Cath kidston dresses, do people wear these??

[Testarossa44]

Followed a fb link to the Cath Kidston website. Many of the dresses are like these. I personally think they are very dated, fussy, and not flattering. Do people wear this stuff? Or is it that this is high fashion and I'm just completely out of touch!!!

Cath Kidston has never been high fashion, so no, it's not. This is very much their style, and yes plenty of people wear them- it's not my style either but can appreciate we are all different.

That blue one 😂

The first one isn't too bad. These types of dresses are fashionable at the moment. Shapeless Amish type things. They look like garish potato sacks to me.

It's always been one of those places where you need to be a certain type to carry it off.

I always suspect I'd look like a cross between Vera and my friend's Mum who was unfashionable wearing this in 1982.

I quite like their stuff, and I think it quite suits me. I'm tall and slim, and I think you probably do need to be. When I was in my early 20s I dressed entirely in a sort of charity-shop chic, blue stocking, slightly sexy librarian sort of way - I didn't actually buy Kath Kidston, which would have been out of my budget, but I loved the style. I thought I looked amazing, and I had plenty of willing suitors...

Seems I’m out of touch lol! I’m short, so they’d never suit me, never buy maxi dresses as they are always too long. Guess it takes all sorts.

It does take all sorts. Wouldn't it be boring if we all dressed the same! I've seen a lot of these types of dresses around, at least they're colourful, and it's nice to experiment with pattern and shape. Not everyone wants to wear leggings or jeans.

I've never even been in a CK shop but I recently bought an amazing 1940s style 100% silk dress on Vinted that fits me like a glove. I love it so much, I may have to keep looking for other CK pieces.

I love those dresses, and would definitely have worn them when much much younger. I wouldn’t wear them now though as I would give off a totally different vibe (unfortunately)

I think @Lovelyring that the quality is good. I bought a skirt from there about 10 years ago that still looks good, and a handbag that's proved very durable. It's not landfill clothing. I sometimes despair at the dull and shabby clothing in high street shops which won't be long lasting.

I think the Kath Kitson brand is an exaggeration of British style, deliberately so.

I dress in this style but slightly less frilly with dresses bought from places like White Stuff, Sea Salt and Fat Face.

I suspect Kath Kitson is for those who are a bit more out there than most middle aged women like me, perhaps also worn by Joe Brown fans maybe?

I don't think you're out of touch, I just think it's horses for courses! The two clothing styles I never, ever touch are athleisure and bodycon - both have gone in and out of fashion several times and whether it's in or out I just find them really unattractive and just know they are not for me. I suspect you feel the same about my big cardies, floral tea dresses, brogues, etc.! It's just an aesthetic preference.

Ooooh I love that first dress!

I am also short and look a complete frumpy mess in this type of thing .But Im sure others who are willowy will look OK in them. It's alot to do with height !

Me too!

Yes that blue one 😐 Handmaid’s Tale vibes.

I was watching The Apprentice, and imo, none of the young women looked good. They all wore very tight clothing, short dresses with a lot of cleavage and vertiginous heels. It's not a look that a many women feel is appropriate or suits them or their lifestyle, so I think brands like CK do fill a gap. As pp have said, you get the athleisure and the leggings, the bodycon vibe, and then brands like CK.

Not that style no, but probably 8 years ago I got a very pretty patterned (pink, white, green floral with rabbits) knee length sleeveless sun dress from Cath Kidston in their sale, it’s cotton so cool, slimming and has pockets!

I think Grayson Perry does.

Amish was what I thought of too. 😂

Would be ideal for churning butter on a wooden porch of a rural American farmhouse.

Not to my taste at all but each to their own!

It's not a style I like - but they don't look too far from the frilly, flowered clothing stocked at the moment in every other store.

I remember another Style & Beauty thread a few years back. Cath Kidston had a London Bus print out at the time and a MNer spoke of ‘receiving admiring glances from small boys’. 😁

I like some of the prints in smaller doses.

I think the dresses are wonderful!

I spent my early 20’s in art school, used to shop in charity shops only! Figures out my own style which I call ‘nanna chic’ 😂

I still dress like it now! Also love slightly more expensive labels like Horror Vacui, Helmstedt, Shrimps and Batsheva in particular!

my wardrobe mainly consists of vintage dresses, blouses and knit wear, some classic style trousers and a few pieces from the above labels. I pair this stuff with Jordan’s, Birkenstocks and very plain modern block heels. I also love a biker jacket to give it all some edge.

Probably looks a little mad to some people 😂

I love Horror Vacui, @Sugarmicetails !
For the last few years polyester tiered floral dresses seem to have been very popular. Usually with white trainers and a denim jacket. At least the Cath Kidston dresses are cotton.

Similar feel to Joe Browns IMO. I get the catalogue and imagine that I'd look great on that if only I looked like Lily James.

I really like that first dress, I wouldn’t wear the second though.