Where did you shop...but don't now?

[fairisleknit]

Could be due to rising prices or crap choices these days. I'll go first -

Boden (increased price)
Baukjen increased prices)
H&M (too fast fashion)

Top shop - too old now.

H&M, Zara, any fast fashion - for ethical reasons.

no more H&M or Zara

I really miss Reiss of about 15 years ago.

less Whistles. I still have jeans and sweaters that have lasted brilliantly but not sure lately.

Love Cos for basics

I now buy much less now but from small UK brands like Sideline and Carrier Company. Great quality and not fast fashion.

Whilst I still like some of their clothes Boden is now far too expensive even for basics. Likewise while stuff. I am buying much less anyway. Have bought some basics from m and s which seem much more reasonable price wise.

Debenhams
C & A (used to like a look in BHS and Littlewoods too, they were all in a row)
Next (just awful now)
Brantano (nightmare trying to buy shoes anywhere tbh)

Ny mum and I used to like a day shopping out in the city. We'd never do that now, there's nowhere to go. Even Thorntons has gone; used to cheer myself up with a chocolate bar from there if we couldn't find anything. And they used to have a lovely cafe too.

Used to love Whistles in the early 00s and had one round the corner from work. Actually really disliked it when they changed their branding and brought Jane thingy in from Topshop and everyone gushed like it was the best thing ever. Quality and style declined rapidly and prices rocketed.
Used to love Hush a decade ago (although their knitwear has always been poor quality) but it’s rapid expansion has seen quality nosedive and everything is just too samey and very expensive. I like the odd thing in the sales from there now.
Zara has tanked, the quality is awful and the customer service is utterly appalling. Sizing all over the place and now have to pay to return.
karen Mullen was a a favourite in the 90s 00s but wouldn’t touch it now.

@Unseelie
So right re the difference between men and women’s fabrics. I’d say the same about decent basics too - always plenty for men, but harder and harder to find for women.

Laura Ashley- great stuff on the whole, sadly missed

Principles when it was a stand alone, again beautiful quality clothes in the 00s

Ditto Boden till around 2018

Agree about some of the other companies like WS or fat face

Miss indigo and some Per Una

The Sweater Shop 😂

But definitely miss Oasis, Warehouse and Topshop which seems to be a common theme here.
River Island was good in the 90s but now always has tacky gold embellishments everywhere. I don't want RI all over my handbag!
Gap was good for kids stuff but the store closed down, not sure if it's still online.
Miss Selfridge was another one I loved!!

Next, Debenhams,White Stuff, Phase Eight.

I realise that I rarely buy any clothes these days - I am too old for most high street stuff & too poor for the rest!
Used to get loads from Boden, occasionally Toast and Racing Green back in the day.
Gave up Next 30 years ago, as they are just cheap & nasty.

I pretty much hate shopping, so wherever I shop now has to be good online - mainly Gudrun & Seasalt, John Lewis for basics and still M&S for pants!

I've just come back from a day out in my nearest city. There really is very little choice now.
I miss Mango, Warehouse, Oasis, Gap, French Connection.
Only thing I bought was a camel coat from New Look with 25% off
Everything is rather samey

I rarely shop in person now - unless I'm visiting somewhere as part of a holiday - I have got so used to online shopping that I can't be bothered to travel to a shopping mall/ town specifically for the purpose of wandering around the shops .

Unlike a lot of posters here I still shop a lot at Next online - but I have noticed now that very few of my recent purchases have been their own make - and those things that I have ordered that are their own make tend to have been the ones I've sent back .

Yes I am like this. Just can’t be bothered and have no interest.

Shopping in person is a dismal
experience now. Online can be hit and miss because too often items are out of stock.
I used to like Boden and Laura Ashley way back. Zara too was fun but after the pandemic it changed horribly. Uniqlo online has really nosedived. Their shops were pretty awful anyway.

I rely on Cos mainly BUT the recycled crunchy materials they use at times are horrendous and uncomfortable. Their ott huge, wide styling is laughable and even the models look like clowns. (Too many models are androgynous and there are hardly any white models. It’s become daft.)
But coats are ok. Sometimes.

I just find the experience of shopping pretty joyless these days. It got worse after the pandemic and had never reverted to normal since.

…has never reverted

I went shopping for clothes yesterday as I desperately need some new ones to replenish ones that have worn out. It was a dismal depressing experience and I gave up after two hours. It's a bit comforting to know that I'm not the only one who is struggling to find stuff!

Why does the colour of the models matter?

The colour doesn't matter but invariably the black models are 6ft tall angular stunners, the clothes look fantastic but give zero indication of how they'll look on a pale, 5ft4 regular sized person. It definitely prevents me ordering as they just look superhuman (and fabulous) and I think, crikey, it's not going to look remotely like that on me and it will need to be sent back. Especially now Zara charges for returns, I think twice.

Gap because they went online only

Well, just about every shop is guilty both historically and now of using tall, skinny, straight up and down models.

For anyone who misses shopping at the old Oasis, apparently some of their design team now work for Next Love and Roses range. You can see it in their designs.

Last three items of clothing I've bought:
Bootcut jeans from M&S
Jacket from Lululemon (at discounted outlet store)
Top from Oliver Bonas

I do recommend Oliver Bonas for those who liked Oasis, similar colours/style, but they don't have many clothes displayed in their shops

Chelsea Girl was my first fashion love. Oh those blouses with the pretty collars, I shall never forget them. Sigh

Then I loved Next. Now I think it's generally very poor quality cheap shite and I've gone from it being most of my wardrobe to zilch.

Whistles is so disappointing. Everything I’ve bought in the last few years has torn or bobbled. The quality is terrible and they’re so expensive for very cheaply made clothes. A shame because I like the designs. Barbour jumpers have worn brilliantly as have COS jumpsuits.
Also loved M&S Limited Collection, years ago. Their clothes used to be great, no idea why they stopped doing those types of collections.

Agree! Oliver Bonas is the closest I’ve found to Oaais and is my new favourite shop. Luckily there is one near me but I also shop online. They do a good sale like Oasis used to.