Starbucks in consumers' minds. In fact, it's almost impossible -- unless Starbucks does something stupid.

Perceptions are difficult to change. When was the last time you changed your mind? How many Democrats became Republicans last week? And vice versa?

The role of timing
The product school doesn't need to worry about when to launch a brand. At most, it might be wise to delay the introduction of a new brand in order to have the extra time to develop a superior product.

The brand school thinks differently. Since perceptions are difficult to change, it's critical to get into consumers' minds before the competition does. That's why leader brands are usually first in their categories.

Motto of the brand school: It's better to be first than it is to be better.

The role of difference
Only a handful of brands can be first. So how can an also-ran overtake a leader? The brand school has an answer for that question, too.

Be different.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car wasn't necessarily better than Hertz. But it certainly was different. Instead of locating its rental counters in airline terminals (like Hertz, Avis, National and almost everybody else), Enterprise opened in the suburbs.

Today, Enterprise is the largest car-rental company in America. Not Hertz.

Motto of the brand school: It's better to be different than it is to be better.

The role of believability
No superiority claim is believable unless you are already the market leader. And then you don't need one because consumers believe the market leader is the superior brand.

A claim of superiority by a No. 2 or No. 3 brand is just not believable. If the brand was actually superior, thinks the prospect, then why isn't it the market leader? Since everybody knows the better product wins in the marketplace.

(Virtually all consumers belong to the product school. Many go out of their way to say brand names play no part in the products they buy. The only thing that matters is the quality of the products.)

As time goes on and as perceptions harden in consumers' minds, it becomes more and more difficult to make progress with an also-ran brand.

Look at the touchscreen smartphone, a category pioneered by the Apple iPhone, still the leading smartphone in America. Samsung got in early and became a strong No.2 brand.

It's way too late in the game for Amazon to generate much momentum in the category with its Fire smartphone. No matter how good the product is.

Why would prospects pay attention to an advertising message about the Amazon Fire? Their minds are already occupied by the two major brands: Apple's iPhone and Samsung.

Robert Galbraith vs. J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling is the first author to become a billionaire by writing books. Her "Harry Potter" books were translated into 55 different languages in 200 countries and sold more than 450 million copies.

So what happened when J.K. Rowling wrote a novel (The Cuckoo's Calling) and had it published under a different name (Robert Galbraith)?

Nothing. In spite of favorable reviews, "The Cuckoo's Calling" sold less than 1,000 copies. Then word got out that the book was actually written by J.K. Rowling and it almost immediately jumped to the top of the best-seller lists. In just a few months, the book had sold 1.1 million copies.

What's more important, the book or the author? What's more important, the product or the brand?

What school do you belong to?
Do you belong to the product school or the brand school? Or are you somewhere in the middle?

If history is any guide, this column won't change your mind. That's the way it is with perceptions.

They seldom change.

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Having a Better Brand Is Better Than Having a Better Product

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In the marketing community, there is a struggle between two schools of thought. One school is focused on the product. The other school is focused on the brand. The product folks believe the ultimate winner in every marketing battle is the better product.

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Why waste money on products that you have uncertantity on their quality as there are many brands like Nike and Puma who have guranteed quality in their products.

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Branded products give out a good reputation of its products and  guaranteeing good quality.

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Branded products give out a good reputation of its products and  guaranteeing good quality.

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Understanding the motives and interests of your target market helps in making product decisions, developing a store layout and promoting your business. Product resellers must decide what mix of brand ...

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Brand name products tend to have a better reputation than other non-brand name products

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Brand-name products could be more safe than the non-branded product

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Brand-name products could be more safe than the non-branded product

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If you buy some food or drinks with branded name on it, it could be more safe and delicious than no-branded products>

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Brand name products are more well known than non-brand name products

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Brand name products are more well known than non-brand name products

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People would recognize what brand name products more than non brand name products. Hence, letting them to know that you are buying brand name products and allowing more people notice you.

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brand name products can help people get into groups that are supposed to look cool

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Brand-name products make people feel belong and secure, feeling more confident about themselves

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Brand-name products make people feel belong and secure, feeling more confident about themselves

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Brand name products

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brand name products make the wearer look cool and fashionable

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Brand-name products's companies can help you fix your brand name good  if part of it is broken.

