To hate all the polyester crap out there

When I was preggers (in 2010) I developed super smell powers. It really hit me how strongly chemical certain clothes shops were. I actually couldn’t enter many of them. I’ve never forgotten which shops they were, 8 years after my superpower left me. No way am I buying synthetic tat again. I’m even really careful to wash anything new before wearing it, even natural fibres.

I’ve been driven faaar from the high st clothes shops in recent years. ETSY, EBay, and designer recycle shops rule. Good quality, hard wearing fabrics. Wool, silk, cotton, linen. And I never iron anything- can’t tell you where my iron even is! I steam things very occasionally, but mostly hanging it to dry very carefully does the trick.

I commiserate with you, OP.

Yes I’m the same!
I actually manage to find nice cotton tops in Sainsbury’s quite often.

I have a few dressses from here - expensive but they are fully lined, fantastic quality and they have POCKETS! Emily and Finn

Finding decent, well cut, high leg cotton knickers is my dream! Like what M&S sold about 10 years ago!

ThreeWheeler - thanks. TBH it's sitting on my desk by the bedroom window ATM, gathering dust as I've not been well. I'm still knitting though, I can practically do that in my sleep. Wore one of the TK Maxx tops yesterday... love it!

Lucky you, Cuckoo! Honestly, it's shite. My husband has got some items from the menswear bit, but I don't know why the women's section is so bad. Nasty polyester floral trousers, lurex tops, halter neck maxis in livid shades and dreadful shoes. All presented as if the staff were caught out by an emergency fire drill.

but yeah, polyester everywhere, it never feels the same.

I'd give my right arm for some soft, fine cotton joggers or leggings or vest-tops.

But I think it would be expensive! Still worth it to have a few things of great material and style. Rather than lots of tat.

You've got a good TKMaxx. The one in my city centre is like a rummage sale in cold war Bulgaria

Haha.

That said I bought the most amazing cardigan/jacket in my local TKMaxx today. Unbeliveable price. Worth a visit once a month - fashionata advice.

I agree with all of you, I'm struggling to find decent, stylish clothes in natural fibres. Why is it so difficult? I don't mind paying! I tried on a skirt in Jigsaw that was £98 but the man made fabric was awful.
I don't want to wear those cold shoulder tops or Bardot tops, either!

Smashy there's some serious reductions on there

I'd have been gutted to pay full price!

I've just looked at them on the HOF site, the
Nougat dresses are all reduced so you could get it at sale price.. doesn't help with the material though!

TED Baker obviously!

Smashy it was Nougart (in House of Fraser)

Trying to find something to wear to a wedding and all the Tes Baker dresses were 100% polyester at pretty much the same price as that, too.

Jozxyqk
Fellow knitter here Just wanted to share that!
Good luck with the clothes!

I'm curious about the sports kit too.
I have it and one good thing about it is that it dries quickly but mine hums unless I disinfect it every now and then. You shouldn't use 2-in-1 or fabric conditioner when you wash it.
The polyester fashion stuff I leave well alone.

What shop was the dress in, HarrietKettleWasHere?

I hate polyester too. Dd has a lot and it's all slippery and sweaty.

I haven't had any problems finding cotton clothes. Bon prix is good for linen/cotton mix trousers and shorts. I've got all the colours. The white ones are so soft and comfy.

I got some nice thin cotton vest tops from Matalan. H&M have lovely thin cotton tops too. Sainsbury's is usually good too.

Our bedding is all 100% cotton from Ikea but I've seen some nice sets in Matalan. We have taken the duvets out and just sleep with the covers.

I am also making my own - or at least, starting to. I've been a knitter for nearly 20 years, & have dug out my sewing machine. I'm starting with simple stuff, & things for DD.

I agree but make an exception for Viscose

It's horrifying for the planet too. Thousands of micro plastic particles released into the water system every single time you wash it.

When you walk into Next now, the smell of plastic clothes and plastic shoes really hits you.

Oh yes to the wool duvet. Had one in Australia and it was ok even in 40deg summers and no air con.

Absolutely agree. Can't stand the sweaty stuff on my skin.

I can't afford to buy new so buy good condition/used off eBay.
Brands like Noa Noa, Hobbs, Gudrun Sjoden, Toast, Sandwich, Flax (US brand) .

Polyester bedlinen and duvets are the schvitz-pits too. I have invested in a new wool duvet - it is sweat-free even in this hot weather. wool duvet, pillows link

I don't know what's happened to 'fashion' anymore.
Everything looks so unflattering, cheap and nasty.
Fabric that looks as if it'd self-combust near a lightbulb, minging patterns and colours, frills, slits and ties, weird shaped sleeves designed to get stuck on every passing door handle and scoop up a pool sized amount of water near a sink...
I have no idea where to go anymore. Just the act of looking at most of the clothes available brings me out in a peri-menopausal sweat so I've given up.
Bought some washed linen in really lovely colours and plan to make my own stuff from now on