Favourite stores?

[ToastedTeacakes]

I'm wondering what stores you might consider favourites for both quality and satisfaction. Can range from Primark to Net A Porter, Whistles to Hobbs, etc.

I'm still at that stage were I often feel as though I am being ripped off - polyester dresses for £150 at Hobbs??? Not sure what I make of this.

Whistles looks so nice, but the way they style the online models depresses me, they always look badly put together and frumpy.

Kind of no trust left for lower end high street. Even Zara tees let me down now so I'm not sure what I think any more.

Can only afford higher end on occasion, which is nice but not totally practical.

Thoughts? Who do you stand by and trust?

Toast hate me, they don't even do my shoe size!

Faddy my two massimo cardigans unraveled at the shoulders within days. My satchel had an ugly sheen and caved in structurally after a few wears. I don't think they ought to pretend they are higher quality than zara. But a few stores keep popping up with these alternate 'premium' sister shops.....H&M, Oysho, etc. All crap in my opinion. If you're gonna go premium do it properly or don't bother. I'd rather wear Primark, at least they're not pretending to be what they're not...

I have found Massimo Dutti to be mixed quality too. But DH loves it and shirts he has from there are excellent.

Hobbs I find v boring, the same things over and over but I think the quality is generally good especially shoes and bags and they are very reliable for workwear.

I love TKMaxx, get lots in Gap and I have a soft spot for French Connection - it's overpriced but I generally get a top or two in the sales.

I have only ever had good experiences with Massimo Dutti apart from a pair of ballet pumps that collapsed, but it is very cheap where I live and I'd never pay the full English prices. Its DHs favourite shop along with Joules, and for christmas I bought him a jumper for ?18 (merino mix) in the sale which was on the UK website for £35! It does annoy me how much more things cost in the same shop in England (we live in Spain).

I don't think oysho are pretending to be premium are they? Although my ipad did autocorrect the name to posho!!! Here its seen as a cheapo underwear shop.

The best leggings in the world are they bum lift ones from Calzedonia.

I tend to try and stick to shops that specialise in the market, so mostly I buy shoes only from shoe shops rather than topshop/zara etc, I buy knitwear from John smedley, perfume from jo malone, jeans from levi or MiH, bags from mulberry or zatchel. I have a theory that if the shop sticks to what they are good at they can't go too far wrong!

Love Posho!

Always confused where to buy knits.

Very, very confused.

Don't want Brora or the cashmere stuff, but love V Bruno and Marant knits. Can't afford them, unless a once per year treat..

Love this but fear it will hang like saggy cocoon

www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/clothing#product=903000060330

Lovely jumper Toasted Teacakes. Hope you don't mind me joining in the conversation. You always have great taste if you are who I think you are.

I bought a Splendid tee in the NAP sale earlier this year - the fit was lovely, the colour was fab. But ... it pills. I'm stunned. £30 for a tee that wants to pill and I would have been even more gutted if I had paid £60 full price. I wore a H&M tee yesterday and it keeps it's shape, washes well, fits good - can't fault it except it's not grey marl. I wish they would make the grey marl version and put me out of my misery.

And I can't afford high end so top end high street is as high as I can go for now. But it does pain me when I pick up a pair of shoes in KG for instance and find it's £90 and it's synthetic. Why? I'm currently trying to buy a little better but can't resist the quick thrill to be found in H&M who seem to have answered a lot of my prayers this year. It's a shame you've not had much luck with Massimo Dutti - I've just ordered a skirt. I hope it's going to be okay :o(

SoSo I have no idea who I am, so god help anyone else! I do have a tumblr but don't actually appear on it much.

Hang on! Your user name....It think I know you, too! Small world it is!

Tees sure are tricky. I have nothing but miserable experiences behind me. Just bought a vest from COS but not sure what the fuss is all about. It's no better than the lower priced high street stuff. I suppose it's hit or miss with everything, really.

Sad to hear about the Splendid tee. I have a few from River Island that i use to sleep in, which ping back to shape after eery wash - but they are starting to bobble too. My fave is a linen tee from Zara, it's done me very well so far, but the rolled arm cuffs have snapped and now sag.

Worst for me is knitwear. Can never find what I want, so tend to make do with lesser.

And when I see knitwear that I would like to invest in (Bruno, Marant) it has sold out before I even finish contemplating it. There's a basket knit pullover by Vanessa Bruno still listed at My Theresa that I yearn for, bu it completely sold out about 5 months ago.
I need to move on!

Toasted - would you share your tumblr again? I looked at it before on a previous thread and would love to look at it again - it really is very lovely!

It's mostly reblogs, but i love it for inspiration! x

dansedelune.tumblr.com/

I get desiiiigner stuff at TK or Cocosa and fill the gaps from Uniqlo, Primark, H&M and Gap.

Tbh, I reckon the middle-middle High Street is the worst value of all - Tosho is comedy pricy, as is M&S, River Island etc. You can drop 200 quid for about 4 things in these places, whereas in TK & a cheapie store you end up with the same stuff but the designer version (eg Notify Jeans the same ? as R Island, Westwood jacket for the same price as the rip-off) and a lot better quality t-shirts.

Mind, I have a soft spot for Jaeger.

Toasted Teacakes - are you keeping the Chloe?

SoSo, oh yes, we've bonded!

Corygal I forgot about Jaeger. I've had great experience shopping there!

Thanks Toasted - I fear I have found a new distraction, that's my weekend planned :)

Hooray! Jaeger is on sale at the mo too.

I am all over the place with where I shop. Lk Bennett and Christian lounoutin for shoes, matalan, m and s and peacocks for everything else!

this year i have mainly shopped at the outnet and asos

I live in the arse end of nowhere so the bulk of my wardrobe comes from the high street stores we have here

Matalan
Peacocks
H&M
New Look
Next
Dorothy Perkins
Animal
Clarkes
Brantano
TK Maxx
Fat Face

Some stuff online from Cos, ASOS, Massimo Dutti, Crew

Then special trips to Southampton for places like Primark, John Lewis, Gap, All Saints, Zara, Office, River Island, etc