What happened to S&B?

[janlevinson]

I used to browse this topic regularly several years ago and I enjoyed the recommendations of Ash high tops, Net A Porter sale items and high end make up, amongst other things. Loved reading what LetThemEatCake had been buying.
I've been having migrating over to here again recently after a long time away and it's all Roman Originals, granny sandals and things that "wash well".
WTF happened?
~lighthearted~

I actually think it has become more nuanced. In das gone by, we would have felt compelled to tick every trend box. I think, as a pp said, we have a lot more choice now and I think part of that is choosing what we aspire to. Some people aspire to high end labels. Some want to look classic or minimalist and others want to look like a dog walker... but a stylish dog walker. I personally would say the aspiration to look high end glamour have been dwindling for some time. If you walk into a bar in hip parts of London, people strive to look as if they aren't aspiring to anything.

I think you're yearning for days gone by when fashion itself was quite a different beast. It isn't that the S&B board has changed, so that it's less trendy. Fashion is less trend driven now, for a number of reasons and the S&B board has followed suit.

@OverTheRubicon

Totally agree! Lots of threads killed by people shouting that anyone of any age can wear anything and comfort matters most. Or people who read a thread by some poor soul looking for a genuinely on-trend or at least near trend look, and then recommend Fat Face / White Stuff / Sea Salt etc, or 'skinnies and ankle boots'... Which can all be lovely quality and flattering etc but are not even near on trend.

I go on Instagram instead, but do think there's a missing gap for advice and clothes chat people in their 30s who don't suit the crop top bonanza online right now, want a mostly casual and family friendly wardrobe, but also aren't ready for Hush let alone Hotter. Used to be here, but not any more!

Yep I think you're totally on my wavelength here, thanks. Any suggestions of who to follow on Instagram?

Comfortable clothes are on-trend
Chunky flat sandals are on-trend
Anti ageism is on-trend
Ok, Roman Originals is never on-trend. But sometimes, fashion just doesn't swing your way. If predictions are correct, glam dressing up will be back post-pandemic, and some of us will enjoy that, and some of us less so.

That's lovely you've found someone sneery enough to agree with you op, but did it not occur to you that starting a thread on a board, saying how shit you find the board might seem like a bit of a dick move? Could you not have done some of your own research? I wouldn't stroll on to the baby names board and say "everyone on here has terrible taste in baby names. Can you help me?" and expect not to get my arse handed to me. You've been let off lightly on here and you started a nasty thread. Calling it light-hearted seems a bit pointless as well. It's akin to the school bully saying "I was only JOKING". So honestly I hope you find somewhere else to post which meets your seriously standards . Not here please!

@thedevilinablackdress

Comfortable clothes are on-trend Chunky flat sandals are on-trend Anti ageism is on-trend Ok, Roman Originals is never on-trend. But sometimes, fashion just doesn't swing your way. If predictions are correct, glam dressing up will be back post-pandemic, and some of us will enjoy that, and some of us less so.

Yes I know and I love comfy clothes and shoes (nowhere have I said I don't). I have chunky sandals that are on trend and I don't wear high heels or bandage dresses etc. But there is a difference between chunky, comfy "on trend" Doc Marten style sandals and a pair of beige ones that my MIL wears from Hotter.

@OverTheRubicon god this is so true. You could make a good drinking game out of how often that bloody seasalt Janelle coat is recommended on here

@LuckyMcDucky

That's lovely you've found someone sneery enough to agree with you op, but did it not occur to you that starting a thread on a board, saying how shit you find the board might seem like a bit of a dick move? Could you not have done some of your own research? I wouldn't stroll on to the baby names board and say "everyone on here has terrible taste in baby names. Can you help me?" and expect not to get my arse handed to me. You've been let off lightly on here and you started a nasty thread. Calling it light-hearted seems a bit pointless as well. It's akin to the school bully saying "I was only JOKING". So honestly I hope you find somewhere else to post which meets your seriously standards . Not here please!

I think you need to calm down love

I'm perfectly calm thanks love!

I just think your op and subsequent posts make you sound like an outdated mean girl and think people are being too kind letting you carry on with your "I'm too trendy for all of you and it's painful for me" schtick.

I have a few Seasalt coats - for trudging through fields with the dog. I love them dearly but they don’t belong within 5 feet of the word ‘style’. The most flattering of them gives an oblong silhouette. The cows and the dog don’t judge. You can also hose them off in the garden if you fall on your arse in (at best) mud.

@LuckyMcDucky

I'm perfectly calm thanks love!

I just think your op and subsequent posts make you sound like an outdated mean girl and think people are being too kind letting you carry on with your "I'm too trendy for all of you and it's painful for me" schtick.

Please explain to me what parts of my posts make me sound like a "mean girl"?

You know nothing about me apart from a few words on a screen. Seems to me like you're just trying to get into an argument.

