Page 8 | Why are the shops SO disappointing?

JanisMoplin · 2022-03-09T18:52:35+00:00

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!

Floisme · 14/03/2022 11:52

I've not heard of them Amelion but I'll take a look, thanks!

I've been wondering similar things WeirdArchitecture cos yes, the global economy is very much biting us on the arse at the moment. But we've lost so much ground in the uk - the skills, the technology, all mostly gone and I'm guessing it would take years to get that back, even if there was the will to do it.

Borgonzola · 14/03/2022 11:53

I've had a similar issue. I'm 33, 5 ft 7 and 11 stone and found everything made me either look like a soviet javelinist (huge shoulders) or like a sturdy milkmaid who was about to roll a cheese across a field. I've also aged out of H&M, where everything is oversized, neon green, or horribly reminiscent of garments I remember from the 90s and should have been left there.

I'm now pregnant and have found shops massively disappointing. Of the shopping centre's Next, Zara, H&M, M&S, and John Lewis, only H&M had a maternity section, and it was basically just leggings and nursing vests, so nothing I'd actually want to wear out of the house. ASOS is full of either high-necked dresses, not suitable for those of us with pea-heads and massive baps, or T-shirts in grey, white or black. And all the models are basically skinny 5ft11 women with a football shoved up their shirt. Where are the rangy bumps, the spreaders?

I'm now reduced to wearing an enormous pair of yellow cord dungarees I found in Portobello market. I love them but flattering they are not. Now to see if the high street does clown shoes.

Floisme · 14/03/2022 12:15

Sorry I forgot to say thanks for your post BulletTrain - depressing but interesting.

BulletTrain · 14/03/2022 12:21

I found Happy Mama quite good when I was pregnant (11 stone, 5ft4, 34E so definitely discus-thrower shoulders). It probably does fall into cheap fast fashion but I found say a basic top for £13 the same quality as a £28 JojoMamanBebe one and then donated it all to charity.

www.happymama.co.uk/maternity-clothes/maternity-tops.html

OldLadyInPolyester · 14/03/2022 14:47

The problem is that even if you pay more there is no guarantee you will get better quality. I paid £25 for a Boden breton top expecting thick cotton but it's thin and crap. Same at White Stuff. You can actually see through it!

I have a family wedding soon and decided I would spend a bit more than usual on a new dress (currently only buying 2nd hand so this was meant to be a rare treat). Sadly the dresses at £150 are still made out of 100% polyester. May as well save money and shop at New Look.

DesertStorms · 14/03/2022 15:11

Just got some t shirts from Seasalt. Quite nice but thin cotton and not well cut.

lovescats3 · 14/03/2022 18:35

Am also finding Mary portsa second hand shops clothing has become very expensive, almost same price as new and it's high street brands not designer which is very hard when you are on a budget

lovescats3 · 14/03/2022 18:35

Sorry portas

TottersBlankly · 14/03/2022 19:55

For all those regretting their lack of dressmaking skills …

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/mar/14/a-new-start-after-60-i-always-wanted-my-own-clothing-brand-at-71-i-got-it?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Heartening!

Pigtailsandall · 14/03/2022 20:08

I've been wondering about this more over the last few days, and I'm definitely in the camp of people who'd happily pay £25 for a cotton top that lasts me 5 years in heavy rotation. I get slightly exasperated when people say they can't afford to pay more for better things, and lower end of high street is all they can afford. Of course, there are people genuinely living on or below the poverty line, and I fully sympathise with that; of course you can't. But I have friends who complain that they can only afford £20 a month on clothes and so they buy a few new things from primark every month. Clothes used to be expensive, and better quality. 100 years ago clothes were considerably more expensive but people didn't walk around naked (ok, unless you were in the actual poor house). People used to buy less, and look after their stuff better. Fashions and styles changed slowly. It just seems to be the norm that we need huge closets rammed full of everything possible. I think most people probably can afford to buy better, if they save, are mindful with their purchases and buy less.

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/03/2022 07:48

I was sat outside primark last year in the car & the people coming out looked like sacks of shit. There wasn’t one woman who looked stylish.

You rarely see anyone wearing an outfit that’s well put together now. Clothes are just to stop you being naked now.

TottersBlankly · 15/03/2022 08:00

Insta suggests otherwise ...

Iwanttenofthose · 15/03/2022 08:22

@Fluffycloudland77

I was sat outside primark last year in the car & the people coming out looked like sacks of shit. There wasn’t one woman who looked stylish.

You rarely see anyone wearing an outfit that’s well put together now. Clothes are just to stop you being naked now.

