Joe Browns - nice or hideous?

[PurpleStarInCashmereSky]

I feel like I should love Joe Browns. Ostensively it is very much my style. I like dresses and cardies. I like eclectic styles. I like interesting detailing on my clothes that looks a bit mad and/or hippyish. I like bright colours and wear a lot of purple.

And yet whenever I go in I see things that look kind of nice from a distance but as soon as I see them close up, they are just not good. The prints are weird or the detailing just not right. And they are not cheap.

Is this just me? I go in with high hopes but am never able to buy anything.

It’s not just you. Their stuff is cut for a particular shape, I think as well. Using bright cheap fabrics doesn’t make up for horrid design. They are a cheap Desigual-wannabe

I think, pick carefully! I have a few Joe Brown’s dresses that I love, but some of the stuff is awful. Also check the fabric. Most of their stuff was/is cotton or viscose, but it seems to me that more of it is now polyester.

I love the way they look on the hanger but they aren’t cut right for me. I am short bodied with big boobs and no waist. I often see things that I have tried on and rejected on my tiny waisted, long bodied friend and they look great on her.

Try Desuigal - the feel is similar to JB, lots of colour and pattern and a slightly Boho feel, but they are better quality (sadly reflected in the price, but there is currently a sale on).

www.desigual.com/en_GB

They're very hit and miss. I have a couple of bits that I love and always get complimented on, and a few bits that fit badly or have weird detailing. Whenever I look on the site, I see maybe 5-10% of lovely things and the rest is hideous. So you do need to trawl through.

I am in a fb group for JB second hand clothes and can't even be tempted by the stuff I see on there for cheap. And I am usually queen of thrifty, second hand shopping.

Think I may have to give up the dream of a funky dress from there.

I've got a few lovely things from there, including a coat that I get compliments on every winter, but I expect to send back at least half of any order. Their sizing is all over the place as well.

There is the odd nice thing but the fabric is very cheap.

Mainly awful, but I have one dress from them that is THE most flattering thing, I get compliments every time I wear it. Sadly I’ve never seen another in the same shape.

I do love their stuff though not the too frilly boho stuff from years ago.

Yes quality isnt brilliant, and sometimes the cut is a bit off.

I still love it though

TRy tattopani, Gringo or Skunkfunk.

I really love JB! Can I please ask what the fb group is called?

Hideous, in my opinion..

@Wellfuckmeinbothears

The fb group is called joe browns new/preloved clothing sales/swap/wanted

I will check out the suggestions. Had a quick look at Desigual earlier but wasn't blown away and was quite pricey.

In other news had a meeting in That London today and finshed early so snuck off to Camden before my train went and managed to get a purple suede jacket for a tenner so am chuffef.

I think most of it looks as though it was home made by someone who isn't great at dressmaking.

Tattopani and Gringo are right up my street. Thanks Iwanka.

🙂 Gringo sell directly now online and they have some bargains in their sale section.

Thank you

Their coats are lovely, I’ve got three of their little tweedy blazers in different colours and also a knee length fitted brown tweed coat that always gets complimented.

Agree, JB is a cheap version of Desigual, but Desigual is in turn a cheap copy of Custo Line / Custo Barcelona early collections (think 90s and early 00s).
Another brand to have a look at is Mamatayoe, good quality cotton / embroidery and cheaper than Custo. Although the current collection is not very colourful...

I get their catalogues (well, brochure things) through the post for some reason. I usually find that there is one nice thing in each catalogue but that the rest is awful. Everything looks like it should be worn by someone who likes to think they’re “whacky” and quirky but actually has no sense of humour.

I like Joe Browns, I'm envious that you have a shop nearby. Like any catalogue that arrives in the post, I look through theirs carefully to see if there's anything I like, that would suit my figure, that I need and that I think is worth the price. At least the catalogue states if the material used is polyester - in which case I won't buy it. I have some items from them that always get compliments when I wear them, including a forest green & patchwork tunic top from last winter's collection. I'm looking forward to finding out what Desigual, Tattopani etc are like!

I've got lots of winter tunics that are JB and they suit my shape really well. I'm wearing a t shirt today too. But I do send a lot back as the sizing varies enormously, and the quality can be a bit hit or miss. Loving the sound of these others, I'm off to Google!