I'd never heard of Roman Originals before. Just looked at their website and now I'm mourning my prior ignorance.

Ha ha I have a Janelle still . I don't like it but when I need a coat to keep me dry and warm and that doesn't require a fecking useless umbrella, it's hard to fault it. I spent £300+ on a Margaret Howell Barbour which does the job most days, but sometimes I still go back to the Janelle and it's fleecy lining. Which is what I say when posters ask about it.
And this, for me, is one of the joys of this board - that posters, for all their different tastes, love their clothes but also have real lives to get on with.

I looked it up too. And wished I hadn’t. I don’t care what age you are, what shape you are or what budget you have, there must be a better option.

@Nightbear

I have a few Seasalt coats - for trudging through fields with the dog. I love them dearly but they don’t belong within 5 feet of the word ‘style’. The most flattering of them gives an oblong silhouette. The cows and the dog don’t judge. You can also hose them off in the garden if you fall on your arse in (at best) mud.

True, but since there is no "practical clothing and skincare" board, it ends up here. Much like the site is called Mumsnet and yet not everyone on here is a mum.

If op wants a board dedicated to what she personally deems permissable for discussion on here, then she is welcome to ask HQ to make her a special board for special people who know about fashion. Thing is, that won't happen.

Op, if you think your behaviour on here has been anything other than outdated mean girl, from starting such a goady and unpleasant thread in the best place to giving me the old "calm down love", then you really are lacking in self awareness. I don't especially want an argument with you, but I don't tend to back down when people are behaving like a latter day Patsy and Edina, looking down at people minding their own business posting on this board.

Why are you here love? What are you hoping to achieve? It's like me going into a nightclub from my youth and shouting at everyone in there, that it's shit now. Ridiculous.

I'd be more than happy if MN created a clothing, make up and skincare board and then a separate fashion board for the elite or enthusiastic about trends, only. I imagine it would be populated by circa 10 posters who could get themselves into a right lather about people wearing clothes from Seasalt. But go for it. Start a thread on site stuff. Maybe not on the board you're planning to slag off.

I think people who choose not to purchase from the brands regularly promoted on here (Hush, Cos, &Other Stories, Arket, Me + Em etc) feel they have nothing to contribute so generally stay away. I personally love Net a Porter, Matches, Browns, My Theresa but don't feel this is the forum to discuss designer fashion.

@MapleMay11

I think people who choose not to purchase from the brands regularly promoted on here (Hush, Cos, &Other Stories, Arket, Me + Em etc) feel they have nothing to contribute so generally stay away. I personally love Net a Porter, Matches, Browns, My Theresa but don't feel this is the forum to discuss designer fashion.

What a sensible approach! It isn't for you, so you go elsewhere. Makes perfect sense. Trying to stage some very odd revolution to make the board less inclusive is less sensible by far.

@LuckyMcDucky you do realise by encouraging people to go elsewhere to discuss high end fashion YOU are the one making this board less inclusive. Why shouldn't people feel comfortable to discuss that type of fashion here?

I don't think any one person should be telling other posters to go elsewhere. Especially after lecturing someone on how to behave.

Ah here, the minute you post about anything expensive you're accused of being insensitive to posters who may be struggling financially. It sucks.

Also, I like to dress in a more embroidery way. Basically Monsoon type of stuff. I don't mind the odd Breton top but it doesn't make me swoon like a bit of embroidery! I'd love to ask for recommendations for specific items but I'm sure people would just tell me to go to White Stuff so I don't bother.

Or go to the other extreme and mention Gudrun Sjoren because I guess if you want a bit of Boho then you apparently want to dress like a 75 year old retired art teacher.

You are absolutely right! That would be encouraging exclusivity. But that isn't at all what I have said. I said that if it pains the op to see the board becoming more inclusive, (to allow for discussion of all sorts of clothing and fashion), rather than her preference, which was the golden days when people ONLY discussed a certain sort of fashion, then she would be welcome to request a special board for special people in the know. I'd be happy enough with that if it happened, but I'd probably prefer it didn't. I like that this board is pretty inclusive. But if you can't stand it then you are welcome to go elsewhere.

I don't think that's too hard to understand and it isn't encouraging people to leave at all, but simply saying that rather than hang around lamenting the loss of the good old days when we could merrily sneer at and exclude people, you have a better option.

So stay and enjoy and join in or go. Don't strut up to the board and say "you're doing this ALL WRONG"

I follow Emma Paton on Instagram and like her style. But it is quite cottagecore/prairie

@ElspethFlashman have you come across meadows? Wonderful embroidered clothes that make me swoon!

Instagram is pretty good for following specific styles, if that's what you want. Mumsnet is much more broad.

Again not TELLING anyone to go to Instagram, but if that's what you prefer; following specific styles, then it might be a good place to look.

@ElspethFlashman my style is quite boho - I also love embroidery and dare I say it, even sequins (another MN taboo). Shall we start a thread?