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Original poster

Seasalt - why the Mumsnet love?

211 replies

LouB76 · 22/04/2022 12:03

I'm just not feeling it. I keep seeing mumsnetters raving about Seasalt clothes but I can never see anything remotely stylish on their website. Am I missing something?

OP posts:
SookieHouseboat · 23/04/2022 13:49

The clothes are quite teacher-y. I’m not a pattern lover anyway so it’s probably not for me.

fellrunner85 · 23/04/2022 13:53

Seasalt (see also Joules, White Stuff, Fatface) have this weird niche of being outdoorsy-ish clothing for people who aren't actually outdoorsy. It's not outdoor kit yet it's not stylish - it's a ditzy-patterned hybrid of the two.

If you wanted a good, technical, outdoor coat you could get a much better one from Alpkit or similar. And if you wanted a stylish coat you could buy one from a myriad more stylish places. But Seasalt fit squarely in the middle, for that "I'm in Keswick but I'm not going to walk further than a little trot around the lake", or the "I'm in Cornwall but I'm just going to sit here and have a scone while you surf" market. Also it appeals to the wealthy (cos its not cheap, even though the coats aren't that different to the TU ripoff versions) and the larger of size (because the stuff is very generously cut).

woodhill · 23/04/2022 13:56

The teachers discount is so good so I often use it.

I'm not very outdoorsy Smile

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General style & beauty
MarriedThreeChildren · 23/04/2022 14:07

I bought some stuff from them last year. A couple of tshirt, trouser.
The halitosis was SHIT.

After a couple of washes, I ended up throwing the Tshirt in the bin. They had shrunk and change shape so much they weren’t wearable anymore.
The trousers material bobbled so much I’m wondering what I’m going to do with them this summer. Not sure they are still wearable tbh.

rosinavera · 23/04/2022 14:30

I've only just found out that they were offering 50% discount for keyworkers when we were in lockdown - can't believe I missed that!! :-(

Badlifeday · 23/04/2022 15:44

@MarriedThreeChildren the halitosis?

Original poster
LouB76 · 23/04/2022 15:49

MarriedThreeChildren · 23/04/2022 14:07

I bought some stuff from them last year. A couple of tshirt, trouser.
The halitosis was SHIT.

After a couple of washes, I ended up throwing the Tshirt in the bin. They had shrunk and change shape so much they weren’t wearable anymore.
The trousers material bobbled so much I’m wondering what I’m going to do with them this summer. Not sure they are still wearable tbh.

I'm not a fan of halitosis either.

OP posts:
WeddingHangover · 23/04/2022 15:50

I love Hush, but I hate Seasalt. I find Seasalt mumsy/frumpy. I think it’s down to taste and what’s suits your body. Something that makes me look frumpy might look someone else look like elegant.

Original poster
LouB76 · 23/04/2022 15:53

fellrunner85 · 23/04/2022 13:53

Seasalt (see also Joules, White Stuff, Fatface) have this weird niche of being outdoorsy-ish clothing for people who aren't actually outdoorsy. It's not outdoor kit yet it's not stylish - it's a ditzy-patterned hybrid of the two.

If you wanted a good, technical, outdoor coat you could get a much better one from Alpkit or similar. And if you wanted a stylish coat you could buy one from a myriad more stylish places. But Seasalt fit squarely in the middle, for that "I'm in Keswick but I'm not going to walk further than a little trot around the lake", or the "I'm in Cornwall but I'm just going to sit here and have a scone while you surf" market. Also it appeals to the wealthy (cos its not cheap, even though the coats aren't that different to the TU ripoff versions) and the larger of size (because the stuff is very generously cut).

This thought had occurred to me too. I prefer Rab And Montane. Then at least I know I'm getting something that has actually been designed for outdoors, will keep me warm and dry and doesn't have any random fussy bits on.

OP posts:
LetitiaLeghorn · 23/04/2022 15:59

@PAFMO
The colours at Seasalt are drab on the whole. There's a yellow top in the window display of ours and even that they've muted into a sludgy mustard tone. It's not bitchy to say that.

And I wasn't "slagging off" anyone! Such an overreaction for a jokey comment. If I was slagging off people outside London, I'd be slagging off me! I live in the northwest in a small town with one shopping street and we have a Seasalt. I guess I'm their target market. Every year its the same stuff, same patterns, same designs, same drab colours. It's repetitive and dull.

Original poster
LouB76 · 23/04/2022 16:02

Lunificent · 23/04/2022 09:36

Seasalt is in Manchester M and S.

Ok, well that shows who their target market is then.

