Went to a big city clothes shopping for first time in 4 years!

[BlessedByTheShitFairy]

Just a ramble, really.
Yes, it's been that long, I'm fairly frugal with clothing and only have a small amount at any given time, but I had found myself in need of a few new tops for summer and some other bits and bobs, and seeing as almost everything I have ordered online recently had to be returned, I'd had enough.So off I went via train, had a lovely day out, etc, etc.
All in all I was a bit stunned to see clothes in REAL LIFE, instead of online. It's been so long for me it's almost tragic that I got such a buzz out of it! Just loved the experience of a whole day looking at stuff even with the hassle of 'trying on' and ugly changing room lighting.

Thanks to the pandemic and living some distance from decent shops, this was all quite overwhelming, lol, but there is just so much STUFF out there, especially in stores such as M&S, that it made looking for things quite exasperating. And this is when I noticed that most stores, even these super large ones, didn't carry as much stock as online. But it was great to get to see and touch before purchasing, I had forgotten how much I preferred that. Many things that I had overlooked online were lovelier in real life, and of course some of my online favourites were crap in the 'flesh'.

My conclusions were - why had I never looked at Superdry before??? They stocked the best quality tshirts and casual clothes that i've seen in years. I found some fantastic linen trousers and some excellent long sleeved tees.They'd probably sell more if they purchased some 100 watt bulbs though! Even the changing rooms were like dining in candlelight.... I also couldn't believe the drop in quality in places such a Whistles, Hush (in john lewis) and so on, the fabrics so thin and shiny, awful patterns too.
To be honest it was a delight to be inside a John Lewis after so long, I honestly hadn't realised how much I enjoyed just traipsing around shops. It was the first time I'd seen Sweaty Betty in the wild too!
Over all I was most impressed with M&S as the quality at least reflected in the pricing compared to many other stores.

Does anyone else gain a stone in M&S changing rooms are are they the only honest mirrors out there? Asking for a friend

I'm about to arrive in a big city in a few minutes and I can't wait to hit the shops! It feel a bit giddy!

Hope you enjoy it!
It's great having a pile of stuff that I knew would fit when i got home, instead of grimacing opening a parcel anticipating having to do returns.

I also learned that all of the online 'fit finder' apps are 99% wrong. Various brands suggested a size to me online which was completely off in store. It's a bloody minefield.

I totally agree op. I find real shops so much more enjoyable and they also encourage me to shop around before I buy instead of just heading to the Uniqlo website (and invariably sending it back). Our local high street has tanked so I'm going to start doing a day trip a couple of times a year. I'm also going to activley seek out any local towns and neighbourhoods where independent shops have survived.

I did this last week but many shops just don't carry all the lines or sizes. Also many stores are just online now.

Thanks for the Superdry tip. Never set foot in it, thought it was for young waifs

Zara is my go to now
The old store was like a jumble sale but the new one in our city is literally a day out!!!
I can spend hours in there

@Floisme Are we a dying breed??? I too think a few times a year is a great solution to constant returns. I can't tell you how much that depresses me, and why no one every balks at the cost surprises me. I don't have a huge amount sitting in my current account at any time and only use debit cards. It would cost a fortune to try on at home what I did in the city yesterday.

@EggRollsForever True, I'd had my eye on some vests at H&M and a top from M&S that I couldn't find. it was just so much better to be able to see and touch stuff though, it's been so long

I did it on the may bank holiday. I still look back at that time with joy. Funny isn't it? Glad you had a nice time

Im late 40's, never even thought of that, there's something for everyone really. Just avoided the tiny bra tops..

urban outfitters was another thing entirely, it was like walking into summer 1990, it made me feel slightly emotional and nostalgic.

I was in a huge Zara which had all been redone - shoes are in a proper area on shelves and much less tat everywhere. Lots of lovely dresses - most seemed to be about 49.99. Is this a new direction for Zara does anyone know? I really liked it.

@EggRollsForever I don't know but everything I've bought this year is from Zara

And I have an unhealthy addiction to their textured blazers

Zara was the only place I skipped, for the above reasons, wish I had poked my nose in now!

