Anyone else go clothes shopping and think WTF at 95% of the stuff?

[Glassmatt]

I’ve never been someone who follows fashion, not in the sense I wear garish ‘alternative’ clothes, more in the sense I’m quite boring in what I like and I wear what suits me and what I feel comfortable in.

I’m also a bludy stupid apple shape which is hellish to clothe, so even if I see something I like, chances are it’s going to look not great.

My issue is, I feel like I hardly like any clothes. It’s a bit like online dating, no no no no no maybe no! It feels like an utter chore to find the nugget of gold in a store of items - for example, I might think that looks nice then I’ll turn it round and it has a big gold band attached to the neck line, or I’ll see a nice jumper from the front, pick it up then down the arms it will have several little bows on and I think what’s the point in that! Or a nice pair of jeans that have a massive buckle attached or studs down the back.

I get everyone has different tastes and they have to accommodate everyone but it seems that finding normal clothes is harder work than it should be and it makes shopping an utter chore.

I think I’ll set my own shop up called the boring stuff!

I like Zara, if their items happen to fit me - they don't always. They currently have some lovely tailored trousers which are actually the right length on my 5ft4 frame. And I like Uniqlo and Sezanne.

Everything else is utter shite! And I include some more expensive brands in that. I bought John Lewis cashmere jumpers in January (for £120 each) and they'd bobbled within a couple of months.

I tried Primark again this weekend. I keep trying, because I'm sick of paying more and still being disappointed anyway, and what a load of tat it all was.

Seasalt stuff usually has pockets!

This summer, M&S had an asymmetric, one-sleeved sweater for sale! So, you can't wear a standard bra, and the thick knitted material would make it too hot for summer, but the fully exposed shoulder and arm would be too cold for winter.
Who dreams up this nonsense!

Now I make most of my own clothes, have a couple of dress styles that I make in various fabrics and weights for different seasons. I can adjust the fit for my shape, which is pretty much straight up and down, with not much of a waist!

Culottes and shorts also home made, with t-shirts from Community Clothing and Cos. I do buy exercise wear from Bam, but have recently started making swimwear too.

Went looking at clothes shops a while ago with a friend, and was horrified at the prices and abysmal quality, even in supposedly higher end shops. Wonky, tiny seams, loose threads and frayed edges everywhere.

M&S used to be infamous for adding fussy ‘bits’ to things that would be so much nicer left plain.

Maybe they still are.
And I once bought a cardigan that would have been very nice - except for the utterly hideous buttons. WTF were they thinking? However I bought it anyway, and zoomed straight across to John Lewis for some infinitely nicer ones.

How long did it take you to get to grips with making your own stuff? I feel like doing my own stuff too and I do have a sewing machine… 🤔

I have real problems buying for DD. She's tall and slim, but most of the girls clothes are short, wide and mostly just inappropriate for a 9 year old who needs age 11 clothing. M&S is also guilty of this which is disappointing.

It's taken a good few years, but the game changer was going to a pattern cutting class. That teaches you how to make your own patterns and how to adapt commercial sewing patterns.

Also at a class someone can help you adjust the fit, as trying to pin a toile on yourself can result in injury! A dressmakers form is a big help, mine is padded out to my own peculiar dimensions.

Agree. Probably the shop with the highest proportion of wearable stuff.

Another good place for simple, quality, non- polyester basics is Muji.

I've had £50 to spend on clothes since Christmas. I've so far bought a tea cup and a box of chocolates for my son's birthday.

I love M&S as a natter of principle but our small one has about twenty colours of identically cut t-shirts plus and lots of tops that need a light vest of cami underneath but no nice vest or cami on sale. Also lots of sleeveless blouses with no jacket or cardi that goes with them. It's like the buyers have never got dressed or noticed that different women have different shaped bodies.

@muddyford I was once told ( after having a strop about having to have a bow or no knickers) that bows on underwear were to do with making them easy to pack at the factory. I don't know if it's true or not.

Im five 7 with a long waist and every single top or jumper, blouse is too bloody short and skims my midriff. Finding long line fitted tees is impossible.

even places like trespass are go outdoors are the same.

I’ve given up and buy men’s t shirts, hoodies and walking gear.

im on a bloody budget so cant afford posh shops

I'm a short apple and I like Seasalt stuff because it covers lumps and bumps. I like looking frumpy, before anyone criticises 😁 I used to buy stuff from Sainsburys, but most of it is plastic now and their cotton stuff shrinks like mad, so I don't bother.

I appreciate it but there's no way I'm paying £30 for one t shirt. Luckily vinted has a really good variety but sometimes it would just be nice to try something on that looks half decent and doesn't turn out to have no back.

Definitely agree with this. People think if you're short you can just chop a few inches off the length, but everything is out of proportion from the standard range when you're 5ft like me. TU used to to have some nice bits , but whenever I look on their website it's just leggings and a few pairs of jeans.

I agree, I have struggled for the past few years to buy anything I like apart from socks and underwear.

I’m just wearing my existing clothes until they fall apart, occasionally topped up by a charity shop find - but even they are getting much fewer and farther between.

I don’t like shopping online, I want to try stuff on, and not have to pay for it unless I like it. Can’t be doing with the hassle of having to post things back.

It is literally years since I stumbled upon a pair of jeans that fit nicely and are comfortable. I’m wearing them into the ground and wishing I’d bought several pairs!

I find H&M really good for this. My daughter is the same, she's 10 and has long legs and a small waist. By the time something fits her on the waist, the legs are too short. So it's normally H&M and Vinted is a trove for trousers. However tops are always far too small.

Yep. It’s not just the leg length, is it? The crotch is a real problem for me. It’s always sagging down, so just taking the legs up doesn’t work. It’s a nightmare.

I don't find H&M any good personally. All the girls t-shirts are really short (they are the equivalent length of a boys t-shirt 2 years younger in length) and the pictures on them have no relevance to my DD.

I always say the same thing on these threads : COS.

I am not tall and skinny, i am 5ft6 and a size 10/12. Their cashmere is astonishing quality. I can always find a whole wardrobe in there.

I have cos items I bought ten years ago that I still wear now and look new.

Also, I am the person buying cropped tshirts. They are so much more flattering than tshirts which go to the hip.

Maybe it’s for those of us who sleep with one leg out of the duvet? I’m grasping at straws here!

I never understood cropped cold shoulder jumpers either. Or that mercifully brief fashion for stiletto trainers.

Quite a lot of shops do a lot of what I call 'frumpy fashion', stuff that can look cool if you're under 25, slim and can style it right, but just looks ugly and frumpy if you're not. Like, cardigans that would be nice, but have ugly buttons, or skirts that are an unflattering mid length, or sack like dresses with flounces etc

Where are you looking? I haven’t seen a diamanté for about 10 years!
i wear understated things and like others, Uniqlo is good. But I also find loads of simple clean designs in bog standard high street shops like Zara and H&M

ARKET is good. Cos is great and surprisingly inexpensive for some things.

I also don't like anything with bling or fussy bows etc.

I am quite fond of Roman these days, I have found some lovely stuff on there and it all fits well. They do charge a small fee to return of £3 per order but that seems fair to me.