Inspecting a garment

• The initial inspection. Check if the hem and seams are thoroughly sewn down. There should be no raw edges. Examine the stitching. Small stitches are durable. Inspect for flaws or loose threads.
• Check the tags. If you want to wear the garment on a day-to-day basis, steer clear of garments labelled hand wash or dry clean only.
• Check the seams to see if they are bubbling. See if the side seam hangs straight and the fabric isn't off-grain. See that patterns match along the seams.

Material composition

• Anything made of a protein fibre like wool will keep you warm when it's cold and breathe if you get hot.
• Plant fibres, including cotton, linen or viscose rayon, are breathable but won't keep you as warm. Th...