Has Zara gone doolally?

[L0stinCyberspace]

Love a bit of Zara but today I found myself wondering what they're at?

Most tops are cropped and I can't imagine all the 20-something customers are going to maintain their business?

Can someone suggest a Zara-alike that's cheap, slightly edgy, but something a funky 49 year old can wear?

Mango,Massimo Dutti,Cos,Arket,Bimba Y Lola.

I thought exactly the same thing the other day- so many cropped tips everywhere and the dresses were all awful material. I did get one lovely top but nowhere near the amount of stuff I usually like. My sister came out empty handed, which is unheard of! I'm 49 too.

@windmill26 thanks for the recommendations!

@Puffalicious yes! Not just me, so! It occurs to me too that so many people gained weight during lockdown that even fewer people will be dying to show off midriff.

I think the quality has been terrible for tears. Used to be fab but not anymore. Cos, Arket, Massimo Dutti, Whistles etc

Zara is such naff quality now. Primary miles better.

Used to be so different

I will say it again, the resurgence of low rise jeans and cropped tops times to coincide with people emerging from lockdown with inevitable weight gain is prove that the fashion industry is misogynistic and I’m only half joking

Primark.

Please excuse my typos, you get the gist I’m early 30s and I don’t want to wear the stuff I wore when I was becoming a teenager and hated my body.

Zara's been absolute shit for years. I don't know why it's so overrated. Poor quality, badly fitting clothes produced using cheap labour. Shops like jumble sales and RUDE sales assistants.

@Lanique

Zara's been absolute shit for years. I don't know why it's so overrated. Poor quality, badly fitting clothes produced using cheap labour. Shops like jumble sales and RUDE sales assistants.

I feel the same. Each to their own but I don’t think I’ve ever found anything I like in Zara! My 18 year old dd loves it though, but then she’s 5ft 9 and a size 6-8 and everything seems to be designed for that size and age group!

I can't imagine all the 20-something customers are going to maintain their business?

As a twenty something I don't even feel like they're catering for that category either?

I genuinely have no idea who their target market is now. I was on the website a couple of weeks ago and (besides being the most unintuitive thing on the internet) I couldn't find a single relatable style or model.

I'm sure she's lovely, and I know we're supposed to #bekind, but who the fuck is wanting to walk around looking like a homeless heroin addict? The poor woman probably looks amazing IRL so this is in no way a personal dig. The blame lies squarely at Zara's door.

It's like they have zero interest in our money.

Agree with previous lists, and I’d also add Jigsaw and Esprit (especially good if you need professional but not too formal clothes for work). Maybe Benetton? And I like Next for high-waisted jeans and the occasional top; Gap for jeans and casual workout gear.

I still find H&M worth a look - it's hit or miss, but sometimes decent basic basics and basics with a twist quite cheap. Also &OtherStories - bit more expensive, bit more edgy. (&OtherStories, H&M, and COS are all the same parent company.)

And TK Maxx, although I find they vary a lot by location.

-Mango used to be nice back in 2008, then got so shit for many many years. I have been recently and i must say they got much better. I bought a few things. I have the same feeling about Zara as you. It used to be my shop, now it’s all polyester and latest horrible trends.

-Also Jigsaw has some fabulous clothes but on the expensive high street side.
-Mint Velvet is nice too but again, not quite Zara prices
For cheap okish clothes I have been also looking in Primark

If you wandered around my town centre, you'd see that a little weight gain was no barrier to some people wearing crop tops!

Another one who doesn’t get the Zara Love on here. Terrible quality these days, and shop itself looks like a jumble sale

I actually like Zara, for the most part. I have had some lovely jumpers and dresses from there in the last few years. However, I find the website styling and imagery too 'styled' and high fashion. The clothes all look shapeless and oversize on the models.That is not a dig by the way on the models shape, it it how they are styled.
Also, when something is on trend, Zara go full pelt with it...the puffy sleeve trend last year...EVERYTHING had those puffy damn sleeves on!

Lots of lovely things in Arket, Monki, ASOS, H&M, Reiss, Cos, Uniqlo, &OtherStories.

I also find it weird how things go in circles - Mango used to be rubbish but is actually pretty good nowadays. Surprisingly H&M can also be alright especially online i.e. you can avoid all the rubbish in the shops. It's a shame, Zara was my go to shop circa 2008

Placemarking! Need advice too as I'm whittled down to The White Company and M&S now!

Totally agree OP, I walk in there and walk back out, even my teen doesn't go in there, awful quality and awful designs.

Must make a detour to Mango soon, have not bothered going in there for a long time now, it used to be my go-to shop.

Can I add White Stuff to the list? Yes I know they went through a very frumpy weird stage for a few years, but they have suddenly upped their game.

I thought exactly the same when I went to Zara when the shops reopened after lockdown. Walll to wall crop tops. I know they're in fashion, but surely they must realise people may also be interested in other styles? I used to love Zara but I can't find anything in there anymore, and their website is horrendous.

I'm 46 and really struggle to find anything I like. Mint Velvet, jigsaw, etc are too expensive for me. I used to like New Look, but it all feels very teenagery now. I hate Next. I used to love Mango, we've not got one where I live so may have to go further afield. I miss Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse. I'm sick of online shopping and sending stuff back, I just want to go shopping and by clothes from actual shops, but it's proving impossible.

Yes I’ve not bought anything at Zara for ages, I don’t even bother to go in anymore. They occasionally had funky bits you couldn’t find at that price point elsewhere but not so much now

I only go for Zara for the blazers and only when it’s sale. Oh and the Jo Loves perfumes. Rose Petal Drops is pretty amazing for the price. But other then that, completely agree. I like Massimo Dutti too but it’s quite pretty and formal. Mango would be my choice.

Preppy not pretty

I quite like Zara for wardrobe updates and bits and pieces, edgy prints and colours. Mint velvet, jigsaw etc as recommended are really nothing the same?
I think zara does an "accessible" version of high fashion.

This made me laugh though "I'm sure she's lovely, and I know we're supposed to #bekind, but who the fuck is wanting to walk around looking like a homeless heroin addict?"

Sounds so much like my mum in the 90s.