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Brand-name products's companies can help you fix your brand name good  if part of it is broken.

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Brand-name goods have warranty services that help you repair your brand name good if the product is ever broken or worn out, some of the brand name goods even have lifetime warranty so as long as you are alive the company can help you fix it for free. And if your brand name good ever expires it's warranty you can always just get a new one.

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Branded products last longer than non-branded products.

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Branded products last longer than non-branded products.

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Branded items or products are often more durable and comfortable, made with more expensive fabrics and textiles, and often a lot of unbranded goods are trying to either copy off a popular brand intentionally to gain money, or are less good in design, cutting, and quality, or fake products that do not feel as good, or work as well.

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Branded items or products are often more durable and comfortable, made with more expensive fabrics and textiles, and often a lot of unbranded goods are trying to either copy off a popular brand intentionally to gain money, or are less good in design, cutting, and quality, or fake products that do not feel as good, or work as well.

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Much fewer people use the unbranded goods, or goods from less popular brands. Which means there will be less reviews, and less people who have worn them and you have no assurance of whether they really are good or not, unlike popular sports brands like  Nike and Adidas. You would trust the brands more, and the people's experience. You would know a lot more products and it would be a lot more convenient for the people, as they can find out all about the product online and/or on social media.

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Buying a pair of Nike shoes give you more trust to it rather than a pair of brand-less shoes. For example, if you buy a pair of Nike shoes and it states that it is lighter and can speed up your running, you tend to believe Nike than if a brand-less product states the same thing.

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Brand name products gurantee their quality

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Brand name products gurantee their quality

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It would fit well on your skin and the material used to make the items would last longer and won't wear out that easily and quickly

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Quality clothes last longer for the money you spend, they're more comfortable, and they make you look and feel pretty good while you wear them. Best of all, you can find quality anywhere. It comes down to buying less mediocre stuff and using that money on a few nice things that last forever.

Apply the "Comfort Principle" to Your Clothing

The comfort principle is simple: spend your money where you spend most of your time. That's why it's a good idea to splurge on a nice mattress, comfortable desk chair, or a decent laptop computer, considering how many hours a day you sleep, work at your desk, or use that computer. Think about it, most of us wear our clothes all day long (and sometimes through the night). We wear them at work, at home, at the gym: every occasion calls for some type of clothing. It makes sense to buy clothes that earn you the most happiness out of your time, and stand up to regular use. You want work clothes that look good in the office and are comfortable. You want gym clothes that fit well and stand up to your workouts. Because you wear your clothing every day, it can be considered an experiential purchase, which is one of the ways research suggests you can actually "buy" happiness.

Clothing isn't an investment in the traditional sense (it never gains value, and you'll never sell an item of clothing for more than it was purchased), but it's good to think of it like a down payment on your daily comfort, your confidence in your appearance, and the utility of your wardrobe. For example, having a couple pairs of really nice jeans that fit well, make you look good, and last forever is better than having six pairs of jeans that look "okay", are just kind of comfy, and fall apart after a year. In the same vein, spending $100 on a single high-fashion t-shirt is a bit much, but there's nothing wrong with spending $40 on a three-pack of nice t-shirts you know you'll be excited to wear every day. You spend a lot of time in your clothes, so why not spring for nice items you know you'll wear all the time?

Quality Clothing Makes You Look and Feel Good

People come in all shapes and sizes, yet a lot of cheap clothing is mass produced in a "one shape fits all" manner. Low-quality dress shirts, for example, look terrible on people not shaped a specific way. If a shirt is too loose or tight in the wrong places, you feel vulnerable and uncomfortable, and it shows in your body language. If it fits you well and you're comfortable, however, you can get a nice confidence boost. Using the same example, quality dress shirts will often come in a variety of cuts, so no matter what shape you are, you're bound to find one that you feel good wearing. Even if you can't, you can and should get it fitted to you (more on that later.)

Whether we like it or not, clothing is also a part of our identity. Your clothes can emphasize social status, as well as a certain level of professionalism. A few quality outfits can make you look like a go-getter that takes pride in your appearance. Spending money on quality clothes might seem frivolous if you're a frugal person, but in some cases you can't afford to not spend the money, especially if you're trying to land a job or network with colleagues.

