Let’s talk about White stuff

[Coddy]

Was passing today and I saw this lovely pair of glittery socks in the window suitable for a Christmas present.
Went in there to buy them and remembered what a pile of old shit it is.
Back in the early 2000s it was the place to go for young mums- , who remembers the velvet coats, the a line printed skirts, endless layering , the knitted tights that was quite the look then?

However, it does not seem to have moved on at all. Whilst there is the odd nice thing in there, glittery socks and a lovely gold bag I saw (can’t afford mustn’t buy) It’s just a riot of print with no kind of theme and really poor display.

Do you go to White stuff? What do you rate in there, do you think it’s lost its way?

I thought this too - so completely rude. Sorry for being 60 and yes, I like White Stuff. May God forgive me for not being young and trendy.

I bought 2 coats from oasis last year that looked great at fiest sight but very quickly went bobbly. Not through washing just wearing. Oasis customer services were shite. One coat looks like an old rag now. I've a coat 12 years old that is in better condition. So they are really scrimping on fabric quality imo.

I bought a fantastic coat 2 seasons ago - green puffer fabric, lined with teddy fleece. Super warm and sufficiently nice that I saw them everywhere that year.

Beyond that the only thing I’ve bought recently is a dressing gown as their sleepwear is very nice. We have 2 stores in nearby high streets but I never seem to go in.

I like the cardigans, they often have 20% off days, I often pop into WhiteStuff, Fatface and Seasalt when I walk to the shops to browse

The cardigans are great, fit me well and long lasting ( I have a 5 year old one that still looks good).
They tend to be in plain colours so no frumpy pattern issues.

Over the years I’ve had some fab bits from White Stuff but that’s tailed off hugely. I don’t go in anymore or even browse online. I think when young, slim and fairly fashionable I could mix their pieces in with more on trend and edgier pieces, and was prepared to sift through the hideous bits for hidden gems. I currently have a lovely cord tunic dress that always gets compliments, plus a pair of jersey dungarees that I wear round the house - both several years old. I bought a crochet waistcoat to wear at a festival this summer.

Now I’m mid 40s I don’t want to look like a frumpy middle aged mum so I don’t risk shopping there!

No…frumpy is very descriptive. I like it.

We just don’t generally hear it used about men though, and on here it’s on every other thread. I don’t imagine that men sit around worrying they look frumpy, or bitching about others who do.

Anyway, I’ll bow out. I don’t even like White Stuff, but if others choose to wear it they can’t all by default look dowdy and old fashioned, because an overall look depends on so much more than a dress, even if said dress is from White Stuff.

I hope you have a lovely day, despite your great age and terrible clothes. 😂

Wow do we need a #triggerwarnjng for the word 'frumpy' now?

Hilarious

White Stuff, Fatface, Seasalt, Joules, and Weird Fish all have the same sort of vibe. Sensible, practical, boring, clothing. At 56, I'm still not ready to take the leap. What I'd like as a grown up version of Top Shop. I think there's a whole uncaptured market somewhere between those shops, M&S, and H&M, and I am ready for it.

Remus I get where you are coming from but can you not see that it may rub a lot of posters up the wrong way if some internet random starts saying what words they can and cannot use? It smacks of control. People don't want to have their words censored especially not on the S and B forum where conservations are generally ligt hearted.
And I don't think it's the same as calling a woman a slag or slapper for example where that is derogatory towards women. We are using a word to describe a clothing style.

White Stuff and Seasalt have served me well over the last 10 years or so. Their dresses are ideal for my workplace that channels Mary Beard. Just as I loved Boden 20 years ago and Laura Ashley before that. I've never been high fashion or claimed to be.

I think there's a gap for something fresher but I miss the local White Stuff shop that closed recently.

I shall retire in 12 to 18 months and considering the next stage.

Dd is 23yo and when she was at primary school White Stuff was quite trendy. I still have a dress from circa 2009 which I wear and love and get compliments when I wear it. Had quite a few short sleeve knitted tunics from them back when that tunic and legging look was in.

i haven’t gone in white stuff for years, those striped socks look nice. It’s funny that people say it’s shapeless, drab, unflattering clothes. I often think the same about Toast but then Toast is seen by many as very desirable. I’d suspect Toast quality is superior. But whether the “look” is desirable or frumpy seems to be down to marketing 🤷‍♀️

@MayaPinion i was literally just thinking the same! A grown up Topshop would be great.

I hear what you’re saying about the word frumpy and I do agree that it’s one of those words created solely to criticize a women’s appearance - the challenge is finding an alternative that is so universally understood . Frumpy is a very descriptive word for when clothing doesn’t flatter - like a hemline that cuts off your legs at the wrong place or an item of clothing that is shapeless or boring. It’s not about an age or a particular style, or a particular brand necessarily. It’s just that some brands manage to push out more clothes that fit the definition than others.

I do agree with you about Toast @DanielaDressen and I’d add Hush to that list too.

My point is that it’s NOT lighthearted when women are bitching about Wendy looking like a frumpy lesbian etc and that language can be cruel.

If asking people to try to be a bit kinder is controlling then there we are.

I’m deleting the thread now. There’s some real nastiness on here and that’s a shame.

Frumpy at its heart means a woman that’s lost her sex appeal to men, the Oxford definition is “an unattractive woman wearing dowdy, unfashionable clothes”. That’s why it’s an unkind gendered term.

My new 'fill the void' shop of choice I'd oliver bonas. Had some lovely stuff from there. I do find they are more cut for the slim-of-waist though and I can't stand the cord jumpsuits/ boilersuits they seem to have every season.

There's definitely a gap in the market.

@DanielaDressen I agree about Toast. I just don't love it. At the price point Brora is better.

Well this is why it's a good descriptor...generally when clothes shopping most people want to avoid that.

It's OK to have words for what you dont want/ the negative. We kind of need them to communicate sometimes.

I hate the word frumpy.

I stopped buying from White Stuff because the quality went down and the prices went up. The same happened at Next, albeit a good few years ago. I wonder if it's the materials are going up in price and they can't pass that on to the consumer because of the credit crunch?

Either way it's a pity because I liked their stuff, and didn't mind the fact that I was 3 completely different sizes depending on whether I was buying dresses, tops or bottoms.

If you consider that the only purpose of clothes is to ensure we’re fuckable by men, then that’s your prerogative.

There’s plenty of negative terms that are completely unacceptable related to race or disability, so no, you don’t always need a negative descriptor.

@IDontHateRainbows I have a few nice bits and pieces from Oliver Bonas and we've a local one opening soon, but this season even they seem to have gone off a bit. Loved them 10 years ago, as did dd.

Pretty sure my mum and her pals are keeping them going. We don’t have a good selection of shops here but there is quite a big White Stuff so that’s probably why 🤣