Do we now think we’re in Little House in a Prairie? Can somebody explain the fashion?

[sodoffputin]

I went into my local clothes shop earlier today. It’s called ‘Iris’ (there are a few in London, but not sure about elsewhere) and usually it’s quite handy and has quite a few things I like - eg. a selection from Ba&sh, things like that. But I had to say something to the staff because look at the dresses in these pictures - this is just a small selection of similar stuff they are now selling. Have you ever seen anyone wear such dresses in recent history? What is happening? Can any fashionistas explain this please?

Quite fancy wearing the first one and walking around a historic old dark building. Would scare the shit out of everyone.

Is this a follow on from the Cottagecore trend I wonder?

@UserWithNoUserName

I think they are hideous, but each to their own. Things go around in circles, but the day they bring back orange bomber jackets, I am done.

Oh, you’d be done, would you, @UserWithNoUserName? Blame those bastards at Adidas and Stella McCartney. But to be fair, they also have them at ASOS, etc.

This is just one of hundreds. It’s very in right now. Don’t Google “orange bomber jacket” without a large gin and tonic for restorative purposes, or smelling salts. They’ve all sorts - puffier, more military, men’s style, women's style… hell, I think I even saw one for a dog.

@yorkshireteaspoonie

Not forgetting this green treat 🤢

Wow

Thinking some people would be better off on tattle!

@Bitofachinwag no most women did not wear dresses like this in the 70s. I was there, I remember what we were all wearing.

[quote Monopolyiscrap]@Bitofachinwag no most women did not wear dresses like this in the 70s. I was there, I remember what we were all wearing.[/quote]
I didn't say that. I just said that's what my grandmas wore in the 70s.

[quote Monopolyiscrap]@Bitofachinwag no most women did not wear dresses like this in the 70s. I was there, I remember what we were all wearing.[/quote]
I was there too. All my friends dressed in flowing dresses. We used to buy then from Laura Ashley, Anokhi and various “hippy” shops. And we’re all embracing it again because it’s comfortable, covers a multitude of sins and is cool in the summer.

This is Laura Ashley dresses.

www.ebay.co.uk/b/Laura-Ashley-Dresses-for-Women/63861/bn_26020302

I never gave up the Laura Ashley /Prairie look, and learned to sew to keep a supply. They work well for daily wear if you wear them with a slip. They don’t hang right otherwise.

It is the third year of this annoying trend. I did think that by this year it would have burned itself out. There are a few narrower silhouettes emerging at Whistles, Ted Baker and Reiss but they are quite hard to find. At 5'3" and slightly built I look ridiculous in this type of frock - as if I'm off to a victorian sunday school.

This is the kind of look Laura Ashley became famous for. It was supposed to be rural peasant girl or milkmaid.

And the majority of women did not wear Laura Ashley in the 70's, just as the majority now do not wear Little House in the Praire dresses.

@VelmasGlasses101 I have no idea what tattle is ... however, you can't honestly think you won't divide opinion when you're effectively wearing a trifle

I hate flouncy frilly dresses with pouffy sleeves: far too fussy and they make me look as if I've fallen in the little girl dressing-up box. Trouble is that shirt dresses suit me, but I struggle to find any that either haven't got frilly hems/cuffs or ruffles or anything floaty and aren't cute ditsy/tiny floral prints either. And are long enough. And decent quality. Bought a lovely cotton shirt dress from Toast last year that was perfect - beautiful quality and a really striking print in colours that suited me. Have checked this year and they have absolutely nothing that compares .

I remeber my mum wearing the laura ashly prints in the 80's, you could buy matching girls dresses in some fabrics.

It looked shit in the 80's too.

[quote yorkshireteaspoonie]@VelmasGlasses101 I have no idea what tattle is ... however, you can't honestly think you won't divide opinion when you're effectively wearing a trifle [/quote]

Even if this style goes out of fashion I'll still be wearing my dresses because I love them and they're so comfortable and easy to wear, not to mention that for me personally I am thrilled to be able to find clothes that I love, and will get a lot of wear out of.

I dress for me, lots of clothes in the shops that I hate, like trousers,, t shirts, oh too many to mention!

I've always worn boho styles of dresses, skirts and tops, I don't think I have any clothes that aren't boho.

I wore Laura Ashley dresses in the eighties for occasion wear as they suited me. I was in my early twenties at the time. I was a music student and for our recital exams - in our finals we could invite an audience - or concerts or competitions we were expected to dress formally. For the young men this involved dinner jackets, frilled shirts and bow ties and for us formal dresses. Many of us opted for Laura Ashley dresses as they fitted the bill perfectly. They were also very small size-wise so the size 12 l wore then was more like a modern size 8-10. I sold one on eBay last year for £20 to a lady who runs a vintage clothes shop. I realised that my chances of ever fitting into it again were somewhere between minimal in the extreme and none whatsoever. In any case, 35 years or so on, the style was far too young for me. I hope someone else bought it and is enjoying wearing it.

I wear stuff like that all the time and I’m in my 30s. It’s called Cottage Core.

Btw if you were young in the 80s you have a bloody cheek to talk shit about modern fashion. I’m sure you’ve worn some absolute horror shows in your time that we’re much worse than a floral maxi dress.

It's Cottagecore. I love it, but charity shop for most of my clothes of any kind.

@sodoffputin

I feel as if I might as well stay in and get a sewing machine and make my own out of some Laura Ashley curtains. Then get some chickens and a picnic basket.

The thing is, this shop is mainly frequented by people 35 plus, I would say. If not 40 plus. How to go from 40 to 80 overnight!

You're weaving your own basket, yes? From willow you've coppiced or reeds you've hand harvested.

In time for Easter, I trust you're making a nice plain bonnet you can gussy up for the parade and then break down again to something suitably plain for all the chores.

Otherwise, are you really trying?

@CallMeDaddy58

I wear stuff like that all the time and I’m in my 30s. It’s called Cottage Core.

Btw if you were young in the 80s you have a bloody cheek to talk shit about modern fashion. I’m sure you’ve worn some absolute horror shows in your time that we’re much worse than a floral maxi dress.

@CallMeDaddy58 - it's really a bit silly to get into sniping about what people wear and being mean about trends which people wear.

I was young in the 80s and actually dressed very well as my DM dressed me well...

On MN you'll always get people hankering after or bitching about past fashion so don't take it personally .

@CallMeDaddy58

I wear stuff like that all the time and I’m in my 30s. It’s called Cottage Core.

Btw if you were young in the 80s you have a bloody cheek to talk shit about modern fashion. I’m sure you’ve worn some absolute horror shows in your time that we’re much worse than a floral maxi dress.

Nope I was wearing jeans and denim jackets, not laura ashley peasant frocks.

The worst of 80's fashion is back with a vengeance I'm afraid. The only thing I haven't seen yet is power shoulder pads.

@me4real

It's Cottagecore. I love it, but charity shop for most of my clothes of any kind.

@me4real - an influencer I know of (DW of friend of DB's) dresses in Cottagecore.

However she does get the piss ripped out of her because some of it does look silly and very Marie Antoinette. See Carrie Johnson.