Can we talk about clothing brands and target demographics?

[CrkdLttrCrkdLttr]

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.

I sell things on Ebay and I do like them but they might not work for me. Often I sell things that I bought but didn't fit me, or things that I had forgotten about. I have a habit of buying several very similar things or two of the same but in different colours. Usually I'll wear one until it falls apart but by then, I've moved on.

20 yr old clothes might be Toast, Plumo or Boden so I'm all for looking for those.
I can remember liking things from Boden in the 1990.
I'd be delighted with vintage Toast.

The problem with eBay or Vinted is that if the seller liked it, they’d have kept it!

I see what you mean, but just because someone else doesn't like something, doesn't mean I won't. I've had loads of great things from eBay that I couldn't have found or afforded otherwise. And a few duffs along the way too, it's true.

People sell on eBay for many reasons - decluttering, things that don't suit them, to raise money, business sellers.

In 2022 I found on eBay a replacement for the beautiful Laura Ashley black riding coat I owned in the late 1980s to 1990s.

Goodness only knows how this seller came to have a stock of what appeared to be unworn Laura Ashley coats from that period, but I'm so glad she did. I loved that coat then and love it now.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404099655687?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=alPQDR05SN-&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=zl3JmcypQ0S&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

This is the same coat but the one I bought was in perfect condition.

Gorgeous coat!

How old does Toast have to be vintage? I have last millennium pyjamas and dressing gown. Their pyjama bottoms really do last 25 years.

What a beautiful coat

Advent the latest vintage shop to open near here advertises that it sells Y2K stuff so last century Toast should definitely qualify!

I think charity shops are already evolving. One near me has pretty much given up on clothes but sells bric a brac and furniture instead. Many of the rest now sell unworn previous season stuff from the local high street - tags still on, multiple sizes so clearly come straight from the store. And / or they're putting the higher end stuff online. The only ones I regularly spend any serious time in now are the ones linked to local charities - hospice, cat shelter etc as they're still getting decent donations in, for now.

I have a result, ladies! A full refund will be issued on return of the dress. 😀Naturally I'd much rather things had turned out differently, but at least I will have the money I spent available for something else. Also, lesson learned. Never try to wash out a chemical smell! Just return the item immediately.

Well done @CrunchyCarrot . So what dress do you now have your eye on?

Ha! Well right now I am starting over from scratch with my search. I bought one from Wrap a few weeks ago (which is lovely, pic below) but hadn't got anything else on my radar as yet. Back to the search, I guess!

Google is wise to my clothes perusal, here is the latest suggestion

Rather Puritan wife, very economical with a smidgen of Gilead

Enheduanna I'm 5'10" and still reckon ‘I got lost in my own airing cupboard’ might be the result. Or rather given my bouncy dog, it would be 'I lost the fight to bring the laundry in', to be fair she goes to her cage when we hang laundry but I inevitably end up with a paw print or two by bedtime. Having put that in writing, I can see the point of animal prints.

A couple do have a bit of a high priestess vibe

Does Google ever suggest some really good ideas based on your browsing?

I got lost in my own airing cupboard at best

Ha, that would be me too. I wish I could carry them off, but..

Excellent result, Crunchy! Well done Plumo for doing the right thing. Eventually. The Abito Rose dress is back on my ‘maybe’ list and no longer embargoed.

My little Francli bag from Toast has arrived. I love it; it will be perfect for holidays. Dd will not be allowed to make off with it.

The Algorithm wotsits in my phone are suggesting all sorts of new and expensive lovely things to me as a result of this thread, and all the links I’ve clicked.

Do you have a cat Enheduanna ?

😹Typical cat!

So Enheduanna, what is it that makes you question that your cat is a true familiar?

"Mindfully made with Recycled Polyester" this is green washing, isn't it.
I quite like the shirt, I've bought other stuff from them, Vogue has discovered them, I'm just not sure about those cuffs.
aligne.co/collections/menu-new-arrivals/products/holla-poet-sleeve-blouse-navy-seersucker