Which shops cater to 'invisible women'?

[LanaorAna1]

I rather like White Stuff, but it has been royally slated here as an Invisible Mum Army styleless supplier of shapeless greige.

Are there any others? Which makes get your goat?

I'm horrified to find I can't condemn anything, except M&S, and then only some of it, so my fear is that I'm not fussy enough. Put me right, ladies, please do.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

White stuff isn't greige is it? It's tasteful prints and coloured cardigans. Mum uniform.

[squoosh]

Fat Face.

I think it's meant to be carefree and surfy, but it just looks like someone's (drab) holiday wardrobe from 2002.

Plus it's called Fat Face.

[carrie74]

White Stuff and Fat Face for me: faded, creased clothes. It's definitely a look, but it just doesn't work on me (although I know plenty who carry it off well, or it's a look they identify with, and goes with their surfer/outdoorsy lifestyles).

[Floisme]

I think White Company's far worse than either of those two.

[burnishedsilver]

You really limit your options if you right off an entire brand. Its really hard these days great clothes in natural fabrics. I think its requires hunting absolutely everywhere and you can find good bits and pieces in some unlikely places. Where it all goes wrong is when people stick to a brand and wear it like a uniform. That's when you disappear and become invisible.

[annandale]

Was has really gone off. I used to buy the occasional thing there but now it all looks aimed at - I don't know- some woman I've never met with zero confidence who doesn't do anything in particular.

[annandale]

Oh fgs, EAST not was.

[MiracletoCome]

Most of Debenhams,

[polyhymnia]

East, White Stuff, Fat Face, all specialised 'plus size' retailers (Simply Be, etc).

[LockedOutOfMN]

Sorry for the stupid question. What's an invisible woman / invisible mum?

[Suzietwo]

Oh good I was going to ask that too

[Just5minswithDacre]

Me three

[EssentialHummus]

I came on here to say White Stuff and M&S, but OP beat me to it! I have two White Stuff patterned skirts (bought 4-5 years ago) that I like, but if you wear WS skirts with WS cardis and WS tops it all gets very matchy and bland.

[Just5minswithDacre]

Oh I see. It's that bland, MC, low-risk, school-gate camouflage 'style'.

See also Joules and Seasalt.

[SpaceKablooie]

Well...I think you should buy clothes that you like from wherever you like. At least WS and FF sell (some) clothes made of natural fabrics. I like some (but by no means all) of their clothes, and I often get complimented on them.

I'd rather see a positive thread about a particular shop / style, than a negative one.

[LockedOutOfMN]

Ah, ok, thanks for confirming. I know what you mean. When I'm feeling waspish I suspect those mums of thinking they look like the Duchess of Cambridge -who would look great in a paper bag or something from the market stall in Eastenders-. But mostly I'm not waspish.

On the whole, I hate the Fat Face / Joules / White Stuff "look", (but am happy to admit those shops may well sell nice individual pieces). Also, I think the clothes in those shops are very pricey! Not au fait with The White Company.

I try to go for a low rent Olivia Palermo meets Alex Chung in a mutton shop look and mostly shop at Zara, (because it's cheap, and there's one on every corner as we live in Spain), and covet more expensive, luxurious versions of Zara clothes, like Cos and The Kooples. I don't think anyone would ever call me invisible, although they might wish I were.

[Just5minswithDacre]

Mixing it up is the key, isn't it?

I have some Joules and some Laura Ashley but I'd never admit to it except anonymously

[squoosh]

I'd rather see a positive thread about a particular shop / style, than a negative one.

I like to see both.

I do think people take criticisms a bit too personally here. Person A says 'I hate leggings' and Person B interprets this as 'no woman should be allowed wear leggings'.

It's just chat about clothes!

[Prive120]

how about TK Maxx? It's a lot easier to shop than you think as you only need to look at your size rather than shops the whole store. I got an amazing Jill Sanders dress that makes me feel amazing. And I like the fact you get something different.

[Just5minswithDacre]

I'm sure those brands can take it space. They do very well out of what they do.

It's hardly surprising that some of us don't like the identikit 'safe' look that is so profitable for them. But even a slagging off will generate clucks for them.

[Just5minswithDacre]

Erm clicks

[JaceLancs]

I am not a fan of sea salt, joules, white stuff, or fat face.
On the other hand I don't get the M & S hate, sometimes I go in there and despair especially Per Una on the other hand some of there basics are good, I always manage to find jeans, jeggings and work trousers that flatter me and actually fit
I got a gorgeous dress in the current sale stuff
DD 24 buys odd bits from there and always shocks her friends when they comment favourably on a new item and she tells them where it's from

[JaceLancs]

Second there should've been their!
I too love Tkmaxx and outlet shopping

[rainbrella]

i really dont get fat face or white stuff. i do "get" joules though, really like it for basic bright casuals and kids things. We have all three in one town near me. when i went to white stuff for the first time a couples of years ago, i was a bit open mouthed. quite pricey and hippy looking loose stuff i might have liked in 2004. seems like things haven't moved on in fact face particularly because i was in last week and was still surprised.

i think i depends, if you go out head to toes in bland safe clothes, then you will look dull but mix stuff up and it will look nice. also, if you style your clothes with accessories etc rather than just shoving them on with unflattering jeans, you will looks x1000 better.

[PennyAsset]

I don't get the Zara love on MN.
The fabrics look cheap and the staff are surly.