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Original poster

Why are the shops SO disappointing?

197 replies

JanisMoplin · 09/03/2022 18:52

I went to Oxford Street for the first time in 2 years hoping to buy a couple of nice simple tops to go with black or grey trousers. It was like the 7th circle of sartorial hell. I am 50, 5"7 and a size 12 so not Alexa Chung but not massive either. Went to
& Other Stories
Zara
Massimo Dutti
M and S
John Lewis

Hated everything. Everything was recycled polyester, frilly great yokes, oversized, too cropped, see through or with principal boy sleeves. Even Uniqlo has succumbed to huge poufy sleeves and it used to be great for basics. Baukjen and Hush in John Lewis were no better.

There were some nice coats but I wasn't looking for coats. The dresses were horrible too; completely sister wife territory
I returned with a boring black knit top from M and S which was £12. Returning to my athleisure!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Slipperfairy · 09/03/2022 20:48

All I wanted was a black work jacket, as my faithful h&m one is looking a bit faded. I love that jacket. It's long ish, with good pockets and a slightly fitted waist.

That jacket no longer exists .I have to buy a long one or a boxy one. I don't want baggy or shapeless. I work hard for a good figure; I'm not hiding it like the body conscious 14 year old I was.

siddis · 09/03/2022 20:48

I’ve had some really nice basics from StitchFix. Returns are very easy and you only pay after you’ve decided what to keep. You tell them what shape you are, what colours you like etc. Might be worth a go? www.stitchfix.co.uk

JaneyJimplin · 09/03/2022 20:51

It's everything being slightly cropped that scuppers me. I've got a long body, but the shorter fit seems to finish just above my Fatest part. So unflattering.

habibihabibi · 10/03/2022 03:10

I am abroad, where it is reasonably affordable and am getting most of my clothes made or buy off ebay. I like simple shirt dresses in cotton and probably pay £40 max for fabric and tailoring.
The shops here are all the typical UK chains and the fabrics are vile.

FlyingGeeseAgain · 10/03/2022 07:54

Where to get decent fabric though? I have some t shirts which are really well made . They are in holes after about ten years of wear. I am going to get some made if I can find the fabric.

VerityPJohnson · 10/03/2022 08:38

It’s tough out there. As PP says at least it encourages less consumption but not great when you genuinely need stuff. I think part of the problem is the shops have taken a battering so it’s a race to the bottom quality/price wise and another part is they don’t know what people want anymore, how do people dress in this new world. Plenty of threads on here of people asking this. For example jeans, there are about sixty million different styles to cover all bases. But many only available online. Retailers are furiously expanding their athleisure/leisure ranges like this is all we aspire to now.

I am finding M&S much better of late, and like their sustainability goals. Other places I have bought things this year are H&M and Jack Wills and Tesco, but mostly eBay. There are more Autumn colours around at least, good for me.

Stretchandsnap · 10/03/2022 08:44

@CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory come sit by be - exactly the same height but massive arse rather than boobs (sadly) I have given up…

Appalonia · 10/03/2022 08:57

I know, it's so depressing. However, I went round the charity shops this week and found 2 nice tops and 2 lovely dresses, including one for £2 that was previously £80 in Phase 8! Also bought some nice jackets on Ebay. Am currently trying to lose weight so I can get into the rest of my wardrobe, I have some lovely clothes ( am a bit of a hoarder tbh), so am going to make do with what I have. I'd love to go to somewhere like Berlin or Barcelona to see if they have some lovely clothes, I do miss browsing for clothes, it's nearly all tat. And don't get me started on those Amish/ Mormon type dresses!

FayCarew · 10/03/2022 09:32

I can't bring myself to pay £20 for a long sleeve cotton t shirt.

Might this be part of the problem?
I'd pay £20 for a good quality t-shirt that fitted well and, if looked after, would last a long time.

Deathraystare · 10/03/2022 09:44

I am having a real moan with my friend about Primark at the moment. Well, luckily they are getting some Spring stuff in, but their winter stuff for women was dreary. That awful flat matt burgundy was everywhere and other sludge colours whereas the men's stuff was far more colourful! In fact I got a duvet coat from the men's section which was in black and orange rather than a dark green, all black or the dreadful burgundy colour. It is the same with men's t shirts. If you are under a size 16 you can get better colours but above a 16 it is sludge all the way!

DSGR · 10/03/2022 09:47

My White Company and Reiss cotton t shirts last ages. But you do have to pay for them

TottersBlankly · 10/03/2022 09:55

Might this be part of the problem?

Indeed … Fabric and labour aren’t free. And design is expensive. Many of the best designers will have trained / been apprenticed for as long as barristers or medics, and are entitled to be paid fairly for their creativity. But most clothes shops and global brands know full well that consumers either won’t or can’t pay what high quality garments cost.

I love a bargain, and abhor greedy mark-ups - but I get real joy from beautiful fabric, considered construction, the translation of cutting edge ideas into something tangible - and I’m just as happy to pay for these qualities in clothes as most people are for great quality holidays, restaurant meals, haircuts, cars …

Iwanttenofthose · 10/03/2022 09:56

Agreed, OP. I'm having better luck on Vinted at the moment.

SprayedWithDettol · 10/03/2022 09:59

Have you looked at Anthropologie? There is a big store on Regent Street (or online obvs)

They have some really nice things (and a few hit and miss).

