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.

botemp has a thread?

I love that Egg skirt. Too much bulk around my convex waist for me sadly. The beautiful Batsheva one works because it has a drop waist before its luscious fullness. Must look out for more drop waists, because I love a full, swishy skirt and didn’t think I could wear them.

I love that you did weeding on your way to your wedding, Enheduanna. I got married in a historic glasshouse and found myself itching to remove bits of dead leaves on their palms during the speeches.

I’m swooning over the green Loro Piana shirt. It’s exactly the colour of my eyes. That means I need one too, right? I can dream.

DD has beautiful pale turquoise eyes that change colour with the light. Whenever she can be persuaded to wear that colour (or even something close) it is transformational - she has quite a quiet, unremarkable face except for her eyes, so when they are ‘brought out’ by wearing that colour, she looks suddenly stunning. She’s far too awkward tween to accept that at the moment though.

Thanks, @CrkdLttrCrkdLttr . I looked at the site and saw that skirt (too many ruffly horizontals adding a lot of width, and general photos like this one:

At least I'd be guaranteed a seat on the tube.

Batsheva do that too.

https://batsheva.com/en-gb/collections/sale/products/harper-dress-in-olive-green-polka-dot?variant=42913569112313

https://batsheva.com/en-gb/collections/sale/products/dav-knit-in-black-multi?variant=42913043546361

To make up for the bad styling, let me share my favourite bit of styling presentation by Cristaseya, the rest of the site is crap and I'm not sure they've survived the pandemic but if they sold these as prints I'd probably want some.

That egg skirt is very reminiscent of Colville for me for whatever reason, they'd unleash a bunch of paint samples on it though.

Enheduanna, I very much enjoy your historical insights (even if it means I now want some Corinthian slippers) and would welcome it anywhere (and obviously anyone is free to join in on the other thread). I do hope Dcat has spared your bottom further grief and vacated your spot.

Hideous. I hate Batsheva. And Vampire's Wife. Nothing would work for me on either site, so I never bother to look. Not my shape, not my vibe.

Great thread, sorry I've fallen off this last day or 2. Thanks and come back soon op.

Mark Mansons essay "How your insecurity is bought and sold" sums up succinctly what I think and feel.
https://observer.com/2016/04/how-your-insecurity-is-bought-and-sold/

I agree NoraBarlow111

There's no escaping that we're all shaped by it to some extent.

I'd be suspicious of anyone who thinks they're immune from marketing and advertising, just like I'm suspicious of women on feminist threads claiming they choose (insert choice that is tied in complex partriarchal ideas) entirely freely and it's anti-feminist to suggest they're influenced by socialisation.

Even those of us who try to be more ethical and sustainable in our approach to consuming fall victim to it. I try to be mindful on what I consume, but my collection of lipsticks show I'm guilty of impulse buying in the hope of it being just the right colour.

I think this thread started very nicely but then got, in parts, slightly weird. After all, it seems that it is very hard to separate the enjoyment of the art of fashion and the exploration of imagination and creativity that was wonderfully on display here from the judgement made in the form of the price/affluence/class and all the political baggage that comes with it that was also demonstrated here by some posters and I found deeply alienating. It's not the problem that fashion is considered superficial, but that it is embedded so intimately in so many dimensions of society and all these lines of tension get triggered whether we want it or not when fashion is discussed. At least here in Britain
Thanks for the link, Norabarlow

Yes, at least in Britain, encapsulated in the phrase, “This old thing?” in response to any compliment. My Italian family would never disparage their clothes in a self-deprecating way, and I firmly believe they don’t do vintage - heaven forfend!

I don't know what point you're trying to make.

I never say that. I thank the person who made the compliment.

I think I understand exactly what you're trying to say @Microbius.
I found this thread took a vaguely unsettling turn.

Did it ?

I haven’t read the whole thread but found the last several pages absolutely fascinating and thought-provoking: not something I’m very used to experiencing on S & B tbh Much of what has been discussed here and indeed on another post is what I’ve been musing on recently, having got to an age and also three-quarters of the way through a very ugly divorce, where I am re-examining everything.

Why did Enheduanna get zapped?!

Looks like she had her posts removed I don't know what this alienating tangent was either (so I guess I was part of it?) but maybe she felt it was directed at her but I don't think it was.

Oh I hadn't noticed that. I don't know what this "alienating tangent" is either.

It's been a very enjoyable thread, apart from these last few posts hinting at something the posters concerned don't like, which is in itself an "alienating tangent".

I enquired, as I was afraid it was something about the thread … Perhaps, taken together, the deleted posts were a little too outing? ‘Tis a shame though.

I loved the Cristaseya dolls - they’re so sweet! Though I always feel a bit ‘Hampshire peasant-y’ when their newsletter arrives in my inbox - it seems such an exclusive club. And all the acres of fabric might be troublesome on the Tube. Sort of feel I’m saving them for when I’m properly grown up - like Hermès.

I feel sad now. I really enjoyed this thread.

I’m a lurker who has thoroughly enjoyed this thread and the discussions about why we fall in love with certain clothes. It’s made me think about why I choose to buy the things I do. It’s also been fun to hear about your purchases and I’ve enjoyed following all those links to brands I hadn’t heard of.
I had resisted posting before as I didn’t want to interrupt this fascinating conversation, but since it seems to be drawing to a close now, I would like to add these few words of appreciation.

I feel like I've skipped some pages on the thread. Things have happened!

I've found it an interesting and thoughtful thread.

All the capsule talk has prevented me impulse buying something not in my styles as well so I've saved money too.

I have enjoyed the exploration of the roles of personal history, fantasy and emotion in our relationship with clothes. Plus had a good laugh at the hideous styling in the Bathsheva catalogue. Hope those models got paid compensation money.