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?

@Premiumtube
I agree re shoe suggestions. My taste in shoes is very different to many posters on Mumsnet judging by the selection Mumsnetters suggest for posters.

@Elodeastar

Let folk wear what they like, and you do the same, I hate some of the stuff I see so I don't buy it. Someone else might love it, so they do buy it. If it fits well, is well made (so will last), and you feel that it suits you, then what does it actually matter what anyone else really thinks? If you are unsure how it looks then get the opinion of a trusted friend, family member, or partner, not someone on the internet. Be you, and let others also do the same. .

Well said!

I notice the OP was telling posters not to take all the criticism of their style choices too seriously but got all upset about the difference between fugly and ugly. Theses threads are just encouraging us all to fall out about what we choose to look like. I find it all very dispiriting.

I’ve really lost a lot of my style since having children and getting older, being locked down and no incentive to dress up hasn’t helped. Lots of plain t shirts and comfy trousers here. I don’t have a fall back into style any more and I’m not sure what suits me now. That said one brand I really like is uk.saintandsofia.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAieWOBhCYARIsANcOw0zdzI9pBiht-jhABOK2mQ-6mha71q_BxGSTQIdxFHaprZXu-yotqqcaAh4LEALw_wcB

Saint and Sofia. Good quality, comfortable but interesting clothes. Their trousers have soft waists, are just slouchy enough but look smart for work and going out.

I like a bit of Hush and Stories but have often thought some of the clothes from Toast are one chunky necklace away from teaching GCSE art!

Cos is another one that gets laughed at a lot but I've had some great pieces from there. Often you have to try it on as it looks shapeless on the hanger and the models' poses on the website can, quite frankly, be a bit batshit. But I draw the line at the men's half-kilt I once saw there!

I'm not a fan of the opposite end either - BooHoo, Pretty Little Thing etc - but I'm not the demographic for it. Actually, given that most teenage girls I see favour the 90s staples of baggy jeans and oversized shirts, I'm not sure who is!

@alliscalm I was angry because one poster kept accusing me of saying ageist things that I would never say. That was not okay.
Honestly I find on MN people are very quick to criticise some kind of clothes. There are masses of threads criticising and laughing at clothes from M and S for example. I think the only reason some don't like this thread is that it is criticising middle-class clothes.

I haven't been on there for a while (for said reasons) but used to see irregular choice for shoes suggested often. Horrendously hilarious and can't imagine knowing anyone who would wear them, never mind to a wedding or 'posh do' that posters are encouraging them to do!

In honour of this thread I am leaving the house fully Toasted this morning.

I will of course be pairing this distressingly fugly sight with some extremely clumpy shoes but they're downstairs and I couldn't be arsed to get them.

I hope no one asks me to raise a barn or milk a cow while I'm out.

Shopping at Love Honey, Anne Summers? They do a nice range with visible sex organs.

Ooooh wretch, I covet that jumper!

@anungratefulwretch I am wearing that jumper too today. It's a garment of beauty in my eyes

@Frenchfurze

I can’t help but feel that the underlying logic of this thread is ‘Given that MC women have money, why don’t they use that money to buy the kind of clothes I would if I had that kind of budget?’

And the answer is just ‘People have different tastes, and brands that last longer than five minutes do so because they’ve catered to that taste.’

Absolutely!!

@anungratefulwretch

In honour of this thread I am leaving the house fully Toasted this morning.

I will of course be pairing this distressingly fugly sight with some extremely clumpy shoes but they're downstairs and I couldn't be arsed to get them.

I hope no one asks me to raise a barn or milk a cow while I'm out.

Those trousers really wouldn't suit me, and are not my thing at all, but I like your jumper, it IS my sort of thing. :) Chunky shoes can be cool too, as long as they are comfy ha ha. Have a good day!

@Premiumtube

I haven't been on there for a while (for said reasons) but used to see irregular choice for shoes suggested often. Horrendously hilarious and can't imagine knowing anyone who would wear them, never mind to a wedding or 'posh do' that posters are encouraging them to do!

Oh, they were so popular a few years ago, where I live anyway - I always loved how creative they were but would not have actually worn them if you paid me. Some folk seemed to get immense pleasure from them though!

@user1471446186

I’ve really lost a lot of my style since having children and getting older, being locked down and no incentive to dress up hasn’t helped. Lots of plain t shirts and comfy trousers here. I don’t have a fall back into style any more and I’m not sure what suits me now. That said one brand I really like is uk.saintandsofia.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAieWOBhCYARIsANcOw0zdzI9pBiht-jhABOK2mQ-6mha71q_BxGSTQIdxFHaprZXu-yotqqcaAh4LEALw_wcB

Saint and Sofia. Good quality, comfortable but interesting clothes. Their trousers have soft waists, are just slouchy enough but look smart for work and going out.

You had me at soft waist. I like their trousers but I did hear they have a bad returns policy.

