Can we talk about clothing brands and target demographics?

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Because I’m thinking about the brands that form the core of my ‘going out to meet other grown ups’ wardrobe, and laughing at the Margaret Howell mail shot I’ve just opened. (Socks and sandals photo.) Beautiful young model, and each garment will be wonderfully well made - but I know no one under fifty who wears MH. That’s fine - but I wish the marketing acknowledged the fact.

When a brand does make an effort to engage with the real buyers of its clothes I’m full of awe and gratitude - Raey at Matches is usually great at this.

Studio Nicholson hovers somewhere in between. Again, everyone I know (in the UK) who wears their clothes is older and richer than me, probably in a creative profession. Not a wispy 20 year old.

I never used to care. But I’m wondering if marketing is the reason 99% of the middle aged and older women on MN exclaim that there are no decent clothes for them. There are - but not every brand tells you so.

The we're for everybody type of modelling definitely works well within some brands wider storytelling. Sometimes it's just a lack of budget...

I do remember that the previous designer of Chloé, Natacha Ramsay-Levi, cast friends and women she admired (writers, artists, singers, etc.) that always struck me as odd, to say to someone I really admire your work, please can you be a walking clothes hanger.

(I would not be able to handle that facial hair, honestly, I'm half convinced it's a merkin).

In Son de Flor's case, their visual message really amplifies their brand essence by happy coincidence.

Looked at their Insta …

Nah mate …

Mr Kaluuya wasn’t on their Insta, obvs. It just reminded me of this photo …

Is he dead ? It looks like one of the Victorian dead people pretending to be live photos.

My abolitionist great great grandfather...

Blimey. I feel a right peasant compared to you lot on here with your oil portraits of worthy ancestors, and grannies who wore Dior. My lot were all down pit, in t’mill or harvesting rhubarb by candlelight. They could sew, though, I suppose.

Just lost several hours reading this great thread and falling down several new-to-me brand rabbit holes. Thank you OP and posters for such a wide ranging and interesting thread!

also 🙏🏻 to whoever posted about Palava - not heard of them before and their separates are right up my street colour- and shape-wise, so will add them to my list.

Sad to realise that I don’t really have anything that inspires me to prune the roses in my knickers or run a wild west homestead. Off to assess what items I have that truly inspire me…

Have to say ‘pruning the roses in my knickers’ is an excellent image for International Women’s Day.

I've not tried these but I like the look of them.
Beaumont Organic - link to preloved but the new section is better.

The shoes arrived and they're great. Strange how the 1/2 a size difference was from fits fine just new shoe snug to boats that I couldn't wear with 2 pairs of thick socks.

Here's the link for my boots like toast ava boots. The site doesn't look promising at first sight but if you browse to Brands, you might find something of interest. Postage was free and delivery was Royal Mail 2nd class, I think, 2-3 working days.

@microbius who's is this? I love it, the spiralling is adorable

Unfortunately I do the same and dress for the me in my imagination, and then I actually go out the front door in those outfits....I've not much idea what anyone else was doing sartorially in the 90s but I was clearly living on my own idiosyncratic happy planet of one, immersed in ideas and colours inspired by books and art

You are not alone. This is an accurate description of how I make my clothing choices.

Another retro link

That's really interesting. I start with an image too - a photo or a painting or a scene from a film or someone I've seen on the bus etc, but from there I go straight to looking for something similar to try. There's no drawing or analysis.

Once I've tried it on, if it doesn't work as well as I'd hoped, I can then start thinking about why that might be, and what attracted me in the first place, and whether I can make any tweaks to the proportions etc so that it works better. But I need to try it and see it for myself first.

Maybe that's because I don't think I have as strong visual instincts as some of you, e.g. I always think in words, not pictures. And maybe that's why some of you are much more comfortable buying online whereas I'm still mourning real shops with changing rooms and mirrors.