Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Have you noticed how expensive clothes are now?

204 replies

higgyhog · 28/03/2019 12:01

I don't have a bad income but recently everything from Council Tax to pension contributions has increased a lot. Browsing the shops for some summer clothes now and I'm thinking there have been massive price rises since last year. I used to buy Whistles and jigsaw, they are unaffordable now. I splashed out on some Mohedra clogs ( the green ones, they are lovely) and two T shirts at Toast last week, and that was £179! I used to buy two or three pairs of sandals each year but I think the old ones are going to have to last a bit longer. Has anyone else noticed that the things they like to buy are now unaffordable?

OP posts:
HeartShapedLocket · 29/03/2019 18:28

IWanna I've not got around to the Dettol liquid yet! Grin might give it a go... I've found that clothes only shrink if using a dryer (particularly natural fibres like cotton). I've not shrunk anything yet at 60 degrees and I literally wash all sorts of fabrics at 60. The only thing I did spoil ever at 60 was the fake fur trim on a parka, it came out fuzzy. I do now wash those on 30 (or 40)

TapasForTwo · 29/03/2019 18:49

You need to do an occasional wash st 60 degrees to clean your washing machine.

Treefloof · 29/03/2019 20:09

That EKO looks lovely, there's a skirt on sale for £12 that I covet now. Whats eucalyptus like to wear? I didnt even know material was made from eucalyptus!
What's the sizing like? Anyone.

Chickpeabiryani · 29/03/2019 23:34

EKO sizing is pretty spot in my opinion. I’m size 10 and their Small is a good fit for me.

BlackCatSleeping · 30/03/2019 02:10

60 doesn't kill bacteria or E. coli either. You literally have to boil wash to do that, but the soap will clean clothes at any temperature, so you don't have to worry.

Thanks for the EKO recommendation. I will have a look.

user1457017537 · 30/03/2019 03:19

I completely agree with you. Also this is Style and Beauty so presumably for posters who, you know, like beautiful clothes! It’s not a race to the bottom for how cheap you can buy clothes. Also cheap clothes are ok on the young and beautiful who could wear a black sack and look amazing. Not such a good look on anyone over 45. I would like to see realistic pricing instead of high prices then big reductions mid-season. Fed up with shopping in sales.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 30/03/2019 05:48

I would like to see realistic pricing instead of high prices then big reductions mid-season.

Spot on. I don't exactly mind - but buying clothes nowadays is a never-ending internet game of catch. Sometimes it's not even a month after a new season's arrival before the 'exclusive' email revealing a 15% discount. Which, three months later, will be 50%. And whereas, in the early days of shopping online there was only the original source to contend with, now I know that several different places wil stock a particular item - so, in the palm of my hand I'm chasing all over Europe for the biggest reduction.

I don't know how these things actually work - perhaps shops are forced to accept the greed of designers' business advisors' at the point of contracting to stock a collection - knowing full well that they won't sell anything until they massively reduce the prices.

I can't quite remember which author - it nay have been Edith Wharton but perhaps not - used to fascinate me with descriptions in their novels of how, on receipt of the new season's Paris collections, the fantastically wealthy buyers would put the clothes away for several months - preferring not to wear them immediately for fear of too conspicuous consumption. Now, I almost feel I store new clothes at their original shop for fear of paying several times more than I need to. In my world 70% or 80% reductions (on really amazing clothes) are not at all uncommon - if I have the patience to wait - and can hold my nerve.

TapasForTwo · 30/03/2019 08:13

I like some of the EKO clothes, but what's with all the sludgy colours? They just don't suit me at all.

TapasForTwo · 30/03/2019 08:18

And I don't like their website. There just isn't enough information.

Take this dress for example. Sizing is SML. What does that mean? What colour is it. How long is it? How tall is the model wearing it?

BusterGonad · 30/03/2019 09:16

Tapas click on the size guide for fit. THe standard leg length is 32cm so I think it's reasonable to presume the model is about 5'6 (I'm 5'9 and take 34/36 leg length) if it doubt there is a link so you can ask!

