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Original poster

The absurdity of Next

103 replies

leccybill · 24/04/2017 19:06

How do they get away with it? And why is still so popular?

I did use to like it. And yes, the baby and toddler clothes are still gorgeous. But I stopped ordering for me from the website or directory because the items were NOTHING like those pictured - different cuts, different fabrics, more see through etc.
Plus everything went boxy, the vanity sizing is confusing, and there's very little cotton or natural fibres to be seen.
Plus I hate the whole 'Next sale' VIP drama when it's clearly 90% bought-in sale horridness.

But - I got a giftcard for my birthday so just been to the website for a browse. Saw a few tops I quite liked but the pricing is a bit stealthy now - as in, a top in a plain colour will be £12 but the same top in a print might be £18 or even £25. What's that all about?
The only decent things I saw were sold out in mainstream sizes - there's no 'email me when back in stock' option, even Matalan offer this.
I just don't get the popularity of it at all!

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 24/04/2017 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nettletheelf · 24/04/2017 21:23

I still laugh at the so-called boyfriend jeans I ordered from them three years ago, when that style was becoming fashionable.

On the website, they looked just what I wanted. When they arrived, they were a completely different pair of jeans with a weird looking label. I think they had found a ton of old fashioned jeans in a warehouse, thought 'Ker-ching! Let's call them boyfriend jeans and clean up' and sold them using a picture of a model wearing a completely different pair of jeans.

They were terrible. Like the sort of thing you'd buy in 1988. Tapered, baggy in the thigh area, really tight on the calf and that weird mid-blue colour. I sent them back and actually called them to ask whether they had made a mistake and sent me the wrong thing. Their response was that I couldn't expect to look like the model!!

That was the end of Next clothes for me. Felt like I would be buying stuff from Del Boy.

Original poster
leccybill · 24/04/2017 21:29

Did they really say you couldn't expect to look like the model? How rude!
Mind you they once told me they photograph 'trial versions' for the directory/website and they are sometimes not quite what makes it to the customer. I had issues with children's shoes which were entirely different in colour, style and appliqué (yuk) to the picture.

OP posts:
ChishandFips33 · 24/04/2017 23:04

I only go in for DH boxer short packs

I have liked the look of some dresses for work but they are shapeless and unflattering in the middle

stoplickingthetelly · 25/04/2017 08:29

The sizing is crazy. I like their Jean leggings and I'm a 14. My light blue pair fit amazing well but my dark blue ones are a 12 because the 14 was too big. And recently tried on a black pair in a 14 and could barely do them up! They are the same jeans, just different colours. Makes buying online a nightmare! I nearly always order 2 if not 3 sizes. I don't really care what size I have to buy I just wish they were consistent!

claraschu · 25/04/2017 08:38

I bought some really great sheets and duvet covers there.

Some of the men's things are good; I bought some onesies, pyjamas, a couple of shirts, and jumpers there which were all good quality cotton.

Jojoanna · 25/04/2017 08:45

I did buy a black dress from Next for work years ago and it's still going strong , I do wander in there occasionally.

Believeitornot · 25/04/2017 08:49

I get stuff from them in an emergency ie for the next day delivery.

Apart from that I don't bother. Shop at HM/GAP/Verdbadeut for the dcs.

Puppymouse · 25/04/2017 09:00

The most baffling thing to me is the whole queuing up at 5am for the Boxing Day sale etc. It's Next. Why?!

Zxyzoey31 · 25/04/2017 09:58

I have never brought anything from there until last month. I got the most amazing asymetric dark blue cotton jacket. I do not think it is to most people's taste though. It is fabulous.
I tried the wide legged cropped cotton twill trousers. They were not for me but they were 100% cotton and very good quality for the price. Very generous trouser sizing, I would have needed a 6. I got the jacket in the 10 because the sleevees were too short in the 8.
I agree most is rubbish but I say that about all shops. I would never have sung their praises but I love the jacket so much!
The sale thing baffles me, who could possibly care that much?!

MuchasSmoochas · 25/04/2017 10:04

They are awful. You see something that looks decent on the website and then you order it and there is some snazzy detail that wasn't in the picture. Good for kids tights and they also have a "designer" section which has good sales, got a pair of Whistles boots for £60.

And their ads are always a good laugh.. timeless in the worst sense of the word.

