Subliminal marketing on Mumsnet

[OhYeahLucky]

Has anyone else been wondering if certain companies have been sneaking a few cheeky “influencer” type posts onto certain threads on MN in the Style and Beauty section in order to sell more of their goods??There’s one group of threads in particular that I’ve been following for quite a while and I’ve seen the content change quite considerably, now becoming dominated by mainly one or two brands. Maybe it’s just a coincidence and a few of the posters just do really like those brands but the conspiracy theorist in me can’t help but wonder if a few of them are either being paid or receiving free goods in exchange for a bit of subtle marketing.

Wow! Thanks @DianaT1969 . A relative has it. I'll pass that message on.
If you have more info, it might be worth starting a thread.

I buy on ebay too, and a real bugbear is sizing. I hardly ever buy online otherwise, but tend to stick to brands that I can trust their sizing.

One good thing about brands like Toast is that you can sell the item that you bought on ebay if it doesn't fit. You'll usually recoup most of the money.

@MikeUniformMike I'm above fan of New Look - as you say every now and then they have some absolute gems. I've had some gorgeous tops and dresses from them over the last couple of years.

*also

Thanks Ellapaella. I'd previously gone in occasionally with the attitude that it was for teenagers, and the local shop had moved to a retail park, so I was surprised. I am not interested in sitting in traffic to go shopping, and if I was in a big city, I'd tend to walk past such shops, but now I know to give them a chance.
If they sell what we will like, we will buy from them, and spread the word.

I will try The Ordinary online, I think, or go when the shop is quieter.

Back to influencing, I have thought for years that copy on skincare wasn't entirely reliable. Magazine article says that Brandname expensive face cream is amazing, and what a coincidence Brandname have a few ads in the mag. That was probably when the internet was something you unplugged the phone and plugged in the dial-up modem to use.

Opinions on here can help me decide to give something a try. I'm not going to try a £85 face cream, but if someone tells me that an affordable one is pretty good, I will.

mike there has always been a link between advertising and editorial coverage. The ads pay for the magazine, so if Chanel book a double pager for their new face cream, it’s unlikely the beauty pages are going to piss them off by saying it stinks. Readers are more likely to be invested in editorial than ads, so the companies are happy to pay high page rates, knowing they will also get favourable coverage.

I just discovered Lucy and Yak from the S&B wardrobe-shopping thread and I really like my trousers from there - and I'm not a new poster by any means (I won a shark!) so not shilling for them.

It doesn't surprise me that posters here often do shop at places like Toast or Cos. I mean, it does, because I think their clothes are dreadful (a choice between looking Amish or like an architectural experiment - great...), but at the same time I think they're good quality and fashionable if you're into that sort of thing. It seems almost like a uniform for women with a large clothing budget who aren't required to wear corporate dress but find White Stuff or Sea Salt or Joules too casual (or even frumpy - and I say that as someone with some much-loved WS/SS/Joules clothing).

The Ordinary... The number of products is baffling. I just stick to the Buffet under my M&S night cream!

I think, if I may say so. @Kit marlowsecodpiece, that you and I are probably from different generations Without wishing to make my concerns a priority, because they are not, I shop all over everywhere, high end, low end, specialist, vintage, second-hand, charity and mainstream. I love clothes and fashion . It's a hobby for me, and I think that at my age 63 for the recordI don't look as if I am trying to be young, but I hope I look contemporary. I don't want to wear beige and look like my DMIL in a care home. But I am also not going to buy or wear this season's stuff, unless it suits me. I love some ideas each year, and incorporate the shapes into what I wear. No skin on view from now on. but radical shapes that work on my frame, heck, YES. And I can and will try on anything

Snag tights are comfy and i was excited about them. Then a tiny bit of Velcro of my toddler’s bib made a snag in them. Then another. None of my new tights lasted a day before they looked bobbly and shit.

We are from different generations, yes, although I wasn't sure whether that would be relevant to Toast/Cos - I wouldn't personally wear the clothes but that's because I don't like the 'look' that either shop goes for, not because I don't think they're aimed at my age group.

I wouldn't say that I consider clothing a hobby as such, but, like you, I get my clothes from all over the place and I'm not exactly a slave to fashion, especially now that I remember a lot of what's 'in' from the last time it came around. I'm enjoying the fact that wide leg jeans are available again (just got some from Urban Outfitters, as it happens), which I know many people think are heinous. I'm also a slave to the preppy Breton/skinny jeans/deck shoe look that I know many people find very boring and unimaginative.

So, yes, I do think Toast clothes are blah and that Cos clothes look like the Sydney Opera House mated with the Shard and gave birth to a shirt - but if that's what you like and that's your look, more power to you. All any of us can do is wear what makes us feel happy, after all, whether that's a Breton or a structured blouse or nursing-home beige!

Nice reply, but I seriously hope I do a little better than nursing home beige....PLS Even DMIL hates beige.

