Sali Hughes on high street fashion for women over 35

[elotrolado]

Just read this - so true.

www.the-pool.com/fashion/fashion-honestly/2017/20/sali-hughes-on-the-british-high-street-dressing-women-over-35

I too long for those 'flattering frocks, neat at the shoulders, sleeves and neck, but with enough fabric around the middle to invisibly accommodate a bottle of red and more than 19 calories ...'

I'm going back to work after maternity leave in July and I'm dreading the thought of shopping for workwear - no idea where I'm going to go

Oh, and I went into &other stories for my first post pregnancy shopping trip and could find nothing at all wearable for me. I was practically crying as I'd been really looking forward to it (and was utterly sleep deprived!!).

I'm going yo try Cos after the positive comments on here but I've never seen anything in the window that's tempted me to go in....

I looked back over a recent year's clothes purchases. Nearly everything was ebay or TKMAXX, or outlets, ie not the standard high street. I got a pair of fine wool Paul Smith trousers from eBay, if only I could afford new. Even Hobbs trousers are polyester. I realise I'm looking for clothes from the good old days.

And I know that cheap clothes are a big part of the problem but that doesn't explain why men's clothes from M&S etc fare much better in terms of natural fibres and non-ridiculous colours.

As long as people keep buying shit, manufacturers will keep producing it. I teach Textile Science. There is no reason for stuff to be made from polyester, apart from the fact that it's cheap, cheaper than cotton. Why go back to using cotton if people will. It polyester? The cotton harvest failed about 9 years ago. This led to a rise in the production of polyester. However the cotton harvest fully recovered. But manufacturers carried on using oil based fibres, as it gives them higher profits.

They can produce it for menswear, Cos, FatFace and White Stuff can use cotton although the quality of the last 2 is dubious.

It's just greedy manufacturers. When the supermarkets started doing their own ranges,the high street followed them, using polyester as it was cheap. That's what started it all. Ironically Tu is where you can pick up natural fibre items.

However, in terms of pollution, cotton is by far the most polluting fabric.Way beyond any man made fibres.

But the person who talked about a twisted linen top from WS up thread was just told a load of bollocks! Linen doesn't twist, it's really strong, and it was nothing to do with the way it is dried.

It was because it was knitted (cheapest method of production) using crap quality fibres, in a loose tension (think thread count). So it was an unstable product. I'd have given them a go full if it had been me! What a crock of shite.

But the quality is shit in WS and affect. Thin, weak fabrics, tiny seams and hems.

That is true about cotton. Mono-crop cotton has caused ecological devastation because so many pesticides and artificial fertilisers are needed to produce the crop; plus more chemicals and huge amounts of water for processing.

Quality is shit in WS and FF! Not affect🙄

So true. Well written. Funny. But it's actually not!!

And some people up thread we're talking about Zara being crap. If you look carefully in Zara you can find gems. They use a lot more natural fibres than the other chains.

Not been to banana republic for a while as they left the Trafford centre and I've not been to another store yet (got a five month old so keen to get shopping again soon) are they still good?

I have some lovely high-waisted jeggings (sound horrible!) from hollister of all places, got them in three colours in a size 13 (they only do odd sizes), brilliant as I'm on the floor/bending down a lot with the baby.

I have been given money for clothes and can't find any that I like
I'm going back to my staple vintage shops.
I am nork laden so cos is out for me.
There aren't many shops that cater for size 8 and g cups anyway but this smock with ridiculous ruffles fashion means there is NOTHING to even try.
And does no one wear bras anymore????? I've seen some really pretty floaty fabric peeking out and it's all either teeny strapped or backless.
I hate summer clothes shopping. I just end up looking fat and frumpy and I am neither. Winter is much easier.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm not saying expensive high street clothes are more ethical. I don't believe anywhere on the high street is ethical, apart from the likes of People Tree. What I'm trying to say, is that, if we could wave a wand and go back to a high street that sold well made, ethically produced clothes, the prices would shock us rigid.

I still have a jumper I bought in John Lewis in the mid 80s. It's what was then a bog standard, high street jumper: pure lambswool, thick, a bit itchy, made in Britain. I loved the colour (a gorgeous red) and paid either £19.99 or £24.99 for it - I remember because I had to save up. I was in a professional job and had just been promoted. I wouldn't say I was well paid but I was doing ok - and I had to save up to buy a basic, John Lewis own label jumper. I bought mostly second hand clothes.

