middle class uniform

[southeastastra]

st albans today was like a boden/joules catalogue

why do the middle classes have to follow such uniform? it's all very samey, those designer welly boots and colourful rainwear

don't get it myself, surely if you have ££ to spend on wear why pick fatface/white stuff boring brands

ok, sorry. I seem to have killed this thread. Now I'll just go away and mumble to myself in a corner and leave yo all alone! As you were!
is everyone too scared to answer me?

• x-post there

Yes there is absolutely a middle class uniform...navy body warmers are often involved.

Yes, limited, didn't mean to imply that Brits are the ONLY ones who care about class, you're right. But it does seem like a British thing, especially the part about it being sort of unchosen inborn class. More like India or something. I mean, defo where I grew up (sorry don't want to out myself) people did judge some things as more "classy" or not but that seems to me slightly different from the UK "class". As in, in our thread above about the clothes, which I was enjoying, many suggested that wearing certain clothes SHOWS you belong to a certain class a priori, but no one seems to think that wearing Joules MAKES you middle class?? Is that right? If you wear certain clothes and ALSO are a barrister I'm guessing you're middle class even if your father was a coal miner, in that sense we have more mobility than 100 years ago, but somehow if you come from a long line of earls you can CHOOSE to be a coal miner and Tatler might write a feature on your clever way of making coal mining seem so cool and upper-class.

CHJR, social clsss is a MINEFIELD, you have no idea. There's a great Monty Python sketch about it if you look on YouTube.

I know that I'm middle class even though I work in a poorly paid LA job, don't have a 4x4 or a labrador, but did go to Private School, my mother was educated ( although she came from very wc background). And of course I wear White Stuff

Class is very complex and people can be born in one class and then move into another. Lots of us would like to think that class will disappear but it never does. Being mc gives you a huge amount of social capital, which in turn means that your dc are likely to do better than wc kids even if not as bright.

Would love to work out way of truly dismantling the class system but have a wardrobe to sort out into wc and mc clothes....

Anyone who thinks classes don't have their own styles/fashions are deluded.

2 hypothetical women.

1. Velour tracksuit, hoop earrings, possible bun ring, trainers with glitter.

1. Flat brown leather boots, jeans, body warmer, navy and white striped top, orla kiely bag.

Now don't pretend you haven't judged/made assumptions!

I admit am fascinated by explanations about class because I don't feel threatened with being put in one class slot too easily against my will. Because that is one definite advantage of being visibly foreign (granted, we get stuffed in other pigeon-holes, and I've noticed sometimes being foreign in the UK automatically makes you at the bottom of the class heap!!)
I hope I am not offending anyone by my questions, as I say, I think it's very interesting.

Help!
Was going to buy a pair of Hunters to walk the dog in our local paddy field park as the sole came off my old cheapie ones. So if the hunters are no longer decent quality, what do I get? ( to fit a warm liner)

Sorry CHJR I should have included a . Though that's seen as passive aggressive sometimes, which is apparently what the English specialise in

Anyway...

Pist - muck boots.

I noticed an older lady dressed intirely in Joules on a train recently. She looked very cheerful and bright ( mainly purple stuff) I wouldn't have wanted to wear the same but she looked very nice.

Don't know if I'm allowed to say this but the main group of people round here to wear a Barbour are gypsies.

I probably am middle class - I do wear a reasonable amount of FF and Boden (although not keen not the new catalogue). Why? Well, yes it's safe - perfect for my job as a SENCO. As we have all seen on threads in the past, parents aren't keen on teachers with short skirts (legs are too fat anyway!), boobs popping out of tops, loud logos etc.... It is reasonably hardwearing and washable - no good wearing stuff that can't be washed at 40 degrees after someone' thrown paint on you/ thrown up/ needed help changing dirty underwear.
Oh, and finally in the nearest town I am not swamped by choice - New Look, FF or Javelin are the main options (not including the department store which sells Kalico etc).
Not sure it is a uniform though, I spend today in a pair of BHS jeans, a Primark t-shirt and a jumper from Sainsburys. I needed stuff to be warm as DS was rugby training. The coat was from Didriksons - not a particularly common choice. I only found it courtesy of the rugby mums and S&B.

Does no one else like Brora? I love their 3/4 sleeve cashmere cardies.

Try Birmingham if you want some relief from the trials of Boden/FatFace et al...

I had never heard of most of these brands till I signed my life over to Bounty in the maternity ward.
Now the catalogues arrive every season without fail.

Not everyone subscribes to the uniform, but mostly I agree with you.

Where I live it's very boden, fat face. Mostly dull practicle clothing ( think shirt with jumper or tunic top, Ill fitting jeans and flat boots.)

I wear well fitted clothes, whistles, Hobbs, reiss etc, I get stared at!

My neighbours are upperclass and every party you go to they wear the same clothes. ( dull Austin reed type) I have met the same women three times in the same outfit. the dullest parties you will ever go to

Sorry I haven't read the full thread but just wanted to say I hate the way people assume your class by what you wear. I have clothes from joules and Boden in my wardrobe which are my usual weekend clothes but for work mon to fri I tend to wear cheaper stuff (messy job) I'm the same class at a weekend as I am during the week.
I also donate lots of stuff to local charity shops so there's probably some people which you would call chavs and label lower class around here who wear Boden and joules to queue up in the job centre or visit the foodbank.

I have a north face body warmer but its beige.
I do wear heeled boots tan leather flats
i have a couple navy and white striped tops ones zara other ones therapy house fraser.
I have many pairs jeans 2 pairs black skinnies which live in one is karen millen other miss selfridge, couple pairs chinos actually one few things own from next, my blue jeans are gap.

I prefer harem pants than leggings or joggers.

lot of school have quilted or wax jackets , 4 by 4s but in all fairness many of them live rurally, lots dog lovers too as fields close to school so they walk their kids and their dogs at same time.

Used to love clothes watchig when lives and worked in bath.

Not knowing what a Barbour jacket is I just looked it up online. After being at prices I then realised the model was wearing black skinnies and a knitted top with boots. Just what I was wearing today. Hers obviously Barbour, mine F&F and store 21! I did have my trespass waterproof on though that I've had 5 years, comes with a fleece insert and cost me £30 at an outlet centre!

Now wondered what people thought of me and if I'm ever mistaken for middle class

I wear whatever I like and can afford. I like Boden/White Company etc. Couldn't give a hairy rat's arse whether it makes me look middle class because that's what I am. I like being middle class - why should I wear saggy old shitey clothes and pretend to be working class?

Yes love Brora have a couple if dresses, one jumper.

Would like one of every cardigan!

Thanks Bowlersarm, they look sturdy enough to withstand the 1/2 Thames running through the park at the mo - will go try some on

Caitlin17 Brora is not that good. A bit like TSE or Belinda Robertson.

BR is probably a bit better.

If you see something you like at a good price, get it. But only if you like the design. Don't think it's good quality cashmere.