Feeling sad after returning empty handed from shopping trip.

[Trabbadabbadoo]

I had a long-awaited trip into Kingston today. I wasn't looking for anything in particular - just a bit of retail therapy and the hope of brightening up my spring wardrobe. I visited just about every clothes shop but didn't find a single thing I remotely liked. It's not the first time that's happened by any means - I often feel like whoever buys the stock chooses for their own weird taste, body shape and lifestyle, rather than mine - but the pandemic has taken its toll too. Many shops were selling unseasonal stock, or selling off a jumble of surplus stock. It was very busy, but I didn't see many people with an armful of bags, so I guess I wasn't the only one disappointed. Has anyone had a more positive experience? The post-pandemic boom may not happen for a while if we all return empty handed.

It depends on what style of clothes you like and whether that's currently in fashion!

Also not buying armfuls of bags is probably better from an environmental point of view. Ive found many people are less materialistic and not buying for the sake of it, myself included.

I went shopping this week and just bought dd2 some summer shorts, lighter tops and joggers for pe. Before I would have bought more but she nor anyone in my house needs it! There was plenty of options and I found it was mostly spring/summer in the shops.

TBH I feel like this after most shopping trips. I am petite and pear-shaped. I like to wear slim fitting clothes (but not skintight!). Everything seems very baggy and is very unflattering on a smaller person like myself.

I can buy very little on the high street as I'm tall. Just ordered 11 pairs of footwear.. ...

Give it a couple more weeks. My theory is retail outlets want to get rid of stock that's been sitting there since late December. No where has been open to accept new deliveries and restock but that should change fairly soon.

I always find clothes that look amazing and will fit me are only available when I am broke.

As soon as I have a penny to spend they vanish :D

I think all the shops opening is an event that sounded much more exciting in theory than it is in practice! I too had visions of myself returning home all happy carrying armfuls of shopping, but in reality I couldn't find anything either. (I am also a Kingstonian!) I think I'd forgotten that usually when I go clothes shopping it does take me ages to find anything. I normally have to do a few trips. And that's when the changing rooms are open, which most of them aren't at the moment! Maybe think of it as a process over a few shopping trips rather then one big event, that's what I'm going to do.

I had more luck getting some nice sun dresses, basic jumpers, nice ‘going out’ trousers and sandals in tesco than I did in the city center !

I went clothes shopping yesterday and was really disappointed too. I was looking forward to a spendathon in Primark but they had nothing in my size, they only had 6s and 8s left, they didn't even have any shoes in my size and I'm a 6! I came home very deflated.

@Wearywithteens

I just can’t wait for this puffy sleeve fad to pass - I would have loved all this floaty Nordic milkmaid stuff in my 20s but not a good look now with menopausal upper arms and matronly tits...

Uurrgggh I hate those puffy sleeves too. Mind you I do nearly all my clothes shopping at Primark so I'm hardly the height of fashion.

My year like that was 2006, lots of nipped in waists (which were really my thing before), but I was pregnant. Bloody annoying.

Everything is either so tight, cropped or oversized.unless you are a 6ft size 8uk then good luck. The clothes are so ugly these days. Tacky accessories. Care home/nurse outfits with white/beige/cream everything and clogs.

Oh I hear you. After lockdown last year I went to Harrogate for a shopping treat day. I was disappointed. Don't display clothes with a jaunty new in sign when I bought them last year.
I ended up with a scented candle from tk maxx - could have done that at my local branch - and an impulse buy of an expensive moisturiser. Brought me out in spots.

I miss shopping I'm glad you reminded me how annoying it is.

There's nothing online either shops need to supply the latest fashion alongside reliable good selling products.

@Wearywithteens

I just can’t wait for this puffy sleeve fad to pass - I would have loved all this floaty Nordic milkmaid stuff in my 20s but not a good look now with menopausal upper arms and matronly tits...

😂 Yep

I feel exactly the same. I was looking forward to my first shopping trip but struggled to feel inspired. I think it's because I haven't needed to go anywhere for so long I cant imagine why I would need anything new to wear.

Maybe things will improve as life returns to more like normality but I'm a bit Stockholm syndrome and stuck in lockdown mindset. I hope it passes. But yes seeing lots of random season things in the shops isnt inspiring. They still had Christmas things out in some shops.

I went to Kingston today too OP! And came home empty handed. I miss Oasis. Not even a charity shop bargain to be had.

On the bright side, some smaller shops did have their changing rooms open - Anthropologie and White Stuff both did. To me Anthropologie feels more like walking around the costume room of a theatre than a serious attempt at a clothes shop, but if they'd had anything remotely suitable at least I would have been able to try it on. I normally get on better in White Stuff, but their stock was very depleted - it felt like the very back end of a sale season, but without the attractive "new in" racks.

I’m back at work and shopping in my lunch hour on my small high street. I’ve bought a great FatFace long-sleeved T shirt and earrings in their sale. And a gorgeous Monsoon jumper in a charity shop. And a garish jumper in the M&Co sale that I really only wanted because I was freezing at the time.

Same thing happened to me in kingston too - I Am sure there is mostly the same stock in the shops they had last time shops were open!!

Zara and HM were awful!!

The whole back section of the women's clothing floor at Bentalls (department store) felt more like TK Max, with jumbled racks. But they still had the overpriced designer stuff by the door - my eye was caught very briefly by a plain coloured hoody, but the price tag was £250!

I did my first shop yesterday - was all excited to spot a cobalt blue floaty maxi dress (exactly what I'd been thinking about lately just with what looked like a hanky hem)..... only to get it home and find it's actually a 'relaxed romper'.

Like a weird jumpsuit....it does not look good.

That'll teach me to whizz it to the checkout so fast...such a great colour, why would they do this? Surely a normal maxi would suit a lot more people?

i went into a charity shop on monday, completely clueless about what i needed, it had been snowing, yet it is april!
i bought a book for dh

I love charity shops, I have found this to be the case with them too. Hopefully the donations will flood in now everything is opening up again. I'll be taking some bags down myself.

Sadly not surprised to read of the OPs experience. Even in normal times our high street clothing retailing is a national disgrace and shame. Pre pandemic the only ones seemingly growing in business were Sports Direct and Primark. To keep a presence on as many high streets as possible, it seems small lines and limited sizes are part of the offering.

The French may have Emmanuel Macron as President but at least they have style.