Along with being in towns like Lytham, Keswick and Bakewell.

OP posts:
yellowsuninthesky · 23/04/2022 16:09

I am wearing a Seasalt top right now :)

I like some of their stuff but I tend to find a style I like and then keep buying different versions of it. A lot of their stuff is shapeless and I don't like the colours. They do nice socks though.

Lunificent · 23/04/2022 16:12

I have never seen anyone under 60 in a Seasalt shop.

BeyondMyWits · 23/04/2022 16:21

LouB76 · 23/04/2022 16:02

Ok, well that shows who their target market is then.

Along with being in towns like Lytham, Keswick and Bakewell.

Show quote history

There's one in the shopping mall at Bristol Cribbs Causeway too... I don't get the disparaging comments.

woodhill · 23/04/2022 16:28

Yes, love Cribbs

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 23/04/2022 16:35

I don't see how being frumpy is harming anyone. For various reasons I'm a frumpy person, but I'm quite happy being this way. I don't have the figure or desire to be anything else other than comfy and wearing patterns and materials that I like, regardless of what's in fashion. People are so ageist as well. What's the problem with being older?

Original poster
LouB76 · 23/04/2022 16:37

I don't get the disparaging comments.

What disparaging comments have I made?

I agreed that if you want technical outdoor clothing then you're better off swerving Seasalt / Joukes and going for Rab or Montane. Do you disagree with this, if so why?

I stated, that based on where most of their shops are then their target market appeared to be wealthy pensioners. Do you disagree with this?

I said that a lot of their clothes are fussy / Floral? Do you disagree? A lot of posters have stated that the floral / trims etc are part of the appeal for them. I haven't said that they are wrong to like that look.

I started this thread because I thought there was perhaps something I was missing about Seasalt but it appears that I'm just not in the target demographic / lifestyle for their clothes.

OP posts:
woodhill · 23/04/2022 16:42

I don't think they are necessarily fussy

Original poster
LouB76 · 23/04/2022 16:44

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 23/04/2022 16:35

I don't see how being frumpy is harming anyone. For various reasons I'm a frumpy person, but I'm quite happy being this way. I don't have the figure or desire to be anything else other than comfy and wearing patterns and materials that I like, regardless of what's in fashion. People are so ageist as well. What's the problem with being older?

I'm not sure that frumpy is the right word. In my mind frumpy means someone who has given up on their appearance (I may be wrong). I'd say frumpy is Peacocks / Bon Marche - basically just buying clothes so they don't have to wander round naked 😂. Seasalt is different, it has a specific look and I'd say on the whole (with some exceptions) that look is middle class and from late 50s upwards. People who like the sound of an outdoor lifestyle but an outdoor life's that means walking the Labrador for a few miles rather than going up a mountain.

OP posts:
Original poster
LouB76 · 23/04/2022 16:44

woodhill · 23/04/2022 16:42

I don't think they are necessarily fussy

By fussy I mean trims and extra zips etc that serve no practical purpose.

OP posts:
gogohm · 23/04/2022 16:46

I like their clothes, I wear them to work, comfortable but respectable.

mudgetastic · 23/04/2022 16:52

I walk up lots of mountains

I tend to wear sea salt stuff , for work in particular

Average household income

Not as old as you think either

It's comfortable, practical ,fits well , unfussy ( saves me from nightmares like tight , structure, and frills )

I find OP rather odd and judgemental, wanting to pidgin hole people based on what they wear . If you don't like it , go elsewhere but you must be about 5 if you think everyone should like the same stuff as you do . What harm does it do you for people to like sea salt stuff?

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 23/04/2022 16:54

Some people on MN get irate at 'frumpy'. They think it's ageist whereas I think a 20 year old can easily look as frumpy as an 80 year old. And I think frumpy people can be considered about their appearance so it's not necessarily a lack of care or that they've 'given up' either. I think it's more that 'plain and serviceable' is valued more than 'flattering and chic'. Or they're very concerned with being modest. Which is of course fine. But I do think the word frumpy is a useful way of conveying a particular aesthetic.

SockFluffInTheBath · 23/04/2022 17:01

I agreed that if you want technical outdoor clothing then you're better off swerving Seasalt / Joukes and going for Rab or Montane. Do you disagree with this, if so why?

I think mums stuck standing on the weekend pitches don’t necessarily want to look like ramblers though. They want something warm, comfortable and normal looking.

singalongforever · 23/04/2022 17:09

OctopusSay · 22/04/2022 12:09

Plus they do 25% off for teachers

Is this all the time? How do you get the discount?