Primark is hardly the place for spotting trendsetters is it

I liked where this thread was going with more focus on the love of good clothes and less on bashing other women for their choices, so I hope mean comments like this don't de-rail that.

Noideawhattowritehere · 15/03/2022 08:27

What has happened to Boden? I used to spend a fortune there, but it's all pie crust collars and floofy sleeves now. Even the Favourite Cardigan which I've bought for years now has stupid shoulders. Plus their sizing is off too, I'm a 8-10 in their knitwear but a 6 petite in tops 🤷

I'm having to buy vintage Boden (even still with tags!) from eBay and Vinted now.

I did have high hopes for M&S which as a pp said seem to have got their act together a bit and has quite a few Bodenesque things - but the quality was awful, a jumper was full of holes by the second wash and had to go back. Sigh.

Enzbear · 15/03/2022 08:35

I'm the opposite, I've found quite a few things that I absolutely love recently.
From M&S, Next, Schuh, all saints, CK and a boutique shop.

KosherDill · 15/03/2022 09:04

Lately I've had more fun buying vintage / pre-owned clothing online than bothering with the shops. More interesting selections, often better fabric and good prices.

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/03/2022 09:10

I remember Boden being decent quality for basics 20 years ago but the white camisole vests are so thin I sent them all back. The last Karen millen coat dh bought me after the boohoo takeover had a polyester lining not acetate so I told him to return it.

Vanity sizing is ridiculous now, I’m a standard size 10 but I have to buy size 6 now and even then the shoulders can be too wide so back it all goes.

Your mils wardrobe sounds wonderful @NiLunNiLautre, my dm has Jaegar stuff from the 80’s. She still looks good in it and the structure of the jacket encourages you to stand up straight with your shoulders back.

BulletTrain · 15/03/2022 09:14

I have had a lot of success with Weird Fish this season, oddly.

www.weirdfish.co.uk/p/women/i/fleur-34-sleeve-striped-organic-cotton-top-navy-19206

I got this in the sale, no stock now, but as a PP says it is an example of having to pay £30 for thick tops.

KosherDill · 15/03/2022 09:58

@Borgonzola

I've had a similar issue. I'm 33, 5 ft 7 and 11 stone and found everything made me either look like a soviet javelinist (huge shoulders) or like a sturdy milkmaid who was about to roll a cheese across a field. I've also aged out of H&M, where everything is oversized, neon green, or horribly reminiscent of garments I remember from the 90s and should have been left there.

I'm now pregnant and have found shops massively disappointing. Of the shopping centre's Next, Zara, H&M, M&S, and John Lewis, only H&M had a maternity section, and it was basically just leggings and nursing vests, so nothing I'd actually want to wear out of the house. ASOS is full of either high-necked dresses, not suitable for those of us with pea-heads and massive baps, or T-shirts in grey, white or black. And all the models are basically skinny 5ft11 women with a football shoved up their shirt. Where are the rangy bumps, the spreaders?

I'm now reduced to wearing an enormous pair of yellow cord dungarees I found in Portobello market. I love them but flattering they are not. Now to see if the high street does clown shoes.

Pigtailsandall · 15/03/2022 10:39

These are the jeans I bought from M&S about 9-10 months ago. I didn't wear them regularly (can't wear jeans to work) so they were a part of my weekend/holiday clothing rotation. I got maybe 25-30 days of wear out of them before the fabric started snagging like this.

I remember buying a pair of Levi's when I was 16 and wearing them daily to school, and then nearly daily to college. They finally wore through when I was about 24. I wonder if their quality still holds up. I might buy a classic pair of 501s there.

TottersBlankly · 15/03/2022 12:30

So … Have just taken delivery of this Zara skirt (obvs a copy of the Margiela) and am very pleased. Really substantial fabric and cut and will look gorgeous in high summer with pretty much any top - though I think I’ll mostly wear it for outdoor evening performances, with delicate camisole type things. And, because its ideal wearer is about three inches taller than my 5’3, quite exaggerated flatform sandals. (Can’t really be taken up because of the detailed dying and fraying at the hem.)

DesertStorms · 15/03/2022 18:03

@Pigtailsandall

These are the jeans I bought from M&S about 9-10 months ago. I didn't wear them regularly (can't wear jeans to work) so they were a part of my weekend/holiday clothing rotation. I got maybe 25-30 days of wear out of them before the fabric started snagging like this.

I remember buying a pair of Levi's when I was 16 and wearing them daily to school, and then nearly daily to college. They finally wore through when I was about 24. I wonder if their quality still holds up. I might buy a classic pair of 501s there.

I bought a pair of M and S jeans whichI didn’t wear very often. They ripped right across after about 6 months!! I took them back and got a refund.