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@alliscalm I was angry because one poster kept accusing me of saying ageist things that I would never say. That was not okay.
Honestly I find on MN people are very quick to criticise some kind of clothes. There are masses of threads criticising and laughing at clothes from M and S for example. I think the only reason some don't like this thread is that it is criticising middle-class clothes.[/quote]
The reason I don’t like this thread is that it is ridiculing people like me for the brands I like to wear. Nothing to do with class.

I love M&S too. About 50 per cent of my clothes and 90 per cent of my footwear is from there. But I’ve just checked and of 300 (!) dresses on the website, 260 are polyester or viscose. I couldn’t find a winter skirt with any wool in it. The last cardigan I bought bobbled within days. That’s why I like Toast.

@anungratefulwretch

In honour of this thread I am leaving the house fully Toasted this morning.

I will of course be pairing this distressingly fugly sight with some extremely clumpy shoes but they're downstairs and I couldn't be arsed to get them.

I hope no one asks me to raise a barn or milk a cow while I'm out.

Love this

Everyone should wear what they like and feel good in. That's all there is to it! All this boils down to in the end is basically what Frenchfurze said - how dare other people not share my taste!

There's grim clothing in every price bracket but the OP is only getting wound up by the expensive ones because we are conditioned to equate how much a thing costs with how good it is. It's the same with art - a painting is worth umpteen million dollers but l don't like it so it's all a con ... Price is not a value judgement - it's a bargaining point.

Why be offended by what you think is an ugly dress for £200 when you wouldn't turn a hair at the same dress in a charity shop for £2? The dress hasn't changed, just the target market.

Why are you bothered by people spending their money on something you don't want?

Oh I thought it was just me 😅

Now I will start by saying I like colourful clothes, think Lady V patterns and the occasional Popsy, so I'm not fashionable though like clothes

But when I see a Toast like I know it's gonna to be fugly

@anungratefulwretch

In honour of this thread I am leaving the house fully Toasted this morning.

I will of course be pairing this distressingly fugly sight with some extremely clumpy shoes but they're downstairs and I couldn't be arsed to get them.

I hope no one asks me to raise a barn or milk a cow while I'm out.

I salute your bravery in posting a photo of yourself in the much derided Toast clothing. For what it's worth, I think you look great. I like that silhouette of fitted, cosy jumper with looser cropped trousers.

The poster who is wearing Toast and posted the photo looks really lovely!

I’m wearing a striped top with a yellow neckline (Joules), denim pinafore and tights. So I’m happily comfy and common!

I love it when my tights go up to my boobs because I’m short. I feel all snug and tucked in!

I'm as WC as they come, and my wardrobe consists of mostly Primark and Boohoo. I find as I hit my 30s, my tastes are changing and I kinda like the toast stuff. Especially since Covid became a thing - I want to start wearing more sustainable clothing using natural materials. The only problem is that few of these stores seem to cater to sizes greater than 16-18. I'm a 20 normally (pg atm so have gone up a size) and out of the tons of brands mentioned, I think maybe 10% actually cater to a 20.

@Sanada I hear you with the taste changing bit! I feel exactly the same. It’s really difficult to know where to shop. And we only have new look and primark in our city! Everything else closed down

My mother (70s) has always worn the Toast type clothing with neutral colours and it works for her. You have to wear what makes you feel comfortable. I love a good bright pattern, this dress has been brilliant over the last few months. Comfy and stretchy.

@user1471446186

I’ve really lost a lot of my style since having children and getting older, being locked down and no incentive to dress up hasn’t helped. Lots of plain t shirts and comfy trousers here. I don’t have a fall back into style any more and I’m not sure what suits me now. That said one brand I really like is uk.saintandsofia.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAieWOBhCYARIsANcOw0zdzI9pBiht-jhABOK2mQ-6mha71q_BxGSTQIdxFHaprZXu-yotqqcaAh4LEALw_wcB

Saint and Sofia. Good quality, comfortable but interesting clothes. Their trousers have soft waists, are just slouchy enough but look smart for work and going out.

Interesting, I was drawn by “soft waist”. They have a pair of trousers named after the part of London where my son goes to school, I feel like I should order a pair to see if I do conform to the perceived aesthetic .

Which Saint + Sofia trousers specifically do you have? I remember in the 90s when I was in my late twenties and starting to earn well I was really excited to be able to splash out on Joseph trousers because all the magazines raved about them. It was so disappointing they seemed to be cut for aliens! Tight unforgiving waists, miles too long and no hips. I wasn’t even fat then! My lower body only seems to fit Next and Debenhams (RIP). It’s resolutely WC even though my mind and budget are aspiring to MC .

I’m going to chuck Muji into the mix.

I like Muji clothing but have worn neutral and natural clothing for years. It works for me.

The thought of patterns, cerise pink, royal blue etc make me shudder.