BarneyRumbleton · 25/04/2017 10:06

I don't get on with Next much, either. I spent my last voucher on some lovely towels.

namechange20050 · 25/04/2017 10:11

It used to be stylish and great quality back in the early 90s. Now it's all tat. I had a voucher that it took me a year to spend as I didn't like anything. I'm apparently a size 8 in next. I am a 10-12 in real life!

WindwardCircle · 25/04/2017 10:25

They do decent wide fitting shoes, but that's the only thing I'd ever buy from there these days. The adult clothes are just awful, terrible designs and no better quality than supermarket stuff but for twice the price. The kids stuff is overdesigned, everything for girls seemingly has to have glitter, print and appliqué added, plus and extra ribbon or frill to boot.

It's been a long, slow sad decline from the hay days of the late eighties.

coffecupempty · 25/04/2017 10:34

Used to like it a lot when ds's were younger. Not so much now, I bought jeggings and jeans about a year ago and they both are ill fitting in the sense that the seam on the left hand (inside) leg twist round so that it appears in the middle of my leg throughout the day. I'm forever bending and twisting it the right way round.

Has anyone else experienced this or is it just my dodgy legs? Confused

Oogle · 25/04/2017 10:35

Leccy, I ordered that top to try on. It's horrendous in any colour.

I've actually found some decent stuff in Next recently. Their skinny trousers are great for work and I bought a utility jacket that I'm wearing to death, as well as this which, granted, won't be to everyones liking (!)

Shopgirl1 · 25/04/2017 12:52

I hate Next. I used to have one next door to my office and as there is little else around would go in to pass time. The quality of tops is just dire.
The only things that have ever washed well for me from there in recent years are the workwear dresses, but I find they are all a bit boring in style. Knitwear, blouses, tops have all been awful. I never buy for me there now. I do however buy their kids clothes for my children, their clothes for toddlers and young children are up there as the best on the high street, my two are often head to toe in next, I just find they wash incredibly well and last ages, my nephew gets lots of wear from them when mine grow out of them.

woollychimp · 25/04/2017 13:21

In the 80s I thought of it as where posh people shopped. In the 90s I loved it - it was colourful, well made, decent fabrics.

But it's gone very downhill.

SunshineBabe · 25/04/2017 13:40

It's shite but their 360 degree skinny jeans are excellent. High waisted and thick fabric which doesn't lose its shape. They will probably discontinue them next season though Hmm

Mrskeats · 25/04/2017 13:42

I hate next as the owner supported Brexit and is now whining as sales are down
Plus the stuff is expensive and naff

MinesaPinot · 25/04/2017 14:10

Used to love it, and yes, I was one of those people who would queue up for the Sale (only when it started at 8am though, once it started opening earlier forget it).

Got fed up with it years ago for clothes. Yukky fabrics and fit all over the place. The only things I have bought recently are shoes and perfume.

There's one opposite work which I occasionally go in just to have a look and then I go round to Cos and H & M and buy there.

MsUnderstanding · 25/04/2017 16:15

in the 80s I thought of it as where posh people shopped

I wonder if this was a widely held belief, it might explain why some us get lumbered with Next vouchers from DPs, PILs and DGPs... and I remember some kids at school brandishing Next carrier bags in the nineties like some kind of fashion statement.

rookiemere · 25/04/2017 16:36

In it's defence, it did used to be rather good.

I remember in the 90s buying a lot of my work clothes there as in those days there wasn't a lot of choice - generally M&S or Next and the Next clothes were good quality in those days. I used to drag my poor cousin along to the dawn sales and stock up on loads of stuff.

It's rather hard to tell who is it's target market these days. Mostly I see ladies in their 40s/50s in the shop, but a lot of their stock seems aimed at a younger clientele.

RubyWinterstorm · 25/04/2017 16:41

It's very poor quality all round, IMO

It was good round the mid-nineties, but hell, that is a long time ago! M&S still did good things too then.

DeleteOrDecay · 25/04/2017 16:47

I agree op. I do like their children's and baby range but the women's range (not really looked at the men's) is rubbish. The fit just seems all wrong especially if you're an apple shape like me.

The only thing I do like from there are their jeans priced at around £45-50 but I generally wait until there's a sale on to get them at half price. I wouldn't pay full price for a pair.