Which popular shops DON'T you shop in?

[Bearpawk]

Saw some pics of the inevitable Next boring day sale queues in the press today and it struck me that I've never bought anything there. I'm 40 so probably their target demographic ? It's a store I'd never think to go in, these days, it's just not for me.

I guess I buy a lot of H&M, Cos, Uniqlo, Arket and Vinted for LF markey/ Ganni /
toast etc. Undies and thermals from M&S.

Roman

Has River Island rebranded, I noticed it was called River Studio now and looks a bit smarter, I'm a bit old to shop there anyway but I think I noticed it name changed a year or two ago.

@Solymoly Funny you should mention about RI rebranding as I popped into a branch yesterday and it reminded me of the RI of yesteryear in terms of the way the shop looked ( back in the day of the decoupage bags).

The Trafford Centre has a newly designed one. It’s obviously been well thought out as a shop space as it’s quite pleasant to be there, but the clothes seem to remain the same as they ever were.

River Island, I mean.

River Island has gone so downhill, I’m sure I remember a time when they were buyable.

Now whenever I go there or what I ordered over lockdown I couldn’t wait to return. But their footwear isn’t bad!

Next, Primark, Zara. Cheap crap that looks cheap on me. I think those shops only look ok on young women.

Zara, nothing ever fits. I’ve totally given up trying now.

None of ‘em (though I do like the idea of a boring day sale - sensible reductions on necessary but dull products, maybe? 😆). I am quite old now so I can remember when you shopped at Next for good quality work clothes (the 1980s). These days literally none of the high street shops sells anything not made of horrible synthetics. I shop brands I like on eBay.

@OutOfOrder67 see I like uniqlo. I don't like a lot of their designs, but I find their basics such as t shirts/ trousers and wool jumpers excellent value and quality.

@Easipeelerie @GothConversionTherapy The clothes in RI on the whole tend to be really cheap looking. They have some nice basic items but generally I think the pieces are OTT. I especially don’t like the visible branding however I am guessing that the branding is aimed at a younger crowd who see RI as being aspirational.

Mostly online!

Monsoon isn't cheap. You must be really well off to think so.

I have some items from Primark that are over a decade old and still going strong

GettingStuffed
The quality has declined though as prices have gone up. Lots of their clothes seem cheap quality to me.
I have some nice dresses from there that I got on sale. They're that are still going strong over 10 years later.

Now I wouldn't shop there, partly because the quality is worse but also they seem to have become an expensive version of Per Una, which isn't my style.

River island makes me think of black padded handbags with gold chain straps like they're copying Gucci etc.
And the way they plaster RI logos on them is strange. Like they think it's aspirational.

I don't go to any shops.

I buy everything online and returns are easy.

River island hasn't moved on in the last decade. Glittery rubbish.

River island hasn't moved on in the last decade. Glittery rubbish.
Agreed.
I'm amazed they're still going given other brands have folded. There's obviously a demand for the glitzy night out, pose in front of toilet mirrors look.

@LolaSmiles its like they expect everyone to be party ready 24-7.

I tend to stick to my go to shops because I know their styles suit me, the quality is good, and that they will fit if I order online. I only really look outside of those if I need a particular thing and none of them have it.

Zara - I do like some of the clothes but their shops are like a jumble sale and the sizing is so inconsistent

Lucy and Yak, Toast, Cos - just not my style

Shein, Temu, Boohoo - I would feel too guilty (although I know that plenty of other brands probably aren’t much better)

Britpopbaby They do, especially some of the outfits that seem to give me flashbacks of the day-to-night mid-2000s vibes where it was cool to emulate The Hills style aka going out outfit plus blazer equals workwear.

French Connection - on principle ever since their FCUK campaign.

On the coffee theme a pp mentioned I will not go into any of the Harris + Hoole chain. Every drink came with a lecture about how long to leave the tea bag in or a list of reasons why the coffee was lukewarm (apparently better for flavour). As a woman in her 50s, who had not asked for said advice, I felt far better qualified to determine how strong my tea, or how hot my coffee should be, than a teenage barista.

Next is good for kids' stuff but buying adult clothes there would make me feel I had given up on life. Joules is hardly a draw!

I also don't understand who can be the target market for Roman and Joe Brown, which I had never heard of outside of Mumsnet.

Cos and Arket all the way!

French Connection - on principle ever since their FCUK campaign

Same here - although as I'd never bought anything from them it was a theoretical boycott.