To feel so disappointed in clothes shopping now compared to what it used to be like?

[mrsgreggspastry]

AIBU to think that there used to be far more choice and just more appealing clothes than there is now? Just everything, the fabrics, not something I pay much attention to normally, but now things just seem so thin and cheap looking. The colours, styles, choice, everything. I can remember going to the shops and really struggling to choose between so many lovely things. Now it's hard to find things I like at all.

Agreed, shopping in a big city in Spain was a revelation like shopping here used to be. Added to that sunshine and pristine clean attractive streets. It just makes city centre high streets here seem so depressing.

I was in Rome recently. Although they have chains like Mango, Zara - and their own chains, they also have loads of independents. A totally different shopping experience. A better one. And loads of men's shops.

The shame of all this is that this poor offering is all a lot of people have known, it is what they expect. It is people older who know we are being shortchanged in terms of design and fabric - and the mucking about with inconsistent sizing.

Although Brexit has not helped, the decline set in years before that. Primark and the other cheaper chains started the decline. A boon for people on a tight budget, but also catnip for those who liked to buy loads of disposable fashion who didn't care how long it lasted or that the material was scratchy and sweaty. Instagram and influencers with their hauls etc is exacerbating it.

TK Maxx used to have the occasional gem. Something unusual, a designer make with great styling. Now they just have tat, the bags are plastic. They now make their own stuff to sell in there, or designers make sub par stuff especially for them. So even that is in decline.

We like fast fashion and fast food in this country, and it's not just about that being all that can be afforded, a lot of the UK's populace prefer the cheap option so that is what the shops produce.

Charity shops near us are so expensive 😫 levi dress today, used £18. I got one on levi website for not much more in the sale. Didn't fit unfortunately!

Britain used to have such a thriving textile and clothing industry until about the 60s/70s, when everything was taken offshore to exploit cheap labour

Everything went off shore because British companies weren’t prepared to invest in technology unlike. off shore countries. They saw their opportunity, bought into it and left the U.K. behind.

l worked in the rag trade in the early 80’s. It was clearly obvious what was happening. Thatcher wanted a service economy and that what we got.

Good tip @stillherenow

Just because it predates Brexit doesn't mean that Brexit isn't a factor.

Brexit has exacerbated it and made it even harder to get good quality products if all kinds, including clothing/ textiles.

Nobody is saying that is was ever perfect. But since Brexit, we get even more poor quality rubbish than we would have.

TK Maxx used to have the occasional gem. Something unusual, a designer make with great styling. Now they just have tat, the bags are plastic. They now make their own stuff to sell in there, or designers make sub par stuff especially for them. So even that is in decline.

Yes! it's one of my favourite shops but recently it's had not nearly as nice stuff in for some reason.

Thanks to the pp who suggested the online shops. Some online I find quite pricey when they don't have many overheads and you can't try the clothes on. It's a faff to guess the sizes and I usually have to return things from online, a bit less so with tops or dresses but trousers are very hard to order online.

I buy a lot, lot less, but pay more for higher quality items (Stonewaisted; Glassworks; Beyond Nine, EmandMe) using less mass produced material and items that are independently made.

Also look second hand and get high end high street (eg Joseph, Ganni) from reliable online vintage shops like Manifesto Women

Uniqlo U

I find fashion a bit weird now. Like it is channelling the worst aspects of previous decades - neons, weird cut jeans, shit fabrics, shapeless boxy clothes, sludge colours and grandad collars and slogans. Then there is a sort of prison chic look going around and a 70's golfer look. Even kids clothes look a bit grandaddy.

I thought it was limited disposable income or the fact that nothing fits me well in my older age.

I'm just bored of trying to look nice with such shit options. I've thought about just buying some nice sportswear and some tshirts instead, since anything else is really odd.

Any why the fuck does everything have Mickey Mouse on it? I'm 40 ffs!

