to find it a bit wearing that most of the style and beauty threads link to clothes I thing are very expensive?

[sushistar]

I don't think DP and i are very poor or anything, we have a slightly above average uk household income, but I shop for clothes on the highstreet - I mean a NORMAL highstreet and the cheaper end at that, not Kensington highstreet! But when I go on the style and beauty threads it seems the cheapest suggestions and links are boden and it gets more expensive from there. I have never bought anything from boden because I think it is expensive - is it just me?

I just bought a kid's dress from there for the first time today, as a special outfit (pic on profile to please admire my beautiful daughter ), but I agree with you in general. Perhaps it is because cheaper more normal places don't spend a lot on a big web presence?

no its not just you at all

my fav shops are
next, DP, New look etc

And Im not scared to have a look in primark either (although things never last but good for cosmetic jewellery)

Are we on the right wave length?

You are just not looking at the right threads

My new fave shop, linked here first by a MNer is m and co whom I had never heard of before

loads of us got this dress this summer

Yes! Peacocks is my new favorite, lasts better than Primark. But honestly, boots over £200, a wrap for £150, cardigans for £120, and that's just the threads I glanced at this evening! Is mumsnet populated by very rich people, or are they all putting this stuff on their credit cards, or what? I don't even look in shops that expensive, what's the point? I can't afford the stuff, and if I could, it would get trashed in about 5 mins with a small DS and another on the way.

Don't get me wrong, I like clothes, I like funky stuff, that's why I look at eth style and beauty board to start with. BUt my style comes from the low-end high street with some charity shop / ebay stuff mixed in, and I think I look just fine.

hurrah another m and co fan !

did YOU buy the dress I linked to, too, octo?

Sainsburys have some nice stuff, or did last time I looked. But isn't it wiered that if someone goes 'I'm looking for a purple skirt' or something, the suggestions are always waaaay more expensive. I assumed that most people shopped in regular high street shops (a reasonable assumption seeing how many of those shops there are) but i think a good chunk of poeple must spend way more on clothes than I could ever justify, judging by the threads on here.

re: 'And Im not scared to have a look in primark either (although things never last but good for cosmetic jewellery)'

In the real world lots of people do all of their clothes shopping in Primark, never mind 'not scared', it's their only option.

Hear, hear, OP. A while ago, I put a thread up asking for advice on what stuff to get when I had not bought myself anything in 5 years and needed help wiht basic stuff. Not many suggestions from less pricey shops.

I DO appreciate good quality, esp in boots etc (have a bootiful pair of FLY London boots, after a tip-off from the Style forum) which were pricey but I LURRRRVE 'em! However, if I had spent the same money on my clothes I would be bankrupt by now.

Having to stick to New Look and Primark at the moment. And Asos online for ideas. Some stuff is great quality for the price. Others, shite.

I don't understand the Boden obsession either BTW.

It's not that I don't sometimes see poeple link to nice things from Boden or other expensive shops. I just don't understand it - do normal people honestly sped that much on clothes!? Or anything really?

My standard prices are sort of Sainsbury's / Dorothy Perkins type prices. Less than that (Peacocks) I feel I've got a bargain. More (topshop) I feel like I'm pushing the boat out a bit. For my SILs wedding I got a £80 dress in Monsoon - that was 2 yrs ago and that's the most expensive thing I've bought since then.

If I go down a normal highstreet I'd look in Primark, peacocks, TK Maxx, New Look, DPs and charity shops, and in sale racks of more expensive shops. That is not me being thrifty - that is normal. Thrifty is Peacocks / Primark / no new clothes.

I think whilst there are many links/suggestions of expensive items on Style & Beauty, they do not appear more than ASOS, M&S, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, H&M, Matalan & Primark and then Coast & Monsoon for stuff for weddings etc.

The Boden obsession is probably based on the fact that many women on the S&B thread like shopping for clothes but not necessarily in stores . Boden offers good quality clothes but yes, they aren't to everyone's taste nor budget.

FWIW, I often look at places like Net A Porter, Matches etc for inspiration. Much the same as I would look at Vogue. We aren't poor but we aren't rich either. I will splash out on something I love from a designer label but usually only in the sales and I have to absolutely love it. And I like a bargain too much to pass up on shopping at Hennes et al

Well, I am sure some of them do spend that much on their clothes. Different people have different priorities for spending their money.

