There is a gap in the market for well made, practical, stylish clothes

[Notcontent]

I recently realised that I had not really updated my wardrobe in ages. As a 50 year old slim, petite woman I face challenges finding stuff that actually fits (never had that problem 10 years ago) and had a separate thread in that. But I recently realise that actually, the problem is much bigger - it’s actually really hard to find interesting, good quality clothes.

i actually have a decent budget. I don’t have the budget to spend £500 on a dress or jacket. But would be happy to spend £150 on a well made pair of trousers. I suddenly see the attraction of some Boden clothes, which I never thought I would say…

I keep looking on Sezane, for example, but I think they used to have better quality things - but recently all their dresses, for example, seem to have a “young model on holiday” vibe, so not for me.

Me and em seems really expansive for what it is. They also seem to cater for only incredibly tall women…

What I am looking for is something like Boden, but a bit better quality and with fewer “fun prints”. Looking at what goes out of stock, I think there are a lot of women looking for something similar.

Can anyone relate?

I am an elderly woman so please tell me where these shops are and I'll be there in a shot.

Floisme,
Genuine question, the 'clothes you like cost good money' would you mind sharing the price ranges you have in mind for quality clothes? (and anyone else who is interested)
I want to assess if I am way out.
To me
Blazer Viyella type £250- £300 - would expect to have it for many years
Good wool or linen trousers £80-£150 Who knows where, still looking
Cashmere jumper Pure quality £100- £150
Occasion dress Hobbs -ish £175 - £250
Long sleeve T shirt, Phase Eight type £50- £70

I would expect these things to last many years.
I am more likely to be found in Marks jeans and a Bonmarche T shirt as a daily uniform.
I recently bought a beautiful quilted chinese style jacket from The Wonderland Boutique (don't google that!) black jungle print reversing to fuchsia - £60.

Do you mean new or second hand gardenmusic?

I'm asking because, like I've said, very little I buy is new.

Floisme

New please

They are not at all trendy. But Cotton Traders and some items in Bon Marche are well made and not all horrible fabrics. Cotton Traders especially fits this bill. But their clothes are mainly quite old fashioned in style.

Well thank you but why do you think elderly women want to be fobbed off with old fashioned clothes?

@Floisme Some women like these clothes, others do not. There should be clothes for everyone that they want to buy. My point was simply that Cotton Traders make clothes to the quality that used to be normal at that price range in the past. But other places their clothes now have got very shoddy.

The Bonmarche T shirts are good quality, basic - size down. I have also found the Asda long sleeve T shirts are good quality - cheap and every day, rather than stylish.

Gosh, @AvrielFinch - reading your posts is making my head hurt …

I imagine they can keep their prices down because they're not trend driven and so can carry stock over from one season to another. Menswear is often similar.

Anyone is free to shop there if they so wish - they don't ask to see your bus pass.

I find the issue is in-person shopping in most UK High Streets. Going around a normal High St can be a pretty depressing experience, however, I find looking in the odd independent boutique helpful, John Lewis is still always a good shout, Cos (although my local one has shut) and even M&S at the moment (but there has been a LONG hiatus for M&S for me, now they seem back in their groove).

I get good quality cotton pieces in the US when on holiday (seriosuly - we take empty suitcases and I come home with jeans, good cotton and linen (this year I brought home tonnes of Gap which was either unavailable online here, or was at least twice the price)), when I'm in London, I dash around Uniqlo, Massimo Dutti and other stores I can only look at online at home, and tend to do the same if in Europe.

New is tricky because I buy it so rarely. I think the only new clothes I've bought this year are some T shirts from Monki that ranged from £10-£17. One of them developed a hole after the first wash so I'm not going to recommend them.

Last year I bought a few things from Community Clothing (which has already had a mention), including some Combat Trousers that I see are now £120 but I think I paid just over £100 at the time.
https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womens-trousers-chinos/products/womens-combat-trouser-olive?variant=45138988499221]]

And these cotton twill trousers that are still priced £85
https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womens-trousers-chinos/products/womens-work-trousers-tan?variant=40358682886198

I'm currently weighing up this shirt / jacket thingy and trying to decide if it's something I could make myself.
https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womens-shirts-blouses/products/womens-elena-stripe-shirt-navy-white?variant=48362633494805

I recommend Community Clothing if you like that utilitarian style which I realise isn't everyone's cup of tea. Not cheap but well made in the UK and all natural fabrics.

I've just been looking at the final reductions in the Margaret Howell sale because in the past, I've bought trousers there for £150-£200 but it's all out of my league now.

And that, in a nutshell, is why I buy mostly second hand!

Thank you.
So I'm not that far out with my quality costing, then.
Anyone else?

I’d go to an outlet place, like Bicester Village or a town with nice shops & have a good look around, rather than online.

Have a look at Beyone Nine for trousers. Amazing.

But if you are looking online, check out Scandi or German brands. fashionfifteen.com is a great site, really nice range.

A few more thoughts:
I don't pay as much as you for long sleeved T shirts - I probably would if I could find them to my specifications (I'm fussy) but I very rarely do so tend to compromise on cheap ones and don't expect them to last.

I look out for second hand John Smedley knitwear - usually merino wool and lasts forever. It can be around £200 new but I normally pay £10-£20.

I can't help with cashmere I'm afraid - I never buy it new any more as I think the high street stuff is so poor and I can't afford the luxury end prices.

I don't think I've bought a new jacket or blazer in years and years.

Smedley. I had forgotton about them, thanks!

EmmaStone I find high street shopping pretty depressing too, and we live near Cambridge which is ‘naice’

London is so much better. Marylebone High Street is perfect for a day of shopping, with consistently good quality brands (I suspect because it’s aimed at older and often ex-pat shoppers.) Then to John Lewis for a coffee before heading down Regent Street to meet DH for supper at Zedel 🙂

And I agree that US brands can still be good quality, especially cotton items. Even the swathe of tourist t-shirts and hoodies DH brought home for the teens this visit were lovely and soft (I might have laid claim to a Palo Alto hoodie!)

For visitors to the US, Loft clothing is nice and well priced. www.loft.com/clothing/shop-all/cat3950014/

And I still rate Hobbs for classic style. There are some good quality clothes among the viscose midis. I bought a beautiful lightweight tweed coat this summer.

I get my clothes tailored in cotton and sometimes silk in another country when I visit family. Can avoid the frills and puffs plus recycled polyester that way.

I have been at work and come back to so many comments!

Just to clarify, I do agree that if you shop around you can still find some decent things. And I do all the things suggested, including buying some second hand items. So I do have some nice clothes.

But I still stand by my original comment that it is more difficult now than it used to be to buy interesting, quality items that don’t cost a fortune.

I agree. They just aren’t there. Years ago, mid nineties to 2008 essentially, you could pick up well-cut clothes in nice fabrics, with lots of detail & different looks / styles. Good jeans. Leather shoes & handbags. Quality jewellery. In high street stores. I still have Oasis, Warehouse, Monsoon, GAP, Topshop, French Connection, Reiss, Benetton in my wardrobe. Some lovely pieces that you just wouldn’t get for the same price now. And the shops were really nicely merchandised & a pleasure to browse. Online shopping has changed the game.

I have bought great quality t shirts in the UK for 20 to 25 dollars. And that is taking into account that with the exchange rate everything is more expensive there.
We are charged far too much here for inferior quality.