Do the Math Before You Buy

Generally speaking, cheap, throwaway clothes aren't cheap in the long run. Poorly made clothing with thin material wears out faster and requires you to spend time and money repairing or replacing it. The key isn't to spend more on clothes across the board, it's to spend a little more on a few nice items and not butt-loads of crappy items.

This can all be broken down into simple math. Fashion blogger Legos In My Louis recommends you use the "cost per wear" equation. It works like this:

(price of garment + maintenance) divided by the number of times you'll wear it

Say you bought a nice (but pricey) $100 pair of jeans that will last you five years before they get threadbare and wear out:

$100 + $10 (washing, detergent, stain remover, etc.) / 780 days (roughly three days a week for five years)

That ends up being around 14 cents per wear. Say, instead, you bought a $30 pair of jeans that will last about a year and a half before they fade and wear out:

$30 + $10 (washing, detergent, stain remover, etc.) / 234 days (roughly three days a week for a year and a half)

That ends up being around 17 cents per wear, and you have to go buy a new pair every year and a half. Plus, you'll probably be more comfortable and look better in the nicer pair. Of course, this equation is only ideal for clothing that gets worn regularly. If you're only going to wear a swimsuit 10 times in a year, for example, the "cost per wear" equation doesn't really justify spending hundreds of dollars on it. In that case, a cheap swimsuit will probably last just as long, and save you money that you can spend on the things you wear all the time. Also, it's hard to know how long clothing will hold up. That's why it's essential you do some research before you buy.

Do Your Homework and Avoid Impulse Buys

Cheap clothing also lends itself to constant impulse buying, which can be way more dangerous for your wallet than the occasional splurge on something nice, durable, and well-made. Spending $20 here and there doesn't feel like much when it happens, but it can add up fast. You could spend more in a year on clothing that way, and possibly end up with a bunch of stuff you'll never actually wear.

When buying high-quality (and sometimes more expensive) clothes, however, you know you'll be spending a little more, so you're more inclined to research before you open your wallet. It's better to have a wardrobe with a few versatile, durable things you love to wear than a wardrobe stuffed with crap. Marc Bain at The Atlantic explains that buying expensive, high-quality clothing forces him to truly consider each one of his purchases:

The point is to make you pause and ask yourself, "How much do I really want this?" ...it's enough that it causes me to seriously hesitate, which is the real point. It forces me to think about just how much I want that item of clothing, how much I'll wear it, and whether I think the value it offers is worth a significant cost... I can't make these purchases all the time, at least not without sacrificing elsewhere or going broke. It's an investment, rather than the cheap buzz of getting something new.

It's always good to have a personal "should I buy this?" test for everything you purchase, but it's especially important when it's something you spend so much time with, whether it's expensive or not. As Heather Levin at Money Crashers explains, having quality clothing in your wardrobe is valuable because you spent more money on it, but also because it means something to you. You devoted real thought and consideration to your purchase, and didn't just buy because they looked cool on the mannequin when you walked by.

How to Make Sure You Buy Quality Clothing

The most important trademark of quality clothing is its construction. An expensive dress that is made of thin material and poorly sewn isn't a quality item-it's just an expensive dress. An expensive dress that fits nicely, is durable, and put together well, however, can definitely be worth the purchase if you like it enough and know you'll wear it a lot.

If you're not sure what high-quality looks like, Antonio Centeno from the Real Men Real Style YouTube channel suggests you start by getting a good point of reference. Go to a store you know sells high-quality clothing (even if it's out of your price range), and look at the details of each garment. Notice how many stitches there are per inch (more is better), what the clothes are made of and how the fabric feels (comfortable but durable), and how well buttons are secured to the garment (a loose button will pop right off). And just because Centeno is talking about dress shirts in the video above doesn't mean the same tips aren't helpful for women's clothing. No matter what types of garments you're inspecting, it won't take long for you to see what high-quality garments look and feel like.

Now you can head to a store closer to your usual price range and compare. If you're looking for a super-quick way to check durability, Levin recommends you go right for the seams. Grip the fabric on both sides and gently pull them away to see if the thread is holding the fabric together tightly. If it gaps or starts to pull apart, it was stitched poorly. Once you know what quality clothing construction looks like, there are a few other simple rules you want to consider while you shop:

Don't get blinded by brand names. Even brands that usually have high-quality clothing can try to sell you poorly-made stuff (especially at outlet stores). Make sure you know which brands fit you best too since some run big or small.

