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!

If you know the brand and the name of the style you might be able to find a pair on Vinted. I did this for scarlet bootcut jeans from oasis (which I love and they stopped doing)

I don’t get the hate for physical shops. You can actually see and feel the fabric, which to me is essential. Plus they employ people. There’s moaning that the high street is dead, is it any wonder when people are so averse to supporting it.

I agree totally.But they never have my size or colours. What I have begun doing is order stuff to a physical shop, then immediately return it if it doesn't fit.

"Why are you even bothering to try and find anything decent in physical shops, though?"

I can only answer for myself of course, but online shopping would be totally hopeless for me. My round shoulders and long arms mean I have awful issues trying to find tops that don't look either awful or ridiculous. The other half of me is such that I can try on 20 pairs of jeans before I find some that even remotely fit, let alone look nice. As for my feet - it's as if shoe manufacturers have never come across feet like mine before.

There is no way on Earth I could do online clothes shopping for anything other than socks. I'd spend my entire life sending things back. I have to shop for clothes in person so I can try things on. Even then I usually come away empty-handed.

Oh, round shoulders and long arms and non compliant feet - that’s like looking in a mirror for me! 😂

But I had fifty odd years of trying on gazillions of things in physical shops before I took to online shopping - so I mostly have it in hand. (And I keep a tape measure, and an alterations service, close by.) I’m not much fussed about jeans but have been lucky on the rare occasions I’ve been moved to order any. Footwear … is another matter, I admit. Success rate of maybe two out of five. I probably have to return an item of clothing about once every eighteen months to two years; shoes - let’s just say I try to avoid needing more.

But I have entirely lost my prior delight in shopping in person - even in really excellent shops with products I adore and proper changing rooms. It seems weird now! And I cannot be arsed with engaging in psychological combat with shop assistants - whether they’re clockers-in or gatekeepers, it’s always adversarial. I simply don’t need those interactions in my life any more.

And to be limited to what’s on my High St? All very well when I lived in London, rubbish if one lives in a place with nothing but sad, drab branches of three major chains. Even the glorious city I live in has not one clothes shop that meets my desires - and I can’t shop just for base utility. I like clothes - it needs to be fun.

Never looked at it before but will have a look now . thanks!

Yes! There's so much that's a bizarre shape (who are 'barrel jeans' flattering on??) or cut. Used to love H&M for classic or everyday clothes but now everything is just odd. All the t-shirts are really short or really wide...?

I’ve lost a lot of weight thanks to WLI and have had replace my whole wardrobe.
its been a struggle moving from one season to the next trying to find things that I like!
I’ve done a mixture of going to real shops and online but it’s felt like a bit of a chore tbh.
Depends on your style but I’ve found things I like in Sezane (can be a bit fussy but their clothes fit me really nicely and I lean towards the simpler designs), Nobodys child, Whistles, Next, M&S, Anthropologie (lots to be wary of in there I’ll be honest! But have had quite a few hits), Ba&Sh and Uniqlo. I will say though that I hate the Uniqlo website and prefer shopping in store to online with them.
On the whole though op I do often find a nice top/dress and discover on closer inspection that it has a load of additional embellishments that I hate! You do have to be careful!

Check out La Redoute.

Also look on Vinted for certain brands or descriptions like 'plain navy cotton jumper', etc.

I’ve thought for a long time that there’s a market for something I’d have called ‘Navy Grey’ if somebody hadn’t got there first.

really plain, well cut items. Few patterns, lambswool, cashmere, linen - basic navy/grey/black/white/pale pink vibe.

v necked jumpers that hide the bum without being enormous. Same with roll neck jumpers. Trousers with side zips, longline vest tops for layering, crisp shirts, midi dresses, good tights and chunky boots. Mac coats in different cuts and lengths, long skirts in pretty patterns. Floaty linen pants and grandad collar shirts.

it’s a no brainer.

I know what you mean OP. I've spent five years wondering why women are wearing flounced dresses like overgrown 6 year olds.

I do the same with bathroom decor, floor & wall tiles. Why grey or beige for God's sake? It may look good is you have the Med and a view of Etna from your bathroom window, but not OK for Hampshire in February. A mood board to cut your wrists by. Talk about austerity tiling.

You can either track down those rare shops who have held out against the herd or wait until those who set trends come to their senses.