Superdry is great OP! Some of my nicest summer / evening dresses are from there, the kind of thing I'd never have thought they'd have!

@Floisme Are we a dying breed???
Maybe but I actually don't think it's terminal just yet. I was in London recently and was quite shocked at the state of Oxford and Regent St, and yet Brick Lane and Spitalfields and Columbia Rd markets were all buzzing, as was the pretty crappy market next to where we were staying. Admittedly a lot of those people will have been tourists, but what I took from it - rightly or wrongly - was that there is still an appetite for going shopping, but that people want something a bit more from it than rails of clothes and a cup of tea. I believe the shops that survive will be the ones that are smart enough to figure that out, and that have the resources to respond, or that maybe are just lucky enough to be in the right location. Sadly a lot won't.

I also don't the the big city shops will necessarily be the ones that survive. I have a hunch that it might be the smaller towns, especially the market towns, that'll figure it out first.

Flo - I started a thread about dying towns yesterday, I can't see many of those mentioned on it being revived, sadly. I have no idea what will happen, although I have noticed that many of the successful towns have a lot of footfall/visitors (lake district, Hebden Bridge, etc).

My home town (I left long ago but visit regularly), Wigan, is almost empty of clothes stores now, just a new look and a primark. Most people I know there tend to nip to the supermarkets or drive out of town to Manchester or Liverpool. The only remaining stores are transient, fast food or poundland types. It makes me so sad because it was really bustling and alive when I was a teen.

Superdry is my go to place for T-shirts. They’re long enough so they don’t ride up and have proper sleeves that cover your shoulders! I struggled for years looking for somewhere that sells decent T-shirts

I saw that thread Blessed. I know Wigan, although I've not been for a long time, and was sad to hear that. There are towns like that near me too, and yet I've been to others that have still got a buzz about them, even though they're not touristy like Hebden Bridge. I've not been able to figure out what the difference is, except that one of them has hung on to its outdoor market.

Likewise with cities - the local city centre is struggling badly but some of the 'naice' neighbourhoods seem to have picked up part of that lost footfall and look to be doing quite well. I just have this feeling that the big city centres - or at least the streets with all the department stores - might end up coming off the worst because they'll be too big and cumbersome to change.

Sounds like a lovely day, OP.
Did you have your lunch out as well: I like doing that when out (occasionally) shopping in a city or big town.
It's nice to sit and people watch while eating, and I'll have a glass of wine, too: I go on the train rather than drive so that I can do that.

I go to shops A LOT and the spectre of online just hangs over them now. All I overhear is ‘sales’ assistants apologising and suggesting customers go online to find the item in their size or colour. I went into Skechers Westfield and some shoes they had very prominently displayed were only available in an 8. It does at least give me some leads and some idea of sizing and colours, much better than trying to work things out via poor product pages and endless tedious returns. I do also feel like staff in many shops are friendlier to you than before the pandemic, as if someone has told them we make the jobs.

I quite like Poetry’s model. Ok they are expensive and not really to my taste but you can ‘make an appointment’ and request all the things you’d like to look at so they get them in for you without you having to actually buy them.

I rate M&S also, there is a good bit you wouldn’t want but some lovely finds also. Quicker to try on than to order, wait for delivery, try all on and then return half. I click and collect to store to try it on in the changing room if I want to be sure they have an item in all the main shops. I work occasionally in town and when I am there I find in person quicker and end up keeping things online as it’s a faff to return. The lighting in changing rooms can be harsh but helps you not to buy the wrong thing….

urban outfitters was another thing entirely, it was like walking into summer 1990, it made me feel slightly emotional and nostalgic.

My DFriend and I (both of a certain age) happened to be in Urban Outfitters yesterday and I honestly thought we were going to be asked to leave. SO much reminiscing - 'do you remember you had trousers like that in orange? 'From when I was a podium dancer?' Cue much hilarity and picking up of tiny tops and saying 'could you even get a nip in there these days?'

'could you even get a nip in there these days?'