I bought something from Fat Face. Is this the end?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Picked a random jumper up in John Lewis and liked it. Looked at the label - 100% cotton. Liked it even more. Looked at the price - reasonable. Liked it even more. tried it on. Liked it. Dp liked it. Then I saw the label. I bought it anyway.

Am I doomed?

Agreed, Looki. I don't get the "reverse snobbery" argument at all. It's not like many people aspire to shop in FatFace!!
Besides, FatFace isn't really more expensive than the likes of Topshop these days anyway. You're talking at least £45 for jeans in either.

FatFace is where my 65-y-o mum shops because it's "safe." The tops are all in faded prints and hang, tunic-style, rather than being fitted. I could wear a size 10 FatFace top that she bought me when i was full term pregnant, it was that baggy!
The jeans are cut in a very forgiving way, the skirts all have acres of fabric in them, the cardigans remind me of Saffy from Ab Fab, and then there's a whole selection of printed scarves to "jazz up" the whole ensemble.

IMO, FatFace, White Stuff, Joules etc are perfect for people like my mum. She's in her 60s, not wanting anything figure-hugging or fitted, but wants something "nice" - rather than just picking up a plain jumper and trousers in M&S the way her own mother (in her 90s) does.

These shops are aimed at this demographic IMO, hence the slightly higher prices, muted colour palette, decent quality fabrics, and vanity sizing. In the 80s, pensioners shopped at BHS or C&A, but times have changed.

There's nothing especially wrong with FatFace, as it serves its demographic well. But it's just not for me - I'm in my 30s!

I'm not far off your mum's age and Fat Face and Joules don't serve me well at all. I'm suprised so many people think older women don't like fitted clothes. Bagginess was fine when I was young and firm of body but now I need fit, structure and good underwear. And I hate muted colours - they make me look like I've got a week to live.

I think the moment a shop loses its way - and I would say Fat Face has - is when it starts to aim for my demographic. Here's the thing: we don't all look the same and we don't all like the same things. All we have in common is we like sleeves and better quality fabrics that don't cling.

The annoying thing about white stuff and to an extent fat face is that they used to be brands aimed at active people in their twenties - a bit Sloaney, true, but not frumpy.

If they make money, fair enough, they are a business. However, I miss the old 1990's white stuff. I might be in my 40's but I am not trying to hide my body under flowery prints.

whirlygirly has it spot on.
Mint velvet is the same. All smudgy grey and blush. I used to buy lots there but it hasn't evolved.
Fat face used to do nice tunics but it's all a bit shapeless and crumpled.
I do have a parka from there which is great.
I have bought some great 3/4 sleeve Henleys from Matalan this week.

This is all news to me....group of friends in 20s and 30s who love fatface...and kind of aspire to it I guess as I have more of a sainsburys tu budget :) wear what makes you smile ...I'd never have thought it was aimed at those in there 60s..but I like it so I'd wear it anyway....we are in a coastal area not sure if that makes any difference

Fat Face used to be quite different. I Bought surfy t shirts and hoodies, short denim skirts etc in there in the early 2000's. It was a much "younger" style than it is now.

My daughter likes fatface-she is 17. I like it too. I do think they are expensive but usually there is a way of getting a discount. I will often buy a size down as they are often loose cut.

I don't buy clothes indiscriminately from any shop because of the branding; I try it on and see if it fits, looks good and feels good.

I also look at the fabric and quality and the price. Clothes are clothes and I don't think anyone would look at me and say I dress from any particular shop.

Agree with Paddington and merry mouse- it isn't thre same active range as it was, and although both ff and ws have mostly hung on to the natural fabrics, nothing is as robust or hard wearing as it was when it was basically a cooler version of millets! However, weird fish, which ised to be similar, seems to have gone polyester city, the last t shirt I picked up in esprit was 40% polyester, and there doesn't seem to be many places that are mainly natural fabrics left.

I bought white stuff/fat face items post dc. Eventually (youngest is 3) I realised I had recovered from the temporary brain damage and self esteem deficit of child birth and sent them off to the chazza.
Fat face did have some nice shorts once but im not convinced.

It did used to be different. I remember the colours being far more vibrant, the quality being better and being spoilt for choice when I went in there. Now I pick up some variation of a white vest top and short khaki skirt/shorts for the beach each year (we live in fat face coastal heartlands) and that's that.

Pointelle jumpers in sludge brown with button down backs just hold no appeal. They're like overpriced embellished dishcloths.

I've recently bought a few bits from fat face - denim pinafore (every other one I tried was arse skimming), long sleeved tees, tea dress.

I think its good for the odd thing, I wouldn't buy loads as you would very quickly start to look like you work there!!

They do great hoodies and PJ bottoms. And their dresses often fit me well - good with biker boots and leather jacket. I don't really give a toss if other people don't like my style - I probably don't like theirs!

yes I HATE that shop, and bloody white stuff

hahah and its YOU REMUS

NExt stop - button necklaces

button necklaces

I do love mumsnet for showing me how many things people hate that I' have never given a 2nd thought to. It's a whole new world. All these shops are way out of my price range unless in the sale but I did buy 2 tops at fat face that were cheaper. They both shrank 4 inches in length even though I washed them at 30 degrees. Awful.

I don't really get the whole label thing - if I like it I buy it - whatever the shop. I got a very cheap coat from a cheap pretty frumpy catalogue and have so many compliments over it., mostly from wealthier people who seemed shocked at where I got it from.

loving all these people saying its for older women and 30 somethings don't wear it. I live in a fairly expensive area, although I would say it was average in terms of class/income its just expensive because its the south east and on commuter lines.
Its a sea of fat face, joules, boden etc at the school run and at the local shops (waitrose and Iceland) and most of the mums are late 20's early 30's. the older 40 somethings are more hobbs, jigsaw types.

ironically, back when I was at school in the eighties jigsaw and hobbs were both brands to be seen in - usually shirts and jackets worn over second hand 501's. Warehouse was cool back then too - everything white cotton and the shop sold dye to colour it.

Oh the brands of yesteryear...

Actually just been to warehouse website - it is fashionable again!

JackandDiane I know - it's very worrying.

Pmsl at button necklaces.

You'd like my jumper though. It's grey and lacy. Looks more like something from MV but without the poor quality and ridiculous price tag.

Warehouse used to be brilliant for silk dresses and camis. I never go in there now.

To me Fat Face is quite young and trendy as I shopped there mostly in my 20s. Haven't shopped much in the other shops.

The dds (21 and 18) got some Fat Face vouchers for Christmas, and found it quite hard to spend them. DD1 ended up with a jumper and dd2 with a men's t-shirt and some socks. When we went in there to spend the vouchers, it was full of young couples with toddlers.

I've just had the Wrap catalogue in the post...no idea why..I've never bought from there.
It resembles expensive Fatface..very muted and drapey.

Remus - I got a fat face voucher for my last birthday and found it v difficult to spend too - not least because everything is so big.
Not a stealth boast, I'm an average size 10 in most places, or sometimes a 12 in Topshop, but fat face 8s were too big. Ended up with pyjama bottoms in the end. They're thick and v comfy, I like them.

Woodley - that sea of FatFace/joules/Boden mums is a regular vision at my local park. It reached maximum middle-class-nightmare about two years ago when Joules did a blue flowery spring coat that EVERYONE seemed to have. It was like a scary identikit floral army of massive-buggy-wielders, all with yummy mummy change bags at the ready.