Middle Class Ugly Clothing part two

[RoyalFamilyFan]

Original thread here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4446999-To-think-so-many-middle-class-clothes-are-ugly?pg=40

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?

@Cornisharchitect

Well I’m WC and I would love a thread about where to buy clothes other than New Look. We only have New Look and Primark in our local City so it would be nice to know where else to go

I’d like affordable plain and soft fabrics.

I don’t even know what my style is! But I have liked Matalan lately.

I’ve tried buying stuff from Boo Hoo but it was far too long

How come you identify as WC? You're an architect

(Sorry now everyone will start arguing that jobs don't define class etc etc but I do struggle to imagine this)

I have bought a huge amount of COS stuff over the years, but I'm actually a bit sad about it now. I used to walk in and want to buy the whole shop. Now, not so much (and who wanted that hideous granny smith apple green colourway?)

@StEval

I'd actually be scared of meeting them in a dark alleyway,**@Cam22!

That just a picture of a woman.
Shes relaxed with a neutral face not grouchy.
Very 80s look with strong features, make up earrings .

We have moved on from expecting women to smile at all times surely

Cos models never smile. They glare.

How come you identify as WC? You're an architect
(Sorry now everyone will start arguing that jobs don't define class etc etc but I do struggle to imagine this)

Picture the architect child of Irish immigrants of the 60s, both of whom worked with their hands, both 100% identifiable as 'London Irish'. None of the family has any time at all for the English class system; my uncle, who sent all of his children to university, always felt very sad at the self-limiting beliefs of many of my cousins' schoolmates - but my architect cousin is not considered middle class.

ugly clothes which look like they have been made out of fabric from a Victorian tip by somebody in their first sewing class

Sadly this comment about decent quality clothing just shows how some people have become so used to cheap and nasty materials, badly cut and sewn, that they can't even see the difference.

I'm not keen on the corduroy shirt dress linked by Cam22, but I like that sort of boot. There are some nice flare-leg black trousers in the New Arrivals section too.

www.cosstores.com/en_usd/women/womenswear/blazers/product.oversized-fit-wool-blazer-black.1028284001.html
This oversized jacket is an extremely wearable and versatile piece and I'll be looking out for similar in my local second hand shop.

@Frenchfurze

www.cosstores.com/en_eur/women/womenswear/dresses/product.relaxed-fit-midi-shirt-dress-blue.1001994006.html

I have this one in navy. I’m 5 ft 6.

I know the point of the thread is not to share what clothes we like, but I like this. I am 5"7 and it would suit me.

I suspect people are pointing our their height of 5 ft 6 or 5 ft 7 in an attempt to demonstrate they are not model like, but you sound like gazelles to me. Sorry, I am dragging class back in (and to a certain extent ethnicity) , but at 5 ft 1 (with corresponding build and body mass) I am a perfectly normal height for a Scotswoman of my generation - being taller can be seen as an English middle class marker as a result of generations of better nutrition. My Scots/Irish granpa was less than 5foot due to poor nutrition and that sort of deprivation takes a few generations to work itself through - thankfully my daughter's are taller and broader than me.

I remember going to Edinburgh Uni in the 80s, which was full of English people who were not just taller, but somehow bigger, rangier and heathier in all ways. Cos etc is definitely not marketed at this wee Scots wumman (who is now proudly middle class as her lovely granparents and parents worked like hell to drag themselves up )

Oh for goodness sake @FrazzledCareerWoman - are you so frazzled you haven’t bothered reading the thread? I’ve already had to explain twice and now this is the 3rd time:

I grew up in a deprived area. My mum was poor and working class. I went to a poor university and then I moved back to the deprived area. I earn about 50% less than the average architect due to the location. My DC is in a council estate and I have to budget carefully to afford bills (because despite living in a poor place - house prices are really high!)

HTH

Well I am Asian with generations of malnourished ancestors, but I guess I am freakishly tall for my race. I don't know why I am pointing out my height really; I may have lost track of this thread:) But also while I am tall, I have a bit of a pot belly, like many middle aged Asian women, and Cos dresses seem good for that.

Not that I actually have any Cos dresses. They are a bit above my budget for now given WFH.

They need to add disclaimers to degrees

warning: studying this subject may make you middle class

😂

@HeadNorth

I suspect people are pointing our their height of 5 ft 6 or 5 ft 7 in an attempt to demonstrate they are not model like, but you sound like gazelles to me. Sorry, I am dragging class back in (and to a certain extent ethnicity) , but at 5 ft 1 (with corresponding build and body mass) I am a perfectly normal height for a Scotswoman of my generation - being taller can be seen as an English middle class marker as a result of generations of better nutrition. My Scots/Irish granpa was less than 5foot due to poor nutrition and that sort of deprivation takes a few generations to work itself through - thankfully my daughter's are taller and broader than me.

