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Original poster

White Stuff- is there any hope?

103 replies

QueenoftheNights · 09/08/2018 07:35

About 10 years ago I loved WS. Not the droopy skirts, but they did do some nice tops, cardis and jumpers.

Now, I rarely buy anything because it's all overpriced and usually full of garish prints in weird colours. My local store is inhabited by women aged 70+ who browse the racks with their bored husbands looking on!

Last week I spotted a nice sleeveless cotton top for this hot weather- a cotton jersey vest- £30! Every cardi is at least £45 but the quality isn't there - they bobble or go out of shape and develop holes on the seams. Anyone else share my disappointment?

OP posts:
Floisme · 10/08/2018 09:41

I have yet to see a post on S&B where a reference to the advancing age of a store's customers is there as a neutral statement of fact. It is nearly always a klaxon: 'Look out everyone - old women shop here!' I see nothing in your op to suggest otherwise - its very premise is that the shop is going downhill.

I have a soft spot for stores that try and carve out an identity rather than just churning out cheap catwalk knock offs. But a signature style still needs tweaking year on year to keep it looking fresh and modern, and that's what White Stuff have neglected to do. Quality has fallen pretty much everywhere on the high street but theirs has jumped off a cliff. All the rich colours have gone too.

Bowlofbabelfish · 10/08/2018 09:48

If anyone from WS is reading:

Bring back natural fibres - NOT modal or viscose (both are too processed, use cotton or wool as your base fibres and NO BLOODY POLYESTER.)
The quality of your shoes is terrible. Truly dire.
Fabric quality needs to be improved - it’s gone downhill hugely the last couple of years.
The rich colours and prints you used to do were great - get back to that and ditch the awful sludgy colours and clashing garish stuff.
Knitwear needs improvement - far too poor quality, bobbles instantly. Increase wool content
Cut of garments is poor - very short in the body and things are tending to shrink lengthwise as well - I have tops from you that are now wider than tall and they are unusable. I’ve also had wrap dresses that are unwearable because they gape several inches.

Get back to the shapes you used to have - in decent quality thicker cotton jersey for your dresses for example. The high waisted Jade jeggings were a staple then suddenly they were wearing through in a month then gone. Bring them back in better fabric. Ditch the low slung hips on the trousers.

Quality cut, quality fabric and some actual shape to your stuff will see you right.

MountainsPlease · 10/08/2018 09:50

Their clothes used to fit my overweight hourglass really well. Now all the cuts are boxy and I can’t but anything from there, when I used to be able to order online and it just fit and was well tailored. Now it has no shape to the tops.

woodhill · 10/08/2018 09:51

I too prefer warm clear colours rather than muted and don't suit black as I am fair skinned.

I think the tunic look is not for me.

I like neat fitted stuff so have bought one of their shirts but I don't think it has that horrid patch pocket which emphasises ones bust which is not what I want

SuzanneVaguer · 10/08/2018 09:56

Urgh- Fat Face is appalling atm!
The women's wear looks like things you'd see in the back of the Sunday supplements- Damart etc.
The menswear is v good (or was last season), children's is too Confused
White stuff always cut off short at a weird point- and I am v short so must look terrible on anyone of normal height!
Sea salt-free all the decent stuff is ££££££

Mistral is lovely, but too patterned for me (to small to wear prints really).

Muji is the only decent place at the moment, but they don't have a massive clothing range, and it's more smart/casual- like gap used to be before it went shit.

Clionba · 10/08/2018 10:05

Yes, Gap used to be great, didn't it? I don't go in there now. I went into Fat Face recently and they seemed to be promoting a more "upmarket" range, although I couldn't tell the difference.

User24689 · 10/08/2018 10:21

Totally agree, used to love it about 10 years ago and still have some jeans from back then that have lasted really well.

It is now my 68 yr old mums favourite shop and every year she says "ooh shall we go into white stuff and choose something for your birthday" and every year I trawl round it before we go elsewhere or I get something that is plain and overpriced for what it is! (Most ungrateful sounding post ever but you know what I mean!)

