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Clothes gone crazy!

136 replies

WeirderandWeirder · 13/06/2024 00:28

Everything is as thin as a piece of tissue paper. Huge floppy proportions and saggy crotches. See through tops and tshirts and elasticated everything...

I haven't been shopping for a long time. A couple of years. I loved clothes but something has really changed. Even spending more guarantees nothing. I can't be arsed with the touted, trending eco brands either, as I have witnessed their corner cutting and cheapening over time, too. I used to have a ton of fave shops and now there isn't even one.

I have just gone back to wearing outdoor stuff. Like a man, kind of. They never seem to have to deal with this crap. I spent a good while searching for a decent tshirt that didn't have a choking high neckline and actually covered my arse. Spent £40 on two organic cotton tees from Seasalt and both produced holes in two washes.

It can go the hell for me, now. It used to be exciting, and I do love the re-emergence of 90's styles. But the cargo's ain't what they were back then. They're floppy, thin and formless with randomly placed pockets and gussets as long as the Gaza Strip. I just can't anymore. Fuck em all. Greed got the better of them I guess.

I ain't paying for a £400 fancy sheep wool, artisanal brick shaped jumper this winter. And I won't be paying £200 to avoid polyester this summer either. I'm just going with what I already have and hoping to god it lasts.

OP posts:
Orangello · 13/06/2024 06:43

is it really the cost going up? Cotton price went up in 2010ish, but it's now back to the 1990s level. Manufacturing has been moving to cheaper and cheaper countries. It's the corporate greed that has increased - Zara profits just last year were up 30% from year before, they could afford better quality.

Meadowfinch · 13/06/2024 06:17

Quality has dropped drastically. Sifting high street offerings for something that will last more than a month can be a full time job. And don't expect anything to fit. The high street now assumes no-one has a waist so most things are sack shaped.

You either need to go up a price bracket or two, or buy second hand. Our charity ran a second hand clothes show last weekend and made £1,100. It was packed.

Surprisedmystified · 13/06/2024 05:59

I think women's clothing has been getting worse and worse over recent years. I look how a lot of women- not all- dress and I don't like what I see. Its not flattering in any sense and not good quality.
On the other hand a lot of men's clothing looks really good. Stylish and good looking and comfortable. Sort of effortless. So much easier to look good if you are a guy.
Women are still being made fools of by the fashion industry.

Catnipcupcakes · 13/06/2024 01:10

I mostly make my own now. Especially pyjama bottoms. So easy and a joy to wear and wash.

WeirderandWeirder · 13/06/2024 01:06

that simile is a bit older than the war for god's sake.

OP posts:
KenAdams · 13/06/2024 01:04

"As long as the Gaza Strip"?! That's in really poor taste.

WeirderandWeirder · 13/06/2024 01:01

I watched as my favourite PJ's went to hell, yet the price increased. PJ's from M&S are now the exact same quality as Primark, yet a good bit more expensive. Scratchy exposed elastic on the waistbands and too much volume in the crotch.
I watched White Co go to hell, Seasalt, Fat Face, etc. All incredibly inferior cotton products. They simply don't reflect their original standards. Most have caved in to thinned out trend pieces, as the staples and quality decreased.

But I think this is happening at every price point, apart from perhaps Johnston's of Elgin and such. I do notice a dumbed down trend approach across the board though. Brora is laughable at this point. It's like gaslighting tbh.

I would rather they had been honest and raised prices. We all shop where we can afford. I am not well off but at least I would have had the choice.

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DappledThings · 13/06/2024 00:57

I don't often buy new clothes but I haven't noticed this at all. Had to have a bit of a splurge recently to get a few things that were suitable for smart work events in a hot country. Got some bits in Sainsbury's and Bon Marche. All fine. The Sainsbury's trousers have had a few compliments.

Nothing feels particularly thin or has lost its shape in the wash.

StoneTheCrone · 13/06/2024 00:55

There have been several threads about this recently. It's very sad. As a previous poster said, its due to increasing costs.

I bought some Levis jeans recently as i thought they were decent but I noticed some very shonky stitching on the waist closure and the button hole wasnt even finished - just raw on the inside.

£140 shirts/blouses from Reiss are polyester and I've noticed that M&S jersey creases like mad now when it used to be great.

Up until about 2008, clothes were great even at the lower end of the high street.

WeirderandWeirder · 13/06/2024 00:53

yes, i have had more success buying used.

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Chaosx3x · 13/06/2024 00:44

I agree but I think it’s due to costs going up. Retailers are trying to avoid making huge price increases (although prices have definitely gone up a lot) so they are cutting on quality instead. I have noticed the same with children’s clothing (3DC so I buy more kids than adults clothes at the moment), the places I used to regard as being ok quality have become awful.

I now buy almost exclusively from Vinted, I do have issues sometimes but generally speaking it has saved me a lot of money and it’s less of an issue if something doesn’t last well.