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Original poster

Shops you never go into into?

94 replies

LollyLondon · 02/02/2015 09:48

I never, ever bought any clothes in Laura Ashley - until this weekend.
Spotted a great jacket in the window www.lauraashley.com/uk/coats+jackets/collarless-biker-jacket/invt/ct733
Looks much nicer IRL. 20% off, bargain!

Made we wonder whether there are other shops I should take a second look at...

OP posts:
SinglePringle · 02/02/2015 12:10

Never:

M&S for clothes
BHS
Phase 8
White Stuff
Fat Face
Next
Jane Norman
New Look
Oasis
Primark
F&F / Supermarkets for clothes
Gap
Laura Ashley
Benetton

MrsBertMacklin · 02/02/2015 12:10

LK Bennett, their clothes look repressed.

Nabootique · 02/02/2015 12:13

Never go in Zara (I have never seen anything I like, and find it all a bit dull) or Hollister (masquerades as a night club. I like to actually see the clothes I am rejecting on the basis that they are hideous and overpriced, thank you).

Used to shop in River Island a lot and one day realised I hadn't found anything I wanted in there in about 4 years! It was around the time I found the ugliest item of clothing I have ever seen in one of their stores. Desperately tried to find a picture to show you as it was a sight to behold but alas, I could not. It was a shiny, pink organza t-shirt covered in the biggest fake gems I had ever seen. I knew I no longer belonged there.

Nabootique · 02/02/2015 12:14

Yes, ouryve! I did actually think it was some sort of weird day time club for years before someone told me otherwise.

ActionManEyes · 02/02/2015 12:19

I am old enough to remember when River Island was really classy and sumptuous - all lovely fabrics, beautiful shop fittings and 1920s music - in the early 90s

I was just thinking about this the other day, how my best mate and I used to go in there when we were teenagers. We'd go every Saturday just to browse (couldn't afford to buy anything). It was lovely and classy in a sort of arty, earthy way. They're uber trashy now. Shame Sad

BrendaBlackhead · 02/02/2015 12:19

I think the Hollister (lack of) lighting is a cunning plan to keep out mums with failing eyesight. Then dcs can go in there clutching their birthday/Christmas money and browse in peace without having "How much?!?" yelled in their ear.

BrendaBlackhead · 02/02/2015 12:24

I don't know the sales figures of River Island, but it's about time they reincarnated, a la Dr Who. As I mentioned earlier, they morphed from Chelsea Girl into River Island back in the 90s.

I agree that the teen range is nothing short of disgusting. Foul designs, nasty fabrics and inappropriate for anyone not working in a lapdancing club.

DarylDixonsDarlin · 02/02/2015 12:25

Never been in Oasis, Mango, Jaeger, Edinburgh Woolen Mill, Selfridges, the really dark one all the youngsters go in (what is it called?) Hobbs, Russel and Bromley, Whistles, USC, Benetton, Gap, Jane Norman, Karen Millen.

Been in but never bought anything: Topshop, River Island, Laura Ashley, Superdry, Weird Fish, Schuh, Coast, Wallis, La Senza.

The joys of living in the arse end of nowhere...shopping temptations just don't exist Grin. But i can easily do h and m online, fat face, seasalt, white stuff, mistral, new look, dorothy perkins and good old ebay! Its mainly supermarket clothing & Next for the DCs.

DarylDixonsDarlin · 02/02/2015 12:27

Oh there you go, while I've typed that, Brenda has answered about the dark shop for me! Its Hollister - no idea where the nearest one is to me, over 2 hours away I should think! thank fuck

Nabootique · 02/02/2015 12:28

I think you could be right Brenda. Us old dears wouldn't be able to hear how much it was over the din anyway.

Daryl the really dark one is Hollister. I swear I nearly lost a toddler the only time I went in there.

polyhymnia · 02/02/2015 12:30

Never go into:

Primark (and similar)
Simply Be
Next
Debenhams
Dorothy Perkins
Fat Face
Oasis
BHS
River Island
New Look
Evans
Jane Norman

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 02/02/2015 12:30

I'm too short for Zara.
Too old for TopShop.
Too young for Monsoon.
Too classy for Karen Millen
I've never been back to a River Island since the time I got stuck in a purple boob tube and had to get the assistant to pull me out of it.
And I'm definitely too puzzled by East. Who is that shop aimed at?

MixenLane · 02/02/2015 12:32

M & S. And I'm their ideal demographic. Stopped buying clothes there a couple of years ago and now even their knickers are rubbish.

Far too old for Top Shop and Miss Selfridge as I was shopping there in the late 70s and early 80s Grin

Armpitt · 02/02/2015 12:33

all saints

everything too drapey and middle aged art teacher trying to look happening.

MaryWestmacott · 02/02/2015 12:43

I'm another who never goes in Laura Ashley - there's one I walk past a couple of times a week, but I never pop in.

WipsGlitter · 02/02/2015 12:45

Basically if its not in my local shopping centre I don't go there. The last time I went into the city centre clothes shopping was two years ago!! So no primark, zara, topshop, all saints, reiss, fat face or white stuff.

I've really given up on clothes since I put on weight and don't have as much money to spend on them anymore. I also find buying clothes for the sake of having something 'new' or 'on trend' strange now. I did buy a next top before Christmas.

Georgina1975 · 02/02/2015 12:48

Primark
Next
Dorothy Perkins
Fat Face (used to love it)
Oasis
BHS
River Island
New Look
Evans
Jane Norman
Top Shop
Zara
Warehouse
Miss Selfridge
H&M

I have been in these shops, but not bothered for the last 4-5 years. It is not surprising given that most are not aiming at my age demographic, but I don't like the cheap fabric even if I do find a nice design.

Don't go to TK Max for clothes anymore, but our branch has some brilliant home, body and beauty stuff. Recent buys include Neom half-price, Miller Harris half-price and Emma Hardie better than half-price.

SinglePringle · 02/02/2015 13:06

Oh forgot about Dorothy Perkins. Awful fabric. And East. Just dull. Never go in Hobbs either.

SinglePringle · 02/02/2015 13:07

Or Monsoon.

Stinkle · 02/02/2015 13:11

Bon Marche
Jane Norman
Mountain Warehouse

And YY to Hollister. Luckily DD has gone off it now though. It took me ages to find the one in Southampton, I kept walking past it as I thought it was a restaurant or something.

Floisme · 02/02/2015 13:13

Blimey there are some long lists here! The shopping isn't that great where I live so although I may have my favourites, I never rule any place out completely.

Saurus72 · 02/02/2015 13:26

TBH, it's easier to list the shops I go into:

Whistles
Cos
& Other Stories
Jigsaw
Hobbs
Jaeger outlet
Monsoon (but I pretty much always end up returning what I buy - you'd think there'd be a learning curve but apparently not)
The White Company
Clarks -work shoes

I just can't stand traipsing round for hours looking in every shop, and these ones seem to meet most of my needs.

squizita · 02/02/2015 13:36

The White Company. The very concept makes me cringe.
OK ok, in the 90s the way to be grown up and middle class was to have everything white and grey.
...but surely that is to do with "taste" and selecting things, not just having everything in one overpriced matchy matchy shop.

squizita · 02/02/2015 13:38

Ooh and Hollister. Won't shop in the dark.

gaggiagirl · 02/02/2015 13:52

Never go in...
Zara, don't get it.
Monsoon, too expensive.
Oasis, just no.
Mango, confusing.
Next, hate the place.
Warehouse, nothing catches my eye.
Wallis, isn't for me.
Karen Millen, I don't need to sparkle, thank you.