Always try clothing on before you buy it. Make sure it's comfortable and that you like the way you look in it (even if you're shopping online).

Spend more on timeless pieces. Garments you'll always need like nice skirts or pants, dress shirts, and even a versatile dress or suit are worth paying for quality.

Spend less on rarely worn items like swimsuits and other seasonal stuff. If it's only cold for about a month out of the year where you live, you probably don't need a pricey North Face jacket.

Don't buy designer clothing at the end of the year. Legos In my Louis explains that designers usually release one collection in the spring and the fall. By year's end, manufacturers will cut their costs and produce the trendiest styles with cheaper fabrics and less stitching.

Get things tailored. The better something fits you, the more likely you're going to want to wear it.

Aim to maximize your total number of possible outfits. Trent Hamm at The Simple Dollar suggests you look for shirts that can go with multiple pairs of pants, find a suit that can go with a wide variety of shirts and ties, etc. The more you can mix and match, the fewer garments you actually need to maintain outfit variety.

Learn how to repair your own clothes so you can turn a middling purchase into a quality one. If an overall nice dress is severely discounted because a seam is ripped, a few basic hand stitches can save the day (and some dough).

As you shop, always remember that expensive doesn't mean quality, and that you're not spending more, you're just buying less. At his financial advice blog, Peter Dunn recommends you create a yearly clothing budget of 5% of your net income (including repairs and tailoring) and stick to it. It's just enough to add some nice items to your wardrobe, but not so much you'll break the bank.
Illustration by Jim Cooke.

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Cheap Clothes Are Too Expensive: Buy Quality Instead

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Quality clothes last longer for the money you spend, they're more comfortable, and they make you look and feel pretty good while you wear them. Best of all, you can find quality anywhere. It comes down to buying less mediocre stuff and using that money on a few nice things that last forever.

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Branded goods can be refunded when broken or spoiled.  

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Branded goods can be refunded when broken or spoiled.  

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If the branded good has not been in good quality and still has the label on, it can be returned. And you will be able to get your money back.

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Don't think your order is right for you? Don't sweat it! ZALORA offers free and easy returns within 30 days after delivery - no questions asked! Please ensure that your items do not fall under the...

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Brand-name products are sold in better quality and will provide after-service

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Brand-name products are sold in better quality and will provide after-service

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Brand-name products can last longer and when it is broken the shop can always repair it.

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Brand-name products give a sense of belonging and grouping

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Brand-name products give a sense of belonging and grouping

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People who can afford brand-name products are a niche group with the spending power. With that, it unites them and makes them feel more confident and comfortable about themselves.

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The current burst in social-media use seems to address a fundamental human need: the need to interact with other people. While it may seem that sitting online leads to less human interaction, consumers actually feel they are more connected to people than they were before they joined social networks.

New data from the Harris Poll finds that 54 percent of consumers have had less face-to-face contact with friends recently, but 57 percent feel more connected than they did before. An amazing 60 percent of consumers on social networks say they know what's going in friends' lives, even though they do not personally interact with those friends.

One surprising revelation is that social media makes consumers -- especially those 18 to 34 years old -- feel "very connected" or "connected" to friends of friends or casual acquaintances. Amazingly, 59 percent of consumers in this age range prefer to interact with acquaintances via social media rather than face-to-face, showing how consumers are using social media to maintain these loose ties, rather than let these people slip away.

Given that, examine your own social network. Some of the people I'm connected with are people who share a common interest, and that's it. I'm loosely tied via Facebook to a guy in a Van Halen tribute band because we both love the band's music. I'm loosely tied to people on Twitter who have common interests like ATVing, marketing and home recording.

Now, what if those loose ties could be brought to bear on brands? Instead of connecting loosely over guitar heroics or shared occupations, can people come together because of a connection over a brand? Here are three brands that are strengthening consumer loyalty by connecting like-minded consumers in interactive communities and creating a strong sense of community, both online and off.

