Where do you buy good quality nice clothes?

[msrisotto]

I used to get lovely clothes from New Look, Topshop, GAP French Connection etc but I think quality has really gone down. It all seems to be polyester, so cheap it's see through or hideous cut or prints. Where are the nice clothes hiding?

White Company (I know some don't rate the quality but I've always found it really good, I've worn their jersey dresses for years), Banana Republic, Jaegar, Fat Face (surprisingly good), Pure Collection for knitwear, M&S Autograph range, Coast for fancy tops, Phase Eight and...Laura Ashley! I buy my jeans in the US (Tommy Hilfiger, last years and years with no colour fade).

I'm 28 and I buy mostly from NaP, Outnet, Matches and My-W. Get a lot of workwear from Gerard Darel and Me&Em. TK Maxx can be really good, though it is hard work. Sample sales have also thrown up a lot of bargains but the best ones are invite only.

I tend to now go for Joules (currently everything on 3 for 2 ). Also love Banana Republic (the better arm of GAP), Boden and some bargains from good old TK Maxx.

i really like next, they do some very nice quality basics, e.g jeans, t shirts etc.the prices are neither too cheap or ££££.

Hobbs for work clothes; a bit more expensive but good quality fabrics and styles which don't date. The nw3 range is lovely, especially the jackets. I used to love Reiss but think the quality and fabrics have gone downhill and they are overpriced. Jigsaw still has the odd nice thing, and reasonable sales (better in store than online though)

Brora (sale only) for knitwear. I have pieces that are 5 year old and still look great.

Uniqlo for basic tees and some jeans / leggings. Quite like mango's trousers (usually around the £30 mark). Boden is good for tops.

I try to buy fairly little, but buy better quality stuff.

I love Jigsaw and Whistles and find things tend to last really well from these shops.

I've had some nice stuff from The Outnet. I like their own range, Iris and Ink . Would recommend the cashmere.

Watching this thread with interest. Also, can anyone advise about shoes? The only decent boots I've found here (England) were two beautiful leather pairs in a charity shop.

Thanks so much everyone! Love this thread. I bought a top from Joules the other day and have a bunch of things in my basket on Modcloth. I also bought a bunch of things from Spitalfield market today! Handmade and designed screen printed top and two cool cardigans, a very stylish jumper, another top. Really good stuff! I'm now broke.

I completely agree. I'm 29 and I think they're crap at marketing to our demographic. I'm too old for leggings covered in peace signs but too young (and poor - apparently) for Hobbs. I've been out shopping a bunch of times recently with money burning a hole in my pocket and fuck all decent stuff to buy. Dear High Street: I WANT TO GIVE YOU MONEY. Give me a reason to do so!!

I usually love Topshop but the cut of things in there at the moment is hideous. Even the dresses are just baggy sacks. Somehow the models manage to look okay, but that's in spite of the clothes and not because of them. I refuse to buy see-through polyester shirts when summer's coming in - in fact I'm not going to buy anything that requires other clothes to be worn underneath to make them decent.

What I would like:

Nice jersey dresses that flatter my shape - ones that go in at the waist, please, and don't hang from my boobs
Nice, easily wearable jersey tops WITH sleeves - and none of that shitty cap sleeve nonsense please
Clothes thick enough that you can't see my underwear

I don't think I'm asking for much here. I'm a size 8 - 10, so should it really be so frigging difficult??

I love that the high street's in trouble and they all blame austerity. Naw - it's just shit.

I love buying stuff off eBay. All the labels but second hand. It's fun too

My favourite is cos, website cosstores.com, i ued to get some things from laura Ashley but haven't seen anything recently. Levi's for jeans. Crew clothing in the sale have thrown up a couple of nice tops.

Walked around John Lewis and white company last week and didn't see a single thing I liked

www.valourandwoods.com/ This online store offers a variety of designs and has a 14-day return policy. It also has free international shipping. Worth checking out.

From the cheap and cheerful end up:

Still the odd gem in H&M although I'm not sure how much longer I can say that.

Uniqlo can be random but normally quality not bad for the price.
Cos is generally pretty decent.

Moving up to the high end - Toast is the most consistently good brand I know on the high street.
Me and Em although I've not brought from them recently.
I like Celtic & Co and John Smedley for knitwear.
I mostly buy these brands second hand or in the sales but occasionally save up.

In designer land, Margaret Howell and Joseph - I can only afford second hand.

Doh! sorry Zombie thread - although I suppose the issue is as current as ever.

I think people have become used to buying cheap clothes which are badly made and made in poor countries by people paid a pittance - Primark. Clothes used to be better made and more expensive. The reason I rarely buy in M&S now is that they have chased the price down.

When recently house hunting I could not believe how many clothes and shoes people have stuffed in cupboards.

I try to buy stuff from independant shops locally, not silly£ but more expensive than M&S etc. I like Jigsaw and get stuff from John Lewis.

I'm currently struggling with hating all the high St clothes but not being able to afford really good ones. People keep rating asos bur I can't find anything I like, I hate all the clothes I see at the moment... I'd do eBay but I'm tall and high-waisted and need to try stuff on... Online is fine if they have free returns.
I like clothes with a silhouette, not baggy things and I hate the cold shoulder trend!

For good quality casuals Cotton Traders are pretty good I've a dress that has lasted for years, now where did I put it?

YY to bags from Jaeger, I have a bowling bag from there, 5 years old and looks like new.

For clothes, Mint Velvet, whistles, Gerard Darel, Brora, Seasalt

None of these are cheap but the J Lewis sales are good

Agree with others that fatface and white stuff can be surprisingly good quality. They use a lot of natural fibres which is increasingly uncommon