Clothes gone crazy!

I idly leafed through the sewing patterns on offer in the craft shop last time I went in to buy knitting yarn. They were all the same stupid styles as the clothes in the shops - enormous tents and crop tops. Who wants to spend time and effort and MONEY making something that will be out of style in a year and looks hideous anyway? Pattern makers need to offer more classic styles.

My old man begs to differ. He's as fed up as we are of rubbish fabric and fit, not to mention that trouser zips are half the length they used to be, making it harder to get them on and off, and of course going for a wee takes a lot more fishing down his pants to find the necessary equipment. Pockets are going the way of those on women's jeans and trousers too, they're not deep enough and backing is rubbish fabric that holes as soon as you look at it.

I definitely agree about T shirts and knitwear. I've had modern knitwear that's only fit for the bin before it's even washed, ever. Covered in bobbles, which reappear as soon as removed. See through Ts, shapeless.

It’s only womenswear that has gone to shit. Men still get cotton jumpers and t shirts that aren’t see through.

I was struggling for a decent wardrobe. Mostly because I’ve put weight on and am a heifer now.
I hate the “black trousers look smart” brigade as they’re super uncomfortable to wear and for my work (which involves sitting/kneeling on the floor and moving around on the floor) just not practical.
I found Carolina Dress Room and have never looked back.
Proper, good quality clothing, in cool/funky designs (today I am wearing leggings with purple mermaids on for example) and the seams are beautiful.
3 sizes so fits all arses and covers nicely PLUS they’re a talking point which in my job is useful.
They do dresses, leggings, shorts, skirts, skorts, mens shirts, dungarees, underwear and T-shirts and I have yet to find something that doesn’t wash really really nicely as long as you follow the instructions. (Ie; hang to dry and don’t spin)
I got myself onto their Facebook resellers site and buy through there, so nothing has cost me more than about £30 for a dress, most leggings are between £8-£15 a pair and last for ages.

Spent £40 on two organic cotton tees from Seasalt and both produced holes in two washes.

I had exactly this. Little holes appearing in random places in the fabric.
I've also had it with cords from M&S.

Some of my clothes are a decade old and when I compare them with new clothes it's obvious you just can't get the same quality any more.

Jumpers are particularly dreadful - like spun plastic and produce enough static to put your hair on end.

WeirderandWeirder - I completely get it!
Not much fits me any way, I'm gangly, but add in the rubbish quality and I am stuck.
I don't want to make my own, and my alterations lady has retired (no one taken her place).
I don't want second hand, unless it is antique.
I am wearing treasured clothes from 15-20 years ago! I have never bought fashion, more classic, so they still pass muster.
I have had luck with Asda for long sleeve T shirts (more colours, please!)
Bonne Marche - T shirts again, but only because that is all that fits me.
If you can stand patterns - I can't, David Neiper is good quality.
House of Bruar is decent quality, but you pay for delivery and returns. £10 to try on a jumper!
I have just bought a cami from Uniqlo, and as a previous poster says, it works, it's like having a primer for your body!
There is an excellent thread in Mumsnet Classics about buying quality, and buying purposefully.
All the time we keep buying the crap, we will get crap.
Back in the 50' 60's we were able to hand clothes down through the family. (How I envied my friend her older sister! I had brothers and balaclavas!)

I am very drawn to the Agatha Christie films, because of the good quality clothes!

Like a man, kind of. They never seem to have to deal with this crap.

I've been trying to buy a suit for work for months. The two I have that fit are wearing thin. Hardly any shops sell them (about 18 months ago, none did: one or two have started again since then). Those that do only have trousers to fit slim men or fat men with short legs. As a fat man with long legs, which I think is the most common shape of suit-buyers, I can never find anything in stock to fit me. I'm very reluctant to order online as it could take several weeks of purchases and returns to get something that fits.

That said, men do have the advantage of having clothing sized in actual units (centimetres/inches), rather than having to deal with made-up size numbers that mean completely different things in different places and at different times.

If you’re petite, buying mens stuff doesn’t really work. I have enough trouble buying womens socks that will fit and not have the heel halfway up my ankle.

I find I'm increasingly buying from brands I hadn't heard of before; Kaffe and Saint Tropez from John Lewis, an online small business called Kimble that suits my shape well.

Sainsbury's stuff seems to wash and wear ok and I've done all right with M&S but maybe I've been lucky.

I mostly just buy ‘going out stuff’ from charity shops these days, and not all that often.

My outdoor stuff is all from Icebreaker and Findra, over the last few seasons, and they’re such good quality, they’ll go on for years. Findra also have a repair service.

Knickers, socks and pyjama bottoms are from BAM, and bra tops from Boody.