I reckon that, if globalisation hadn't happened, a high street jumper would cost in the region of £150-£200 i.e. Brora prices. Like I've said, we have totally lost touch. Sorry if that sounds like a lecture - I'm as guilty as anyone here.

I'm also lavishly norked but find stuff in Cos. You have to go in person though - their clothes are impossible to judge online.

Banana Republic OTOH is better online than in store - easier to spot the good stuff.

I'm with Floisme. UK made stuff would be eye wateringly expensive.

Production moved abroad in the 80's. Initially because it was cheaper to make at that time. However, these places started to invest in high tech computerised manufacture which has really high set up costs. The Uk didn't bother(Thatcher tried to turn the Uk into a service economy with no manufaturing base).

So the Uk fell behind the global marketplace in terms on investment. It would now be too expensive and difficult to turn this around. Also, I was a designer in the late 80's, and we gave up on Uk manufacture for another reason. It was crap. Things arrived late, missed deadlines, poor delivery times. At that time the Far East wanted business so they were prompt, reliable, quick to respond to problems.

So Britain has practically no domestic clothing industry.

TheEmoji I don't think the quality of Zara clothes is that cheap (though some do look it) it's the finishing I've found bad, hems and buttons badly sewn on so the hem comes down after a few wears or the buttons come off. I, personally, don't want to be rehemming a skirt or sewing on buttons again.

Brora buttons always come off too. It does rankle when I've paid some hefty sum for a cardigan..!
Interesting comments about the industry. These people have done something different. hiutdenim.co.uk

Small producers are maybe the answer. I've bought things from here palava.co/collections/womens-dresses But the dresses are too short for me really. I like a more midi length.

Now I think about it I agree with Flo- iirc when I was a student in the late 80s/early 90s, a Miss Selfridfe/ River Island skirt or dress would be£20, £25- and it is still that now! I guess you don't notice that the £ haven't gone up.

Yy buttons that fall off are a real issues for me.

I also object to cheap fastenings. I bought a well cut, lined trench from Mango I think (may have been Zara). It fitted really nicely, was well made but the buttons weren't sewn on properly and the buckles were made of cheap, flimsy plastic which made it look and feel super cheap.

I can sew buttons back on if I could be arsed but I don't can't unpick seams to take out cheap fastenings and embellishments and then sew them up neatly again. It went back.

I only really shop online in UK now. I find shops jumbled and over crowded. Those same shops in Copenhagen are a joy to shop in. I don't know why

I also bought an incredibly flattering dress from here www.dd-atelier.com It was a Winter maxi dress, and really well made for the price, fully lined. Their Summer prints can be a bit ugly though. I also bought a long Winter skirt and a really flattering blouse, everything is bra friendly , but there isn't really anything I want in the current collection and sadly I think they may be closing soon anyway, going by a recent email. I might buy a sundress.
I've had some nice things from Etsy, from small individual makers.

We need to go en masse to Copenhagen .

Shoes are my other bugbear. Since having kids I have gone up a size so am now a 6.5. It is hard finding shops that stock half sizes. I want comfy stylish shoes I can wear everyday. There is Clarks but they often look frumpy, and Next but I find their shoes quite naff (like ballet pumps with horrible massive bows or diamante on the front. No, I am not 5 years old thanks). I now have a very boring pair of Clarks black ballet flats, but at least they are not too offensive and actually fit me.

Comfy stylish shoes- yes. I love Chie Mihara, but they are expensive. Worth saving up for though. I mostly end up in Blundestones, Clarkes, Superga, Springcourts, or my Ilse Jacobsen wellies.

I've had the hardest times with shoes. Clarks just don't agree with me. I used to get shoes at Russell and Bromley and on trips to Germany. Recently my trips home have been horrible. The shoes I have from clarks pinch the front of my foot. Somehow they are the wide fit.

Agree, agree, agree
I'm a bit older, tall and a size 18 , big boobs.
There is nothing and I rely on stuff I have had for years.
However, after being on a thread last year, I have found a couple of online places that do some of what I like , though I only buy in the sale, as I think they are overpriced
Pure for simple cashmere jumpers/cardigans , and t shirts
Poetry for simple line linen skirts, they do them in different lengths ( but not dresses - brown sacks ...), some of the tops, as long as they are not boxy ,
Not found a single dress for years , and I love dresses. I actually last summer took out an old M&S cotton sundress, and got loads of compliments - its 18 years old !!