I remember going to Edinburgh Uni in the 80s, which was full of English people who were not just taller, but somehow bigger, rangier and heathier in all ways. Cos etc is definitely not marketed at this wee Scots wumman (who is now proudly middle class as her lovely granparents and parents worked like hell to drag themselves up )

Ha you’re so right. I am also Scottish and the tallest man in my extended family till my brother reached adulthood in the 90s was 5 foot 8. Not at all unusual to see little old ladies under 5ft tall. I am a giraffe-like 5 foot 4 and was towards the taller end of my class at school. I always used to think how obvious it was how small we all are if you stood at the top of Buchanan Street in Glasgow and looked down at the shoppers.

Shamelessly placemarking so I can read both threads and join in!

@HeadNorth

I suspect people are pointing our their height of 5 ft 6 or 5 ft 7 in an attempt to demonstrate they are not model like, but you sound like gazelles to me. Sorry, I am dragging class back in (and to a certain extent ethnicity) , but at 5 ft 1 (with corresponding build and body mass) I am a perfectly normal height for a Scotswoman of my generation - being taller can be seen as an English middle class marker as a result of generations of better nutrition. My Scots/Irish granpa was less than 5foot due to poor nutrition and that sort of deprivation takes a few generations to work itself through - thankfully my daughter's are taller and broader than me.

I remember going to Edinburgh Uni in the 80s, which was full of English people who were not just taller, but somehow bigger, rangier and heathier in all ways. Cos etc is definitely not marketed at this wee Scots wumman (who is now proudly middle class as her lovely granparents and parents worked like hell to drag themselves up )

I’m Irish, and WC — my parents are a retired bin man and a retired cleaner, and my mother is five foot one and shrinking rapidly in her 70s from osteoporosis which was probably worsened by a very limited and protein- poor diet in childhood. Defo I am not an English middle-class gazelle. 😀

If you are now an architect I would think you've now moved into the middle class

Why do you think Toast and Cos wearers in particular are accustomed to compliments on their appearance?

People compliment confidence. If you hold your head up, believe in yourself and your right to be wherever you happen to be then people will translate that into "looking good". You need to be pretty confident to wear some of the baggier, frumpier clothes in "middle class ready to wear" collections.

@Cornisharchitect

Oh for goodness sake *@FrazzledCareerWoman* - are you so frazzled you haven’t bothered reading the thread? I’ve already had to explain twice and now this is the 3rd time:

I grew up in a deprived area. My mum was poor and working class. I went to a poor university and then I moved back to the deprived area. I earn about 50% less than the average architect due to the location. My DC is in a council estate and I have to budget carefully to afford bills (because despite living in a poor place - house prices are really high!)

HTH

Yes sorry! Thanks

Sorry, I just realised I did one of my regular name changes since I last posted. I'm one of the people who identified themselves as owning Cos garments earlier, hence posting my height and social class to identify myself as non-MC and a non-gazelle.

New to this thread and I clearly missed the memo that society is pushing us to dress like Muslims and Orthodox Jews Someone upthread said that strappy tops were always acceptable - in many places of work they have never been acceptable - ditto ripped jeans, belly tops, boob tubes and a number of other previously 'on trend' clothing items. The wider fitting, shapeless pieces we have now are simply a new trend (that will be replaced by sonething else in 6 months). As a fatty with no bust this suits me well, I will be stocking up when wide leg trousers are coming to the end of their line.

@C8H10N4O2

Why do you think Toast and Cos wearers in particular are accustomed to compliments on their appearance?

People compliment confidence. If you hold your head up, believe in yourself and your right to be wherever you happen to be then people will translate that into "looking good". You need to be pretty confident to wear some of the baggier, frumpier clothes in "middle class ready to wear" collections.

I don't know, I'm a fairly confident person, but I'm not sure that's ever translated into specific compliments on my appearance as a general rule. Mind you, that's not something I especially aim for -- I think of clothes as a sort of neutral backdrop. I don't think wearing less fitted garments requires a particular personality type, either.

@C8H10N4O2

Why do you think Toast and Cos wearers in particular are accustomed to compliments on their appearance?

People compliment confidence. If you hold your head up, believe in yourself and your right to be wherever you happen to be then people will translate that into "looking good". You need to be pretty confident to wear some of the baggier, frumpier clothes in "middle class ready to wear" collections.

No, people don't compliment confidence. That's an extremely silly idea.

No, people don't compliment confidence. That's an extremely silly idea

Decades of research on perception and assumptions about people would say otherwise.

Tall people are also routinely perceived as more attractive/successful.

Its extremely silly to dismiss that unless you are past the point of having to care.

I'm half Scottish and 5ft 10. My Scottish dad was 6ft. (probably misses point of thread) I have bought a few things in the Toast sale in the past and they are beautiful quality.

Confidence definitely makes you look and feel better, I have an extremely confident friend, she can wear anything and look good, yes she's tall and reasonably slim but it's her personality and confidence that carries her. If I go out feeling great in whatever I'm wearing it shows, if I'm wearing something I'm not 100% sure about I won't carry myself so well, therefore I won't look as confident and happy. And when I go out with my confident friend it rubs off on me and we have a fantastic time together.