Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

What's happened to Next?

47 replies

Runningupthathill82 · 26/04/2016 15:33

Or has it always been so awful and I just haven't noticed?!

Went in today as I had a voucher to spend, and really really struggled to find something even halfway wearable.

Harem pants in hideous designs, "tropical" print T shirts with slogans on, cheap polyester tops in garish colours, leggings galore, office clothes in shiny, nasty fabrics and a raft of Fat Face-esque baggy tops in washed out colours. Even the underwear was horrible and cheap looking.

Is it just me? Or has Next become worse than ever?!

OP posts:
whirlygirly · 26/04/2016 19:12

I like next online a lot better, just ordered some summer stuff from their Rio collection and was spoilt for choice, unusually.

I did buy some summer bits for the dcs last weekend - a bag full for £25. Priced it up on the next website (I was bored Grin) and virtually the same haul was over £80. It's extremely expensive for what it is.

whirlygirly · 26/04/2016 19:12

The cheaper summer bits were from primark. Without that info my post makes no sense Smile

Blackheart2016 · 26/04/2016 19:17

I haven't seen anything worth buying in their store for a long time but I occasionally go online for their skinny jeans. I don't like their officey work stuff and I can't wear those sludgy baggy tops without looking like Im cleaning the car.

I agree that their labels stuff is good and in an emergency you can order tons of stuff for a night out and it is delivered the next day. I tend to return a lot of stuff especially shoes which never seem to fit and are well over-priced.

ZaraW · 26/04/2016 19:25

I remember buying my work wear stuff when I graduated in the mid 1990's they had a separate shop for shoes it was definitely a bit more posh. Their white cotton blouses were fab. They've been a bit crap for years.

Claraoswald36 · 26/04/2016 19:29

It's always been vile in my opinion. The kids clothes fall apart. We buy uv beach suits there every year and not a single other item!

FaithAscending · 26/04/2016 19:33

Next was my favourite shop for years. So much so my in laws bought me gift vouchers for birthdays and Christmas. In the last 2 years I've had to politely tell them to get them for elsewhere because I can never find stuff in Next that I like!

ShatnersBassoon · 26/04/2016 19:34

It did used to be a cut above the other high street clothing retailers back in the 80s. I remember the fancy jewellery case.

I like some of their homeware, but the clothing is lacklustre and poor value.

Lenazabaglione · 26/04/2016 20:03

I thought it was just me! Years ago I would always come out of Next, bag in hand, after wandering in without intending to buy anything. Now, it's totally uninspiring. Always come out empty handed.

peasofcake · 26/04/2016 20:37

I went in last week to a newly opened store so all new shop fit etc. I could not believe how much stuff they had crammed in to the shop floor! It was like desperation to sell you something. Great for kids, love the home stuff but the fashion does not appeal.

mumsnit · 26/04/2016 20:44

I just wish they did some of their girls clothes in bigger sizes!

I buy DD stuff from there that I'd love for myself and its (mostly) natural fibres rather than the viscose they (and every other high street retailer) use for almost all their womenwear. Honestly I'm sick of crackling every time I take my clothes off!!

maggiethemagpie · 26/04/2016 20:59

For women's clothes it's dire but I LOVED the baby stuff when my two were little. I got seriously obsessed by the denim applique ranges with matching this that and the other. I ended up dressing my daughter head to toe in next - I think their kids clothes are pricier relatively speaking than their adults, I mean Next is not that much more than Tesco or Sainsburys for adults but the kids stuff is twice as dear...so maybe they can afford better fabrics or somethin.

bblondemoment · 27/04/2016 09:13

Recently shopped in next for the first time in years since the children grew up. Bought some fab(in my opinion) lift and shape denim shorts and swimsuits for my holiday. In fact my buys probably sums up nexts current stock - it's all for over 40's who buy the occasional thing hoping it's gonna suck their body in and try and make them look half decent on holiday

bblondemoment · 27/04/2016 09:13

Recently shopped in next for the first time in years since the children grew up. Bought some fab(in my opinion) lift and shape denim shorts and swimsuits for my holiday. In fact my buys probably sums up nexts current stock - it's all for over 40's who buy the occasional thing hoping it's gonna suck their body in and try and make them look half decent on holiday. Definitely not a shop I go to for everyday wear.

fresta · 27/04/2016 09:29

I remember not being able to afford Next clothes as a student, it was a quality type shop, and the stores were like boutiques. In the early 90s when I started work I would shop there and the shoes were all leather lined, the tops were fashionable and good quality and coats were something to save up for. Somewhere along the way they went for quantity over quality, the Directory and shops are huge now and the product range too wide and low priced. Even the kids clothes are not as good as they were.

Brieandstilton · 27/04/2016 09:37

They seem to go too far with pattern. Who buys it? I went shopping the other week, and had a look at websites in advance as I knew I wouldn't have much time I each shop. Had a few things in mind from Next that I wanted to try on. None of them were in the shop, which is a fairly big one. Instead there was just a migraine inducing pile of pattern. I buy some work clothes there, but that's it.

IsmellSwell · 27/04/2016 10:19

They seem to go too far with pattern. Who buys it?

They often spoil their tops by putting stupid writing on them, or childish looking flowers and butterflies.
The number of times I've picked up a top that is the perfect shape, colour and style , only to have to put it back because it has a load of silly words on it

RoobyTuesday · 27/04/2016 11:36

I do think the kids clothes are good quality. They last for ages and wash really well. I buy a lot of stuff from mini boden because I like a lot of their designs but truth be told they aren't as good quality material wise as next.

JapanNextYear · 27/04/2016 12:32

I remember Next being posh too! late 1980s it was like Hobbs.

Awful now, badly cut, garish and so much polyester.

Ladybirdbookworm · 28/04/2016 00:14

Over scented
I remember Next being very posh
I used to love the jewellery counter
You are right - the assistant would ask if it was a gift and then wrap it in black tissue paper with a nice black and cream sticker to hold it in place and then pop it into a black and cream gift box/ bag
I loved it !!!!
The clothes I bought in Next in the late 80s early 90s cost more than they charge now and it shows

howtorebuild · 28/04/2016 00:31

It was once one of the nicer stores. Now they sell Primark clothes at Next prices. It's the same business model as Bhs.

NewBallsPlease00 · 28/04/2016 00:41

They won't be wayvof BHS anytime soon, they have the largest market share of uknwokens clothing, and m&s are continually losing more tobthem
Their main competition is primark new look and supermarkets (in market share terms) which has driven them to cover that sector whereas before they didn't

The fabrics they use are what is commercially viable now
U.K. High street the same over!
The better fabrics are eye watering- poly Juno suit £40-70 or have a silk one elsewhere at £200...

RonaldMcDonald · 28/04/2016 00:58

Never posh

Sometimes surprising gems

New posts on this thread. Refresh page