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?

@JaneJeffer

I like man repellent clothes! Men are not so easy to repel no matter what you wear.

I manage to repel them whatever I wear.

Just out of interest, all you judgey mean girls (like me!) who think toast and Boden are frumpy, where do you shop?

I really like striped tops! Didn’t mean for my comment to sting @Camembear - it’s just remarkably similar colour, shape and style x

Good question @Lifeisnteasy

You mean it burnt you… I’ll leave now

^Camembear

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

(And I know that’ll be a compliment to some of you!)
That stung me and I don’t even own anything from toast. grin

This thread makes me want a stripey boden top.^

You mean it burnt you … —couldn’t quote the first time, really will leave now—

I read something today (in an article about kitsch/gaudy nicknacks) about the author loving 'things that have been liberated from the hierarchies of good taste' or some such. For me there's something similar in a lot of these clothes which seem deliberately cut to NOT flatter people's bodies or proportions. Those purple Plumo trousers being perhaps the most obvious offender here. There is an arrogance I find to them - 'I am so confident that I don't need clothes to flatter me'. It's like a lot of them are deliberately cut to make the wearer look wide, stumpy and Puritan - they could only conceivably look good if you were so slim, rich, well groomed and interesting that your clothes failed in their attempts to make you look dreadful.

Userbot898 made a similar thesis to me upthread.

@Babamamananarama

I read something today (in an article about kitsch/gaudy nicknacks) about the author loving 'things that have been liberated from the hierarchies of good taste' or some such. For me there's something similar in a lot of these clothes which seem deliberately cut to NOT flatter people's bodies or proportions. Those purple Plumo trousers being perhaps the most obvious offender here. There is an arrogance I find to them - 'I am so confident that I don't need clothes to flatter me'. It's like a lot of them are deliberately cut to make the wearer look wide, stumpy and Puritan - they could only conceivably look good if you were so slim, rich, well groomed and interesting that your clothes failed in their attempts to make you look dreadful.

This is exactly it. They are designed to say "fuck you I'm above looking good".

@Bideshi I am hardly a style guru. You probably look way more stylish than I do. And your dress probably does look lovely.

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

But at least the girls wearing the clothes designed and made them, themselves! and had a lot of fun doing it, I can promise you 😋

@Lifeisnteasy

Just out of interest, all you judgey mean girls (like me!) who think toast and Boden are frumpy, where do you shop?

Little Lies, Pop Boutique for vintage stuff and the occasional dress, Lucy & Yak for their Dana jeans which are the best jeans I've ever owned, occasionally I buy from Joanie Clothing (their cord boilersuit is one of my winter faves). Vintage & charity shops too, Oxfam's online shop has some good stuff in!

But I wear black probably...80% of the time ? So I get basics (mostly tshirts, of which I wear about 3 very specific styles haha) from H&M, Zara, Tesco, M&S, wherever.

@RoyalFamilyFan
That depends on your definition of "looking good", doesn't it?

Sorry! That was meant to be for @ Babamama

Boden is granny clothing its like its stuck in the 1940s, why do the middle class want to look like grannies curtains.

saying that if you goto chiswick park in the morning the place is full of a strange breed of people all wearing wellington boots (even the babies in pushchairs) and these nasty green padded jackets, predominantly green but can be beige that I associate with fox hunters, I dont know who they all are but its very strange in the middle of west london and they all have dogs they let shit everywhere, never seen them clean it up, even tho that park has more dog shit bins then pretty much every other park in london combined.

Part Two thread here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4447636-Middle-Class-Ugly-Clothing-part-two?watched=1

Someone asked me which French supermarket I used to buy clothes from before Brexit? I cant remember the name, but I once saw someone describing it on MN as a French Debenhams.
I thought personally it had some pretty classic but cheap clothes. I have a lovely jumper with three large stripes - white, black and dark green from there.

@Gwenhwyfar

"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.

The rumblings about 'modest' dressing becoming a trend worry me quite a lot. While I support everyone's right to dress as they see fit, I think the idea that virtuous women cover themselves as much as possible is a dangerous one, to be resisted (I consider all religions to be about male supremacy anyway).

See I would consider Karen Millen a brand that caters mostly to working class tastes. Ted Baker is another one.

And thats me put in my place.

The "class" I was talking about was income class not which part of the now non existant social construct the nouveaux's and the bourgeoisie decide an individual should be in.

I have a very good friend who I have an agreement with. I am the posh one, she is the rich one. She is Trash With Cash, I am Posh, No Dosh. Never judge a book and all that.....

French supermarket? Metro? Got some lovely stuff there years ago when half of our luggage didnt end up on the same plane as we did!

I love Toast, if I was thinner I'd wear even more of their clothes. My favourite brands currently are Saint + Sofia, Mango and Banana Republic.

I'm also one of those terrible people that works in marketing. We segment and target way more narrowly than just social class. It's one of the most interesting parts of my job!

@Wreath21 I wonder what is driving the move to more modest clothing? There is nothing wrong with with this style of clothing, but the fact it is growing trend does mean something.

This is very funny. I do think it's how you style it. I think it's for 40+ ladies who are trying to hide their shape and as a backdrop for big accessories. I'm thinking Pru Leigth.

FWIW yes, I'm arty, middle class and live in North London. Go me! 🤷‍♀️

Come the revolution…