LagoDiComo · 30/03/2019 10:03

The mid priced shops like Next, DP, Oasis etc don’t seem to have a clear business model. On the one hand they seem to want to compete with the likes of Primark by lowering prices slightly but their prices are not then low enough and the quality is poor. I tried a DP cardigan recently, £18 full price but obviously discounted on a never ending cycle, and the quality was horrible. Not only did I not want to wear it, it won’t last and I’m much more conscious of disposable fashion. I would prefer to pay say £40 or £50 for a better quality, longer lasting garment. To lower the prices, the quality is suffering and the stuff won’t last. Discerning shoppers are not fooled.

Tolleshunt · 30/03/2019 10:06

Thanks chickpea I'm more like a 12 now, usually a 10. However, I'm slowly losing weight, so not sure whether to go for a S or M. I get fed up ordering two sizes and then having loads of returns.

user1457017537 · 30/03/2019 12:42

Georgethebleeder absolutely spot on! I have just bought 3 coats for the price of one at original price. In fairness I haven’t seen any I like for a couple of years so treated myself. I’m from a generation that bought a new coat every year! Lol

Milliy · 30/03/2019 12:49

Yes, prices are very expensive and mostly polyester man made fibres . I refuse to buy/wear this rubbish.

MelGtn7 · 30/03/2019 12:51

You are right. Pricing of middle of the line clothing has increased a lot at the same time quality has declined.

Chickpeabiryani · 30/03/2019 13:32

Tolles I’m a petite size 10 at 5”, and small fits while utilising the full stretch of the fabric😁, so maybe you’d be better with a medium.

Tolleshunt · 30/03/2019 13:48

That's really helpful, Chickpea, thanks!!

Treefloof · 30/03/2019 14:48

Ok I bit the bullet. Ordered the skirt and for shits two bamboo towels. Been wanting to try bamboo for some time. But every time I read a review they all said crap quality etc etc. Will report back at some point on the skirt size and bamboo qualities.
Thanks to whoever first mentioned EKO.

applesarerroundandshiny · 30/03/2019 17:08

If I want to spend a bit more on an item I tend to look at People Tree; they only have a small range but there are basics such as Breton style tops, organic cotton jumpsuits , tee shirts plus some more 'interesting' designs. I think their cotton fabric is lovely and soft and all fair trade so although you are paying more you know why.

In respect of poorer quality clothing generally I totally agree; I've shopped at Next for years and have found that their T shirt style tops are either viscose that bobbles or cotton you can see through. And even Primark I used to get their cotton Lycra scoop necked tops and last year they were thinner than previous or viscose that was shiny and bobbled.

millythepink · 30/03/2019 19:17

Nice clothes are a bit of a hobby of mine and I have 4 double wardrobes full Blush Everything is Whistles, Toast, All Saints, White Company, Mint Velvet, Jigsaw and that's just my every day stuff, but it's pretty much all off eBay or Vinted. I rarely pay more than £20 for anything and I have a friend who does alterations for me.

Just don't see the need to buy brand new anymore.

Bubba1234 · 30/03/2019 20:33

All saints is fab isn’t it.
I went through a phase of it a few years ago got a few bits and got so much wear out of them.
I’m looking at a dress boots and top from them I know il have them years if I do purchase

millythepink · 30/03/2019 21:24

I've worn All Saints for years, just love it. Can guarantee when I wear one of their pieces I will get compliments.

justasking111 · 30/03/2019 21:27

38 years ago I was paying £5 for a babygro from mothercare. So prices went down before they started rising again.

FluffyBumps · 30/03/2019 21:59

I've always shopped in budget stores. Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, River Island, Next etc as well as supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda.

What has shocked me is the increase in the use of vile nylon cheapo shitty fabrics. I judt want some cotton. I'm not saying everything has to be 100% pure linen or cotton but it would just be nice to have something that dies not make me feel I'm reliving the nylon from my 70s childhood.

I do realise these stores I shop in are considered low end, but until 3 or 4 years ago I was happy with the fabrics used for the price I paid. Not anymore.

Who actually wants to but summer clothes that are some kind of re-engineered nylon?? It's really like we have stepped back 40 years!

Poppysball · 31/03/2019 09:35

millythepink are the clothes you buy from ebay new or do you buy used too? I like your idea of buying from there in order to be able to afford nicer brands but I’m not sure about buying worn clothes and also I find getting clothes to fit me properly tricky. I think I might end up with things that were not right for me and then not be able to return them. How do you make it work well for you? Sorry for post hijack op!