Does anyone find cheap clothes often fit better on them?

[BansheeofInisherin]

Somehow my favourite items always turn out to be cheap and not great quality, but somehow fit my body better. Admittedly I am an odd shape at the moment; slim but with a big menopausal belly. My favourite dress right now is a Dotty Perkins cheapie with a shirred waist, and my favourite white shirt is John Lewis. And today I find that a cheap Regatta jumpsuit fits me better than the Hush jumpsuit and several other more expensive ones I ordered.

Not often … It’s not the usual way things happen, but it’s a phenomenon that certainly does occur in my wardrobe!

F’rinstance - I fell in love with a particular shape of t shirt by Margaret Howell. Agonised for ages over the right size and the thing was delightful when it arrived. Wore it over a weekend. Felt - clumpy and misshapen and didn’t like my reflection. Gave up and gave it away later in the week. Month later I was wandering (unusually) around an empty Zara in Oxford. Was taken by the messily dyed hues of a grey short sleeved sweatshirt. Much the same shape as the noble navy Margaret Howell one; oversized; a fraction of the price. Held it up at a mirror. Adored it. Bought it. Rarely take it off.

🤷‍♀️

I find this too, I think it's because I am a (large) hour glass I find a lot of high end clothes don't suit me because of being boxy / high neck / puffy sleeves / unnecessary embellishments. Where as basics ranges more likely to be more bog standard ie less fashionable cuts.

Not often, no - but I have recently discovered that Sainsbury's jeans fit me better than my designer ones.

Well exactly @11oclockrock you express it perfectly. The high end clothes tend to be trendier, and all those puff sleeves and extra wide dresses do not suit me at all. The more fabric, the more pregnant I look.

My best jeans are again from John Lewis and cost £10 in the sale!

I find cheap clothes fit better on the first wear but they don't last very well. Seams go out of shape, they shrink and fade / bobble.

I also find very expensive clothes need too much faff and care. So mid price is my favourite.

Agreed. Got a few new t-shirts recently from M&S & TK Maxx that seemed great first and then terrible after a couple of washes.
Back to Rapanui if I need any new (not expensive anyway) or Sunspel on eBay if I can find any.

Well yes that is true, they often don't last. What I really need to do is to get rid of my belly so I have more choice. but by god, it is hard.

It's probably your body shape. I'm apple shaped and dresses and tops are much easier to pick out. Trousers... or jeans should I say always need to be tried on!

all those puff sleeves and extra wide dresses

Thats not my experience of high end clothing … You can buy those styles at any price point. My more expensive clothes tend to be plain coats, beautifully cut shirts, wool, maybe tweed, skirts.

But it is all pretty random!

I do better in winter. I have some nice plain coats and jumpers. But summer clothing is hard for me. Did I mention I can't do polyester and a surprising amount of high end clothing is now polyester?

I need to hit more charity shops as well.

Do. You'll probably find DP dresses and jeans/jeggings, also pretty Topshop and Oasis dresses, and M&S clothes with plenty of life left in them.

I think when you are you young with a firmer body you can wear anything, but as I get older even though I am a size 10/12 cheaper clothing don't fit me as good, and i find they don't last as long, mid range for me, or sale in the slightly higher price.

No @KirstenBlest I am not crazy about DP in general; I just mentioned it because somehow that particular dress suits my odd new body the best. 😋I am a size 10-12, but still apple shaped.

I also need to try on everything these days and end up sending more than half back, which is wasteful, so have now decided to only buy in the shops!

Ah, OK. I'm told that the DP eden jeggings are comfortable, and, don't laugh, Bon Marche trousers, and I was told this by more than one person and they are far fussier than me.
I'm quite happy in primark or sainsbo leggings/cycling shorts when wfh.

I don't like polyester or poly-cotton, or lyocell and viscose.

I love Sainsbury's Tu clothing and find it fits well and washes well.

I do have a lot of shoes. Most of the expensive ones cripple my feet, but all my supermarket or Primark ones are lovely and comfy.

The Tu clothes are pretty good, aren't they. I've found that Tesco shoes are comfortable. Not bought anything from Asda for years but they used to be good. What I've seen from Nutmeg looks decent too.

For me it's not the fit exactly but the cut. I've been looking for the holy grail of good quality plain tshirts. Somehow the good quality ones always look frumpy to my eye. The sleeves are a fraction too long, the fabric is too thick to hang nicely, they're not quite fitted enough...

No

Dp are the only clothes I can get my bust in without having to go two sizes up on the rest of my body.

I don't find cheap jeans fit well at all, the proportions are out, different colours different sizes, lose their shape quickly. Cheap plain t-shirts from rapunai gave been good.

I don't wear tshirts any more; but when I did, I used to be happy with Rapanui. These days, it's shirts over a vest top.
There should be a special shop for menopausal women is all I can say.

@BansheeofInisherin , what would you like such a shop to sell, and at what sort of price range?

Interesting question. I think everyone assumes older women just get large all over, so shops have that Lagenlook or free size stuff for us. But I am only carrying weight in my stomach; bust and bum are still normal size. Free size or loose stuff makes me look huge. So do empire waists or peplum tops.

I actually need a defined waist, but not clingy. Been experimenting with draw string waist dresses and jumpsuits, and they are the best so far.

I'd like mid range prices, so maybe around £50-80 for a dress/trousers and £20 to 30 for a top? That's mid-range for me anyway. And only in cotton. linen or cotton blend. No nasty viscose or polyester!

A girl can dream!

I've found that Tesco shoes are comfortable

I've just discovered they don't sell shoes anymore. They have closed their changing rooms too, so they can fuck off.