Either the clothes are completely rubbish and cheap or too expensive
there is literally nothing on offer
all the good stores close down, Debenhams BHS , Wallis Topshop, et cetera
now we are left with shops selling crap clothes at extortionate prices or shops selling tat
also, everything tends to be aimed at a very young teenagers or older women. Nothing in between
i used to love River Island in new look, but both have terrible clothes now
I remember the good old days when you had mark one, Jane, Norman, Debenhams, Wallis Dorothy Perkins, Literally so many different shops to choose from
now it’s all crap, fast, food, tight clothes, like boo-hoo, and pretty little thing

I wear a lot more dresses nowadays because I find it really hard to find tops that aren't see through or cropped. I'm in my 30s I don't wear crop tops anymore but everything is cropped! And everything is made out of that crappy synthetic material that goes weird after you wash it.

Not only am I infuriated by cheap tat clothes, it is even worse for bigger women as so many places only pay lip service to plus size. Almost all plus retailers have either gone completely or are online only.
I went into my local town this week and found Yours was cheap and nasty (although they have some nicer stuff online), Primark is fast fashion and small fit, River Island, Next and New Look now only do plus online despite having town centre shops and M&S was pretty useless. It is impossible to find plus size clothes unless I want to go to Bon Marche and dress like an elderly lady

Agree agree agree agree, with everything everyone is saying here, except the single one who disagreed.

The fashions are so horrible at the moment. Enormous boxy shapeless things OR weird cut-out/cropped stuff not suitable for anyone over about 22.

Seasalt and Pact are not bad. At least you can bet natural fibers and properly made items.

I think its just to do with trends.
Last year, in the Spring/Summer collection, I had to stop myself from buying every single fucking thing in the shops. I bought LOADS of stuff!
This season, however, Ive seen only a couple of things that have tickled my fancy.

I hate online shopping and much prefer to try things on IRL but I have no choice as all the high street stores just sell ridiculous clothes for ridiculous prices. Everything is fucking cropped, or a naff colour, or the fabrics are shiny and thin and cheap feeling. I rely on European labels sold through ASOS (like Vero Moda) because they are much more tasteful and fit me properly.

Totally agree. I have lovely beaded & sequinned pure silk cocktail dresses from warehouse & oasis early 2000s in my waredrobe and they were affordable at the time, like £25 in the sales. Everything is polyester now

I'm very much missing Debenhams, Wallis , even Dorothy bloody Perkins . There are some lovely online brands - I like silk Fred and sometimes Joe Browns but it can be really hit and miss sizing wise and then the fuss of sending back- clothes and shoes I would prefer to buy 'in person'

I end up buying bits in John Lewis, M&S and TK Maxx - but even then as others have said it's mix of weird styles and poorer finish/fabrics. Im a size 16 and 61 but don't get M&S in particulars peculiar fixation with revolting pastel colours -

Fashion has been crap for ages. Truly hideous stuff. For at least 10 years imho. Here's my recommendations for quality jumpers and basics. For nice dresses I buy used from ebay, vinted, depop. If I think of any more I'll post.

https://www.bosie.co/shetland-shop
https://superlovemerino.com/
https://www.hanro.co.uk/
https://uk.dilling.com/
https://www.celticandco.com/ ?? (haven't bought from then in a while)

This is why I buy designer stuff off vinted

I wandered into M&S looking for a wedding outfit for my Mum but everything looked like Little House on the Fucking Prairie.

I miss the shops from the 90’s/00’s, I miss the tactile nature of shopping. I think it’s horrendously wasteful buying several items online and then sending them back all because the internet doesn’t have changing rooms.

Totally agree OP. Horrible thin, creased fabrics. Fed up with not being able to find anything decent about.

Definitely.

I've taken a deep breathe and gone up the price scale, spending twice as much for fewer things. I shop much more carefully now. Shopping used to be easy, now it takes hours of searching to put together even one decent outfit.

There are still nice things out there but I'm spending too many evenings scouring the net.