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)

Is Love and Roses just a Next brand then? I have noticed that a few of the 'brands' they sell, particularly the cheaper ones, are brands I've never heard of and I wondered if they were wholly owned by Next.

Warehouse and River Island. Have a very high natural waist and find it hard to get clothes that fit.

Last ordered what looked like a spectacular dress online from RI over summer but in reality was see through and the foulest feeling synthetic ever, for over 50 quid! Used to live near Debenhams and get Warehouse from there. Find there is wayyyy too much choice on their website and I struggle to work out what would suit me.

These days I'm far more inclined to order online from a retailer that can show me what their clothes look like on a mid-sized model. Interesting that so many of you have dropped Boden. Having never shopped there before, I'm currently looking at several of their dresses because they show them looking great on a curvy size 14 model.

I used to get such lovely picture frames for a relative of mine. I'd print out old family photos and frame them up for her to have on display. It used to bring her a lovely trip down memory lane.

Also miss the Kitchen Reject Shop for glassware and Past Times for unusual gifts for 'picture frames relative'.

Jigsaw. Not sure what went wrong but their clothes just don’t inspire me anymore.
Used to love Gap until quality became dire and I replaced it with Uniqlo for basics.

Aww @RiftGibbon that’s lovely.

I really miss Topshop, Oasis, Warehouse and the odd Miss Selfridge. We had them all under one roof in Debenhams and Outfit. It's not the same online, you pay a lot more for a lot less quality.

I need to learn how to sew because I don't like anything in the stores, it's actually depressing!

I never understood the love for Next, always looked frumpy to me.

I miss Pepperberry which was not perfect by my one reliable source of clothes that fit.

When I was younger Oasis, Warehouse, Monsoon, Topshop etc but now they aren't as good and/or I'm too old for a lot of it (mid 30s).

Hobbs used to be good for work but now is too corporate and/or mother of the bride as work has got a bit more casual.

Cos/Arket/Hush etc should work for me but I need more shape.

Likewise all the French brands like Maje and Sandro are beautiful but absolutely don't fit my boobs.

Seasalt and similar are not my style.

I do buy from Whistles and Anthropologie and Kitri, in the sales, and some of the smaller John Lewis brands when I have actual physical shopping time, which is almost never!

I would love to find a brand which does nicely cut/draped good quality clothes at a decent price.

John Lewis and Jigsaw as they no longer ship to the EU.
Hobbs did stop for a while, but have resumed EU shipping, although I haven't had a need to buy anything from them for 3 years or so.

Another Boden one here, for the usual reasons.

M&S except occasionally for jeans.

Hobbs- now too boring, too many synthetics.
I think this thread is revealing at least a perceived drop in quality and value across a big range of brands.

Next, because they were well Brexit. Didn’t much matter by then though, because they were little more than Primark with notions. Shame because I used to work there as a student years ago and loved it. In the early days it had positioned itself between M&S and Jaeger, and the clothes were gorgeous and in great fabrics - lots of silk and wool. Now they’re just viscose and sadness.

I miss Past Times too - always had lovely jewellery at reasonable prices.

I have a couple of brilliant Pepperberry dresses. I didn't like lots of their stuff, but when it was good, it was really good.

Jaeger- closed down unfortunately
GAP- ditto
Bay Trading - ditto
Debenhams - ditto

Now Benetton and online used clothes platforms

Now don't shop at:
Boden- expensive and older kids clothes aren't great.
Joules - same
White stuff- gone frumpy
Fat face- too much navy and weird prints
Levis- fall apart after a couple of years.

Now I shop at:
Disturbia- love their printed dresses
EBay second hand - don't see the point in full price if things are badly made
Rapanui- great quality and sustainable basics
Tk Maxx - occasionally you find a gem

Hard to find good things these days, it's a real shame

I used to buy all my clothes and my kids clothes from Boden and mini Boden. For twenty years most of my wardrobe was from Boden, well made thick cotton tops, good pure wool jumpers,fab cotton trousers and jeans. All really good quality and I loved the colours and design.

Only buy second hand Boden now. They have turned crap, nasty nylon and viscose,so expensive and vile patterns and design. I think they have rebranded and are aiming for a younger market rather than my bracket 50yr old woman. I think it's a real mistake as by my age we have a bit of cash to spend on well made clothes but I won't buy Boden anymore.

Like many others have said………
Hobbs, has become really overpriced for very boring clothes
Jigsaw ditto very expensive for too much polyester
Phase Eight was nice years and years ago
Next has become very poor
M&S occasionally could have found the odd thing but no more as really badly cut and awful fabric
H&M their sizing a nightmare
Inditex group gone downhill too

So recently been using Vinted

Definitely gone downhill style and quality wise: whistles, Zara, hush, warehouse, jigsaw, h and m
Wyse - certainly gotten to big for their boots and customer service terrible. Ditto Baukjen.
good quality and style: Cos, arket, John Lewis, and/or at John Lewis m and s (to a degree), And Other Stories

generally preloved is the way to go. Clothes seem so expensive and full price for something means has to be really really good.

@TeaAddict235 Jaeger still available in M&S and often heavily discounted in the sale. I also get a lot of Jaeger on Vinted - excellent tops and knitwear for £5-15

Thank you @tigerbear . I loved Jaeger, and still do to be honest. I now live on another continent but when I come back, I'll have a good rummage in M&S! My Jaeger items have lasted extremely long and are still good quality. I wonder if M&S post worldwide? <off I trot to check online>

Evans. Not many shops around and have tried to order online but it never works for some reason. Plus much better shops around for plus sizes. And most of the stuff is now Viscose. Urgh.

i came on this thread to say Boden and see it’s been mentioned many times already.

As a PP said, there’s nothing there for the 40/50 year olds with some disposable income any more so I’ve no idea who they are targeting. It’s all ridiculously expensive and none of their classic items are there any more. It’s all frills, silly patterns and long hemlines. I did see they had some nicely coloured cashmere cardigans at the moment but when I looked they were all
cropped. I’m in my 50s ffs, is my stomach likely to be the feature I’d like on display?!

Another who's come on to say Boden.

I think they've been losing their way gradually for years, but the decrease in quality, while prices have risen, has got to be the main thing for me. I bought some plain jersey items from them last (recorded on an old thread here) but have been tempted to buy nothing else from their brochures.

This thread has been great. Completely agree with the rise in horrible synthetic fabric in clothes for increased prices.
I also don’t understand why a lot of brands have abandoned a large part of the customer base with more disposable income 🤷‍♀️

Whistles

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@Beanbagtrap oh yes! how I loved pilot and bay trading, I remember falling down the stairs from top to bottom of the pilot in Bournemouth (if you've been you'll know what I mean, I fell down every single bloody one😱🙈🤣)