Do you ever wonder how it is that a white cotton shirt, from say Prada, is so much more expensive than a similiar looking shirt from Banana Republic?  Look again. How do the cottons compare?  Are the buttons the same?  Now try them on–how's the fit?  Christina Binkley tackles these questions in her article in The Wall Street Journal, "Style Showdown: $1,000 Sweater Faces $100 Rival."  In investigating the difference between the manufacturing process for Lands' End and Brunello Cucinelli, Binkley discusses the differences in the hand of the fabric, the finishing touches, the processing of the yarn and even the treatment of the people who are responsible for the construction of the garment.  She begins by saying that the sweaters are outwardly similar, but goes on to conclude there is a tremendous difference in the two sweaters.  In looking for the best deals, sometimes we focus more on the price than the quality.  If you are someone who likes to stay on top of the latest trends but do not have deep Gucci pockets then you might find yourself tempted to cross the quality line and shop for similar 'au courant' pieces at places like H&M.  My suggestion is first to take a moment—inhale, exhale, repeat.  Do this before you run into ZARA to pick-up that Burberry knock-off coat.  After all, what you really want is a Burberry coat, or do you really just want a beautifully designed and constructed garment?  Get what you want but know what you are buying.  Remember before making that plunge into the world of knock-offs, take a moment—inhale, exhale, repeat.

-Thanks to Jennifer Brahm for sending the WSJ article.