Personally, I go to M&S when they have their £5 fairtrade cotton tees and live in them!

And I will spend that much on shoes, as I only ever wear one pair now that I am on Mat Leave, and I want them to last!

Gosh, that sounds like I have 100s of pairs for when I work, but I only have about 5 for work!!

Boden needs it's own sub forum imo! Must learn how to hide theads

There are plenty if threads with expensive stuff but also plenty with cheaper things too. There would be loads for primark if they had a decent site.

S&b feeds my habit for window shopping, i don't buy many clothes and am more likely to spent £11 on a primark cardi than a £170 odd cardi!

i never shop in primark or next ot any of those places. i find them depressing. i really don't buy clothes v. often but when i do i tend to buy in the sales at boden whistles etc.

If you post in S&B with a budget people will give suggestions within it

me too. when i shop its tesco or asda

I never spend much on clothes or shoes (well not as single items anyway ). I buy most of my clothes from ebay. On the high street I use next, primark, DP etc. Buy stuff in tesco too. Try to get as much stuff in the sale as poss (buy most of my undies at the M&S Jan sales for example). I just don't have the osrt of money to be able to spend £100 on a pair of boots. Last winter I wore a £25 of fake Uggs and they are still going strong for this winter

I have some weddings to go to this winter so will probably buy a nice Monsoon dress from ebay then resell in on there when I am done with it (often makes most of the money back if not all).

Some people have more money or spend more money on quality items that they will wear a lot and will last. If I had more money I would do the same (oh and if I wasn't a clutz who spills food down herself all the time then fails to get the stain out )

I think lots of people buy from Boden in the sales. And one reason that people buy Boden childrenswear is that it lasts really well so can be handed down and it holds it's value really well on Ebay because of the quality.

I think you have to remember that Mumsnet is a microcosm of society in general - there will always be Primark shoppers, Next shoppers, Boden shoppers and more expensive brands whose names I do not know!

I love shopping and I love clothes and financially I am lucky in that we are comfortably enough off that I could buy in the higher end shops but I really find it hard to justify the cost. I am a High Street shopper but like Boden too and would like to buy the occasional more expensive item if it was a classic that I thought would last a while.

I don't know if I'd buy off ebay as I wouldn't know if it fitted. I don't buy very often cos I don't have any money but will get down to M&S for some jeans soon. Thats as expensive as I get!
I just think I look hideous in everything so I never buy anything. Saves a fortune.

I think the reason Boden gets a disproportionate amount of coverage is the lack of shops - people often ask if anyone else has bought something they're interested in so they don't end up returning it.

I think most people these days shop across the whole range of shops.

Yanbu to find boden etc too expensive, i prefer to buy from the cheaper places aswel, but wouldnt really mind people linking the expensive ones as it doesnt force you to buy

Just been looking at Boden online. Just looks like expensive M&S to me. But then I'm not a clothes person.
My mum bought me one of those cardi's with the long bits at the front. I feel like an idiot in it. What the fark are you mean to do with the long bits? Why isn't it the same length all the way round?

I also think Boden is expensive, but then I don´t like their stuff, so it´s OK!

I do buy on ebay, but do ask for exact measurements.

I also get some stuff from a catalogue, as it´s easy to return & can try on in peace/comfort of home!

h&m is underrated i buy all my clothing and dds clothing from there bar a few things from ebay which are usually discontinued next items. in terms of quality and value they are superior to anywhere else in the high street IMHO. you can get decent , flattering knitwear in a huge range of cuts and colours for 10-15 quid, quality shirts and tunics (that look new wash after wash unlike primark) for around 10-15 again, even the underwear and nightwear range is fab. I deck my dd's out in h&m and they always look funky. if you like earthy colours/colourful stripey tights/ practical cotton and denim for girls (its not all pink pink pink) they are fab. can't rave about it enough..

the gap sale is fairly good and every gap sale i stock up a variety of cotton tops in block colours and diff. sleeve lengths, they go for as little as 2 pounds each.