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?

the ‘slightly apologetic middle class mum trying to look as if she fits in at upmarket UK seaside destinations but not attracting attention’ shops.

@Nettletheelf That's one of the most hilarious descriptions of clothing I've heard in a while 😂

Mint velvet and white company both full of lovely stuff but I just cannot bring myself to pay the prices for such “basic” type clothes.

Whitestuff, Joules and Seasalt is all very 'primary school teacher chic' imho
I am a Primary school teacher but much prefer Denmark fashion with unusual cuts but very plain unfussy colours and materials.
striped tops are mumish.

@groundcontroltomontydon

Lush. The revolting smell is seriously off-putting.

Next. I’m old enough to remember when Next revolutionised the high st in the late 80s. Their great design, superb quality and properly trained staff made them highly aspirational and made everything else look dated and crap. Now they just sell the same nasty Chinese-made ta5 as everyone else, but at higher prices.

The Co-op. In theory, I support their business model and values. In practice I very rarely shop there because they are just crap.

House of Fraser. Until Mike Ashley took over. The traitor to the Geordie nation.

What's Cos?!

I have a dilemma.

I need a bloody good waterproof coat. Yup, playground duty and field trip chic.

I don't like seasalt as a rule but I'm this close to thinking 'sod it' and buying one of their jackets, just so I can stay properly dry.

Not half-arsed 'damp coat which steams all the windows up' I mean properly dry.

Trying to not tip into mumsy. Anyone recommend something vaguely stylish AND waterproof? It's either seasalt or Barbour right now.

COS

I wear loads of it, and am short and fat (sz 16 or so). I used to want to buy the whole shop, but they'e gone off in the past three years or so.
Someone on here called it Gulagwear!

Zara is sized sooo small; even my shoulders won't fit in their stuff.

The only thing I don’t mind from Primark is their bedding. They have some great prints and it actually lasts. You wouldn’t expect it to but I have a couple of duvet covers from there I’ve owned for years and they’re still looking great. Likewise their bed sheets. The clothes are terrible... just awful quality, it’s a complete false economy.

The coop is massively overpriced and certainly in my local one there’s always a huge queue because there’s only one staff member on the tills (have heard this complaint about other coops so it’s not just that one..)

I love the look of Seasalt clothes, but most of them don't suit me at all. Wish I was the type to look good in sage green pedal pushers and a striped top.

Oliver Bonas. What is the point of it? It's neither one thing nor the other. I feel the same about Joy and other 'Lifestyle' stores that seem to sell a range off things no one ever needs.

@MissMarplesKnitting sod fashion and buy a Gore Tex waterproof from Cotswold outdoor (or a proper outdoor shop)

Mine is mountain equipment, scrunches up tiny, decent hood and keeps me actually dry. (I also own waterproof trousers when it's really wet).

I have other coats for cold, drizzle etc

I find Boden stuff to be hideous. Frumpy and overpriced. Can't see the attraction at all

I’m a bit scared of the COS models. They look angry 😮 I like that sort of clothing though.

I came on to say Zara, beaten to it.

some of the dresses are very Nonnatus House is just a fantastic description

Really hope some retailers read this thread. We’re presumably the target market for a lot of them yet they’re not doing it for us.

Whfst is the concept of seasalt?

"groundcontroltomontydon

M&S - whichever store I'm in, whichever door I enter by, I always seem to be in the wide-legged, half-mast, flame-retardent trouser department"
Brilliant :o I must see you there!

I used to think this about East. DH was always saying 'saw a lovely dress in east you might like. Where? It was always full of frumpily cut smocks in faded indigo Indian cotton that look like they'd been bought for ten rupees and were being resold for £80.

Cos. Should be elegant, smart but arty clothes. Instead its stiff sacks for women with hips the size of a teenage boy's, and bellies like Santa Claus for insane amounts of money.

The opposite is H&M. It shopuld be full of cheap tat that only a teen would love, but it's consistently full of incredibly beautifully cut classic staples for under £20.

Interesting thread. Oasis, always like the windows but when I go in, nothing is quite right. Zara is my fave right now though, I can always find something after a bit of searching. Topshop too, you don't have to go for the garish stuff.

Just remembered Reiss,was desperately searching for something for a wedding and found the right dress there.

Joules.

And also John Lewis, a bit. I absolutely love John Lewis as a rule, but am properly enraged by their lack of ‘normal’ clothes for fat biffers. I love their own John Lewis clothing range but it only goes up to an 18. I assume this means they think that fat gits don’t have enough money to shop there, having spent it all on sausage rolls, or only thinner people are middle class. I have pots of cash to spend on their lovely basics if only they’d let me. Fuck off with your bias cut Chesca revoltingness.

And whilst I’m on the subject, fat folk want the same clothes that thin folk want - just because I am a size 20/22 it doesn’t mean that I suddenly want to wear polyester shit or shop in a ‘fat woman’ section made up entirely of cheap black trousers and nasty ‘blouses’.

Seasalt at least acknowledge that biffers want the same stuff as slimmer folk - much of their range goes up to a 26.

@MissMarplesKnitting try Ilse Jacobsen or Protected Species if you don't mind splurging a bit. Properly weatherproof but stylish too.

Ilse J has good sales sometimes, or if you're lucky you might find them in TK Maxx.

Zara have been tons of times but never buy anything.
Cos I love

Tk maxxx I honestly get stressed out in there,
Mothercare is another one I find there clothes section for boys terrible
And topshop everything seems to be cropped or for a thin person I'm a size 14. It's hard work