I am craving simple clothes. Anyone else?

[dogsandcoffee]

Whenever I’m shopping I feel like it’s so hard to find good basic clothes. Menswear seems so much simpler! I go in a shop and everything is crazy patterned or flouncy.

I want a well cut white t shirt, and stuff that all goes together so that I don’t have a headache at picking an outfit.

Am I alone in this?

It was the opening sentence of your first post.

I've started making my own clothes in desperation. I hate the androgynous vibe of COS and Arket etc. Where are the feminine flattering shapes? Same with community clothing and old town. I don't want "work wear".

The necklines are so high in the rampanui clothes. Why can’t clothes be simple, well made, but with a decent scoop neckline?

I agree op. My dh's clothes are much simpler, better made, with much better (natural) fabric.

@BumbleNova

I've started making my own clothes in desperation. I hate the androgynous vibe of COS and Arket etc. Where are the feminine flattering shapes? Same with community clothing and old town. I don't want "work wear".

Exactly. Simple, but feminine and flattering (but not flouncy/ twee/ fussy etc)

I need good quality basics. Used to love uniqlo. Have sent everything back I ordered over the last few months, including the airism t shirts I live in in the summer. Really disappointed :(

@SnowdropsInSpring

The necklines are so high in the rampanui clothes. Why can’t clothes be simple, well made, but with a decent scoop neckline?

I agree op. My dh's clothes are much simpler, better made, with much better (natural) fabric.

I don't find them high, just a normal t-shirt neckline. I don't like scoop necklines because they don't protect me from the sun and they tend to show my sports bra. It would be good if they had both options but I like being able to buy a simple t-shirt.

I've gone back to making some of my own clothes too but I don't think it's an easy solution. What I'm finding is that simple shapes and clean lines might look straightforward but, if you make the slightest mistake or don't get the fit absolutely right, then there's nowhere to hide. I think it's going to take me years, if not decades - which is something I probably haven't got - before I'm competent.

I might have already said this (although it could have been on another thread!) but I'm guessing at least part of the reason for the high street fixation on frilliness is because it's useful for hiding and distracting from shoddy work. I'm normally fairly sanguine when something I don't like is in fashion - because it will normally pass, but this trend is so convenient for the industry that I'm beginning to wonder whether we might be stuck with it for a long time.

@Floisme you are absolutely right. Making my own clothes has also taught me how little we pay for clothes now. The time it takes to make something is eye opening.

Yes and in a funny sort of way, it's made me more sympathetic towards a high street retailer trying to source well made but realistically priced clothes.

And by 'realistically priced' I mean a price that reflects the work that's gone into it.

By the way, I like the neckline on Rapanui Ts as it shows off my collarbone as opposed to either my jowls or my cleavage. Hard to find.

I like Rapanui, but also find the neckline a bit high. Just a tiny bit lower would be perfect!

JCrew used to be great for t-shirts, but the quality has gone downhill really fast, both in terms of the material and the finish.

@missmoon

I like Rapanui, but also find the neckline a bit high. Just a tiny bit lower would be perfect!

JCrew used to be great for t-shirts, but the quality has gone downhill really fast, both in terms of the material and the finish.

Glad it’s not just me 😅. I’m a true hourglass and need a lower neckline. Anything higher ages me.

If it emphasises the waist, then it’s perfect. Sadly many clothes seem to want to hide the stomach area. On me that looks worse.

@valerianaofficiana

Are you Liz Jones?

T shirt and jeans job done.

@100problems, finally I have a reason to use the good old MN ' did you mean to be so rude or does it come naturally' (ok, a bit of ad lib🙄)?

I like jeans without elastane and have found a few places. I like Hush boyfriend jeans but the sizing is astonishingly inconsistent- I have 2 pairs of supposedly size 10s which are totally different sizes and I tried on another pair the other day that could have fitted 2 of me in.

I'm enjoying all the suggestions. I find Fatfaces cotton quality very good.
Otherwise, I think the pile on on @valerianaofficiana unnecessary. I took her convent to mean she pays a lot for her foundational pieces and she not going to lay it out a most of us aren't going to be in that position to buy from them so why bother. I suspect that would have been the criticism if she'd done that instead. I too wondered where she'd bought from and will check out their sales to see if maybe i could do the same. I'm ready to really start streamlining my wardrobe over the next five years. Still losing the last stone of baby weight.

@tryingtobehelpful , thank you, it's exactly what I meant.
EBay is a great place to find the designer basics to try out the size/cut/length etc.
Recently bought John Galliano silk lined trousers that are perfect! For fraction of the cost. 🥳

My favourite long sleeved t shirts are from Benetton, though that was last year.

Get thee to Arket.

Or the Day Tee by YMC.