why are Per Una clothes so annoying?

[plumandolive]

Had to walk hrough them to ge to the tights and they just really irritated me.
I know it's irrational..
is it those stripey cardies with big buttons that 50 yr olds wear because they think it makes them seem 30.
Or the stiched on bits like flowers and embroidered bits all over the place.
Or the waterfall cardies is nasty colours that think they're like jigsaw ten years ago
Or too much brown...
Or tring to make everytig special by saying it's italian or Roma or something when really it's hite...
didn't really have a good look honestly.....

I'm 50 and I hate Per Una plumandolive, so I'll thank you not to put me in that category - I love White Stuff

Per Una jeans fit me too. I don't think i have anything else from Per Una. But I will now go and buy loads, cos I'm feeling rebellious!

In the late 80s/early 90s, I adored M&S jeans. They were the only ones that had a proper straight leg and were a very good cheap student alternative to Levis. I haven't tried any on for ages. I should look.

Ooh yes, White Stuff is fab... and fat Face and toast....
*stleger- steady on now.... we don't want blood on our -hands- PU jeans..

hands PU jeans that shoyuld have been

Don't agree with the Boden theory - I'm a Boden-wearer who tries to avoid screaming Boden - I think they do some things very well (jeans, pjs, some of their coats) but I loathe the hotchpotch/"I'm so bodeny" look. In fact I only talk about Boden on here. I wouldn't want my friends to know how much of a middle-class middle-aged mumsy Johnnie-follower I have actually become.

YANU, Per Una is absolute pish. The PU section always seems to look like a jumble sale, and its always brown and pink and maroon. Its not the cardies, its the endless long bias cut or tiered skirts, usually brown corderoy.

snowleopard- the truth be known- same as me. I buy some sale and ebay stuff that's Boden. But like you only plain. I like the natural fabrics, the colours and the fact you don't have to go shopping for it.

Having said that I do have a Boden mac with a print on it which I like a lot and I debated long and hard whether it was too "Bodenish". To my delight a friend asked if it was Orla Kiely. Yesss!

Ha! Tht'a the problem- they can have that Orla kely feely,their patterns sonmetimes.... until you see ten women in Rock wearing it....

Oh you see I like Boden, I only have one top but would like to be able to just spend the £'s on it.

I think is a nice grown up look.

And the boden sale is brilliant!

haqven't read everything but agree re per una; sometimes I look at stuff and think yes that's a good coat/top/whatever...but they invariably spoil it by adding a stupid detail or getting the collar wrong or something.

Per Una dresses are the only ones that fit me, now that Littlewoods is no more

I am short (5ft 2) but currently a size 14/16 and to make it worse I'm apple-shaped rather than pear. I can't wear viscose/ polyester. Shops that sell cotton clothes tend to be horribly expensive and anything tailored won't go round my middle. Cheaper shops sell dresses in man-made fabrics.

The Per Una dresses actually fit me and don't over-emphasize my middle. I had a black one last winter for a dance and got loads of compliments

I used to like PerUna, but in teh last few years, there stuff has becoming more and more hideous. I do buy the jeans, because they are a good fit on me, but the rest is awful.

SIL bought me a cardi there for my Christmas last year...DH laughed when he saw it.

Never buy Per Una,but do buy Autograph trousers and occasionally plain cardigans.Limited Collection also have some decent stuff,and Marks shoes/boots can be fab.
I like Boden and buy quite a bit,but never anything too Bodeny,only plainish trousers(always buy the velvet wideleg ones in winter,have pairs still going strong after 4 or 5 years.Their jeans,again wifeleg,fit me well and look good.I usually buy those in the sale.Also cashmere wrap /open cardigans in grey/cream/teal etc.
I hate clothes that scream a certain shop,think Next is especially bad,you can spot it a mile off.
Have to say at my age I have gone towards the Jigsaw/Noa Noa/Kew/White Stuff end of market now,particularly off ebay!

HE he 'Wifeleg' freudian slip or what!

Makes you look like a Lidl Stevie Nicks...avoid at all costs.

Per una, that is, not Boden.

Love Boden. Well, the non-per una, non- hotchy potchy stuff.

I have 3 per una skirts and have worn them again and again for work, and still wear the black cord one now I'm not working. It's OK if you're selective what you buy. Boden is fab for my ds as the trousers fit and will for a while. I will admit to 2 Boden skirts, but from the sale.

PlumandOlive - I presume those you see wearing Boden in Rock are grockels/emmetts/braying Chelsea incomers who clog up our roads in the summer and get in the way, not the native population.

ALL our teachers used to wear M&S. It was really odd. Mind you it was the only shop for middle aged women in those days. They didn't have much choice! I don't think most of them cared what they looked like anyway, they were all really intelligent and into their science etc and didn't ive two hoots if their skirt was fashionable. Much respect

The last time there was one of these threads I got all cross and defensive, and wondered what you were all on. PA perfectly lovely, I thought - and I have various pieces from there (including the very first issue of said cardigan - which I daren't wear now as it's so bloomin common!).

But when I went in to have a look and prove you all wrong, dammit, you are all right.

I think the problem is that when it first launched it was more fashionable and very fresh/unusual for M&S. It was designed to appeal to a younger consumer. But then, lots of older women started buying it - probably because it was 'safer' fashion: M&S quality with added fashionability. And when the designers realised who their 'demographic' actually was, they started designing for them - hence it is much more middle aged, and increasingly too safe.

Definitely with you on this one PlumandOlive. Garish colours, cheap fabrics, it's shapeless tat.

But I know their size 12 jean fit me......i don't have to deal with young people bringing a bigger size and wondering why my legs are short....And Twiggy likes them....

Careful fright attendant - I was well under 40 when I bought those skirts and am not much over it now....I will not be middle aged until I'm 60 at least!

M&S is great for work as if someone voms in your classroom, and you get caught (yes, this is secondary) you can wash it, or if you get board marker or glue or various other unidentifiable substances on it, the world doesn't end. It does however if it happens to your expensive trousers!

I tend to live and die in Lands End trousers and M&S long sleeved T shirts, practical and doesn't cost a bomb.

agree, it is awful. Love the limited collection, and Autograph but do not possess a single Per Una item and have given up even glancing in the direction of the display.
Looks like their target market is the middle aged art teacher. And MIL who is 65 and thinks she's slightly wacky..