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?

Lusted not listed!

@Wreath21

If I had a lot of money to spend on clothes I would spend most of it at Jed Phoenix

Oh my days that face mask on Jed Phoenix! I love it 😂

Those of you who agree with OP would hate my style!

I wear long baggy dresses, net underskirts, lots if velvet and wool.
Many big scarves, hats gloves and chunky jewellery.
Coloured tights and chunky boots and shoes.

This style really suits me, I get stopped in the street by women asking where I bought my clothes.

I look good because I feel happy I guess.

I love this shop but can't afford these prices. Luckily we have fab shop locally that specialises in these styles.

71% agree with you @RoyalFamilyFan you should be proud!

@mathanxiety

I really don't understand the attraction. There are so many lovely clothes out there whatever your personal style. Why buy ugly clothes and then try and make them look okayish with the use of accessories? Why not just buy nice clothes?

Because if you just bought nice clothes nobody would know where you lived, how much you made, or where you were sending your children to school. Clothes are tribal insignia.

I don't think that many middle class people think that way. This is more the mentality of 'new money' types - working class people who have become well off, and feel like they've got something to prove. These are the people who normally buy obvious designer labels and recognisable status symbol bags like the Mulberry Bayswater.

@RosesAndHellebores Me too! If it helps, I finally snagged one on sale, years back, and discovered that they're lined in a cold slippery artificial fabric which completely wrecks the tactile experience of the velvet. Needs to be a soft fine cotton, imo. Returned with no regrets.

@mathanxiety

I really don't understand the attraction. There are so many lovely clothes out there whatever your personal style. Why buy ugly clothes and then try and make them look okayish with the use of accessories? Why not just buy nice clothes?

Because if you just bought nice clothes nobody would know where you lived, how much you made, or where you were sending your children to school. Clothes are tribal insignia.

Because "nice" is subjective. Cabbages and Roses, Toast etc. are "nice" for me. Karen Millen isn't.

@radishandbrie

So many people saying they've not noticed any association between social class and clothes. Is that like when David Cameron tried to say he was just a regular member of the middle classes

Yes, I don't get it. I presume these people don't have a TV either because 80% of drama would go over their head.

@Alcemeg

I get that you need to be thin with this stuff, but honestly Vogue flogs that horse constantly, no?! Aren't these a bit more interesting than bored-looking models?

There's even a nice bit of green crochet and check. It's almost knitting.

I admit I am drunk, having fallen off the Dry January thread.

They still look bored. The clothes are not my taste.

[quote CaliforniaDrumming]@TatianaBis so dated, then?:)[/quote]
It’s hard for me to be objective. I just remember my mum in hers with her dark green suede block heeled boots. 😂

@Stravaig - so the £900 jobby may be worth it then .

A £200/300 frock I might wear once a fortnight. A dressing gown - every day.

Where's Pagwatch :)

@gwenhwyfar - David Cameron was an irregular politician and member of the Conservative Party.

@Alcemeg

Why not this though?!

www.facebook.com/wovengipsy

I promise I'm not on commission (I haven't spoken to these girls for over 5 years). but it astounds me how mainstream fashion manages to be SO. FUCKING. DULL. when people like this truly create 😍

Each to their own.

"If I had to pick one truly awful, boring garment (after jeans , which are boring personified) it would be a puffer coat. They remind me of sleeping bags."

Well, I need to be warm so a woollen coat wouldn't cut it. Mine goes in at the middle so gives the illusion of a waist. I guess it's boring just because so many of us are wearing them and they're pracitcal.

I don't think people select clothes based on class.
Why are people so obsessed with this?

The “I don’t think class has anything to do with how people dress” is getting a bit like “I don’t see race”.

If you don’t think class matters in just about every arena of life, it’s probably because you’re far enough up the hierarchy that you don’t regularly feel the negative impacts of class in our society.

What are people's opinions on Zara, Oliver Bonas and & Other Stories? MC, WC, classless?

"Leggings under dresses should be banned."

They look exactly the same as tights under a dress.

I don't think that many middle class people think that way. This is more the mentality of 'new money' types - working class people who have become well off, and feel like they've got something to prove. These are the people who normally buy obvious designer labels and recognisable status symbol bags like the Mulberry Bayswater.

The middle classes who feel they have nothing to prove then are a tribe.

That's one of the things with 'middle-class' clothing - it's supposed to look boring as fuck, because the idea is to conform.

TatianaBis

CaliforniaDrumming

*@TatianaBisso dated, then?

It’s hard for me to be objective. I just remember my mum in hers with her dark green suede block heeled boots

Tatiana your mother's version probably didn't have the hem dipped at the back. I don't think it looks dated.

I’m watching The Hobbit for the 1st time and Gandalf looks like he’s been shopping at Toast

(And I know that’ll be a compliment to some of you!)

[quote Cornisharchitect]@Handsnotwands I wish I had a friend IRL with your sense of humour 😂[/quote]
I thought I was being hilarious then rtft and saw umpteen other people had beaten me to it

"I can see where you’re coming from, and it picks up on a theory an acquaintance of mine has, that modesty is becoming more of an influence as fashion goes global and aims to attract non-Western markets… not that I’m arguing you’re saying this it just reminded me…"

I have wondered the same myself. I often go shopping in a Muslim area and many of the dresses for religious women resemble some of the summer dresses in mainstream fashion and I've wondered if there is convergence or if it's just a coincidence.

@Cornisharchitect

I’m watching The Hobbit for the 1st time and Gandalf looks like he’s been shopping at Toast

(And I know that’ll be a compliment to some of you!)

That stung me and I don’t even own anything from toast.

This thread makes me want a stripey boden top.