Clothes shops & the Style they are known for

[Frostycake]

Does a list like this exist anywhere? if not, shall we create one?

I can think of the following:

Laura Ashley - 'Romantic'

All Saints - 'Alternative'
Karen Millen - 'dramatic'
Michael Kors - 'Glamorous'
La Redout - 'Classic'
Monsoon - 'Ethnic'
Ralph Lauren - 'Preppy'
Boden - Classic with a touch of bonkers

You get my drift.

I suppose I'm wondering if there are any shops I've overlooked which may be my kind of style (classic/dramatic).

I never set foot in Debenhams - can't bear it!

that's why really the French do children's clothes much better. i also like H&M kids range.

Next kids is surprisingly good - better than womenswear! My label loving (LV for bags, KM etc for dresses) loves their clothes for her DD (5).

Enjoying these. A couple of places I'm never quite sure of - they fall into my category of "a few nice things on the website but are they frumpy?" Phase Eight and Roman Originals. Any opinions? Ive got a couple of Phase Eight dresses for weddings, but never bought from Roman Originals.

i had to check re Roman Originals if I'd heard of them and I had but not much but this because they're mostly not in London which is where I am

Debenhams have completely lost their way with womens wear over the last 10 years or so. I remember them being really good in the late 90s/early 2000s, and not bad for a few years after that. Now they are terrible.

Fat Face - for worthy hill walking types who like fleeces. and have ruddy complexions.

Oasis and Warehouse are just a bit safe and bland these days. A bit like Next, but more fashiony. I remember Warehouse being brilliant back in the day. They used to have fab quality clothing and things that were stylish and a little bit different yet still somehow fairly classic (very hard for a designer to pull off I think).

I seem to buy a lot of my clothes from French Connection these days. I suspect that the consensus is that they are a poor woman's Karen Millen but as an alternative dresser I like them as a high street bridge between Topshop and the er more grown up and sophisticated shops that I probably should be frequenting at the age of forty. ;)

Oh and I also buy loads of stuff from Collectif, which is for ageing goths who have entered into a tattooed sleeve, retro eyeliner and unflattering Victory roll phase.

Debenhams is absolutely dire. I have bought a few gorgeous things in charity shops this week, for a few pounds

I've suddenly wound up with quite a few French Connection items in my wardrobe. All picked up at sales or from TK Maxx though, I think at full price their stuff is overpriced for what it is.

I've only skimmed the thread (sorry) but has anyone mentioned Jigsaw? I can no longer afford it but it used to be my favourite shop and I still love the clothes although the prices seem eye-watering to me now.

SuperFlyHigh I love your Whistles descriptor!

Also loving the Hobbs one - 'I've paid off my student loan'

JuneFromBethesda Jigsaw are, in my mind, at a similar level to LK Bennett - stylish, well made but £££

Yes, I remember the early naughties too when Oasis and Warehouse were great for beautiful silk tops and gorgeous dresses.

Debenhams is just terrible. Row upon row of navy and beige polyester 'slacks'

Shops filled under " Kate Middleton" Jigsaw, Hobbs, Reiss
Shops filled under " Towie" River Island, Lipsy, Miss Selfridge

Hush - no you don't look like the model, you look like you didn't bother getting dressed today

Haha this is so me, I fall for their styling every time when in reality I'm as far away from those long limbed tousle haired models as you can get! But I just can't resist the comfort of clothes that feel like pyjamas but are more acceptable than tracky bottoms.

I agree with you Cambridge - I'm completely in thrall to the Hush brand and I'm forever looking longingly through their catalogues, but never actually order anything. I think because deep down I know that the clothes are over-hyped and would look at best very unremarkable on me.

Shops filled under " Kate Middleton" Jigsaw, Hobbs, Reiss

And LK Bennett. Don't forget LK Bennett! Thanks to Kate, their Sledge shoe will never go out of production. But I guess she has to dress for the "job" she has, although her choices have sadly become far more conservative in the last couple of years.

I've never heard of Hush. Are they like Toast and Boden and available only online and through catalogues that fall out of Red magazine?

I don't think Kate Middleton wears Jigsaw she just worked there briefly...

she also wore a gorgeous Orla Kiely coat dress a couple of years ago.

Sansarya yes Hush are like Toast and Boden and online. basically for posh birds with no time or inclination to drive to the nearest Joules or John Lewis (Johnny Lou Lou to them).

ps is it me or does Red piss anyone else off?? their articles, columnists, clothes - all aspirational wank fodder??

So true about Red! I subscribed to them for a shameful number of years before realising that they were pretty much repeating the same article in every issue.

Maybe we could move the thread on into Fashion Magazines and the Style they're known for?

Red - "aspirational wank fodder"
Cosmopolitan - for those who won't be having anywhere near as much sex as they'll read about in the magazine
Marie Claire - likes to think it's above all other fashion magazines because they'll shoehorn an article about the plight of the rainforest or sex workers in Thailand in between This Summer's 5 Must-Have Shoes.
Vogue - for women who think a £100 bikini is a bargain buy

What are the others? Glamour? Elle? In Style? Good Housekeeping??

Sansaryaglad it's not just me....

I have a journo friend who LOVES Red... then again she spends silly money on bags, holidays etc - envy moi?!

I miss when Marie Claire was good when they had proper in depth articles about world issues.

Company was great too back in 90s.

Vogue - you mean £250 for a bikini is a bargain buy - they'd think it was a Primark one if it was £100

bad housekeeping - for those who need to be told how to boil an egg, who probably already have staff but need directions on how to train them (or be cruel to them...!).

Whistles - Bonkers architect
Fat Face - old surfer
HUSH - posh pyjamas
WRAP - posh baggy jumpers
Me&Em - Trapeeze clothes for clowns

I used to devour womens magazines by the tonne. After a while though, you do see the formula that they work to. It IS just the same thing, re-hashed and churned out again and again.

Frosty - love yours... isn't COS bonkers architect though?!

I've often wondered precisely who it is that looks good in the shapeless sacks Cos call dresses!

Sansarya I agree - however Cos occasionally do nice skirts/tops. I have some.

My SIL (tall, slim) looks good in their dresses.

Wallis - civil servant no personality
Mint Velvet - same person leaves civil service and looks down at the first person for having no personality
Esprit - the Dignitas of retail clothing, where fashion goes to die.
Fat Face - mum of toddler in need of smock to hide baby sick and jelly belly.
White Stuff - younger mum of above
Joseph - for those who inhale food fumes rather than eat
Morgan de Toi - I couldn't be more obvious if I tried
M&S - you've given up, haven't you dear?
Next - same polyester slacks and stretch blouse to work everyday