What would you recommend from Primark?

[babooshkadoll]

I have been a few times just been overwhelmed by the crowds and general yeuch of the place.

Going shopping tomorrow with my niece who I know will want to visit Primark so is there anything worth buying ?

The £7 skinny jeans have been great for me.

And this is neither style or beauty, but dh and I each have a cheap fleecy men's dressing gown from there. Doesn't look particularly attractive but I've found if I wear it and massive socks in the house then I don't need to have the heating on nearly as much, it's so warm and toasty. So a big money saver in winter.

I love:

Scarves
Skinny jeans, especially the coloured ones
Strappy longline vest tops
PJs
Padded gilets (unbelieveably cheap)
Fluffy bedsocks
Jewellery

You can pick up the odd bargain which looks way more expensive that it actually was. In the recent sale I bought a gorgeous fitted jersey blazer for £8 and a black evening cardi studded with tiny black jewels. Most of their clothing is a bit hit and miss, though, and I rarely buy their knitwear or see-thru polyester blouses.

Stores also vary massively; the worst are like jumble sales, with stuff heaped all over the floor and no room to move about, but the larger ones (Bristol, for example) are much smarter-looking.

the crowds are terrible aren't they? Can't wait till they start doing online shopping.

Kids t-shirts etc - wouldn't buy again, twisted seams and fading instantly.
Kids Pjs- not as lovely as I was hoping, went hard and funny raised seams.

But success with: long sleeve layering stretchy tops that don't ride up on me and they are almost as good as the much more expensive versions I have bought over the years, lined winter tights, lurex fish net fashion tights!

I went yesterday (Tottenham Court Road branch) got more fleecy-lined tights, Argan oil (recommend both) hair bobbles, £9 satchel (in tan, but I really want green too).

My top bargain was a pack of 5 toothbrushes for 75p

I get vests, socks, scarves, occasional t-shirt for Ds2. Ds1 loves their t-shirts and hoodies. He's growing so quickly it works out cheaper.
I do have a grey winter coat that I've had for a few years. It washes well and I like the shape, it doesn't look like Primani.
Bras are awful knickers a nice in next size up.

My colleague buys all his suits from there. They don't look like expensive suits, but don't look any cheaper than everyone else's suits.

Our local one is grim, clothes all mixed up everywhere and a limited selection. I might try the tottenham court road one instead :)

Jumpher I agree!

Gin It's the best Primark I've been to. Because it's so big, even when it's busy, it doesn't feel crowded and stressful. Better than the Marble Arch one, imo.

I am resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one! :D

I love Primark! There have been days when I've literally been dressed in Primark from head to toe. I mean, every single thing from my shoes to my underwear to my eyelashes came from Primark.

I don't wear much woven clothing - other than jeans (and they have great jeans.) I wear mostly jersey knit stuff. So, I avoid all the colourful-but-badly-tailored blouses and dresses. (I am a metalhead so I wear a lot of black and tight things.) Their jewellery can sometimes be OK but a lot of it is icky, brassy yellow metal.

I have had some luck with boots from Primark - in particular a pair of calf-height black motorcycle-style boots with a huge block heel. I wore them all the time (they make me over 6 feet tall!) and bought a second pair because I knew they wouldn't have them forever and I didn't want to have to give them up after only one year. They wear pretty well for what they are.

Those boots, black super-soft skinny jeans, a black stretch t or vest... that's my daily look.

Given the thread is 18 months old, personally the quality of clothes has changed in that time.

Their summer things (dresses, bikinis) are fantastic.

Shoes I've always loved, never fallen apart and I've worn them for years

Jewellery is so cheap compared to topshop / monsoon and it's fine.

Kids stuff - I brought toddler aged dressed for £8 and they've lasted since March being worn every week and washed on a 30 wash. They're still going too.

Pj's - not the sets but the thin bottoms, I buy new every two years, so they last

Pants/tights - no different quality to m&s if anything, better quality and far far cheaper

Bedding and home wear, fantastic. I've got cushions, towels, accessories - all amazing.

I going only for specific things and don't tend to buy outfits, just one off items. Always happy with purchases.

*Toddler aged dresses
My point being that dresses for kids can be from £14 upwards in places like Next, M&s, BHS and Debenhams.

