Do you agree that some brands have become very pricy? And why?

[JinglingHellsBells]

I have stuff from Boden, Jigsaw, Whistles, Hush, some White Company, some Mint Velvet (I don't buy many clothes) but am shocked at how prices have shot up.

Jigsaw dresses are £165 (and nothing I like anyway), but other medium-high High St brands are £100+ for a simple viscose dress.

Do you agree?

It's not just the "upper class" high street like you've mentioned, I think it's happening across the board. A lot of cheap high street stores now reckon their dresses are worth £75+

I get around it by buying second hand (or "preloved" as it's trendy to call it now) I bought a stonking Hugo Boss dress over lockdown for £60 but I also pick up warehouse, French connection, boden, topshop etc from as little as £5, depending on what it is.

I don't mind paying up for decent items but nothing seems to be a decent fabric or well made at all these days, not even from very expensive brands.

It's not just the "upper class" high street like you've mentioned, I think it's happening across the board. A lot of cheap high street stores now reckon their dresses are worth £75+

I agree, I think even the mid range brands like Next and Marks & Spencer have pushed their prices up too.

I’m happy to pay more for natural fabrics and companies with good ethics etc but I really don’t understand how they can justify charging hundreds for polyester dresses. But maybe the fact that polyester makes me sweat is clouding my judgment! But surely it’s a cheap fabric to manufacture 🤷🏼‍♀️

Fashion and clothes buying has become such a confusing thing. We know the dirt cheap places haven’t got any ethics although they still seem popular. We know we should be buying fewer pieces and that we should then be able to spend more, say four garments a year not forty. But it’s hard to find places that sell ethical, sustainable, stylish and fairly priced clothes, as in the true cost is factored in (with a profit). No wonder we don’t know what is a reasonable price for something. There is increasingly a disconnect at all levels between the cost of making the clothes and their price. The examples where private shareholders need bigger and bigger profits is ridiculous as it completely hollows out and destroys the brand as seen with TopShop.

All the high end designers have done the same. The Louis Vuitton Neverfull is now £1050. I’m sure I paid about £650 only a few years ago.
Chanel as well have had two 10% price increases in the last year or so.

This is why I look for quality clothes in charity shops, bulk out with cheaper basics, and spend a little more on fabrics I like, such as linen.

I rarely buy anything full price and going to be looking more and more at eBay and other preloved sites.
Me and Em - love it but it’s crazy expensive. I keep an eye out for what’s on sale. It doesn’t seem to be better quality than other brands either.

MrsMaizel no that's not the one I'm afraid

Ah it's on sky news - "why have clothing prices been going up?" From Wednesday 19th May

Raw materials & costs have gone up though.

They also have to factor in loss eg not selling, markdowns etc

Chanel as well have had two 10% price increases in the last year or so.

Chanel have always done this.

@pinotschmino

Ah it's on sky news - "why have clothing prices been going up?" From Wednesday 19th May

Thanks @pinotschmino - that was an interesting listen

news.sky.com/video/why-have-clothing-prices-been-going-up-12310661

Agree OP, I am flabbergasted as the prices in the shops you mention

I don't mind paying more for an item that is better quality, manufactured in UK etc but I see no evidence that the higher prices are a reflection of garments not being manufactured in China/India/Thailand etc or being better quality fabric/ tailoring

Yes indeed

The quality has gone down

Exactly BramStoker (and others who’ve said the same!!)

I am happy to fork out £££ for an amazing item from a high end brand I really love, especially if I factor in cost per wear. I don’t buy much high end stuff (can’t afford to!) but I do if the quality is terrific, the fabric excellent and the style suits me.

I don’t want to fork out £££ for a crappy flimsy piece of polyester that won’t last more than a season (plus I loathe polyester and avoid it like the plague), or £££ for basic summer t shirts that bag after a season, or £££ for acrylic jumpers that do the same.

So I’m happy (even eager) to pay top prices for well made clothes that will last (ie sustainable) but hate being forced to pay top prices for tat.

@PickAChew

It's not that they're expensive, it's that the trend for clothes being dirt cheap hasn't been sustainable.

I still have a M&S sweatshirt I bought in their sale in the mid 90s, for £25.

I was going to say exactly this. Clothes got cheaper and cheaper because of cheap overseas manufacturing/sweatshops and people got used to it. When I started working in the early 80s I had to save up for outfits. I remember how expensive coats and good shoes were. I had a very small wardrobe!

If you're going to pay people who make clothes a decent wage, allow sick pay and maternity leave, prices will increase. Even polyester items.

@Maireas No doubt some inflation has occurred due to covid but what do people expect things to cost?

forgot the I agree with bit!!

True, @ncgy - it's nice to have lots of cheap clothes and disposable fashion, but it's not sustainable. In any sense!

I used to work for a footwear company. Paid the factories in euros for the goods, but almost all the incoming money from customers was in £. After Brexit when the £ fell off a cliff each pair was costing us £15-£20 more due to the exchange rate, but customers wouldn't pay more. In fact wanted 20% off instead. Company folded.

I’ve actually noticed the opposite in the places I shop. Cos and & other stories seem to be cheaper than they were.

This trouble with retailers & capitalism is that profits need to keep on increasing yr on yr. Customers don't necessarily want to pay much more but materials & potentially labour has gone up so cheaper materials are used. But loads of people are used to PLT prices or similar so expect clothes to be cheap.

I was horrified to see a t-shirt in The White Company on sale for £89