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.

@Kazzyhoward
I totally understand this - I live in the wilds of Suffolk, our nearest town is Ipswich which is absolutely dire, but I keep shopping there in what little there is, otherwise it's Cambridge, Norwich or London, all over 1 hour away. It's so sad to see what our town centre has become, when it was such a bustling town centre once.

Well, Brexit is affecting France then. Most of the clothes shops in our nearest big shop town closed over Covid and never reopened. The few that are left are just the same as England, thin fabric , weird colours or styles, shapeless after two washes. I used to buy lots of clothes to bring back with me, it’s now (just) better in the UK.At least on line shopping is possible in UK, it’s much more expensive and ineffecient in France.

Most people seem to buy their clothes in one of the big Hyper or at out of town Sports shops.

It's actually pretty good in the U.K. compared to Spain. Shopping here is a nightmare. I came to london a few weeks ago and there was so much more choice.

Agree sizing is all over the place. I don't care about vanity sizing, I just want shops to use the same sizing. It has always been difficult between shops, but now even within a shop it can vary widely.

I found it much easier when I was living in Copenhagen. They like lots of black and plain styles- and even H&M there was far better stocked and organised with what seemed to be stuff that wasn't in the UK. I also buy a lot in C&A when in Spain. Love the Palma branch . Consequently I buy little in the UK

@LakieLady , does make you wonder why on earth they do it (White Stuff and frill).

It used to be M&S who were always sticking fussy ‘bits’ on things* that would have been much nicer without. Probably still are, not that I inspect their offerings much at all any more.

I quite like something pretty if it was made out of Broidere anglais but I'm not keen on the puffed sleeve look which won't seem to go away

Even within the same product range, the sizing can vary enormously. I bought the same jeans from M&S in different colours, but same size, and they were clearly different when you laid one on top of the other. Quality control is virtually non existent.

I'm glad you posted this as I thought it was just me! I always felt confident in my style, never had to ask someone if something looked ok etc as just felt like I knew what suited me and where to get it. But the combination of getting older, changing shape and what's available, suddenly I'm all at sea!

What's worked for me is scrolling Instagram for people that dress in a way I like and then noting brands. Simplifying the actual clothes and paying more attention to accessories and jewellery. So a statement necklace or special bag, with a t shirt and jeans for example. If I find something like a decent t shirt, buying more than one so I have a back up (£ depending obviously). Plus visiting designer outlet villages and getting better quality for less.

I should add I buy a lot less and a lot less frequently as I don't have the money. I also think things like vintage, second hand and renting clothes are much more appealing now. I have a dress for a wedding I'm going to, but otherwise now I think I'd try and borrow one.

I am jn my early fifties and can find lots of nice stuff to wear. Zara, Benetton, whistles, uniqlo, h and m etc. Largely cotton and wool.

It’s awful. I really struggle to get nice clothes these days. All the old staples have either disappeared or only sell rubbish.

Polyester or acrylic. Tops to short. Clothes shrink. Thin cheap feel badly cut. Jeans are all too clingy or stretchy with this overly ‘slim’ style. What’s this thing with really high necklines now even on casual tops?

The shop I just don't 'get' is Zara.

Even Zara is tricky now. I’ve still got cardis from Zara that I bought 15 years ago in Spain, nice cotton good fit. Straightforward plain design. Now I can’t find anything. Most tops seem to have this deliberate gap between the bottom of the top and the waistband of trousers.

H&M has gone really weird. Used to be so good. M&S is occasionally ok.
Even New Look shoes aren’t what they were.

I wondered if it was just me getting older.

I do like some Zara pieces and I’ve said this on here before-their customer service is dire instore. I was shocked when someone found me an alternative size in the stockroom because they usually are so dismissive.
And the queues for tills and fitting rooms are horrific(not just at my local branch either)! Last visit I queued 20 mins to pay. I sent my DD upstairs to the menswear till and she phoned down to say there was no queue so off I went and paid. The womenswear queue had not moved when I returned!!
Their website does quite helpfully mark which items are in a looser or smaller fit though. So you can size up or down accordingly.
I miss Warehouse, Oasis and TopShop on the high street. I know they’re online still… DD likes H and M and the staff are great but our local store closed and the nearest is like a jumble sale, utterly shambolic.