Starbucks
Coffee shops like Starbucks have a built-in offline community element and are gathering places for socializing, working, and dining. But Starbucks is also fostering a very unique online community, one that lets consumers collaborate on the brand they love. The brand's My Starbucks Idea website solicits consumer ideas and suggestions, both large and small, and lets the community discuss them, vote on its favorites, and see the ideas put into action.

The consumer-generated ideas range from thoughts on rewards cards, ways to foster community within the bricks-and-mortar Starbucks locations, and requests to revive drink flavors. The brand keeps the community in the loop with its Ideas In Action blog, where staffers write about new developments and announce community contest winners. One recent post announced the return of salted caramel hot chocolate after several members expressed disappointment at its discontinuation.

You don't step into a Starbucks location in the first place unless you like coffee, and the brand is finding a way to unite coffee fans online as well. The Harris study also found that more than half of the respondents value the opinions others share; Starbucks has created a platform for posting opinions and uniting like-minded coffee fans.

Dell
Like Starbucks, Dell's IdeaStorm website is built on serving a community of brand advocates. Consumers can post their ideas for Dell products, improvements, and feedback on new products. The community votes to promote or demote the ideas and, just like with Starbucks' platform, Dell responds to the ideas that generate the most interest from the community.

The website also includes "Storm Sessions," which are Dell-moderated discussions around a specific topic. Unlike the "ideas" part of the website, Storm Sessions run for a limited time before they are closed and reviewed by the brand. Dell's been running its service since 2007, and the community has contributed more than 14,000 ideas with 90,000 comments. IdeaStorm is already responsible for new computers that run on the Linux operating system, as well as Dell's use of bamboo to replace plastic wrap for packing its products.

Again, this taps into the idea of uniting fans with common interests. Linux is far from the most popular operating system in the world, but fans came together on Dell's website and voted the idea toward the top of the ladder, where Dell took notice. Social media did two jobs in this case: it brought Dell fans together in a branded environment where they could communicate with one another, and it also showed Dell that there was a very unique, passionate audience it was not serving.

Mountain Dew
The soft drink has done a great job in the past appealing to a consumer base looking for high-caffeine beverages -- namely video-game lovers and extreme sports enthusiasts. Yet the brand sought to unite all of its customers into one community with its Dewmocracy contests, which let consumers pick the newest flavor.

Several brands have used social networks like Facebook to help pick new flavors, but Mountain Dew added a new wrinkle to the formula. The brand spent more than a year on its latest Dewmocracy campaign, slowly expanding its scale from the most-dedicated fans to the public-at-large.

The first step involved sending seven flavors of soda to 50 Dew fanatics, who were also given cameras and told to debate and show their love for the brand on video. The cameras were a great idea because it made the social-media effort more personable. Rather than just looking at static images or Tweets, Dew fans could see like-minded fanatics in action. One young man proved his allegiance by brushing his teeth with the soda.

After narrowing the seven flavors to three, Mountain Dew turned to its Dew Labs Community, a 4,000-person group of passionate soda fans. Those fans then created nearly every element of the three sodas, including color, name, packaging, and marketing campaigns. After that process was complete, the three flavors were made available in stores for a limited time, with the general public electing a winner via online voting.

What Dew did was a little different from Starbucks and Dell. Where those two brands set up sites soliciting ideas from all consumers, Dew began its promotion by reaching out to its most dedicated, loyal consumers offline, and then gave that offline community a place to assemble its testimonials and feedback. The Dewmocracy campaign used Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube just like the other brands used these social networks to unite consumers through a common interest.

Building community, uniting fans
Consumers are using Facebook and Twitter to stay in touch with close friends, but also to keep tabs on casual acquaintances or people with common interests. As seen here, consumers are more than willing to come together when that shared interest is a brand, and marketers should be looking for ways to bring their fans together in a branded environment.

All three of these brands were able to successfully unite consumers via social media, connecting them to each other through a shared common interest. At the same time, the brands were able to use the communities to improve their offerings -- through reinstating products, developing new software, or new flavors of pop -- which strengthened the brand in consumers' eyes.

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How to Use Social Media to Unite Lonely Consumers, Build Brand Loyalty

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The current burst in social-media use seems to address a fundamental human need: the need to interact with other people. While it may seem that sitting online leads to less human interaction, consumers actually feel they are more connected to people than they were before they joined social networks.