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.

I get loads of Joules stuff in the sale. It’s good quality and at sale prices is no difference to Next. Ive never paid full price for anything from there.
I didn’t actually think Mothercare was too expensive but I seem to be in the minority! Lots of 2 for £8 deals on children’s summer clothes etc.

If it wasn’t for you why should care either way? Why even comment? Unless it’s a thinly veiled dig at people who do like Cath Kidston? In which case, unnecessarily nasty. By the way, I’m not a Cath Kidston fan and I didn’t know it was closing. Just can’t be doing with the little poisonous arrows being chucked about for no reason

"This. What a pointlessly mean mindset to start a post to slag off a brand going under with people losing their jobs cos it’s not your cup of tea"

I agree. I really dislike whiskey. You could give me the finest, most expensive single malt whiskey there is, but I still wouldn't like it, but I wouldn't say it was crap. I would just say, sorry, I don't like it. And if the distillery closed I wouldn't be gloating and saying that they deserved it.

I love Cath Kidston clothes for girls. Beautiful dresses, very pretty, old-fashioned aesthetic. Might not be to everyone’s taste but I like them on my daughter.

I have lusted after a CK fountain pen for a long time. Impossible to find but possibly on eBay .
I’m not a huge fan of oilcloth but I’ve liked some of her prints.
I once went to a CK shop , a couple of years ago, and was rather surprised to find that it almost resembled a child’s shop... not too dissimilar to Smiggle! I had no idea that it was predominantly a fancy stationery shop with a few bags that children usually have at school.
There was barely any ‘grown-up’ stuff at all.
I was ever so disappointed , particularly as I’d asked about my beloved fountain pen ( hadn’t made them for some time) and promptly left.

Really sorry that their retail staff will be laid off.
Think that CK may have lost its way in recent years, but that’s what happens when a successful company is all but bought out.

Yes Mothercare did have a small section of 2 for £10. But most baby outfits you were looking at £20ish for dungarees or a nice dress. Some sleepsuits were £12-£14 for one. Bibs were about £10 for 3. Bedding was mostly £60-£80 plus for a cot duvet. Blankets were very expensive compared to Asda etc. Even a pack of plain vests were £12. Baby hats and scratch mitts etc were also much more money. Most clothing shops like Matalan, Asda, peacocks, Sainsbury's, Morrisons are half the price of that.
Same with Moses baskets etc. Much cheaper at Asda or precious little ones. I did buy from the sale in Mothercare and the odd full price thing, but when I was pregnant there way no way I could kit the babies out wardrobe wise in Mothercare. We are not skint or rich. Just average £40,000 a year income.

I think supermarkets have killed of alot of clothing shops. But unfortunately for Mothercare etc they just couldn't offer a competitive price.

Personal preference, but I find the 1950s idolatry of twee flower prints and cupcakes and china and little pinnies a tad bit regressive from a feminist perspective.

That's not to say someone owning a flowery cup and saucer is anti feminist as that's a straw man argument.

Bit harsh. Never shopped at Cath Kidston (or Boden/Joules/etc) as it's absolutely not my style, but 'overpriced wank'? Granted, the designs are very girly goody goody, but CK stuff is good quality. My relative is a fan, has lots of stuff from there, some of it is ages old and still very much going strong. DD has a couple of backpacks - also good.

The likes of Toast - now that's overpriced wank. How difficult is to 'design' and make a beige shapeless sack? Linen or no linen (and since when is linen £££), I won't be paying £200 for Kim Jong Un-esque shapeless rag, ridiculous.

I feel sorry for them.

Got my baby bag from them - just one of their regular travel bags and it’s really hardy and still looks good 4 years later. Will be sad to see them go

@LesFleursDuMal Agree that some Toast clothing doesn't have a great shape but I've just discovered them and love the functional style and the quality is awesome. I also dont think CK is expensive particularly.

Their hand cream is amazing. I will miss that.

Yeah the high street should only be stocked with things that you personally 'get' 🙄

Shame. It's the only place I can get a trifold wallet for my travel card. I'm glad I picked up a spare in the outlet shop. We also got a fold up holdall in the spot print for holidays ( remember them?!). I think all the chintzy florals were very dated though.

Personal preference, but I find the 1950s idolatry of twee flower prints and cupcakes and china and little pinnies a tad bit regressive from a feminist perspective

Isn’t feminism all about personal choice? Does it have to be about only liking unisex or masculine designs?

Yeah the high street should only be stocked with things that you personally 'get'

Well said JaneTheVirgin

@Ginfordinner Yes, it is about personal preference, hence my view of the brand as regressive. If someone else finds it appealing then they can disagree with me.

About 10 years ago the wellies and anoraks were popular

Cute for children but adults

I’ve always found the view that traditionally male tastes are inherently superior to traditionally female to be the exact opposite of feminism myself.

What are feminine and masculine tastes?

well what do you think?

I don't think it's fair to say 1950s style is regressive. Modern style clothes don't have the hip to waist ratio I need. I started wearing retro clothes because they were the only styles I could find that fit properly.
Tbh I'd probably love to dress like I am in the queue for Berghain, but I'm too curvy and just look dumpy in minimalist/ masculine/ sporty clothes.

@LaurieMarlow here here!

I'm asking you as you brought it up? Underlying point being why is CK traditionally feminine taste? It's very mid 20thc.

I've always felt warmly disposed to Cath Kidston because she had a lakeland terrier, that's why lakies appear in some of her designs.

Maybe I should order a Stanley lakeland terrier lamp while I have the chance. My lakeland is very elderly and I'm too old and arthritic to get another, so it would be a nice reminder of my lovely dogs.

OK. Flower prints, whaddya think?

I shopped a lot there for bedding when my eldest was little, now 16. It’s washed well and gone into that nice faded cotton.
Other than that, I think it has had its day, sorry about the job losses though

Personal preference, but I find the 1950s idolatry of twee flower prints and cupcakes and china and little pinnies a tad bit regressive from a feminist perspective

🙄