I have realised why I find buying clothes rewarding and easy. It’s because unlike everyone else, I quite like a puff sleeve top ;-)

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1138084002.html

I am today wearing this top in the black and cream print (out of stock) with a Zara denim midi skirt with an asymmetric hem, and a dark red uniqlo cardi. I think I look all
right!

I can find tops but lately I find it hard to buy trousers and skirts

Easy to find jeans but trousers that fit me and normal skirts seem quite limited

I'd rather buy plain items which are easier to match.

It's especially difficult in this in between weather

I miss shops like Laura Ashley and the original Principles

Totally agree!! I struggle to get things to fit properly, fabrics are shit. I’m actually glad I’m a bit of a wardrobe hoarder and have quite a few pieces I love from years ago.

Im currently trying to get a pair of bikini bottoms that fit nicely but every pair I try are just cheaply made. Literally just need the bottoms since I will have to wear an actual sports bra on top (long story!) but why is it such an issue to find what is something so simple!!

I’ve actually just bought a same dress that I bought a few years ago but in a different pattern - managed to find one on eBay brand new with tags!!

I nearly exclusively shop on Vinted now as it forces you to be very direct in what you're looking for, so no purchases are made without intention and I'm not contributing to landfill!

I used to LOVE French Connection. Slightly pricier but nicer fabrics(evening dresses and tops I’ve still got from maybe 10 years ago are silk and some coats with wool or cashmere). Styles tended to be a twist on a classic sort of thing(this is after they were emblazoning everything with FCUK, ugh).
Where’s the equivalent now?! £300 Carole Middleton dresses in Reiss and very dull £150 polyester midis in Whistles?
Ted Baker seems to me to only work on people who want to look like they’re off to Aintree.

@Kazzyhoward I had exactly the same thing recently, bought some 'ivy skinny' jeans from m&s as I've already got some that fit really well, exact same size but these ones are clearly bigger and wider legged so they look rubbish as I'm such a short arse!

Yanbu. 20 years ago our shopping mall had a Zara, Uniqlo and Mango. They've all long since left.
I never buy clothes on line but it's miserable trying to find things in shops now.

Agree. I feel it's due to online, nothing is in shops now and it's easy to pass off crap online

Me too, hardly anything I want to buy, despite having a good budget (I can afford £100 or so on a dress so I'm not stuck with cheap stuff) and it's not just me, I go with dd2 and dsd (young adults, high disposable income on the grounds we pay for everything ) they can't find anything, dd1 seems to manage but she's supermodel thin.

I miss Dorothy Perkins, bhs, Debenhams, even c&a ... yes online but not the same. Even simply be is online only then bravissimo pulled its clothing range. Hobbs etc don't fit me as I have a curvy figure

@gogohmm shops are trying to pass off £100 dresses as special and they’re invariably mediocre.

I find it ok but I live in a big touristy city so there’s a lot of choice. I don’t buy much and almost always WFH - no need to be smart so when I do spend am ok paying a bit more. I like Finisterre, Jigsaw and Brora for jumpers and tops, Hush for jeans and other trousery type things (not dresses and jumpers - they seem to be big fans of polyester for those) and online I was planning on trying Wrap London.

There is still some decent stuff out there but my you need some time and determination to find it, and there’s not necessarily much correlation between price and quality. Shopping used to be way more fun.

You either deal with badly run, badly stocked shops (if you can find them), where the constant mantra from the assistants is ‘you can order it online’. The internet promises the earth but doesn’t consistently deliver. Far too much choice, most of it rubbish.

Or you deal with lazy online retailers who do not display products properly, give adequate measurements and you can’t get a good sense of colour or fabric. You have to pay upfront and then have to send most of it back. I’ve got better over time but it’s still v difficult to judge.

I like Next and La Redoute as you can order on account (and they have huge ranges of brands) and for other stores like M&S I’ll order some things in ahead of a shopping trip so I know there’s a chance I’ll come home with something and/or can return on the spot after trying.

I know right - bizarre comment! We can get stuff delivered from absolutely anywhere online nowadays.

I have started buying quite a bit from places like Aspiga, Sezane, Wrap London and M.a.b.e - they’re a bit more pricey but tend to use good quality sustainable fabrics and are well made.