white stuff

[PollyPerky]

why is it so ghastly now?
10 years ago I could go in and covet every single thing. Now I'm lucky if there is one thing I'd wear. They seem overpriced, full of large garish prints, and the quality of the knitwear is poor. Dresses are shapeless and frumpy.

I used to.buy a lot from WS but haven't found anything I like for about 3 years now. I think it's seriously frumpy and I'm 50!

Used to buy the occasional piece from WS, but also cannot find anything decent this year. I bought one T shirt in spring, sized up as I know their clothes have a tendency to shrink. One wash following the instructions and it was skin tight.

There is good stuff in there, I know this because my sister always seems to have nice tops from there. Their tights are lovely but otherwise it's not really my style.

I like WS and Fat Face, but kind of agree with you! I bought a nice skirt in Mantaray recently- that has the odd nice thing in?

Sea Salt is very pricey for what you get.

It's not just White Stuff. Sea Salt is very frumpy & seems to be endless shapeless tunics & twee mumsy prints. Fat Face I always thinks looks fine for a skinny, grungy festival-going teenager but looks shite on anyone over the age of 20.

I think Lands End is frumpy but I like their t-shirts.
I also like Gap and Uniqlo.

I won a load of white stuff vouchers a few years ago. I found them hard to spend - it all seems a bit dusty, grumpy woman who's given up on life. I found a few bits that were nice enough including a lovely coat, but the 3 tips I bought all developed holes within 3 washes and the fabric wasn't good quality in any of them. So disappointing because they're not cheap at all. If I'm going to pay their prices I'd expect more.

Agree - WS is really horrible now. Apart from their jeggings, which are oddly good.

I'd say fatface and WS were for middle aged people who think they're trendy.

I find WS, FF, Monsoon and the more "Maria Von Trapp's been at the curtaining again" Boden prints very similar. And coincidentally they are all made in a factory near my Mum's.

I do like Seasalt stripey tops. I agree that the classic M&S ranges this autumn are great. Mind you, the Mumsnet furore about The Dress was ridiculous, especially as it was virtually identical in style to the Zara ones that everyone was raving about!

"Maria Von Trapp's been at the curtaining again" Boden prints
This! Boden have a few good pieces that they ruin with truly awful prints. I really am struggling to find good clothes this year.

I popped in at the weekend to see if I could find a couple of tops/skirts for Autumn. Can only echo previous posters - there was nothing I wanted to buy. It was all shapeless and washed out colours.

It used to be quite vibrant, same with Fat Face. Very few places seem to do lovely vibrant colours now. I really don't suit sludgy, faded colours at all.

Agree - WS is awful now and I feel stumped for casual, washable clothes at my age (42). Got some good quality plain T-shirts from this lot but not keen on the patterned stuff www.viz-a-viz.com/index.php/high-back-v-neck-top-6795.html

Ness often have nice stuff in too - but their autumn collection looks limited this year. Or maybe it's just not in yet?

Someone has been posting recently about Oliver Bonas - they look like they have nice stuff in. Great Plains, In Wear and French Connection also ok but bit pricey. I like Sandwich as well but too much of their stuff is hand wash only

I've recently ordered from Oliver Bonas. They arrived yesterday. Really nice stuff and about the same price as WS; I got some bargains too, from their sale. Would say that OB sizing comes up large. Nice quality cotton stuff.

Ness went into administration late last year or early this year, some of their shops closed but they did eventually find a buyer. That might account for the late and limited release.

White Stuff makes you dress like a maiden aunt from the 1950s

Are you listening, White Stuff?? I hope so, because like the OP 10 years ago I'd walk in and want everything, but the style and quality in the last few years has been dire. Fabrics are thinner and don't wash well, yet more and more expensive. Such a shame.

My most recent purchases from WS were last autumn. A couple of cardies and two jumpers. All but one has gone to the charity shop. They bobble atrociously and look like dishrags after a few (very careful) washes.

Oh nooo endehors! Their winter coats were fabulous!!!

I'd say fatface and WS were for middle aged people who think they're trendy.

I am middle-aged.
And I think I'm trendy

I have not found any thing in WS for a number of years...