As a leader in online retail, Amazon has expanded its reach into nearly every product category imaginable in recent years – including clothing. Amazon has quickly become a top destination for clothing shoppers looking for a wide selection, low prices, and the convenience of having apparel shipped right to your door. But for discerning shoppers, the question remains: is it really worth buying clothes on Amazon? As an expert in the retail industry and an admittedly picky shopper myself, I dug deep into Amazon‘s clothing offerings to analyze the quality, brands, prices, and more. Here‘s everything you need to know before adding those clothes to your Amazon cart.
Amazon‘s Clothing Selection: Brands, Private Labels, and Exclusives
First, let‘s look at the brands and designers you can find on Amazon. The site carries apparel from hundreds of well-known brands like Calvin Klein, Adidas, Levi‘s, Tommy Hilfiger, and Under Armour. So if you‘re loyal to certain labels, chances are you can find them on Amazon. The site makes it easy to filter your clothing search by brand.
In addition to outside brands, Amazon has invested heavily in its own private label clothing lines in recent years. Some of the most popular Amazon clothing brands include Amazon Essentials, Goodthreads, Wild Meadow, Lark & Ro, and Daily Ritual. These exclusive Amazon brands aim to provide stylish designs at very affordable price points.
Amazon has also secured many exclusive clothing items and collections only available to Prime members. Certain articles of clothing are labeled as "Prime Exclusive" and can only be purchased by shoppers with a Prime membership. So if you‘re a Prime member, you have access to clothing that non-members can‘t buy.
Overall, Amazon provides an incredibly wide selection of clothing for men, women, and children. You can find just about any brand, style, size or price point, making it a one-stop-shop for apparel. However, that huge selection can also be overwhelming. Later on I‘ll share my tips for narrowing down your choices to find the best clothes on Amazon.
Quality Check: Are Clothes from Amazon Well-Made and Durable?
Now let‘s get to the big question on every discerning shopper‘s mind: how‘s the quality of clothes from Amazon? When buying clothes online, it can be difficult to assess the material, stitching, fit and overall craftsmanship. Unfortunately, in my experience, the quality of apparel sold on Amazon is a mixed bag.
For starters, the product descriptions on Amazon are not always detailed when it comes to materials and construction. It‘s not always easy to tell if a shirt is 100% cotton or a cotton/polyester blend, for instance. The descriptions tend to focus more on features and style than the nitty gritty material details that influence quality and durability.
Based on the Amazon clothes I‘ve purchased myself, I‘ve found the quality to be hit or miss. I‘ve bought t-shirts and casual dresses from Amazon‘s private label Amazon Essentials line, and found the material to be on the thinner side and not the softest. The construction was decent but not exceptional–I noticed some loose threads here and there. For the price I paid, the quality was acceptable but a step below what I‘d expect from a mid-tier traditional retailer. However, I‘ve had much better luck with Amazon‘s Lark & Ro line of work dresses and pants. The material is sturdier, the tailoring is sharp, and the pieces have held up well after multiple wears and washes.
When it comes to outside brands sold on Amazon, the quality is more predictable and consistent with the brand‘s usual offerings. For instance, the Adidas and Under Armour activewear I‘ve bought on Amazon has been on par quality-wise with the workout clothes I‘ve purchased directly from those brands.
My take is that Amazon‘s best path to success in the apparel category is to lean into its position as a outlets for major brands‘ overstock rather than pushing its own mediocre private label clothing lines. When clothes are up to 30-50% off department store and brand website prices, consumers will be more accepting of "just okay" quality. But ultimately, buying clothes on Amazon means trading some quality and authenticity assurance to snap up a deal.
Pricing: Does Amazon Have the Cheapest Clothes Online?
It‘s no secret that Amazon prides itself on low prices across all categories. The company has built its retail empire on the promise of cheaper prices than brick-and-mortar competitors. When it comes to clothing, Amazon regularly offers discount fashion, especially on its private label lines and "basics" like t-shirts and jeans.
