Anyone else dislike current dress and top fashions?!

[icecreamsea]

I am so not keen on floral, frilly, puffed-sleeve, loose-fitting dresses and tops. I also don't like shirt dresses, especially the loose-fitting ones currently around. I'd like to buy some new clothes and I just don't like the things that shops/websites are full of! Wondering whether anyone else feels the same?! And when clothing retailers will move on??

I hate the length of a lot of the tops I see at the moment and also hate the high necklines. I cannot seem to find anything of a normal or longer length with a wide, low neckline.

Everything is either cropped or so short it might as well be, or longer with a high neckline.

I don't mind shirt dresses though and I do like looser fitting. So much comfier. I saw a woman at a playground the other day in a skintight micro mini and tight top, with Cath Kidston massive bag. Not saying she looked bad per se. She was pretty and had a pretty good figure. But it was just my absolute nightmare outfit!

Hate it all. I'm slim but broad of shoulder and the last things I need are ruffles, massive collars and any sort of statement sleeve.

I must admit I quite like a puff sleeve

But not anything in polyester, or tiered or so puffy it can’t fit under a coat

So buy vintage/second hand! All the good stuff is still out there… you just need to be less attached to the same named brands and buying new!

[quote DaisyStiener]@Gonnagetgoing was it the star print one?
My friend said “I can see you in that!” lol

Odd shade….[/quote]
I think it was this one:-

www.marksandspencer.com/petite-lace-insert-midi-shirt-dress/p/clp60529843?color=PINK

but it was vile. It's a shame as people here had said there was some nice stuff in M&S but that was a lie!

Primark not much better, saw a nice satin shirt but not nice enough so I'd buy it. Zara, awful, jeans especially.

I bought a great Hush sweatshirt BNWT from Ebay for £13 which I am very pleased with!

Also Everlane is good for simple stuff.

I would concentrate on developing a style away from what’s in fashion. I’m not personally keen on a lot of the dresses and tops out there but i actually have a shit load of clothes I still love. I’m wearing more of my wardrobe but if I want new then Cos & Arket still have options I like in plain fabrics and I’m sure there are plenty of other retailers out there. I’m particularly loving the options for jeans , blazers, oversized shirts and chunky shoes and boots. They’re really easy to find second hand too which is a much thriftier way to go. I scored a great checked men’s blazer from a vintage shop which I’ve worn with jeans & Dr Marten shoes and also tailored trousers and smarter boots for work. My emphasis is now finding pieces that work with my style rather than working exclusively with what’s in fashion.

@BrilloPaddy

I've discovered White Stuff and have bought lots of wardrobe staples as it seems to be cut well.

I'm 51, and seem to be in no mans land between fast fashion and the Damart catalogue........

Oh god yes this! I'm early fifties, don't want to be super on trend as I dislike the environmental impact of fast fashion and want quality items I can wear lots - but also not ready for beige slacks!

The White Company did lovely empire line jersey dresses about 10/12 years ago. I wore mine to bits but they didn't do them again

The good news is that change seems to be on the horizon. The fashion in The Sunday Times Style magazine last weekend featured a slimmer silhouette and there are less "milkmaidy" dresses in Jigsaw, Whistles and Reiss. I've been wearing a couple of jersey skirts from Brora with close fitting polo neck and a little black jacket from Whistles recently, it is easier to avoid the frills and bagginess with separates. There were some very morale enhancing pictures of Liz Hurley around last week too, she doesn't bow to the demands to dress like an extra from Tess of the D'Urbervilles!

I’ve bought quite a few things from eBay this last few months, partly for sustainability reasons but partly as the shops are a bit challenging. I don’t like dresses, and baggy clothes swamp me completely. Is it to address the fact some people have put in weight and these garments cover all evils?

I have a theory it’s linked to the obesity crisis, if 60% of adults are officially overweight there’s not a market for tailored clothing for people with waistlines.
This is what I think too, I'm an hourglass and frills/puff/oversize fit makes me look dumpy. I need minimal and fitted to look good and I can't find it anywhere at the mo! I'm sure current fashion is to flatter the more apple shaped bodies that are increasingly common

@EvelynBeatrice

I hear you. I’m not sure that ‘recycled polyester’ and ‘viscose ecovero’ labels on lots of garments is the selling point that shops seem to think it is! I too loathe high necks and frilly nylon-y garments in vomit inducing patterns. I never used to set foot in an H &M without finding some treasure even outwith the premium range. Not now. However it’s still possible to get some nice things if you look hard. You have to be creative in your search terms online. I have been including the words ‘cotton’, ‘wool’ and ‘boat neck’ a lot more! I will be buying a lot less and looking for stuff that lasts …

Urrrg the plasticy nylon shite drives me nuts!