You've basically described COS. I don't work for them, but this is what I wear. Navy. Long navy jumpers, flattering navy tops.

Yes. Size 22 and hate fussy clothes, they look like lampshades on me. Also hate manmade fibres. Almost everything I wear is from Seasalt or M&S.

Absolutely agree. Clothes are a bloody nightmare. Simple classic clothes cant be found anywhere. I hate uniqlo colours.

Whenever I do eventually find a top I like for instance, they all have a high round neck, which I can't bear, where are all the v necks gone to I wonder.

Also, the quality of clothing compared to 20 years ago is appalling, cheap crap material, even in high end stores.

I too have dreamed of a shop for basics.
Next did a basics range this year that was good. Called ‘The Set’. Lots of separates that all coordinated for those who just want to buy a pack of stuff.

Why is so much stuff basically transparent? Also the frills, bloody frills.if I find something I like I buy a few versions in different colours.

And £200 a jumper. I would if I could!

I agree OP. Too much buggering about with stuff these days.

I feel like things are designed for 7 year old little girl’s taste which is fine if you are 7, but not so good if you are, like me, middle aged.

I would look utterly ridiculous in frills, puffs, and sparkles.
And don’t get me started on fucking butterflies.

My holy grail is a simple white blouse.

But because I’m short with a large chest this is apparently impossible. I’ve been looking for years.

Problem is, manufacturers cut things wide and boxy. And skimp on things like a proper inset sleeve because it is cheaper. My most recent attempt was a white blouse in Next. Didn’t have proper sleeves. It was cut wide and the sides turned up. I couldn’t raise my arms above elbow height in it! Not very practical.

I also tried a couple of blouses in Hobbs and John Lewis, but there was so much fabric in the sleeves, I looked like a pirate that had lost his ship.

Like a PP , I have dusted off my sewing machine and am making one. It does make me appreciate more the amount of work that goes into making one piece. I’d never really thought about how much work goes into creating a collar or setting in sleeves before. But men’s shirts have them as standard. I just think in the rush to keep us buying, buying, buying. The manufacturers are cutting more and more corners. But we’ve reached a point it’s not working for anyone.

What sort of colours are you hoping to find, @Crucible?

(There are plenty of suppliers of simple, classic clothes - that also look cool and fashionable - but outside the tail end of the sales, or pre-owned, they cost an awful lot more than MN approved M&S prices.)

I'm short and chubby.
Petite trousers are almost impossible to find in-store, and if they are available often seem to think short =thin
I used to get t-shirts in h&m with quirky images on the front (eg a woodland scene), or plain long-sleeved tops in a wide variety of colours, bur they just do band t-shirts or dull colours now
Dresses are all way too long and either have bits cut out, ruffles all over or stupidly puffy sleeves
All my old go-to shops are long gone. BHS used to be where I could guarantee to find shoes, etam had jeans that fitted, mountain warehouse (still a few around) have changed their tshirt range and they're all dull.
Never have any luck with shirts as the petites are too short in the arms and nothing buttons up properly if you're apple shaped.

I don't like shopping online as I can't feel the fabric, or see the fit of something.

How short? How chubby?

I’ll bet my lottery ticket you could find perfectly acceptable clothes in Uniqlo, @IzzyHandsIsMySpiritAnimal …

@specialmilkmonitor I am fussy for a start, I shan't lie! I avoid black and grey. I like blues and greens and purples on the 'dirty or 'muddy' end of the scales. I am very very pale. I don't have a lot of white in my wardrobe as I tend to just ruin it. My worst colour in any item is lime green. Whenever I've been to Uniqlo the colours just all.look wrong.
I have hair like a tabbycat now. It has a fair amount of red or strawberry blonde and is going grey. No definable colour really. I also, generally, hate clothes for me. Love them for everyone else! The topic of colour generally is one of my favourites but I prefer it for walls and ceilings and artworks. Are you sorry you asked...? What's your favourite shop?

Don’t have one so it would take too long to answer!

Did you mean just muddy purple? Would you wear this colour:

Babaa top

Or:

Lemaire top

Or this:

Toteme jumper

Or this:

Margaret Howell shirt

Or these:

Studio Nicholson

To me these are all sources for the simple and classic - (and it’s perfectly possible never to pay full price).