Good towels are really worth investing in. Pick the wrong ones, and you'll just end up replacing them because they feel scratchy, or they don't dry you off after your shower, or they end up discolored.
According to a designer friend, her friend, and their clients, the best towels are Macy's Hotel Collection "Microcotton" Luxury Towels and Hotel Collection "Finest" Bath Towels. Both collections are thick and lush, soft, absorbent, and durable.
About that discoloration thing. I don't know if it's been discussed here before. But I can't keep a towel its original color. They get all splotchy and then end up a washed out color. Am I doing something wrong? Will these towels solve my problem?
A great way to keep your towels softer and more absorbent longer is to avoid fabric softener. While it sounds counter intuitive, fabric softener ads a very fine layer of silicones and oils that repel water and over time will make the fabric stiffer. Living in the city makes it impossible to line dry them so I use a no heat setting and let them slowly dry that way.
Karne, I have the same trouble with towels becoming less than lovely to look at. Inexpensive towels quickly fray out at the edge...and discolor. More exensive plush towels become discolored, ok so I like pale colors or whites. I live in an iron rich hard water area so that may contribute to the accumulating grungy cast. I hate it when my towels get all-used-up before their time. I too would love suggestions for maintaining pristine towels.
I find that putting towels in the dryer, and not out in the sun, keeps them soft for longer and avoids discoloration.