& Other Stories

[bigtimefun]

Tell me about them...target market, quality, delivery, returns.....

I wear a lot of their tops and knitwear - quality is very good. I’d say their TM is people who have “grown out” of their sister shop H&M, and have a bit more to spend, interested in things that will last a bit longer, and eg alpaca wool instead of acrylic. I have jumpers from there from five years ago which are perfect - wash in a wool cycle and dry flat, no problems.

I find sizing quite generous on tops, for dresses they are neat in the hips in my usual size 10. (But I am hippy, so maybe just me!) Check the size guide as I think it doesn’t marry up to a lot of shops - I am a small where I would probably be M other places, and I think a 10 is a 36 in their numerical sizes.

Delivery is usually fast, returns are a pain as need to go to MyHermes drop place, but refunds are usually quick.

I buy quite a bit on Depop, so that is worth keeping an eye on if there is something you fancy but too £££.

I go through phases with it but have simplified things by only looking at their "Stockholm" collections as the "Paris"/"LA" stuff isn't really me (they classify all their main range as one of the 3).

As Judy says the sizing can be on the generous side - I'm a 14 and take a 40 in the grown-up H&M brands (&OS, Cos, Arket), can be an M or L in &OS depending on the style and how loose I want it. Do tend to size up on the hips (pear-shape).

Quality is decent high street level, definitely a step up from H&M itself.

I love their stores (oh how I miss shops!), really well-merchandised and the beauty ranges are lovely, also really rate their accessories. Some of my best coats are from there as well.

Top tip for online returns if you don't live near a Hermes shop: you can return any H&M brand package via Royal Mail by generating a label/ QR code online under the returns info on the Stories/ Cos/ Arket website. Took me ages to find this out but well worth it!

I’m 40s and like them. Agree re quality of the wool, washes and lasts well, same with the leather bags etc. I find clothes for work as well as casual clothes. Sizing quite generous. I never size up, and with some oversized pieces size down. Good for branded trainers too, they often have some unique designs.
I love the stores, really well styled.

zinnia I have an Arket order I need to return - I checked out as a guest though. Can I still do the RM thing? So much easier to go to the post office.

I think they do perfume now?

I have ordered both direct and from ASOS, only bought three items but love all.

Funnel neck jumper - just the right amount of baggy.

Strappy top - lovely buckle details on the straps, great quality but not getting a lot of wear now its so cold.

Skirt - the fit is incredible nipped in at the wast, and structured, so not fit and flare, but not skin tight, so flattering.

No issues with delivery and didnt have to return.

Target market is 25-35 year olds who have outgrown the likes of New Look, H&M, River Island - not only in style but also quality. I think of it being in the same region as Zara - affordable, quality, sophisticated, while remaining trendy.

They did a perfume hook-up with one of the Byredo people.

As others have said, quality is good and clothing is interesting without being completely out there.

Not architect-y like Cos, not quirky like Anthropologie - but interesting enough that if you buy something, it will often end up as a much-loved something.

References fashion trends but in a grown-up way and in better-quality fabrics.

Interesting to read a poster saying demographic is 25-30. I'd have put it older than that.

On the other hand, my daughter adopted (ie stole) quite a few of the things I bought from Stories.

Basics like knitwear and t-shirts are just great. Functional, good quality, and with touches that just lift your look up.

(I like the Designed in Paris and Los Angeles ranges. 😁)

It's cold, I'm mildly depressed, and I'm looking through the knitwear right now - knowing that, whatever I choose, it will arrive, it will be perfect, I'll wear it a lot, and it will transform everything I wear it with to a slightly lovelier, more imaginative, more stylish quotidian.

And that's nice.

I wish I could tell you but I ordered a gorgeous looking purple (found after specifically googling purple jumpers) that were wool. Delivery was very quick but my package contained a hideous yellow cardigan. Return was easy, I think. I had to book their courier (booked on Thursday for earliest date, Monday) It was collected by Hermes (you have to wait in 12 hours but we’re not going anywhere these days). Yet to receive my money back. To be fair, it was collected Monday.

