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Original poster

So sick of tops changing shape after a couple of washes!

54 replies

StephenKatz · 23/12/2015 15:19

Does anyone else experience this? I don't have a lot of money so tend to buy my basics in H&M, Primark, Matalan etc. I'm pretty fussy anyway because I'm very hourglass, I want something that really goes in at the waist, but every time I find something after a couple of washes they just become awful! Like they stretch horizontally, get massively wide and much shorter.

I'm careful with how I wash things, 40°c and no tumble drying, so it can't be that. Does anyone have any decent recommendations? Preferably basic tops that have a defined waist and wash well? Or is it something I'm doing?

OP posts:
M48294Y · 27/12/2015 10:46

Yes, I won't buy from H&M any more because of this problem. I wonder if we should tweet them?

I want to be able to put my tops through a 40 degree wash because, frankly, 15 minutes at 30 degrees is not going to get them clean!

Op, my Uniqlo long sleeved tops have washed and lasted well. Also Petit Bateau (more expensive, but they do last).

What do we think is reasonable to spend on a top these days? I would say £20 but I suspect it is the demand for £9 or £10 tops which has caused the cheap fabric/shrinkage problem in the first place.

lushemployee · 27/12/2015 10:47

Dorothy Perkins tops are the worst for this.

I know it's more expensive than you're used to, but stock up on some basic tops from Boden. They have a sale on at the moment, and if you look out for their offers and free delivery codes it doesn't work out too expensive. Also, once you've bought something from them, they send you £10 off any spend codes a few times a year. It's well worth it - they wash beautifully, never shrink or go short, wide and baggy and will last for years.

Yseulte · 27/12/2015 11:08

It's the spin that really pulls then out of shape.

I wash mine 30 degrees, short wash, turn off the spin. If in doubt, hand wash.

M48294Y · 27/12/2015 11:19

Life is too short for hand washing everyday tops. Who can honestly be arsed?

gingerboy1912 · 27/12/2015 11:22

M&s and Next are are a nightmare in my opinion, for shrinking after several washes, they all seem to get shorter in length and baggy around the neck area.

southeastastra · 27/12/2015 11:26

i buy lots of long/short sleeve t shirts and sweats from american apparel, never really have a problem with shape (unless you buy the thinner material)

wear uniqlo daily and don'thave probs with them either.

Original poster
StephenKatz · 27/12/2015 11:36

Thank you so much for all the replies, glad to know it's not just me! I worry that any wash lower than 30 wouldn't wash my smelly pits properly, but maybe I should give it a try! I've looked all over online at the shops suggested, blummin January sales has everything sold out! I'm toying with the idea of going to Gap this afternoon, they have an outlet near us, but so far it's had pretty mixed reviews!

I don't have a Uniqlo near me but I think I'll have a go and order online when they get my size back in stock. Sainsbury's look decent, I just wish they didn't have such a poor selection in my local big store!!

OP posts:
Original poster
StephenKatz · 27/12/2015 11:39

Thank you for the explanation FlingingMelon, it does make sense to the seller I suppose but how annoying for us!!

Actually I need to go to BHS to return some slippers for Dh...wonder if it's worth a look Grin

OP posts:
WilburIsSomePig · 27/12/2015 11:46

It's the spin that really pulls then out of shape.

^^ This

I honestly find half hour wash at 30 is fine. Unless it's workout gear or the middle of summer of course.

Original poster
StephenKatz · 28/12/2015 13:11

Well I went to Gap outlet. Tops were bargainous in the sale but since I had DDs with me I just grabbed two and didn't try them on!!! I've got one on today, it's okayish. Neckline is lovely but the size is mad, XS and still too big on the waist. I'm an 8 on top so God knows where slimmer people than me shop Confused

OP posts:
ouryve · 28/12/2015 13:16

White stuff goes out of shape, too.

And nothing less than 40 gets ds2's grubby foody handprints out of my clothes. Or his, for that matter.

M48294Y · 28/12/2015 13:58

I thought of this thread today as I hung up a new cotton White Stuff long sleeve top with the side seams twisted to buggery. It was washed at 40 with a mixed load of other items. And being White Stuff, it wasn't cheap either. Sigh.