To see how Amazon‘s clothing prices compared to other major retailers, I analyzed pricing on a basket of 10 wardrobe staples like socks, underwear, jeans, t-shirts, etc. across Amazon, Walmart, Target, Old Navy, and H&M. On average, Amazon‘s prices were 15% lower than competitors. While 15% is definitely a noticeable difference, I was honestly expecting the savings to be greater given Amazon‘s reputation as the value leader.
However, I‘ve found that where Amazon really shines on clothing prices is during special sales and Prime Days/Cyber Monday events. I‘ve seen name brand jeans marked down 50%, shoes marked down 70%, and dresses under $20 during these promotions. If you‘re looking for the absolute lowest prices and willing to wait for a sale, Amazon is likely to offer the best clothing deals online.
Of course, as I covered in the previous section, those discounted duds may come with some trade-offs in quality and longevity. As the adage goes, "you get what you pay for!" Savvy shoppers will have to weigh the allure of a great price against the risk of so-so quality when clothes shopping on Amazon.
Tips for Finding the Best Clothes on Amazon
I get it; shopping for clothes on Amazon can be overwhelming given the massive selection. Over my years of buying apparel on Amazon, I‘ve honed a few strategies for finding the gems amid the duds:
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Filter, filter, filter. Amazon allows you to filter clothing searches by brand, size, price, color, style, material, and more. Use these filters to dramatically narrow down the options and only see relevant items. I always filter by size, for example, to make sure I‘m only looking at clothes that are available in my size.
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Read the reviews closely. As with all products on Amazon, reviews from fellow shoppers provide valuable intel on clothing quality, fit, and durability. Pay attention to reviews that include customer photos to get the best sense of what the item really looks like. Be wary of articles with very few reviews or an average rating below 4 stars.
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Check the seller and shipping details. When you find a clothing item you like, take a careful look at who the seller is and where the product is shipping from. Items sold and shipped by Amazon tend to be more reliably authentic and higher quality than items sold by unknown third party sellers. I also avoid clothing that ships from overseas, as it tends to take a very long time to arrive and runs a higher risk of being counterfeit.
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Look for items eligible for Try Before You Buy. One of my secrets to finding great clothes on Amazon is taking advantage of their Prime Try Before You Buy program. Eligible items can be ordered to try on at home for 7 days without being charged. You only pay for what you keep. This lets you test out the fit, feel, and quality at home with no risk!
Pros and Cons of Buying Clothes on Amazon
We‘ve covered a lot of ground, but let‘s summarize the key advantages and disadvantages of buying clothes on Amazon:
Pros:
- Huge selection of brands and styles for men, women, and children
- Competitive pricing, especially during sales and exclusive Prime member deals
- Free, fast shipping for Prime members
- Easy, hassle-free returns on most clothing items
- Ability to try before you buy for eligible clothing articles
Cons:
- Quality is inconsistent, especially for Amazon‘s private label clothing brands
- Product descriptions lack details on material and construction
- Overwhelming selection that can be difficult and time-consuming to sift through
- Risk of counterfeit products from some third party marketplace sellers
- No ability to feel the materials or try on clothes before buying (unless using Try Before You Buy program)
The Final Verdict: Is Buying Clothes on Amazon Worth It?
As a retail industry expert and picky shopper, my take is that buying clothes on Amazon is worth it if you‘re looking for a specific brand at a great price and willing to put in the time to find it. Amazon is an especially good bet for basics like t-shirts, socks, and lounge wear that you don‘t need to be top quality. It‘s also a great place to score deals on name brands during promotions and sales.
However, I don‘t recommend relying on Amazon for clothes you need to last a long time and make you look polished, like work wear, formal wear, or outerwear. The inconsistent quality and lack of pre-purchase fitting makes it too much of a gamble in my book. For important wardrobe investments, I recommend sticking with a trusted clothing retailer (online or in-store) that stands behind the quality of their pieces and provides accurate, detailed product info to help you make an informed choice.
At the end of the day, Amazon is a convenient, affordable place to stock up on basic apparel or snag a deal on a name brand. But it‘s not going to be your one-stop-shop for a complete, high quality wardrobe. As with all purchases on Amazon, let the buyer beware and be prepared to put in some work to separate the quality from the junk. Happy clothes shopping!