WhentheDealGoesDown · 10/08/2018 10:32

These shops are very expensive , do people really pay the full price, even with the 15% code they are still dear. I did get some nice Fatface lace up shoes from Next clearance for £24, they were £49 in Fatface, also some cheaper Seasalt tops and a nice long navy winter waterproof Seasalt coat for £40

The quality is about like Next or M&S but twice the price.

PenelopeShitStop · 10/08/2018 10:37

I've recently bought a cross body, silver bag from there with a brown leather strap and lots of people have admired it.

I struggle with the clothes though as I don't want to look like a perky primary school teacher.

I've just discovered a fantastic Danish brand called 'Signal' excellent quality, stylish design and it's really cheap in TK Maxx at the moment.

apairofblueeyes100 · 10/08/2018 10:42

I agree totally with you about White Stuff's clothing for women - really dowdy and old fashioned no matter what age you are. I shudder every time I walk past.

However, the men's clothing is a different matter - lovely shirts/polo shirts for him! He love's it.

Reythelastjedi · 10/08/2018 10:43

The quality of your shoes is terrible. Truly dire.

This. Bought a pair of sandals £30 in the sale. Lasted a month. Had them re-heeled now the top is wearing out. Full price would have been £50 WTF?

TeaAddict235 · 10/08/2018 11:03

That's interesting @Killerqueen2244 .

With a new female buyer and still such little variety...or too much.

Saffkat · 10/08/2018 11:15

Just out of interest, where are older women allowed to shop so as not to offend the younger ones? Hmm

Saffkat · 10/08/2018 11:20

Just asking for my friends Debbie Harry and Helen Mirren cos they've been at a loss since BHS and Littlewoods closed down Hmm

Clionba · 10/08/2018 11:23

Saffkat ha ha, is it a crime being over 60?Hmm

Ellapaella · 10/08/2018 11:24

I love shopping with my Mum. She has always been very stylish imo and has excellent taste in clothes. She always looks good, has an excellent eye and is helped by the fact that she has lovely olive skin which means she can wear almost any colour and look fantastic. She looks much better and more put together and stylish than me.
I don't agree that 'older' means 'frumpy' - I think it's about the individual and how and what they wear. Personally I think that a lot of maturer women look far better and far more stylish than the young 'uns In their uniform of skinny jeans, trainers and hoodies.
My Mum and I have shopped in the same shops as long as I can remember.
She agrees that WS has gone massively down hill. We used to love it but wouldn't bother going in to look round these days.

Ocies · 10/08/2018 11:27

I've recently bought a cross body, silver bag from there with a brown leather strap and lots of people have admired it

Me too - one of the best things in WS this summer!

AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy · 10/08/2018 11:34

The quality had declined massively and the prices risen. I never buy their overpriced woollens any more. Two (careful) washes as directed and they’re all bobbled and look like dish rags.

It’s a NO from me.

DelphiniumBlue · 10/08/2018 16:59

I think the trouble is a lot of their stuff would look great if you're on a beach in Cornwall.
But that slightly faded, wishy washy look doesn't look great in more urban/formal settings.
If they did stronger colours I'd like them more - they are excellent for dresses with pockets.

DelphiniumBlue · 10/08/2018 17:01

Saffcat, couldn't help but notice that Mint Velvet has used a model for the last few seasons who actually looks very like your mate Debbie.

DelphiniumBlue · 10/08/2018 17:03

Here she is:
www.mintvelvet.co.uk/product/metallic-ruched-sleeve-knit/16310

Saffkat · 10/08/2018 17:11

That actually is her Delph - the modelling helps eke out her pension. have you seen the price of hiring a tour bus these days, and they don't accept OAP bus passes Smile

PickAChew · 10/08/2018 17:14

I bought a couple of white stuff t-shirts, a couple of years ago. Only got a season out of them as, even with gentle washing, they twisted worse than the £4 tees I got from next because I needed something cool and light to sacrifice for decorating some very hot bedrooms in, during the heatwave.

PickAChew · 10/08/2018 17:18

I have loads of Seasalt shirts, mind. They're fabulous. And a gorgeous straight cos style tunic and longline shirt, both with really clever but not garish prints, from Seasalt, as well as a load of their sailor shirts. Now they don't twist¡

PickAChew · 10/08/2018 17:20

That would be fat face shirts! And a right way up exclamation mark!