Long vests. Kids pjs. Their £7 skinny jeans. Love. Tights

Home stuff
Those non slip hangers
Flip flops
Vest tops
Accessories (is there a legal limit on how many scarves you can own? ditto handbags? ditto jewellery?)

Absolutely NOTHING although I remember buying a clutch bag on Oxford street branch (years ago)- and a waiter from Beach Blanket Babylon believed it was Cartier!!!!

Nighties
£1 knickers
Very soft baby/young child blankets
Flannels or tea towels
Hair bobbles

Does anyone know why it's always so hot in primark? I thought shops did things to make you want to stay longer and buy more yet all it does is make people feel ill and can't wait to get out

Dd did amazingly well in summer she got loads of tshirts skinnies and checked shirts all will carry her through till autumn/winter

Dh loves the jeans use to spend a fortune on jeans and tried the primark ones perfect long leg and great fit he now has several pairs.

I recently got a padded navy jacket still in wardrobe as it's not cold enough for it but at 10 I'll be happy if it just lasts this year.

Kids winter onesies have lasted better than the next ones we got.

Going to try the pjs next.

Their gym clothes are great, really nice patterns and colours and v cheap, obvs.

I'm surprised at people saying everything in primark is crap. I've had some really good stuff that's lasted a few years. I don't tumble dry though, I only dry on a heated drying rack. I love the character pjs and the brushed cotton ones, the tights are great just as good if not better than more expensive packs in M&S/debenhams. Towels and bedding are brilliant, better than a lot of the more expensive ones I've had in the past. Shoes can be a bit hit and miss but if you have a good look around they do offer some styles in real leather/suede. I love the character and music tees and have loads of them which have all washed really well, no twisted seams etc and I wear them a lot. I find I have to size up in the skinnies as are they are cut very much on the slim side but when I do find a pair that fits, they wash really well and last for ages. I've got 100% cotton vests in many different colours which again have washed really well and are good for every day wear or for wearing to bed. I'm not so keen on the underwear but that's purely because they don't stock my size as standard so I go elsewhere for that. Cardigans are decent and cheap for everyday wear. I also got a 100% cotton trench coat in red which is really nice, the shape is brilliant and it came out of the wash still in perfect condition with no colour fading. Accessories again can be hit and miss but the multi packs of earrings are good for the price and the hair bobbles are really good, no metal in the to snag your hair and they are cheap so easy to replace. Sorry for the essay

I agree OneLittleLady, I've had some fantastic stuff that has lasted years. You do have to be prepared to hunt out the gems though, in the last year I've bought capri pants, a gorgeous vintage style dark green midi skirt and pieces of knitwear. I also have the stretchy cotton vests in virtually every colour for layering, some now 3/4 years old and still in perfect condition.

I even find that I get complimented more wearing Primark than anything else! I'm not sure what that says about me that I can pull off Primark better than Hobbs . I think it's because in cheap places I buy things because they suit me whereas in places such as Hobbs I get swayed into thinking an expensive price tag must mean it will look good...

I'll never forget the look on a colleagues face when she complimented a silk looking grey blouse and I told her it was Primark. She actually thought it was from Jigsaw so almost looked disgusted with herself for liking something from Primark

T -shirts, vests and long sleeve tops for me. Lasted about 2 plus years of constant wear. Some cardis - not such great wear bit cheap. I avoid the fashion stuff but also buy nightwear. I look for cotton or high cotton content.
For toddler dd I get vests and these fleece pjs ( boys ones as the girlie ones are nauseating), swimming cossie, and I bought some bright yellow trousers everyone says are lovely. We also have lovely sheets.

I even find that I get complimented more wearing Primark than anything else!
emperor exactly the same people always comment on the clothes wear from Primark compared to my clothes from Planet, Zara etc. I must pick the right things!

I really think it's the same as any other shop you go in, some stuff is awful but there are gems if you look for them.

The skinny denims are fab but try them on first and I mean even if you're buying the same style in different colours. I got dark stonewashed skinnies in size 12 with 32 leg and they fit like a glove. My favourite jeans and they have lasted about 2 years so far. Black skinnies, apparently the same measurements, far too short!

Towels defo. Giant bath sheets for £6!
Also, if you happen to be breastfeeding they have very stretchy vest tops which I layer under everything and are easy to pop a boob out of. They are £3