I like to think of myself as a discerning shopper with relatively good taste, but the truth is that when met with a discount, I quickly lose all sense of self. I suddenly find myself taking needless risks on unfamiliar brands in off sizes in the hope that something works out. This foolishness is how I’ve wound up with things like salmon-colored sneakers and pants two sizes too large languishing unworn in the back of my closet. So, you can probably imagine my excitement when I learned that clothing brands I actually liked and fit me well were beginning to offer their wares at Black Friday-level prices year round. How? The discounted clothes were used. READ ALEXANDER’S PIECE Major companies have started reselling their goods. We tried a bunch→ In theory, it sounds like a great deal: You get to save a little money and keep an item out of a landfill. It’s a promise so tempting that you almost want to believe it. Still, I was skeptical. Was it really the shopping hack of the decade or too good to be true? To find out, I ordered identical products in the best and worst condition available from three of the most popular resale programs. I pored over every stitch on pairs of old Levi’s jeans, measured cuff diameters of questionable Patagonia fleeces, spent entirely too long squeezing the fabric between my fingers to feel for a difference, and tried to convince myself that the funky smell was all in my head. Yes, the thrill of a good deal alone was intoxicating. But, after the dust settled, this much was clear: Resale from a brand I love was, at the least, a better deal (and a generally smarter purchase) than those final sale salmon-colored sneakers. We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›
Shoes, underwear, outerwear — Costco’s house brand, Kirkland Signature, has it all. But how do their so-called premium clothes (see: this Lululemon dupe) hold up? To find out, Alexander put every single piece from Kirkland Signature’s menswear line to the test — dashing to the grocery store in cotton pants, standing under a showerhead in a waterproof jacket, and even ripping some clothes apart. A journey into Costco’s menswear →
We found them for $40 off today→
Another way to save some money? Invest in something durable and repairable from the very start. Some of the tried-and-tested buy-it-for-life items we swear by include a cloud-like down comforter and an heirloom-quality watering can. 23 of our buy-it-for-life favorites→ Thanks for reading. You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
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