Clothing Sales are down - No surprise

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So the ONS data on retail is out. And sales of everything including food and leisure went up in December - except clothes.

Just a suggestion here but could it be because clothes have become wildly over priced at every level and consumers are just saying no?

I don't think supermarket clothing is anything like as good as it was a decade or two ago.

Though Asda bras and Sainsbury jeans remain excellent.

And even now, despite the almost omnipresent weird sleeves and tiered skirts, you can occasionally find something with a different cut (I get knickers, pants and socks for the whole family from supermarkets, since M&S quality nosedived, so am wandering through the clothes sections moderately often)

Yes, I grew up wearing M&S seconds - Readmans anyone?

There is a Woolovers factory shop near me. Not all their stuff is manufactured in the UK but some is. They’re good for basics in natural fibres - no frills, flounces or silly sleeves.

It’s current fashion that curtails my spending, mostly. I’m a sucker for nice clothes and have money to spend. But I won’t spend it on crop tops, puff sleeves, silly frills and cut out bits.

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green ah - I hadn't realised this.

MIL speaks fondly of Readmans and Dewhirsts! Where I grew up there was a chap on the local market that had current M and S fashions , usually kids clothes, that were slight seconds. St Michael label inside!

Yes, we were often at Dewhirsts and Praxis ( Next, M&S, Laura Ashley). The Praxis factory was in a very run down area, with the hard-working factory girls, taking their break, ‘smoking tabs outside’. It always made me smile as it didn't sit with the ‘Laura Ashley vibe’.
I did buy ( in the early 90’s - and still have) a beautifully made, LA wool and velvet, burgundy dress and jacket.

Vinted, like so many others. I need a dress for a wedding to match some shoes I already have, and I found 3 new with tags in about 5 minutes. The frontrunner is French Connection and it's £6. The person got it for £59 in the sale.