I can’t be doing with printed sack like dresses - not sure anyone looks good in them tbh.
I also hate high necks abs those awful Peter Pan collar tops - they only look good on under 20s in an ironic way.
Having said that, I love quite a lot of Zara stuff at the moment. Lots of lovely draping and ruching and interesting asymmetric top details. I just got some nice heavy pleated slouchy trousers which look good with a body - must stop eating Panetonne for breakfast though

I'm another one with lots of clothes but not following the latest fashions. I have about 5-10 brands I mostly buy from and even though they have new collections a few times a year, it's always in styles I love.

My only current problem is finding skirts that sit on the knee. Most of what's available even from my usually trusty favourite brands is either super short or way too long on my 5ft3 frame or in fabrics that are too dressy for my lifestyle.

You could be in to something re why shapeless clothes are so prevalent - high BMIs and apples vs hourglasses/columns.

But apples don't suit high necklines, ruffle tops or sack tops do they? I'm not sure that theory makes sense tbh...

I've definitely seen the popularity of leggings and joggers much sniffed at on various sites. I think it's comfort rather than what suits a particular body shape. Let's face it, there were plenty of obese and overweight people a few years ago when it was skinny jeans and bodycon dresses. Also, crop tops are everywhere now. No friend to the apple shape

@Divebar2021

I would concentrate on developing a style away from what’s in fashion. I’m not personally keen on a lot of the dresses and tops out there but i actually have a shit load of clothes I still love. I’m wearing more of my wardrobe but if I want new then Cos & Arket still have options I like in plain fabrics and I’m sure there are plenty of other retailers out there. I’m particularly loving the options for jeans , blazers, oversized shirts and chunky shoes and boots. They’re really easy to find second hand too which is a much thriftier way to go. I scored a great checked men’s blazer from a vintage shop which I’ve worn with jeans & Dr Marten shoes and also tailored trousers and smarter boots for work. My emphasis is now finding pieces that work with my style rather than working exclusively with what’s in fashion.

I agree with this. Admittedly Divebar2021 and I seem to like similar things, which probably helps, but I think that, whatever your taste, if you can first nail down the look you're after - however loosely - then it can be possible to keep it contemporary if not ultra fashionable. I don't own a single flouncy dress or pair of trainers or anything with a puff sleeve, but I still enjoy watching / reading about trends and I think I manage to look reasonably modern.

I've seen plenty of jersey / fitted dresses in good condition in up-market charity shops and dress agencies and I imagine they'll be on Ebay / Vinted too.

I will concede though that I won't be quite so sanguine if and when low rise makes a comeback The last time around, I ended up abandoning trousers and living in tube skirts for about 5 years.

I find charity shops good for natural fibres. Ince you know what you like then Ebay, vinted etc are good too.

In JL today and unimpressed. Don't like the clothes. Very overpriced as well.

@JMAngel1

You could be in to something re why shapeless clothes are so prevalent - high BMIs and apples vs hourglasses/columns.

Sorry but no. All those frilly poofy dresses really only look good on tall skinny people, they look terrible on anyone carrying extra weight anywhere (including myself here)

I’m another shorty that needs simple, neat, plain clothes to look presentable. Flowery flouncy stuff makes me look like a stumpy mediaeval peasant.
The current fashion trends are lazy imo, they don’t need to be well cut or tailored to fit so the manufacturers can churn them out and only have to make a few sizes, cheap fabrics are another saving.

@oviraptor21

I'm the opposite. For years I've really struggled to find anything I like and have had to put up with boring, not really me clothes. Now I have too much to choose from. I feel like buying it all up before trends change again!

Me too

Fluffycloudland I was resisting saying that. But its really difficult to shift that weight isn't it. And to afford natural fabrics. Something has to change...but honestly the profit margins on some of those garments must be huge. I know someone in the bulk rag trade, and its all about price (although they try to be ethical in work practices) They've been making 'ditsy prints dresses' (spew) for about 10 years it seems. Sigh.

I agree too.

Also, fuck off with the inability to buy a decent woman's shirt that isn't frilly/see through/box like.

I just want some basic shirts, in thick cotton than I can put a jacket over. I don't want to "french tuck" or have stupid billowy arms.

Shirt, to wear with suit trousers. Why is it so hard? (Unless I'm willing to spend £££ e..g the £89 I found the other day, not happening, not for this job)