Original poster
JanisMoplin · 10/03/2022 11:03

Thanks for the Anthropologie tip. Usually above my budget but they are having a sale right now. I am reconciled to paying more, buying less or going to charity shops:)

I actually do have quality tshirts from M and S that have lasted over 4 years, but as a pp said, everything is fashiony now. The worst thing was seeing frills at the top of sleeves on a simple longsleeved shirt. Like some strange Star Trek costume. Just why?

OP posts:
Coconut80 · 10/03/2022 11:17

@janis i hear you im also 50 and in despair. I love fashion follow lots if blogs emma paton, dmbl40, beth goodham etc. When are the hideous blousy and flouncy dresses and blouses going out of fashion. I read emma patons sunday wishlist and it was full of these hideous shapeless dresses like nighties and blouses. I used to love boden too. I despair at the prices for 100 per cent viscose. I am buying lots on ebay just now whistles and jigsaw cotton tops. The only brand i like is baukjen their cotton is lively quality. I know its been said but the brands are missing a trick with our age bracket, we are still into fashion and happy to spend on goid quality items x

SylviasMotherSaid · 10/03/2022 11:37

I like Dunnes Stores online although it takes slightly longer as shipping from Ireland I find their clothes good quality and not too expensive . They may seem slightly old fashioned but it’s great to be able to get things which aren’t cropped or ripped .

TollgateDebs · 10/03/2022 11:41

It is a hit and miss experience on the high street and one of the few items where I can still get the quality I expect is shoes!! Designs are not as innovative as once they were at the middle of the market, but certainly can still get items that have the production / material quality, comfort of wear. Coats, don't compare to those I bought in the pre noughties, other clothing varies so much that I have less and less brand loyalty, but more loyalty to an item and when I find one, I buy two! I have vintage, genuine vintage, second-hand and items that I bought new and still wear and cherish. I think it is wise to learn to look after clothing and avoid harsh processes, such as dry cleaning, laundry detergents that suck the life from clothing and get with the steam, sponge and clean regime.

TottersBlankly · 10/03/2022 12:42

When are the hideous blousy and flouncy dresses and blouses going out of fashion.

But why so anti? They’re just different to the streamlined look we’ve been used to. I’m not sure every single puffy sleeved frock is hideous. And surely there’s no harm in risking looking faintly ridiculous? Particularly as I morph from mature to ancient I’m consciously making an effort not to become stuck in my ways - or in styles that don’t speak to the present moment.

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 10/03/2022 12:46

[quote Stretchandsnap]@CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory come sit by be - exactly the same height but massive arse rather than boobs (sadly) I have given up…[/quote]
I also have a massive arse Grin

WeirdArchitecture · 10/03/2022 13:52

This drove me off shopping. And i used to love it, both on and offline.

I now use ebay, and maybe a couple of trusted brands, and that's it. It takes longer to source exactly what you are after on ebay but when it works it is generally cheaper, more sustainable and better quality. I got several wool skirts and a gorgeous tween long coat for winter, which have seen me through. I did buy a cashmere jumper from jigsaw but that was it.
Maybe something from Brora or toast sale.

I always wanted a loose fit linen cardi for summer with a light hood. Finally found one on ebay in a- new condition that is just perfect. 100% linen and just the right fit, and only £14.

Honestly I cant see me heading back to the high street any time soon. It's all so garish and thin and ugly.

WeirdArchitecture · 10/03/2022 13:52

tweed not tween!

FayCarew · 10/03/2022 14:00

@TottersBlankly, But why so anti?

Because the flouncy dresses seem shapeless, are not a syle that I normally wear, and don't really suit my lifestyle. I also don't buy clothes that will be a one season trend.

moonbedazzled · 10/03/2022 14:07

OMG, we were saying this just last week.. My sister and I went to Liverpool and it was so depressing. Everything was much more expensive but the quality of the fabric was so cheap. Everything had a ruffle or a peplum on it. And you couldn't tell which shop you were in because all the clothes looked the same in each shop. It was so depressing that we gave up and went to have cocktails.
But shopping online is equally as bad. I saw a coat in the sales in a shop but not in my size so I checked online. While I was on there, I saw some really nice tops and wondered why I hadn't seen them in the shop. So I went back in. They were there but looked nothing like they had done online. And the material was so cheap and nasty - like nylon. If you'd lit a match, they'd have shrivelled to nothing.
Its so depressing. I'm losing my love for shopping. 🥺

moonbedazzled · 10/03/2022 14:16

@TottersBlankly

When are the hideous blousy and flouncy dresses and blouses going out of fashion.

But why so anti? They’re just different to the streamlined look we’ve been used to. I’m not sure every single puffy sleeved frock is hideous. And surely there’s no harm in risking looking faintly ridiculous? Particularly as I morph from mature to ancient I’m consciously making an effort not to become stuck in my ways - or in styles that don’t speak to the present moment.

Flouncy dresses look great on Kate Middleton. Unfortunately they make ME look like a Chrstmas tree. I've no problem with shops selling ruffles and certain styles being in fashion, but as a nation we're not all built the same so surely they can cater for different styles. It seems like they all pick a style and then just use different fabrics. I'm a size 18. I already struggle to look good so I don't need shops to make me look ridiculous as well.