I’m too long in the tooth to shop around anymore. I know what I like and stick to it.

I make my own, buy second hand or from a few trusted retailers.

Me too.

Seasalt used to do good quality cotton- it goes shabby really quickly now. I have stopped buying it. Same with M and S.

I bought a quilted denim jacket in M and S yesterday. I never buy myself anything new (my thing is second hand clothes to help the environment and not waste money because clothing is so wasteful). The shape is hideous on- the shoulders are way too wide and the quilting makes them stiff. It is too short. It is actually two inches narrower on the hips than the chest so makes the shoulders look even broader. The fabric is meant to look aged- but the top 'denim' layer is so thin and distressed it will be in holes within a couple of months.
£45. It's going back.

Meanwhile a denim jacket I saw on ebay arrived- from Joules- it looks brand new, faded dark pink, is really nicely made, much better quality, heavy cotton, and a much better style. Paid £8 including postage.

Read Less by Patrick Grant from sewing bee. It's really illuminating about the whole industry and want versus need.

I buy men’s socks for work. Longer and thicker material for £1 less for a pack of 5

Sorry for bringing up this term up this time of year - Xmas jumpers. Most of mine (I wear them for work in Dec) are men’s. As they are thicker, longer (sleeve and body), higher neckline and much cheaper. Though some men’s ones are geared to men- get the more unisex ones.

If you can get to a Uniqlo, they are one of the only retailers selling reasonable quality now. That probabky wont be forever as they'll probably follow the others and cut costs. They're a bit plain but good for basics.

That's not my experience at all and I don't buy anything expensive - most of my clothes are from supermarkets or Amazon and they're all good quality and don't seem to fade or wear out.

My favourite jeans are from ASDA and I've had them at least four years. Leggings off Amazon last forever too.

I agree, and oversized!! Ffs I hate oversized. It makes petite women look utterly haggard and clumsy and larger women look even larger! And the balloon sleeves on everything! Again makes women look awful.

Hate tops that are too short in length. They could easily make them just 3cm longer and won’t look silly on someone who is 5ft 2.

It's just so hit and miss, isn't it? And it takes ages to find anything decent. I keep thinking H&M is going to ban me because I send so much back.

Meanwhile, I have some Primark pieces from 10+ years ago that still wash and wear perfectly.

I don't feel the same at all.
I'm wearing super tshirts from new look, not see through (colleague checked for me against the window!) they are cropped which is far more flattering too. Also a lovely pair of wide leg linen trousers.

I often buy tshirts and long sleeve tops from COS which are all cotton.

I bought a super navy 100% wool jumper from uniqlo last autumn for £29.90 and I've worn and washed it countless times, worn it most days for work for months. I wash it on the wool cycle on my machine.

I like to wear feminine styles rather than male type clothing though so it might be easier for me?

Lots of wide leg trousers/culottes in cotton this summer with the tshirts or I buy dresses/blouses off ebay from brands like me&em.

I spend very little on my wardrobe and feel great!

You can find cotton/wool in normal shops if you look.

Someone up thread referenced Sainsbury's, some of their stuff is great, be picky though.

Completely agree. I was in the market for a smart midi dress to wear to a couple of summer weddings recently. Most of them looked really frumpy on - odd patterns, frills and puffs instead of proper fitting, thin matetial with no lining - fine if you are 18, not so much if you are 46!

It is the race to the bottom, but charging the most they can get in many instances. Agree, quality is not the same. I'm 62 and can remember buying Pure New Wool items from M&S, Virgin Wool from labels long gone, jumpers that never pilled, trousers and skirts that didn't look like sacks of potatoes after 10 minutes, and I could go on. Now, I have found that often supermarkets challenge much higher end retailers and perhaps because they can buy the volume to cover the costs and make less per item (thinking here a couple of dresses from the ASDA exclusive range). I've also, since day one of buying clothes, bought menswear items and that's because they get far more detailing, heavier weight fabric and for less money, so the oversize style currently fits that perfectly, but so too do socks, tshirts, depending on your body shape jackets etc. As for construction, I can't remember the last time I saw front panels on a dress, inverted pleats, darts, design details other than a pocket (which are always off centre and just don't sit right on my bust), let alone recognition that my waist does not sit 2 inches from my bust. Linings, well they really are a rarity, but often men have half lined trousers, so why not women!!! I have vintage items in my wardrobe, some bought by me new, that show how clothing can last and still be relevant to wear, but the number of retailers I purchase from today is tiny. I didn't ask to buy more for less and have never done that, but now you get less for more, so imo those that chose to race to the bottom for quality are killing the market place for all.