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....

It won't work on a circle skirt.. You have to do it proper like, with bias binding.....

i've just been looking at the stuff i've got lately from zara, most of it has been cotton, rayon and mulberry silk (whatever that is) and lyocell (ditto) not much polyester

Oh I agree! Most of what's in the shops now only seems to work if you are tall and skinny. Ideally you'll not have boobs either. It's all so shapeless

I thought it was just me and my drastically reduced budget. Or perhaps post-babies 40 year old figure

What I'd like to buy is items that reference current trends but in more flattering shapes I think.

Have contemplated contacting Mary Portas asking her to bring out a younger cheaper version of her range. Some of the stuff in that range is a bit in your face I think.

I love Zara and most of my clothes are from there but I can see that you have to be a certain shape and size for the clothes. I avoid the polyester/sweatbag tops though. They do the odd silk top each season of which I have a fair few.

You can still get natural fibres in most shops but you really do have to look through a lot of polyester to find it. I'm not sure exactly what Lyocell is but is seems to be one of the better man made fibres. I have a lovely chambray (my fave fabric atm!) shirt which is lyocell and it hangs beautifully and is non sweaty.

Don't like the Mary P stuff at all.

Time to get the sewing machine out?

I used to make a-line skirts in interesting prints (when I had the time) and easy pyjama style trousers worn with a good sweater in winter and with a vest in warmer weather.

Etsy is a good place online to find odd pieces and accessories you won't see elsewhere

Oops, sewings already been said. It's late

Sorry to butt in..is it hard to make a circle skirt? I've got a sewing machine but no skills. Very skilled in other related areas though...

You can find things in the mainstream shops btw. Zara have some fine knit jumpers in at the mo. Mulberry silk and cotton. In royal blue, black, stripy...
It is difficult to trawl through everything though.

The trouble with Zara is that their stuff doesn't accomodate large boobs. Even though I'm reasonably slim elsewhere, it almost always pulls or gapes across my chest. I suppose it's because it is spanish and made for petite framed spanish women - or am I generalising a little too much there?

Lyocell is the environmentally friendly version of viscose. Made from regenerated wood pulp. I also have the boob problem in Zara.

The shop I hate above all others is Next. They used to sell really nice good quality stuff, and now it, just dire, looks like a market stall, yet they keep on raking in the profits

Yes agree about Zara and boobs. Those linen t shirts everyone raves about just hang off them and make me look massive. BUT their basic v neck jumpers have a fantastic low v neck that looks brilliant and some stretch for a slim waist-showing off look. Have to go for at least a L though ... And their shoes work fine with big boobs!

Oh and I meant to say, everything at the moment seems so droopy and dour. Recessionary utility clothing?

Maybe that's why I've never got on with Zara then. I'm an hourglass with 32E norks.

I'm up north too and I find that the shops stock only those items that sell well around here, rather than the full range of what is currently in fashion. This is really not the sort of stuff I like. It makes it very hard to find something to wear. I don't generally want fashionable stuff any way and I hate online clothes shopping because I am an awkward build so most things look dire on me.

I'm actually considering visiting my mother (elsewhere in the country, where there should be more variety) just to find some clothes and shoes I like. We have done so in the past so that H can buy some clothes.

I am fairly unfussy and love cheap high street tat....but I identify to some extentc

I REALLY struggle to find nice tops. Nothing is properly cut, fabrics are all grim. Being a tall hourglass with boobage makes it even more depressing.

Zara drapey blouses and shapeless tunic things look shite unless you are boysihly shaped or a size 8.

H&M is just Primark quality really a crappy materials and appalling fit.

Any of the youngster shops - Warehouse, Oasis, Topshoo, New Look - are too tight/short/flimsy/in grim prints or colours.

The mumsy shops all make me look like Miranda (sorry Miranda - love you)

I have given up. I will just wear cheap animal print dresses and (ponte) leggings forever

Pseudonmity Thanks for the tip on the fine knit silk and cotton Zara jumpers - I have been looking for a white/off white fine knit jumper and have just ordered one along with this scarf.

I too have a few silk tops from Zara.

I buy quite a lot of Reiss, Whistles, All Saints and Jigsaw stuff from charity shops. It means its a few seasons old but I don't go for the v of-the-moment stuff anyway.

The shops seem to be full of buttoned-up shirts or victoriana high neck stuff, or hideous cheap looking monochrome tat (thanks, designers). All of which looks foul on a booby pale person like me.

Really interesting thread.

I think so much stuff in high st shops - Next, Oasis, New Look, etc - seems so badly made and in such bad quality fabric. There's no love, care or proper design gone into it - it's fashion by numbers, somehow. All that matters is making risk-free items at the lowest possible price that people are sure to buy, not making excellent quality simple items that people don't need to buy often, or unique beautiful pieces that only a few people would want. It's reduced fashion to a lowest common denominator.

So if you love a particular colour or shape of trousers, unless they can be made super cheaply and be guaranteed to be bought by lots of people, you just won't find them in the shops. Depressing.

Do you remember when River Island used to sell floaty, hippyish stuff that was unique on the high st? Now they sell the same styles as all the other shops. Generic.

I vaguely remember when Next first entered the market, they really shook the high street up. Something like that needs to happen again. Perhaps we should have a Mumsnet range? I can draw up the designs and you lot can all discuss what we want! No man made fibres either. Then we need to find someone to put it into production. Norks will also be catered for! It is quite clear from this thread that there is a huge gap in the market which is being consistently overlooked in the drive for yoof appeal. Anyone know any rich entrepreneurs? I honestly think this could be a real profit earner for someone.

Never thought I would say this, but I kinda miss Principles

Principles ... I'd forgotten about them. And OLD Next - i bought a suit there when it first opened and with my first pay check (so not expensive). Grey wool. Fully lined. Beautifully cut. Lasted over 10 years.

I love your idea Oranges, but worry that the discussion phase might be lengthy ...! But clothes for adults who know they ain't yoof is definitely a gap in the market (tag line might need some work!)
For tops I have been driven to return to button up cotton shirts with top 3 or so undone and camisole ( or currently thermal vest) underneath. Its the only things I can find that are not man made fabric and can be worn in a flattering way. But I have a long waist with the norks so it works on me but might not on shorter waisted persons.

Nice scarf Liberty, fab colours

I have been appalled at high st quality this year, it is so depressing.

I think as a nation we expect to spend virtually nothing on clothes, so all retailers are working on price as a starting point, with quality coming second. Quality at a 'reasonable' price just doesn't really happen at the moment.

I have a seriously capsule wardrobe, so I don't buy many clothes, which makes it less depressing buying only one or two things every month, but I do think it's worth thinking about buying a bit less and buying better stuff which suits you and your style.

I find myself shopping at Toast, Me & Em, Pure Collection for shirts, a little bit of Whistles (mostly wrong style for me though, too shapeless), getting some bits made by a dressmaker (less frightening ££ than I was expecting), the odd thing from Hobbs, and the odd designer thing from Matches/NAP/My-W.

I used to like Principles but the 'new' one in Debenhams is horrible. My favourite ever boots are from Priciples - they must be at least 7 years old now and are wrecked, but I just can't throw them away.