I’ve bought loads from there, I find quality a completely mixed bag (I’d avoid anything viscose) and I think it’s pretty overpriced for what it is tbh. With the clothes, all the money seems to go on design and not the quality or fabrics. However the shoes are amazing, I buy at least one pair a season.

I absolutely love &OS - I am mid fifties.

Clothes are well made and a bit different - I think they are better quality than most Zara which I find is often poorly made.

I have a silk maxi dress from there that I bought to wear to the opera in Italy (cancelled obviously) and t shirts to wear to the park, so it's a good full range. I also like their Punk Bouquet toiletries.

Also love Monki, which is a younger, less sophisticated H&S group style, and often very oversized, and Weekday, which has some lovely coats.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses Yes! You just need your order number. The link on the returns bit of the website takes you to the Royal Mail returns site and you just put in your details there.

Knitwear and coats are especially fab, generously sized though. Didn't get on with the jeans at all, too short in the leg and tight on the waist.

Used to buy lots from there, quality is pretty mixed, jumpers are good and the silk shirts. Some of the clothes are generously sized others are tiny, particularly the tops. I'm a small or ten in tops in most shops but a large in Stories would be skin tight on me

@zinnia - done! Thank you so much. I’ll pop to the post office at lunchtime tomorrow, so much easier.

I love their items. I find the sizes are on the generous size so often go a size down. My first order with there website my order never left their warehouse, their customer service dragged it out but eventually i got my items. They were really good quality. I now order from asos and normally get my items within 2 days

I love other stories. Agree with pp their shops are really lovely to be in. Their perfumes and candles are very nice too

Complicit in the rape and genocide of women in China.
Obtain cotton from forced labour camps

www.saveuighur.org/83-companies-linked-to-uighur-forced-labor/

Warning: uncomfortable link

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-55794071

Sorry - I know this isn't what you were after but I do think it's important to be aware that the companies we're promoting are sourcing cotton from slave labour and torture camps

waltzingBetty Actually, I do want to know that.

It didn't occur to me, even though I know the parent company is H&M, who also use products derived from forced Uighur labour.

I know that parent companies can just mean an investment group holding a portfolio of businesses and there can be little in involvement between the businesses in terms of where and how products are sourced.

I think I might write and ask them to ensure they don't use Uighur Labour.

@thecatfromjapan

waltzingBetty Actually, I do want to know that.

It didn't occur to me, even though I know the parent company is H&M, who also use products derived from forced Uighur labour.

I know that parent companies can just mean an investment group holding a portfolio of businesses and there can be little in involvement between the businesses in terms of where and how products are sourced.

I think I might write and ask them to ensure they don't use Uighur Labour.

Thank you @thecatfromjapan

I know S&B is an 'escape' topic for many of us and I don't want to take away from that but the news of suffering is horrific and I don't think we can ignore the connection to our buying choices

I'll be writing/tweeting as well.

Incidentally, for anyone who is interested ...

When we're not in lockdown, there is often a protest against the treatment of the Uighur people outside the Chinese Cultural institute (?) very close to H&M and &OtherStories.
Tube to Oxford Circus, walk along the BBC end of Regent Street, keep in past the BBC and Bob's your uncle.

Lovely group of people.
Absolutely horrible situation with the Uighur people.

Thanks everyone, the returns are worrying me though...do you just print a Hermes label and take it to a Hermes drop Off point?

@WaltzingBetty don’t apologise. I saw your thread and the link made me cry. I know it must feel awkward coming to link it on another unconnected thread, but it is necessary. If anyone gets a response from H&M group about their companies sourcing from these factories, please do post it here as I’m sure many would be interested.

Awful quality - really cheap looking fabric and tailoring. Everything I've tried from there has been sent straight back.

@WaltzingBetty

Complicit in the rape and genocide of women in China. Obtain cotton from forced labour camps

www.saveuighur.org/83-companies-linked-to-uighur-forced-labor/

Warning: uncomfortable link

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-55794071

Sorry - I know this isn't what you were after but I do think it's important to be aware that the companies we're promoting are sourcing cotton from slave labour and torture camps

I agree with @catfromjapan, I hadn't made the link I'm glad you posted and I will email them too.