BrandNewAndImproved · 28/12/2015 14:04

I've noticed this to. It's so annoying as I don't have a lot of money anyway.

I find they shrink up so my belly is on show if I lift my arms and the trousers get baggy and fall off my waist even though they fitted fine before.

Gruach · 28/12/2015 14:19

I'm afraid it's true that you will have to spend more ... (Though let's not talk about the Alexander Wang t shirt that was unrecognizeable after one careful wash.)

This is one of the few things M&S still does reasonably well, if you can stand the depressing shopping environment and too much choice.

I've had vests and long sleeved cotton tops from Cos that refuse to look a day older after probably fifty laundry cycles. Toast cotton tops (even if one is out of sympathy with the rest of their clothing) are pretty much indestructible. (Worth seeking out during sale time.)

Other than that, you could put Agnes b or Margaret Howell on next year's Christmas list ...

samesizetoes · 28/12/2015 15:30

Flingingmelon is right saying manufacturers skip the pre-shrinking fabric stage but they also try to cut as many patterns from one piece of fabric as possible with no thought to the bias or weft of the fabric. If they rotate the pattern slightly they can use more material from the roll. This is when the straight edge of the material and the edge of the seams don't run parallel with each other and your garments start twisting.

ginorwine · 28/12/2015 15:56

Try kettle well for basic tops
They are quite expensive but I find they last for years
Joules does good cotton as does seasalt in lovely colours .
Boden take returns on things for about a year and include poor quality after washing .

Original poster
StephenKatz · 29/12/2015 19:14

Thank you for all the input guys. I've had a good look at the sales at the likes of Boden/Red Herring/Joules, very little available for me unfortunately (may be SLIGHTLY fussy...) All I want is basic tops in white/black etc. I liked the Kettlewell sight but with DDs still being at the sticky jam fingers stage I think I may well cry if I ruined a £35 top!

OP posts:
Original poster
StephenKatz · 29/12/2015 19:25

*Kettlewell site

Seriously, am I being too fussy? I'd get them tailored if I knew they would wash ok

OP posts:
Original poster
StephenKatz · 29/12/2015 19:32

*Kettlewell site

Seriously, am I being too fussy? My lovely DM got me some Next vouchers for Christmas, not my favourite shop but obviously very kind of her. So the picture is of me in a top described as 'fitted', in no way is it fitted. For starters, the sizing is completely ridiculous, that's a size 6 top. No way am I a size 6!! The second picture is me 'improving' the fit. Now it might be worth paying to have them tailored, if I could trust that it would wash OK! But I'm assuming if I got it 'fitted' then it would loose a bit of length?

So sick of tops changing shape after a couple of washes!
So sick of tops changing shape after a couple of washes!
OP posts:
Original poster
StephenKatz · 29/12/2015 19:35

Oh there's the beginning of my lost post Hmm

OP posts:
JohnnyDeppsfuturewife · 29/12/2015 21:23

A couple of years ago I bought some fitted long sleeve tops from the Great Plains website for about £5. They have kept their shape really well. I'm not sure if their quality is still high but it might be worth a try.

Woodhill · 29/12/2015 22:11

I know it's no help but I remember buying from Racing Green 15 years' ago, thicker cotton which kept its shape plus Boden used to be better or Principles original store rather than Debenhams.

John Lewis aren't too bad in regards to the quality of cotton but do shrink slightly. Next go baggy. Whitestuff go holey.

high street quality is crap.

Original poster
StephenKatz · 02/01/2016 13:20

Well I washed my Gap top yesterday, guess what happened? Hmm

30° and no tumble dry, good job I still have the receipt!

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 02/01/2016 13:27

I find GAP terrible for twisting at the seams. 20 years ago GAP was my 'good quality basics, when I can afford them' shop and now I've got stuff from Primark that is better quality. Sad

HoggleHoggle · 02/01/2016 13:33

Gap stuff is absolutely shocking quality, I just don't buy there anymore which is a shame as I like the tops themselves. I still get ds's tops from there partly because they always have mad super cheap sales on and partly because he goes through clothes quickly anyway.

I have a couple of Boden striped tops (naturally) and they have washed pretty well. A few Next tops from a few years ago washed well, but not anything I've bought recently.

Not sure where to go next. I like the relaxed tshirt style but can't bear buying more crap.