Why do I hate everything that,s supposed to be fashionable?

[orangeandlemons]

......when I have a degree in fashion and love clothes...

Skulls and crosses, ok for Goths I suppose
Studs..as above
Animal print, loathe anything animal print and am so sick of seeing it
Glittery and sequin stuff...ok for evening
See through jumpers...thought the point of a jumper was to keep you warm
Barbour jackets, great on horsey people, but not on the high street, even worse with huge visible label
Hunter wellies...as Barbour

I know this isn't the only stuff in fashion, but it seems to be what most people wear, and I don't like it, and therefore feel I am the one who is wrong! I have felt like this about fashion for about 5 years....

However, John Lewis is a million times better than Debenhams!

My local HOF (bath) is like a jumble sale unfortunately.

Debenhams do good offers on their beauty products though but can only do online.

Agatha - was wondering what judge's pants looked like

But even the supposed high end high street stores are awash with polyester - Whistles, Hobbs, Phase 8, etc and many of the ready to wear designer ranges - Vivienne Westwood (as much as I love her) sells an awful lot of polyester, unlined garments. Ditto Matthew Williamson and DVF so paying more doesn't always guarantee natural fabrics.

oh, i went to high wycombe one. i don't know how debenhams manages to keep afloat, the ones i go in seem so quiet and dull.

MrsCB - the judge's pants were courtesy of AugustaProdworthy, not me. But I bet they'd be very, very large, with a slightly too loose waistband

I am with you, my loathing of high street really started when I wanted to show off what waist I had left post childbirth, and everything seemed to be a bit maternity style. My solution is to sew, using gorgeous fabrics I prewash at 40 to ensure they can stand the rigours of life with small people who throw food. I use vintage patterns, I'm over trying to be fashionable only anyone's terms but my own. Herumpf. Only snag is, as a city solicitor, the only time to sew is middle of the night, and I'd rather sleep usually. So not really a solution. Yes, there really is a gap in the market!

Ujjayi - bet it was very high quality french polyester though.

Agatha - they sound good God - I wouldn't need to do this 5:2 fast if I wore them.

Germy I think Debenhams is solely for ladies who like to go on cruises (not that I'm knocking cruises for those who enjoy them), they're full of sequins and sparkly bits. Almost as bad as Per Una, really.

Handsfull I keep saying I will give making clothes a go. I can make curtains and blinds and easy stuff like that, but I've haven't made clothes since I was at school. I think you have inspired me

.I dislike Debenhams,but love John Lewis and the better House of Fraser's!
Online better though.
Debenhams always seems cheap and messy to me.

I thought it was just me so relieved that someone with a degree in fashion thinks most of the stuff around isn't great. I've come to the conclusion that it's not even that I'm on a tight budget. When I'm in the hairdresser and catch up on all the mags, I don't even like the stuff in Vogue or in the Times's Lux supplement. The only places I seem to find stuff I like that suits me is in Esprit, Oasis, the occasional top in Zara. I've not liked much for about 5 years!

Zara is good for jackets/coats but everything else appears to be made of viscose or polyester

AgathaF go for it! It is not so tricky, especially with a book beside you for help. Gertie's book of better sewing is just amazing.

I usually always find something in Zara, latest purchase is a dark blue shirt/ blouse (started to get sick of wearing a vest top under everything all the time!)

I also like Oasis, All Saints, French Connection.

I also have (and love) a barbour coat

But agree with everything else on your list op. I went in Topshop the other day and felt old! I'm 22!!

Handsfull - I will! Actually, I can't wait to have a go now

Don't like Zara - too much polyester and I find the quality very poor and the sizing awful.

Agree that even expensive shops are full of polyester.

I find I'm buying fewer and fewer clothes tbh and just trying to wear what I've got in different/more ways. So I'll buy a Westwood skirt but wear it for work with a jacket and high heels, or to go to the cinema with a biker jacket and ankle boots. Or I'll buy a Topshop jersey maxi or midi skirt (I rate these highly btw) and do similar.

Must admit that I currently like virtually nothing at all in any of the shops I can generally afford though.

we have a french connection outlet here and can get some really nice great plains and fc stuff a bit cheaper than usual so spoilt there.

zara is good for fashionable stuff but isn't meant to last is it really, though i got a beautiful velvetty jacket in there the other day with birdies on it. it's super really different.

sizing is def all to cock though

Well have just been shopping form clothes, you know a nice top. Ha ha.

Zara.... Lovely styling, but bristling with man made fibres. Saw lovely cotton type jumper, 100% acrylic, so that was no good. Really lovely embroided detailed tops, polyester of course. I also spied some skulls

H o F. Mary Portas is exp. Have looked before, still lots of polyester, but she does style well for her age group, although not my colours. Very much her sort of colours I thought.

M and S, I gave up the will to live

Jigsaw Hobbs etc, I really like, but they are pricey. It seems you either go from crap to high end with nothing in between. I also agree however that I chuck away cheap stuff and keep the expensive, although current favourite is an H and M jumper for 19.99.

I even went in Fatface < shudder> but if they can do cotton jumpers at a reasonable price then so can the rest of them

Someone at work said to me the other day, "You always used to look so nice and well put together, but you've lost your flair a bit" I concluded that it is the state of the current shops, not me.

By far and away the best shop was Apple. I consoled myself with ipad mini's for ages. May give up clothes porn for stylish apple porn, based on the current state unstylish high street clothes shop

Also eyed up interesting kimono thingy type thing in Zara. Polyester of course, but still very nice jacket. May consider it...in fact want it

Also I can sew, but unfortunately having the background I have, I have to start by making the pattern first, not just buying one. And then all the messing about to make it fit, and finally I find that getting a very high standard of finish is very difficult with hand made clothes. It's all in the pressing, I don't have amazing hydraulic steam pressing equipment. Unfortunately my degree has made me anal about the finish and cut of clothes.

Also it's interesting what a lot of you think of Debenhams. I don't like it either.

Oranges, if I had your qualms I'd never sew a stitch! I'd blush if you were to see my lazy hems and linked seams... I'd love a bit of sewing education, sigh.

Well...I have been known to turn my trousers up with parcel tape......

Brilliant, now I know that's a professional technique I shall apply it to my next circle skirt! That will save me hours!