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?

@MrsMadderRose those plum trousers are awful! But reduced, so now only £135.

I love this! I agree! On the 'looking more expensive' threads I always look at what's posted, so dull, sensible and joyless and think to myself 'Nah. I like looking cheap thanks!'

@MrsMadderRose

I sort of know what you mean OP.

Toast and also (especially) Plumo have some stuff that you would have to be VERY confident to wear without looking completely deranged. I meant to start a thread about these trousers when I saw them a few months ago but didn't get round to it. Now they're ugly! (/ludicrous/what possessed them) If I wore them I'd look like a baby oompa loompa. I can't imagine who would look good in them or has the guts to wear them.

But, I don't think that's middle-class clothes in general, just one style. With Toast, a lot of the clothes are very sack-like or amish-like but for some women, that's what they want, a lot of older women (not all of course) are done with trying to look sexy and prefer comfort, nice fabrics or an arty look.

I find the Boden "little girl" style less appealing, as it's not really stylish or sexy, just kind of repressed. That said I've had some nice things from Boden, it's not all like that.

Then you have the printed white stuff tunic that can make any woman look like a sack of potatoes – but again they have some better things.

And there are other middle-class looks that aren't like this, like nicely cut suits, silk shirts, classy dresses. Brands like Hobbs and Reiss, Vivienne Westwood, and boutiques like Iris have more of this kind of thing.

Those trousers made me spit my coffee out! 😂😂

Just off to order them now

Some toast clothes are so shapeless I think that the 'aspiration' is ''I already have everything I need, I don't need to play this game of fashion like the rest of you mere mortals trying to disguise your tummies. I'm going to wear this bag and let my long legs and my great teeth and my impossibly gorgeous curly hair (either red or blonde) do the talking for me, and I'll be heard. Lesser mortals, try your best, go on, play fashion, you won't ever be me.''

Lesser mortals who need to play fashion to try and look good, I sympathise, it must be so tiring looking for styles and colours to flatter the ordinary body. I'm so glad I look good in a tent made out of linen woven by peruvian peasants.

I think Cos and Toast are minimalist in terms of design. So what people call shapeless, someone else might call architectural.

I love my Cos clothes. I was a design teacher though not an art teacher. There are huge differences.

The clothes you're sharing pictures of are hideous and frumpy. I do however buy a lot of clothes from Fat Face and White Stuff (I assume these are middle class?) that aren't like that. Just nice classic pieces with really pretty designs/prints etc.

Boden does some nice wrap dresses as long as you don't go for the twee prints.

Joules, I wore a lot when I was younger. It looks quite vibrant on a 20 something. Now, I put on Joules stuff and definitely look like the mum of 3 I am

Hobbs I don't mind. Often a bit formal for every day. Reiss is rather drab.

I was always designer and high end clothing, like an obsessive for my younger years. Now I've done what I swore I'd never do, and become a Marks and Sparks shopper!

I (on another user name) posted in S&B a while ago, asking where those about to turn 40 found their clothes. And all I got was links to all things Mormon, with dresses like sacks at £150 a go.

@RoyalFamilyFan OP, what have you found that's "middle class" and pretty? Asking for a friend

Toast, cos etc are just a bit joyless

Jesus, those trousers MrsMadderRose .

Well, the stuff you've posted to is all hideous. I am not a boden fan myself, but I know two women who wear boden a lot and always seem to look put together and well turned out. My style is probably more Mint Velvet but obviously some outfits are better than others.

I'm not sure you can categorically say that all clothes aimed at the middle classes are crap. Seems a bit ridiculous. Hell, I buy quite a lot of my clothes in Sainsburys but am always amazed at how something I love will be mixed up in a rack of 10 different things I'd rather die than wear.

@Cam22 so if a dress is cheap it is ugly?
At least you are open about your snobbery.

@UserBot989

Some toast clothes are so shapeless I think that the 'aspiration' is ''I already have everything I need, I don't need to play this game of fashion like the rest of you mere mortals trying to disguise your tummies. I'm going to wear this bag and let my long legs and my great teeth and my impossibly gorgeous curly hair (either red or blonde) do the talking for me, and I'll be heard. Lesser mortals, try your best, go on, play fashion, you won't ever be me.''

Lesser mortals who need to play fashion to try and look good, I sympathise, it must be so tiring looking for styles and colours to flatter the ordinary body. I'm so glad I look good in a tent made out of linen woven by peruvian peasants.

That is an interesting idea. Thanks for that.

@DrSbaitso, the chocolates thread did make me laugh 🤣

Man, those are some interesting clothes. I'd love to see someone who makes them look good... I've checked out Toast before but it's really not my vibe.

Totally agree. It's the dresses that puzzle me. That really shapeless style that just hangs from the shoulders - I think it's so ugly personally.

I love toast but you need to be tall and willowy to pull it off. I'm 5ft and their collections make me look like a dumpy sack of potatoes. Same with Cos which I also love. If something has an unusual cut you need to have a long enough body to show it off

@MrsMadderRose those plum trousers are awful! But reduced, so now only £135.

:o I did notice that they're also still available in all sizes. So maybe they are actually a pair of crazy ugly trousers too far, even for Plumo.

Wtf are "middle class clothes"? Obviously clothes come at all different prices but I didn't realise they have socio-economic categories

What styles do you think are not ugly OP?

Heavens! I had no idea clothes had a class system

You bet it does! I used to lecture in History of Fashion. It’s basic anthropology. What you wear sends so many messages even if you aren’t aware of them.

didn't realise they have socio-economic categories
They do do and always have done.

@PinkSyCo

Heavens! I had no idea clothes had a class system.

You didn’t know that the working class can’t afford to spend £100+ on an everyday dress or jumper?

I'm working class and I can afford those prices because, despite what Mumsnet would have you believe, we're not all uneducated and impoverished nor do we all subscribe to the 'quantity not quality' mindset.

But you can apply the same argument to Primark, Matalan, Asda etc. Some clothes will be nice and others hideous. Just like Boden, Toast etc.

If you like it, buy it, if you don't, don't.

@UserBot989 - I’m the same height and tried on a long puffer coat that caught my eye in the sales. Turned out to be shapeless. Assistant asked me what I thought. Me: “I look like a sausage roll.”

I wear FatFace, Mistral, and some brightly coloured grown up versions of Frugi and Kite tops - what class are they please?

I’d love to buy clothes from Cos. But I think I’d need to be 5’10 rather than 5’7 and 9 stone rather than 10.

I do buy loads from Hush, Whistles, Mint Velvet and Me&Em. Had no idea I was middle class!