To be annoyed at the clothes shops

[gotnotimeforthat]

I've never really been one for following tends. I couldn't care less if flowers are 'in' I would rather not walk around in something that looks like it was once grandmas old curtains.

I understand that there must be a lot of people who do follow these trends so its only logical for shops to cater to them however it would be nice if I could go clothes shopping and actually buy something I like. I don't understand why ever item in a clothes store must be catered to teenagers

Unless I want the words swag, twerk, yolo or half naked women on my t shirts or tops that are essentially bras then most clothes shops are a no go. A normal nice pair of jeans would be nice too but no they have to be bright colours or have stars, patches and even worse black and white stripes Doppler effect eat your heart out

The only place I seem to find what I would call normal clothes is primark!

AIBU to think it would be nice to have more options of regular stylish clothes?

Perhaps I'm just shopping in all the wrong places.

French Connection, All Saints - places like that? Far more your age range but not crap rags and fantastic on-line service.

I get cross in clothes shops. I like fashion that's a bit retro or off the wall, but I'm not in my twenties or early thirties and i don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb, or mummyish.
I have tried BHS and M&S but they just aren't me at all. Hobbs is too expensive and for pencil women. I am not a Boden person.
I love some of the stuff in Topshop but for what it is the vast majority of it is overpriced once you've found stuff that you don't have to be 18 to wear.

H&M is pretty good though, cheap, not too up to the minute and plenty of choice. It can be a bit quirky too which i like.
Plus a high percentage of their cotton is fair trade.

stinkle

It's not so much the age bar, I just generally don't like many of the clothes they sell. If its not the style of the clothes it's the colours. I'm extremely pale so a lot of the colours make me look awful.

slithy

Yes I can splash out a bit for jeans, I have many pairs that I have had for years and years too. It's just finding the jeans to splash out on that's the problem. But warehouse looks good i will defo give that a shot.

Ooh, if you're looking for jeans I would heartily recommend www.monkeegenes.com/these. The best fitting jeans I've ever worn, and ethically produced - you can select the fit as well. Mine have lasted for two years of very hard wear.

I recently bought some nice jeans from Tesco. They are straight leg because I'm sick of skinny jeans now. They only cost 12 pounds and the quality is quite good. Supermarkets are good for basics and Matalan is quite good too.

Zara?

Yes gap is brilliant.

And tesco and next for basics.

Zara for prettier stuff. And I do find an occasional bargain in new look but I always size up - so I'm normally a 14 and I buy an 18 so it's not clinging to every single lump I have (which is how the teens want to wear it).

There is masses in H&M just now - and I'm ancient so it's not that I'm snapping up all the logo tshirts .

There was a thread about it in Style & Beauty last week where we all posted the stuff we were especially happy about.

There are a lot of threads just now complaining about 'the shops' and how there is nothing for people who want certain things. I really do think there is more choice than ever. If you have time to wade through it, or can narrow down search terms, asos has everything. Free delivery, free returns too.

But . . . I am evangelical about H&M at the moment .

Yes, Hecate, fatties' clothes shops are diabolical! I looked for a dress last year in high street fat girls store... they were all about 6 inches above knee! I am fat; I have fat legs!

OP, if you find brands you like - and there have been some good suggestions here - look out for 2nd hand things of theirs on eBay. I buy everything there. Also you can narrow search for description of what you want: colour, length, etc

I'm about your age op,mid 20's too. Zara and Mango are my go to places. Also Oasis and Warehouse.

I do shop in the other places but less frequently. Particularly Topshop, haven't really been an avid shopper there since my late teens. Though their jeans are my go to ones on the high street.

Thankyou all for your suggestions I have just had a mooch around online and have ordered a few bits from warehouse

I agree OP. Went into admittedly crap town on Saturday in hope of buying one thing: a pair of plain cropped, black trousers/jeans for work. Couldn't find a pair anywhere. But then I have the added un-bonus of being plus size too.
Sigh.

I'm sorry, I think you are exaggerating a bit. On New Look's website, for example:

www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jeans_20017?No=0&Nrpp=100

of 126 styles of jeans, 108 are black/blue/grey, and only 18 patterned or coloured (including white). Yes, not all of these are going to be in your size, in every shop, but that's the beauty of internet shopping, buy several sizes,get free delivery, then return all the ones you don't like, after trying them on in your own home, mixing with stuff you already have and not squished into a tiny, badly lit, hot cubicle!

Or, as others have said, if you don't like clothes aimed at younger people, don't shop in shops aimed for that age group!

It's what drove me to go on a sewing course.

I'm in the same position as you OP- but was really pleasently surprised by Next the other day, I don't think I've ever bought something from there but bought 6 things when I went in!

Try Mango and Warehouse, they are still young but more grown up.

Be warned though, I'm a 10-12 in New Look and River Island, a 14 in Warehouse. River Islands sizing is generous.