I have bought a lot of things as a result of S&B but I enjoy the threads and the chat, I was accused along with another poster of being a bot for a firm - but we really just liked the stuff. It’s good to hear people’s opinions and first hand experience before buying.

Re fit flops - I was told by hospital podiatrist they may not be great for feet because a more stable sole/insole is needed. A much longer explanation was given re calf muscles, knees and stress. I’d been wearing them for years thinking they were helping me and in fact were making me worse.
I didn’t get on with The Ordinary.
I ordered the famed kimono dressing gown from Toast, but I was very underwhelmed and returned.
I get Lucy and yak if I was a young’un. I used to love baggy dungarees and skimpy tops as a teen, alas now I’d look retired art teacher.

So, yes, I do think Toast clothes are blah and that Cos clothes look like the Sydney Opera House mated with the Shard and gave birth to a shirt - but if that's what you like and that's your look, more power to you.

I don't know enough about Toast but I get confused by the view of Cos on here. Have posters ever been into a shop & tried their clothes on? For most shops you should look beyond the styling on their pages. I'm in my 30s & love Cos, particularly their dresses as a lot of the high street dresses are indecent when your 5ft 9. I have all these dresses (which Cos always do versions of) & yes they are "clean" & simple but I don't think they look like the spawn of architectural landmarks. I don't style the 3 pic as the image shows though.

@mungrymutt they look fab. I can only buy online even under normal circumstances and i do wonder about fit bit they always appeal to me

@mungrymutt I agree with you about Cos. There isn't a store anywhere near where I live and the way they style the clothes online really puts me off, it doesn't appeal to me at all. But I visited the store in Birmingham last year and was so impressed. Beautiful fabrics and cuts. I could have bought half the store.
I love all three of those dresses, particularly the second one.

@Sooverthemill I'm tall & straightish with boobs (size 12) but find most stuff fits well & hangs well. How clothes hang are really important to me & lots of the high street ignores this. I tend to find the items sized S,M,L are generous & the items sized traditionally truer to size.

[quote MulberryPeony]@botemp you can do an online thingmejig on Mac so it superimposes the lip colour on you and it’s awesome! Load of reds for you to chose from. Relentlessly red and is lovely for spring colouring by the way.[/quote]
Thank you! That sounds like a fun way to spend a wet afternoon!

@Ellapaella yes, I don't think it's possible to go in store & not want something. Thank you, I have 2 of those (found one on ebay) because I love it so much & will wear it for years 😆

I've always been suspicious of the Hush threads but there I am on the Toast thread - I've been a loyal customer of theirs for nearly 20 years - I don't always find something I like but I remain committed to finding it. And i have a pair of Hush Hareems that I bought a long long time ago, they have served me well but I went off Hush because their quality was poor. 50% of my wardrobe is Uniqlo with a healthy smattering of H&M, Cos and more recently Arket.

Saltwater sandals were bought years ago too - very comfy. I think I might be a walking cliche.
I really don't like shopping in person, I find changing rooms to be a mild form of hell - always done online and shops that make that easy and don't charge me a fortune for returns (looking at you celtic sheepskin from years ago but never forgiven!) I tend to shop more with. I'm always looking out for new brands though. Away to investigate Lucy and Yak - was that the point of this thread?😂

I've found doing yoga is great for plantar fasciitis btw.

I like fit flops but wouldn't walk far in them.

I've bought Lucy and Yak but my dds requested the items because of the environmental credentials.

I admit I am influenced by the products people post about on mumsnet but not so bothered since the lockdown with make up etc

I cured my plantar fascitis with eccentric calf raises on the bottom stair. Still do a few every day.

mungrymutt I have been in Cos stores but it didn't change my mind The styles just don't appeal to me. I rarely purchase from the high street though, so it's not a case of Cos better than the high street alternatives influencing my choice.

I have always been suspicious of the Beautypie posts. Every few weeks, you get the 'i have just come across this brand can anyone recommend a product'.

About 6 years ago, everyone on here was obsessed with Boden, so I wouldn't be surprised if something was going on here.

That said, Uniqlo and The Ordinary are brands I absolutely rate and I will always sing their praises.

I went through a Boden phase when I came out of the baby fog and found all that colour and pattern cheering and surprisingly forgiving, plus reading their catalogue in the bath (when I could have one all by myself) was a bit of a treat in the pre-internet world.

I've always considered myself sceptical by nature but I can honestly say that when people on here rave about a clothing brand I don't rate, I just assume it's because we like different things. I mean personally I can't understand the love for Uniqlo cashmere but I just put it down to being on the wrong end of their random quality.

Instagram on the other hand, I tend to stay away from, because most of what I've seen really does look like thinly disguised PR - and it's also teeth-achingly dull.

@lily193 I have no problem with you not liking that style, I took umbrage with your interpretation of that style. It would be boring if we all liked the same thing.