To think so many middle-class clothes are ugly?

[RoyalFamilyFan]

I admit I am hardly a style guru. But when I joined Mumsnet people talked about lots of companies I had never heard of like Toast. So I followed links of clothes posted and looked at the websites mentioned. And was shocked at how ugly so much of the clothing was.
Shapeless grey dresses. Black loose trousers teamed with black tunics which make the model look like she is a member of a cult. Shapeless brown t-shirts.
They are just so ugly. AIBU?

I find all the class obsession quite fascinating. My mum was very working class (and poor!) but my Dad was upper middle class, boarding school and wealthy.

So my upbringing is a mix of 2 extremes and I think I’m more like my mum. She had custody of me when they broke up and I grew up in a deprived area. Which meant visiting wealthy relatives quite weird (always had to behave differently and even lose my regional accent!)

So I find the Mumsnet class obsession really interesting and quite funny!

I’ve enjoyed this thread!!

Its good quality but a bit basic? For similar prices you could get mid-range designer stuff in sale/ on outlet sites

and in fact why should you even be aiming to look sexy? Whatever that is?! for who? men?

There is a middle ground between Amish and tarty!
For me if it's a choice between those voluminous dresses for work or the 'too 90s' suit style, I'd opt for outdated over looking as if I belong to a cult!
I'm a boring dresser - I still like jumper dresses (with some shape) and I have a khaki long puffer coat and still like skinny jeans. I'm consoled somewhat by the thought that I haven't sunk £160 on each item though.
Saying those fugly dresses will last forever is not a selling point

Wow OP, these are hideous, you mangled to make me LOL, thank you.

Managed!

Lolling at Lost on the Farm dresses they really are naff and the shops are full of them.

Yes,I am always wondering why, if someone asks on here,for some ideas on what to wear at some function,as in a wedding,a sophisticated evening do,or another dressyup thing, that some women post up some awful top brands ,of ugly clothing to view on hear. In my days of going out to such places,I used to like wearing quite glamorous clothes and shoes etc.,but never highly priced,or branded stuff.

I’m mud 40s and tend to find quite easy-to-wear day dresses of all lengths in Ba&sh, Maje, Claudie Pierlot. I like the short dresses with boots or tights, or the midi dresses with a belt and boots. But apparently these shops are all owned by the same company. I found this out when I was in one of them, but the shop assistant ran nextdoor to another shop to deal with a broken card machine. On Kings Rd, all these shops are practically nextdoor to each other. Interesting marketing because they obviously know their target audience. Also Zadig and Voltaire is there, cashing in in the same crowd no doubt.

Anthropologie is a weird one because they used to do the odd silk top or wearable dress or something, but now it’s gone really OTT and kind of frumpy. Alice snd Olivia do dresses that can suit a range of ages.

I’ve just put on my new toast cashmere grey jumper that arrived today before reading this thread! 😄

Completely agree with you @RoyalFamilyFan
TOAST is hideous including Birkenstock sandals. There's an old lady type of espadrille that's always recommended & reminds one of British expatriates in Africa.
But you are outnumbered. So just nod and move on. At some point great threads usually pop up with websites for clothes that make you want to sing with joy.

@FreeButtonBee Ooops! cross posted. Enjoy your cardigan.

@anungratefulwretch

And always so much casual ageism on these threads.

'I don't like it therefore it must be being bought by grannies/old women/ women in their 60s'.

Fuck off with that shit.

Yes , exactly.

@WorraLiberty

One person's ugly is another person's pretty.

Love the thought of clothes being middle class though. Who knew? 🤣

Yeah defo... there are definitely exclusively middle class styles... especially of the urban boho persuasion. I say that without judgement!

@Isababybel

Yanbu Who would wear this: www.toa.st/products/swingy-denim-dress-indigo?gclid=CjwKCAiA5t-OBhByEiwAhR-hm9Z9CnmiBr1nrrS2MNp-kyYcULaAk0CASlJi0O8xpLPAXyBV7NlIZhoC7J4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds An art teacher??

yes. BTW, I am an art teacher.

@MrsBerthaRochester

Ignore the faux outrage at you daring to mention class...it really riles the middle class mummies on here! You are not wrong op. I love fashion,beauty,makeup etc buti I feel totally out of place on the style and beauty thread. I dont want to wear the middle aged mum uniform of breton(shudder) top,jeans and vega's. Its so boring to me. I had never even heard of Boden until I joined mumsnet and I thought people were having a laugh when I looked. Its literally little girls clothes but in grownup sizes! Didnt Mr Boden himself say if was for women who didnt care about bring sexy? I will stick to my working class shopping thanks.

But what’s working class clothing? I’m not from the U.K. so would be grateful for a visual.

I love my Amish dresses, I wear them with my leather Converse high tops or ankle boots and different jackets. My dresses are from Next, Apricot, Primark and M&S. I wouldn’t spend a lot on them as will probably only wear them for a couple of years. I discovered in lockdown that midi dresses really suit me despite only being five feet 1.
I also love my leather leggings and pretty blouses from Next. I enjoy wearing different styles.
I hate the Boden, White Stuff look.

I didn't realise 'middle class clothes' were even a thing - surely you just find clothes you like, in your price range (whatever that might be), buy them and wear them? If you are stuck for ideas then browse different online options/shops/vintage/second-hand, ask friends, and so on. I personally like well made clothes which I think will last longer than a season or two, and have certain styles colours that I know suit my body shape and colouring, so I base my wardrobe more on that than brand names or fashions. I live somewhere that's fairly windy a lot of the time, so I bear that in mind too, when getting dressed! It would be boring if we all liked the same things though, wouldn't it?

YABU

This has nothing whatsoever to do with class. There are plenty (in fact more) hideous cheap clothes. You are simply being derogatory about other peoples tastes which differ from your own.

I love Breton tops! But then we have already established that I am boring:) Someone upthread posted a top with a frill and I would literally itch if I had to wear something with frills.

@Isababybel

Yanbu Who would wear this: www.toa.st/products/swingy-denim-dress-indigo?gclid=CjwKCAiA5t-OBhByEiwAhR-hm9Z9CnmiBr1nrrS2MNp-kyYcULaAk0CASlJi0O8xpLPAXyBV7NlIZhoC7J4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds An art teacher??

A woman who does pottery and lives in a yurt with a compost toilet. Or a novice nun . I have a mustard yellow coat from Toast that I absolutely love but am generally not a fan of their clothes. As someone said "horses for courses". The world would be very dull if we all looked the same

Saying those fugly dresses will last forever is not a selling point wink

@Aderyn21 your comment above genuinely made me laugh out loud.

@MidnightMeltdown

YABU

This has nothing whatsoever to do with class. There are plenty (in fact more) hideous cheap clothes. You are simply being derogatory about other peoples tastes which differ from your own.

I agree. The thread started off light - hearted but OP then just slagged off anything she didn't like.

The Cabbages and Roses dresses are gorgeous.

Didnt Mr Boden himself say if was for women who didnt care about bring sexy?

You say that like it's a bad thing?

I mean, I don't wear Boden as its not my thing, but I'm not aiming to 'be sexy' whilst choosing bananas in Aldi, or giving a lecture to 200 undergrads at work, or taking the dog for a walk along the beach in fucking January. I think there are plenty of women who would feel the same way. I guess by your reasoning that makes us all sad middle-aged frumps?

Jesus, this place is depressing at times. The internalised misogyny is mind-blowing.

I think Breton tops are okay. I don't own any, but they are fine.