[quote name='bigdaddy']It's not cheap ass, it's just smart. If no one can tell the difference between the $20 jeans and the $200 ones then what difference does it make?[/quote]I don't mean to be all high and mighty and come off as some sort of fashion savant (which I most certainly am not), but there are differences between clothes you can get from Target and say, Banana Republic.
The most obvious difference I've noted is in the way the clothes hold up to repeated washings and uses. Higher quality stuff just holds up far better. Fabrics tend to fade less, threads and seams hold together better longer and the fabrics don't "thin" out in areas of high wear and tear (elbows of jackets or the seats of pants).
Also, generally, higher end stuff has far better fit and tailoring even off the rack. It's not also the most obvious things that stand out with higher priced clothing. There are some details that are easily overlooked if you don't know to look for them. Armani shirts, for instance, have small detailing in the stitching. The panels on shirts are also made so they match (like shirts with striping).
It's true that most people can't tell the difference, but that's only a function of the familiarity of people have with the subject. The fact is more people shop at places like Target than they do at Banana Republic or Armani and that's fine. It's just really short-sighted to say or infer that just because there aren't glaring differences between a $20 and $200 clothing item, that there isn't a difference at all.
And on a more general note, America has one of the worst fashion-senses I've seen in my travels. It's unfortunate, but I see so many more people here that are sartorially challenged.