Were clothes REALLY better made 50 years ago? Experts offer surprising verdict after influencers complained modern garments look worse on than vintage classics

Modern fashionistas are wondering why the same pieces from earlier decades don't look the same as they used to  Style experts have explained that today's clothes are made differently and cater to a quantity over quality consumer lifestyle  Professionals say that in order to achieve the same quality of fashion as the good old days, you have to spend more and buy less  

Today’s fashion-enthusiasts are demanding to know why their modern garments don’t look as good as the same items and styles appeared in earlier decades.

Fashion editor Savannah Bradley has answers to these questions. She explained in a thread on X (formerly Twitter) why women’s trench coats, specifically, look so different than they did in the 80s and 90s.

‘The obvious problem is with fit. The looseness of a pre-2000 trench was much more subtle. These aren’t baggy coats by any means, but they also have a good amount of breathing room at the upper arm, the shoulder, and the waist, even when belted,’ Bradley explained.

She went on to say the designs of modern brands don’t take into account women’s busts, meaning they are forced to wear the jackets open, adding ‘It’s also much harder to find an affordable double-breasted coat now.’

The expert also explained that the synthetic blends used in most of today’s fashion pieces, like polyester-elastane, are much cheaper, more durable and extremely stiff.

Today’s fashion-enthusiasts are demanding to know why their modern garments don’t look as good as the same items and styles appeared in earlier decades

Fashion editor Savannah Bradley has answers to these questions. She explained in a thread on X (formerly Twitter ) why women’s trench coats, specifically, look so different than they did in the 80s and 90s

Gauthier Borsarello, a vintage collector in Paris and creative director of menswear brand Fursac, says that in order to dress as well as your grandparents you have to adopt their way of consumption

Bradley n that poor construction is also responsible for the less impressive trench coats we see being worn today.

The Wall Street Journal asked a wide variety of experts whether it’s possible to find new pieces that live up to their old-school counterparts – with professionals saying that it is, as long as you’re willing to pay big bucks.

Gauthier Borsarello, a vintage collector in Paris and creative director of menswear brand Fursac, says that in order to dress as well as your grandparents you have to adopt their way of consumption.

Instead of shopping at fast-fashion brands like Shein or even high street shops like Zara – Borsarello insists that it is better to spend a small fortune on one good quality item and wear it to death.

‘People are admiring of the old way,’ said Borsarello, ‘but this mentality is far from our generation.’

Jerry Pozniak, who is the managing director of Jeeves – a luxury dry-cleaners in New York, says he has handled ‘at least a million garments’ in the past 38 years.

Pozniak believes that luxury clothes today are made just as well as high-end clothes from the past.

However – Pozniak says that contemporary fabrics are much thinner and more stretchy.

He said that when he first started working with luxury clothes in 1985 – the textiles were ‘all-wool, all-cotton, all-synthetic…they weren’t really blending Spandex.’

Instead of shopping at fast-fashion brands like Shein or even high street shops like Zara – Borsarello insists that it is better to spend a small fortune on one good quality item and wear it to death

‘The obvious problem is with fit. The looseness of a pre-2000 trench was much more subtle. These aren’t baggy coats by any means, but they also have a good amount of breathing room at the upper arm, the shoulder, and the waist, even when belted,’ Bradley explained

Cost-cutting tactics compromise the quality of the products – and they also encourage people to consume higher quantities at a lower cost

Nowadays, on the other hand, clothes of all kinds are cut with softer, finer fabrics and injected with stretch.

‘I think we’ve lost some quality because of consumer demand for comfort,’ Pozniak said – adding that today’s lighter fabrics ‘feel better against the skin and have more maneuverability.’

Bob and Adam Levy, who run Dave’s New York – a Manhattan institution that sells heritage brands like Dickies and Carhartt, agree with the rise in added stretch. ”everything new is coming in at 10-12 ounces—and with stretch,’ said Adam Levy.

Spending less on fabrics and relying on synthetics reflect company’s efforts to save money, produce more clothes and do so primarily offshore.

Cost-cutting tactics compromise the quality of the products – and they also encourage people to consume higher quantities at a lower cost.

Traditionally, American closets were smaller because people had fewer clothes that were far better quality.

Nowadays, walk-in closets are the norm as Americans cram more and more lower-quality clothes in.