Shops you feel you " ought" to like but in reality never do.

[Enko]

First this is obviously lighthearted....

I went to local town today with dd2 (age 18) and we were wandering up from 1 area to the next passing a shop that recently had relocated (called the silver sheep) I remarked to dd2 that I always felt like I should like that shop but when I went in could never find anything. She said she was like that with Seasalt Loves the windows and walk in but always leaves feeling disappointed.

Made us talk of how this is that you look at a shop window. Clearly find it attractive and "you" but then when you are inside find it is very much not you..

Any of you have shops like that?

River Island. I'd love to buy from Zara but I'm too fat at size 16 for the majority of the stuff I like.

Monsoon

I struggle with high street stores at all. It's all either for the willowy type or those blessed with norks and curves.

Which high street shops are for women with breasts and curves?!

ASOS, Topshop, Joules, Coast

H&M... all the mums I follow on Instagram love it, but I've bought a few things over the year there and they're only fit to be worn as pjs after one or 2 wears. Even primark lasts a year, if not more.

Zara is overrated too and I find it very disorganised.

New look is too 'young'...

Boden too 'old'

*years

I don't like TK Maxx. It always looks like a jumble sale has exploded in there. Utter shite.

Primark makes me feel funny. All that old tat flung around.

Our nearest HoF - I always just wander in on one level and wander out on another having looked at nothing at all .

I love Seasalt. I could buy everything in there.

I should like Joules. I like their clothes on other people but I can’t find anything I like on me.

I'm the opposite with Seasalt - the windows look like a lentil knitters' paradise of grunge, but when I actually went in to get something for my sister (who does like it), I was surprised at how nice some of the clothes were.

"Lentil knitters' paradise of grunge" is my new favourite phrase 😂

Oliver Bonas

oh yes, H&M. It's just cheap crap.

I find clothes shopping tedious. I don’t like many shops, used to like fat face but now it seems frumpy, hate new look, top shop and river island (feel I’m getting too old for these). I mainly shop online and wear either really boring basic clothing or slightly hippy clothing.

Occationally have a rummage in to max but mainly for footwear.

Finding clothes for my dd’s Who are now in adult clothes is a nightmare, neither of them are girly and don’t like wearing what’s in fashion.

Body Shop...how on earth it is still trading given the cost of the very mediocre products is beyond me.

Mint Velvet. Have had a couple of bits online from there but when I went into a branch recently, I was horribly disappointed and indeed things I had really loved on the website were horrible when in front of me.

Topshop has definitely taken a downturn as has Miss Selfridge, or it could just be that I am too old for them now. I used to buy loads in Topshop but rarely find anything in there now.

Monsoon. Very disappointing these days, too mumsy.

I do, however, love TK Maxx if I've got the time and wherewithal to go through things and I have had some fantastic bargains from there. Kids clothes are good too. However, it's not a "pop in" shopping experience at all.

Hush is my favourite for everyday clothes, but it's expensive so I buy a few well chosen pieces a couple of times a year (or in the sale) that I justify by using Xmas/birthday money and selling on things I no longer wear. I then wear those things to death.

Boden isn't anything like as kooky frumptastic as it used to be. The winsome kookiness is all gone.

Hobbs - I used to think when I was older it would be perfect work wear Now I am much older it still feels 'too old' for me

Boden cut is awful - bought one dress looked great on the model all casual and sophisticated strangely turned me into a prison warden. Kept it too long to send it back and after a year gave it to the charity shop unworn. Never again

TKMaxx- I don't know half the brands , the RRP £45 - our price £8.50 I think "Yeah right even at £8 it's no bargain"

I bought a showergel (1 litre, non tested) for DS but no idea if it was good/bad (it was under £9)

I went in there to buy him underwear but the packets were grotty, some opened , just left with nought and went to H&M.

Cannot get River Island either, it's glaring lights and overwhelming yellow/black bags brings on nausea.

And MAC.

I wasn't buying for me . I was looking for something for DD friend.
I am early 50s . Fairly presentable . I have disposable income. The shop was not in the least bit busy .....I was ignored by every member of staff .
I couldn't have even got arrested in there let alone assisted.
I think I prefer Lush and BodyShop TBH.

Im wearing a Zara top today. And I'm probably size 18 on top. And wasn't the biggest size

I've realised why I keep popping in to Zara. It's because I've got it into my head that everyone who works in an office buys all their clothes there, so I just want to be normal. I know this is completely ridiculous, but it's as if I'm determined to find something in there that fits (my large chest, so unlikely). I tried on a whole load more stuff yesterday and all of it was awful, but I seem to be on this mission to find something, just to be able to say I did it.

Next, I should like it particularly for boys clothes but I just don’t.

I like Zara but their things aren’t made for my post children shape, they do have nice bags, scarves etc though and the childswear is good.

I wish I felt like this about Jigsaw - I don't seem able to go in there without buying something so I'd save a fortune!!

I agree about Cos - I like minimal fashion and always like the look of the store as a whole, but can never find anything I would actually buy.

Hush - I don't understand the hype at all! I think I'm around their target age but don't get it.

Even with shops I supposedly do like such as Whistles, it's not like I would be happy if all of their items were in my wardrobe - I would only buy about 10% of what they sell at any given time and usually walk out empty handed, but I count this as a shop I like for some reason.

Zara
H & M
Fat Face
White Suff (although I can find the odd gem)

Zara and H & M are like jumble sales, and I don't have the patience to rummage. TK Maxx is also a bit too jumble saley.

Even with shops I supposedly do like such as Whistles, it's not like I would be happy if all of their items were in my wardrobe - I would only buy about 10% of what they sell at any given time and usually walk out empty handed, but I count this as a shop I like for some reason.

I think of H&M in the same way. I actually like quite a lot of their stuff, but they don't make petites so most of their necklines are too low. If they made stuff that fit me I'd probably but quite a lot!

The White Company. Turns out there is such a thing as 'too tasteful'.