To feel so sorry for all the staff losing their jobs, but Cath Kidston was a load of over priced wank.

[blubberball]

Just read that Cath Kidston won't be opening up again after the lock down. My sympathies are with the people who will now be out of a job, but I really didn't get it.

Tat it isn’t. Not the bags anyway. I have one that I carried around at work for a couple of years, full to the brim. Looks like new still. Very sad.

Cath Kidson stuff was/is lovely and doesn't deserve to be called such a crude name as the op has used.

I'm sorry for the staff but have a feel Cath Kidson will rise again when this is all over.

‘old laddish’ what does that mean? If you mean "old ladyish" well that's a nice ageist insult. God forbid any of us turn into "old ladies".

I think it's terrible, not because I am a big CK fan, but because of the job losses and the fact that it is another nail in the High Street's coffin.

Re the 'overpriced cheap tat from China' type comments! Don't single out CK for those vague, cheap shots.

This is my CK bag. Had it best part of 10 years. Been everywhere with me, like a tardis the amount of stuff it takes. Seems people don’t want good quality stuff and hat lasts any more, in case it dates I suppose.

They have a very particular look which is now so dated. The same goes for Laura Ashley - all those pastels and florals have had their time and now everyone goes for grey and minimalism. If your brand is built on a specific look then you do back yourself into a corner when tastes change.

Laura Ashley hasn't looked really distinctive for decades. It did in the 80s and I loved it then. Loved Cath Kidston too (which does look distinctive), but didn't often buy anything except for presents - I'm more likely to push the boat out when buying for someone else. Certainly wouldn't want it wall-to-wall and I don't like the Disney range either. So sorry for their poor staff.

I still like the shabby chic and Laura Ashley look. CK is expensive, but wears well. The Disney stuff was terrible, but I loathe Disney in all forms.

I think it just depends on your taste/ the type of prints you like surely?

I really like Cath Kidston (mostly floral) prints. It's not massively more expensive than other high street shops.

They have a very particular look which is now so dated. The same goes for Laura Ashley - all those pastels and florals have had their time and now everyone goes for grey and minimalism.

No they don’t actually.

I like their non-floral stuff, both DCs' school bags are CK - DD has a dog print and DS has night animals.

Saying nothing as I'm currently sat in a pair of CK pjs.. very comfy and last well. Quite sad really, also love the handbags. I've had two and they last so well.

Cath Kidston was popular, you can’t deny it, but it had too many products and seemed to stop selling popular items quickly. They should have owned the fact that in the UK it’s mums / kids who shop there and tailored the product offering as a result. Instead it seemed to have a Paperchase / TK Max jumble sale feel to it which I hated.

It so sad for the people losing they're jobs right now but I think this is going to be seen an awful lot for anyone working in retail it's been struggling for many years now trying to keep up with the convenience of online shopping not just the opening hours but the price majority of people now like to shop around to get the best deal they can myself included.

Money has become tighter for each household no one can just afford to buy the first thing they spot hence likes of amazon becoming popular over the years online retail is higher demand than actual shops it's sad and I too hate seeing the high streets turn into charity and coffee shops or pound stores

Love the night animals print. I have a large rucksack

I actually love cath kidston dresses and have dozens. Skirts too. It’s exceptional quality and not all of it is old fashioned. My kids lived in CK clothes until they were about 7 or 8 where the kids range finishes (and the age where most shops seem to think girls want to look like hideous mini prostitutes pop stars! ) They missed a huge demographic by not doing an older girls range imo.
I hope it thrives online.

I love CK and will be sad to see the actual stores close.

I just bought a bag from CK last week and I love it. I wont tell you which style as the Disney range has had some negative comments so my one would definitely attract some sneers.

What I wouldn’t give right now to drive to my nearest town and browse the shops looking at overpriced wank.

Ck was like women's liberation never happened

Sometimes this is a nasty place. Yes people have lost their jobs and it’s sad...so let’s start a thread bitching about the place they worked and making it clear I didn’t like it anyway? Just weird.

...like women's liberation never happened

Don’t be ridiculous. I’m as feminist as they come, I can still enjoy cooking, and choose a flowery piece of luggage.

I’m really sad for the people who will lose their jobs.
The product didn’t evolve well. You can still do kitschy twee and change a bit with the times, it all felt very 2009.

I’m disappointed, but with £55 pjs that shrink (2” up the sleeves) with no apologies, I’ve got much less sympathy for the head office and designers (who probably still have their jobs). The poor shop workers though, awful news for them.

Laura Ashley is all pale greys and pale pastel blue these days. The furnishings anyway.

Whenever I went in I just got the vibe of ‘middle-aged housewife with country kitchen’ if they’d catered to a wider demographic then it might have worked out better. So not too surprising but I’m more disappointed about Warehouse and Oasis tbh.

The only thing "like women's liberation never happened" are posters slagging off women's choices in clothes and shops tbh.