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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Next is for grannies

179 replies

Tliev · 26/10/2016 07:36

Is this true? I buy 95% of my clothes from next and my son has always laughed saying it's a granny shop. I always thought it was quite trendy but then my trendy radar has always malfunctioned 😄 Anyway at work yesterday everyone was saying how they can't understand the appeal of Next and I noticed on a thread on here just now, hardly

AIBU to predominantly shop at Next at 35 years old?

OP posts:
LuckySantangelo1 · 26/10/2016 08:16

Sorry OP but next is definitely not trendy. Sometimes they have some nice items but too often stuff is made of polyester and just grim. Their kids stuff is very well made though! I'm only a year older than you OP, there are dozens of better places to shop .

pregnantat50 · 26/10/2016 08:16

I am 51 and love Next for clothes but I even though I have no grandchildren I could theoretically fall into granny category.

SheDoneAlreadyDoneHadHerses · 26/10/2016 08:17

I shop between Next (the jeggings are brilliant) and H&M.

There are some really nice casual tops in Next at the minute. I'm 37.

The80sweregreat · 26/10/2016 08:18

I find all stores hard to buy from, tried catalogues but was fed up with having to pay for returns. I am 51 and its getting harder to find anything I like , plus being tall and overweight doesn't help. Hanging on to my old stuff, washing things with more care and glad I can cover up a lot more now autumn is here. If I worked somewhere where I had to dress up or wear office clothes I would struggle to find anything.

hiccupgirl · 26/10/2016 08:19

Next sometimes has things I like and their clothes fit me well. But their designs are very distinctive and tend to be everywhere which puts me off.

I tried on 6 jumpers in Next last week, nothing was right. I do like their jeans though.

KittyAlPick · 26/10/2016 08:19

Santangelo which dozen shops are better places to shop than Next?

ohforfoxsake · 26/10/2016 08:20

Next seem to have lost the plot of recent years. I looked at the children's stuff the other day and it was awful.

20 years ago all my clothes came from there, especially work suits.

I only buy jeans there now, high waist petites.

Their sizes have changed massively and they love a bit of vanity sizing, so if like me you refuse to admit your a 16, and like to squeeze into an occasional 12, it's a good place to shop but it's not doing us any favours.

GreenGinger2 · 26/10/2016 08:20

You know some of us seriously can't be arsed with being cutting edge. We want clothes that fit,are comfortable,last and look fairly fashionable. The Next Directory is huge,you're not expected to like all of it and there are plenty of different styles to suit different rates.They have umpteen styles of jeans,plenty of non boot cut if you don't like that style. If it's not your bag,walk on by,no need to be rude.

And no I don't work in accounts,have never seen XFactor or been to Hertfordshire.Hmm

TheNaze73 · 26/10/2016 08:21

YANBU, I think it's lost it's way & is really fit senior citizens these days

Bertucci · 26/10/2016 08:21

I buy ds school trousers and pants in Next.

I rarely even bother to look at clothes for me in there, although I did buy 2 great linen shift dresses in the summer.

Middleoftheroad · 26/10/2016 08:22

It's mixed and it is overpriced.
Had some nice shoes from there and I like the fact they do petite
Also, you often see people walking around in Next clothes. We went to a holiday park once and it was v embarrassing as a woman next to us was wearing the same trousers.Grin

myownprivateidaho · 26/10/2016 08:22

Shop where you like! But I agree with your son (I'm early 30s).

Manumission · 26/10/2016 08:22

I don't like man made fibres much as I get electric shocks so that writes off most Next for me.

Yes, it's very polyestery. That's all that comes to mind when I think of Next womenswear; cheap nasty fabrics.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/10/2016 08:25

I buy neutral things from next, their plain cardigans for e.g. I wouldn't buy their fashion stuff or party dresses or anything instantly identifiable as i feel too old (52). My uber fashion conscious 16 y o ds bought a couple of next t shirts recently.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/10/2016 08:27

Well, it's hardly Top Shop, but they have some passable basics and workwear and are often easy to get to (retail parks etc) but I don't buy much there because most things seem to be totally the wrong shape for me. I have seen things I like though since before I was younger than you.

But seeing as I know at least 2 people that were grandmothers at your age, who's to say what your DSs definition of Granny covers?

BestIsWest · 26/10/2016 08:28

Some of the footwear is good, especially as they go up to size 9.

I live in a couple of their fleecy cowl neck pyjama on winter evenings.

I haven't bought anything else for years. I think I stopped when I bought a top and then saw four others wearing it the same day.

They used to have some fab stuff in the 80s and 90s, really good quality suits etc.

BeardMinge · 26/10/2016 08:28

Twenty years ago I used to buy work shirts and suits from there (first job in the City, not great money). Once I moved into a more casual sector I stopped going in there, probably didn't darken their doors once during my thirties.

Now 42 and have a toddler and find myself in there buying stuff for her as their children's stuff is surprisingly good for bright colours. Occasionally I buy the odd casual thing for myself, their jeans are ok/basic tops etc. There is the odd gem, but few and far between. Lovely and cheap compared to Zara/Cos/Whistles/Boden etc.

perditalost · 26/10/2016 08:29

I am mid 40s- I would say it was for children or older people (over 65s)

BeardMinge · 26/10/2016 08:30

Actually, just remembered that I bought a couple of pairs of lightweight summer trousers in there this summer and I got loads of compliments every time I wore them.

3Eggses · 26/10/2016 08:30

It's definitely not trendy but I use them for the odd basics purchase. I bought some skinny jeans from there on the weekend which are fine. I used to get all my work trousers from there but since losing weight they don't fit properly - I tried some on the weekend and the 10 was too big but the 8 had a crotch about three inches too low and I felt like my knees would burst through the fabric if I sat down Confused

They sometimes have nice summer sandals...

AuntieStella · 26/10/2016 08:31

Next was brand new when I was in my 20s and I always thought it was aimed at people a bit older than me.

And still do.

That was 30 years ago, so yes many of those people would be grannies now. I have rarely bought anything from there, and have't been impressed by the quality of few things that I have.

KitKat1985 · 26/10/2016 08:32

I think Next has gotten worse the past 5 years. I agree with PP that a lot of their clothes are just really dull. I do get the occasional piece in there. I also think it's quite expensive compared to say Dorothy Perkins, New Look etc. I think it's main demographic is probably middle-aged office workers these days.

Some of their children's clothes are quite nice though.

ample · 26/10/2016 08:33

The grannies I know, including my DM, prefer Fat Face or John Lewis.

Next girls clothes and homewares are lovely. And Next ladies jeans are great.
I suppose it depends on what you're looking to buy. A lot of it is overpriced for what you get imo except for the jeans so VIP sale items are often a better buy.

*M&S is a granny store to me. I can't recall the last item of clothing I bought there. Must have been several years ago now. I hope Next doesn't go the same way...I love their jeans.

FuzzyCustard · 26/10/2016 08:34

Your son is BU for describing "grannies" as a generic group, particularly with negative connotations. Most impolite.

Next are good for black work trousers.

DoorOnTheRight · 26/10/2016 08:36

I do agree with those recommending their footwear, actually. I have a couple of pairs of their wide fit casual boots as they are the only boots I can comfortably get my feet into.