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Original poster

What shops or brands did you think were posh, but now doubt yourself

167 replies

DashingWhiteSergeant · 23/12/2022 15:16

For me it is Habitat. As a teen I thought it was the epitome of home styling the shops looks so expensive. I only had a paper round for income then so it WAS expensive!

but now it is just a brand you buy in Sainburys. They make my big standard - but very much liked - tea lights.

OP posts:
Atethehalloweenchocs · 23/12/2022 20:13

Harrods! Always seemed so sophisticated when I was a child in the 70s. Now looks cheap and tacky.

Toddlerteaplease · 23/12/2022 20:14

Joules and Waitrose.

DaisyChristmasBauble · 23/12/2022 20:15

As a kid and young teen in the 90s/early 00s, River Island seemed posh to me. That was back when their local store to me had a stone floor, a dark shop and those iconic carrier bags with maps etc on them Grin

CurlyhairedAssassin · 23/12/2022 20:17

DaisyChristmasBauble · 23/12/2022 20:15

As a kid and young teen in the 90s/early 00s, River Island seemed posh to me. That was back when their local store to me had a stone floor, a dark shop and those iconic carrier bags with maps etc on them Grin

And Ella Fitzgerald on the sound system.

It had some class. Now it’s where you go if you want to look cheap or like a hooker.

user1964097 · 23/12/2022 20:20

Our River Island is called River Studios now, I don't know if it's different as I'm a bit old to shop there so don't go in but I think it is still the same shop

TenzingNorgay · 23/12/2022 20:21

Trouble is, an awful lot of what is supposedly posh is just bling. I accidentally wandered into a Harvey Nichols lately and it was all just gaudy and tasteless, and gave me a headache.

Blossomtoes · 23/12/2022 20:22

TenzingNorgay · 23/12/2022 15:32

Booths knocks Waitrose into a cocked hat.

Doesn’t it? Every time we go far enough north to go to Booths our credit card is so grateful we can’t shop there every week. Waitrose on steroids.

Angrymum22 · 23/12/2022 20:23

Our local Waitrose is pretty posh compared to the other local supermarkets. It has a sushi bar and wine/tapas bar.
I do love Booths, u north, their butchery and cheese depts are brilliant. The ones in Ulverston and Kendal sell salt marsh lamb which is the best lamb ever.

HundredMilesAnHour · 23/12/2022 20:25

NewToWoo · 23/12/2022 19:12

Booths is the finest supermarket in UK.

Show quote history

Not just the UK, the world!!!

(Northerner living in London currently on the way back to holy Booths land - I've driven as far as Cheshire today - and planning my Booths foray tomorrow morning).

SirGawain · 23/12/2022 20:30

worstusernameeverx2 · 23/12/2022 19:17

Victoria secret- the knickers fall apart v quickly

Perhaps that's the secret.

Spellegrin · 23/12/2022 20:33

DashingWhiteSergeant · 23/12/2022 15:16

For me it is Habitat. As a teen I thought it was the epitome of home styling the shops looks so expensive. I only had a paper round for income then so it WAS expensive!

but now it is just a brand you buy in Sainburys. They make my big standard - but very much liked - tea lights.

I agree however I was in Paris lately and Habitat there is lovely. Don't understand tbh.

DarkDarkNight · 23/12/2022 20:33

I’m still sad about Habitat. I used to buy all my bedding from there in the sale when I was a student. It’s Argos (same company as Sainsburys) who have it now so all the ‘Habitat’ furniture you can buy is actually just terrible quality Argos flat packs rebranded.

mamabear715 · 23/12/2022 20:43

John Lewis. It was a place I never shopped when younger, I live in a big city & most people shopped at one end or the other. It closed down a couple of years ago & I haven't forgiven them for deserting our city.
I went in one in a nearby city fairly recently & it was horrible. Not much stock & things seemingly plonked anywhere.
Mind, for jumble sale layouts, it doesn't come much worse than T K Maxx.. hate their shops.. at the other end of the scale, I hate boutique type shops Like Michael Kors. A few items around the edge of the shop & that's it.. maybe they think it makes them look more exclusive..

Spellegrin · 23/12/2022 20:48

Yes, I'm sad about Habitat too. My last dinner set (not a set really...plates, plates and more plates) were bought from them about 6 years ago. Really nice. Good price. Now fed up of them but there is nothing in Habitat dinner-ware that I would buy. Cheap and tacky looking. However when I was in Paris I saw gorgeous crockery in Habitat. Shame I couldn't take it home.

TuxedoJunction · 23/12/2022 20:49

Addymontgomeryfan · 23/12/2022 19:51

I always though the Ivy was posh, it's definitely not.

The Ivy Restaurant (West St, London) is a very different experience to the spin-off Ivy cafe/Brasseries which sprung up all around the UK.
Highly recommend a visit to the original.

user1964097 · 23/12/2022 20:49

Didn't that dark shop Hollister use to be a bit posh, well it always used to cost a fortune when DS had something from there for Christmas, I don't think it is now though

KateMcCallister · 23/12/2022 20:54

EmergentThoughts · 23/12/2022 19:35

Yes, I've been inside a terrible Booths once. I now only go to the one in Ormskirk.

The one near the crem? I never find anything I need in there! It's nice to walk around though 🤣

weebarra · 23/12/2022 20:56

I still think Waitrose is posh but I live in Scotland and I think we only have 4.
I would agree that Booths is amazing and yes, v posh.
Here in Edinburgh there are an alarming number of braying men in MFRTs. Mother fucking red trousers.

Tinytottz · 23/12/2022 21:00

Not sure whether Waitrose is posh or not but it's certainly the shop used by posh people where we live. Actually posh people around us shop locally, Waitrose/M&S and Aldi

Cococomelon · 23/12/2022 21:01

M&S
Ferrero Rocher

ChristmasCaroline · 23/12/2022 21:05

KangarooKenny · 23/12/2022 17:02

I don’t get the hype about M&S food, and the knickers have massively reduced in quality.

Yes. The pants are pants these days.

SirGawain · 23/12/2022 21:15

curlymom · 23/12/2022 20:12

Most of my thoughts have been mentioned.

im now so curious about Booths. Im a shopping snob and want to shop there but never heard if it 😂

The Waitrose of the north, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Cheshire. As others have said it slightly more up-market.

Their cafe is great value.

user1964097 · 23/12/2022 21:23

We sometimes go into Booths on holiday, they sell loose cooked beetroots on the veg counter, not sure that is a measure of poshness but nowhere else sells it. Though Waitrose used to sell organic golden beetroot but haven't seen it for years so have to grow my own now

user1964097 · 23/12/2022 21:25

The organic golden beetroot at Waitrose wasn't cooked though, you had to do that yourself

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/12/2022 21:34

The North Face

When I was a young climber in the 1990s it was high quality, aspirational, technical mountaineering kit. Now it's erm... not.

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