Anyone who owns Seasalt sailor stripe tops...

[stripytees]

A bit of a niche question!
Has anyone else bought sailor stripe tees/tops from Seasalt a few years ago and recently?

I have two from about 4 years ago and they are much thicker, better quality cotton than the two I've bought recently. At first I wondered if they do different weights of cotton in the summer and winter but my second new one was definitely from their winter collection and it's not as thick as the old ones.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Yes. I saw some in John Lewis the other week and thought how much thinner they are. Very sad.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Meant to say I've got one from about 4 years ago which is lovely and a good weight.

Last year I sent one back as it was quite thin and I told them why as well.

The one I saw the other week is even worse than last years!

[stripytees]

My old one is pretty much the most perfect stripy top ever (and I have a few - see username!). Looks good worn on its own and has washed well for a long time. The new one is so thin I can see the outline of my bra through it, and the fit isn't as good either.

I think I will be emailing them and having words.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'd rather pay a couple of £ more and keep the quality.

Seems like they're trying to maximise profits but I'm not paying £38 for a Next/Zara quality top which I could buy for £15.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I don't find that the Uniqlo ones fit me very well. Bit tight round the shoulders but baggy round the neckline.

[Lambzig]

Viva, so glad you said that, I just sent two back to Uniqlo because they grumped me up for that very reason. Have been feeling somewhat lumpen since then so glad to hear they don't fit others.

[Lambzig]

Frumped not grumped.

[gonegrey56]

I have had the same experience with a striped (shhh) Boden top this season - awful, thin and see through , very poor quality . Back it went !

[BikeRunSki]

I had a Seasalt stripey top that was 5 years old and perfect. It hadn't even lost its shape through pregnancy (unlike me). Then one sad night about 3 months ago DH washed all my tops with a pair of dS's red trousers which he knows run like a bastard. He managed to miss that the washing machine was full of red clothes. So when all my tops came out as something and pink stripes, rather than something and white, he bunged them all in a bucket of colour run stuff. A very small bucket. So the pink stripes were overlaid with a mottled bleach effect. When I discovered this I actually cried (it had been a particularly bad day). Anyway, every single one of my stripey tees ended up in the bin - from seasalt, Boden, M&S, Primark, charity shops - all eight of them.

Over the last 3 or 4 months I have been trying to replace them, or at least replenish my wardrobe. I have a new Seasalt top. Same style, different colours. But it's really not the same. Not as thick or long. Not worth £30!

Actually, I have new tops from Seasalt, Primark, Debenhams and Espirit. The only ones that are worth the money are the Primark ones, and that's only because they are only £3-4. Nowhere seems to do thick, long-enough-to-cover-my-tummy t shirts anymore. Gap ones went straight back. I have had some decent short sleeved Ts ftom Lands End in the past, but was so dissappointed in some trousers I bought from them recently that I haven't tried the Ts recently - maybe I would if they did free returns.

[Saurus72]

BikeRunSki I really feel sorry for you, that is an absolutely terrible thing to have happened! When we first got married, DH 'helpfully' washed my clothes and ruined some of them so we agreed there and then that we would each be responsible for doing our own laundry - mainly because I couldn't bear the thought of him ruining things that I loved, and couldn't afford to constantly be replacing things .

My only advice would be to go the cheap and cheerful route first so that you at least have something to wear, and then along the way hopefully you will find some nicer quality ones. Did you try the Toast sale? Their quality is pretty good IME, obviously very expensive when it is full price though.

[BikeRunSki]

I am doing cheap and cheerful for now Saurus. Tried Toast sale, but only got (brilliant) jeans. Actually, I did get a really good too from Baukjen, but £££, but I really wanted fine navy/white stripes. It's ok - had better last forever!

[plentyofshoes]

I am on my second Breton top from French connection. It is amazing. It is the only item I have ever purchased from there. Not sure if they still do them. I think it was around £25?

[florencedombey]

I have been buying Seasalt sailor tops for years. The oldest ones I have are thinnish cotton and hang beautifully. Then I bought some more which are thicker but don't hang quite so well. They were winter season, so at that stage, about five years ago, they were clearly doing summer and winter weights. I haven't bought any recently as the ones I have have lasted so well....

[SakuraSakura]

I was going to purchase a seasalt top this spring but this thread has totally turned me off! Hate when companies do this. I hope they see this discussion some how- we are willing to pay that little bit more if you give us quality.

Might check out French Connection.

[SakuraSakura]

Oh well Florence, maybe it is a seasonal thing. I'll watch this space

[florencedombey]

I've had good responses from them via their facebook page in the past - maybe the OP could try that?

[BikeRunSki]

Well, yesterday I got an Espirit top that I ordered on MN recommendation for being long in the body, which is another problem I have with tops. It was mid price - £15 and I had great hopes for it. Well it's awful. Thin as tissue paper, can see the outline and detail of my bra clearly. Very dissappointed. Thankfully they do free delivery and returns - although this may explain why it took 3 weeks to arrive!

[mewkins]

I was going to buy one but this has put me off. I tried a joules one the other day which was really thick...but the shape was all wrong, bad neckline, boxy and too short in the body. I have a 5year okd boden one that is still going strong though.

[stripytees]

Just to confuse things, I have a short sleeved sailor tee made of the thicker material, too... which would suggest it's not a summer/winter thing.

[trader21c]

What is Seasalt quality like? Was wondering about their rain jackets expecially

[KittieCat]

I bought an absolutely lovely one in John Lewis, it was in their weekend collection. Lovely interlocked cotton, perfect neckline, it's fab.

[stripytees]

I emailed Seasalt to ask about it and turns out they used to do one called Mariner Shirt, which had a looser fit and was made of thicker cotton. I've just looked through my old emails from 2012 (!) and sure enough, the tops I ordered from Seasalt are called Mariner rather than Sailor.

So that explains it... although I'm sad they don't sell them anymore!

[cressetmama]

Try Armorlux or Petit Bateau; French, and Armorlux, especially, are very good and last almost forever.

[BikeRunSki]

Has anyone tried Kettlewell Colours?