Whistles - why did it turn boring?

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I really miss Whistles! A few years ago it was my go-to place for stylish stuff that you could wear to the office that was just a little twist, a little bit different. Quality was good too.

But now, it’s rubbish. Boring. Quite unremarkable items that look like you could’ve got them from Tu or Next. I’m guessing it was a change of womenswear head or something? Anyone have the goss?

i mean, look at this – taking the pi** for a mumsy blouse, 90 quid and it’s made of plastic.
https://www.whistles.com/product/frill-sleeve-tie-front-blouse-39834.html#cgid=NewIn_WW&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=frill-sleeve-tie-front-blouse-39834&pos=13

The new style director was on Radio 4 not long ago, and she seemed to have no creative vision at all, or not that she was willing to mention. She seemed keener to diss the Topshop comeback but didn’t say how Whistles was going to try to get back on track. Very disappointing brand!

The new one only started recently & used to be at Topshop. I think she will revamp it somewhat.

I definitely feel like it has lost its way. I used to consider it a more aspirational brand, certainly when I was younger it seemed cool and grown up and sophisticated. I have some pieces from there recently and I don’t think anything about them other than they’re functional.

The only things I've ever bought from Whistles are 2 of the short jersey jackets, which I really like.

They're a brand which has never had any particular sense of identity so not a brand I'd look at on the off chance they might have something I like. I'm not sure how I found the jersey jackets.

That blouse is terrible. I really don't like the angel sleeves

Whistles used to be one of my favourites too - I used to haunt their sale rails. I’d say their decline goes back to Jane Shepherdson leaving in 2017, around the time they were taken over by some corporate group or other. Jane had previously been largely responsible for Top Shop’s roaring success in the early 2000s. I don’t think either store really appreciated how lucky they were to have her.

Pre-Covid I bought Cashmere & Coats from Whistles.
The quality & styles were véry good at the time and yes, a bit different. I haven't bought anything from there for years. Nearly everything seems to be polyester & expensive at that.
Jigsaw is another comparable business that seems to have lost it's identity.
Hush is also going the same way. The styling used to be brilliantly unique when it was first launched. I remember the layering of the long vests over leggings with a cool t shirt over. No one else was doing that at the time.
Me & Em is the only one bucking the trend in being constantly able to innovate & stay relevant.
I also used to love Winser knitwear & the quality & that also appears to have sadly disappeared.

Yikes that blouse looks like something you’d wear on a hospital stay doesn’t it?

I buy the cashmere jumpers and that’s it.

Yuck!

Couldn’t agree more.

I used to love Whistles cocoon dresses. It used to be my go-to for occasion wear; my favourite-ever wedding guest outfit was from there. It felt like a treat.

Then it all went polyester and our local branch closed. Now all I ever see in the concessions is sweatshirts with inane French phrases on.

Hush has gone deeply, deeply weird. Even the models look embarrassed.

I find buying clothes so bloody difficult these days. I thought it was a ‘me’ problem, but maybe not.

@Cantonet I mourn the demise of Winser. The quality was fantastic.
The last thing I bought from Whistles was a cashmere jumper that was so thin it was almost transparent and bobbled badly by the end of the first day. I really shouldn't have picked it up at all, let alone pay the ridiculous price they wanted. They got me in a weak moment.

Yes! I was in Whistles yesterday. Disappointing experience all round. £159 for a polyester dress!!

Same! Back in the late 90’s/early 2000’s I used to envy my friend who had a much better paying job than me who used to buy clothes from Whistles!

Used to go with her to the High Street Kensington branch and it definitely had a “cool” and slightly edgy vibe.

Now visit the branch in my nearest town and it is so “meh!” and the dresses really frumpy- like Hobbs can be sometimes.

I have turned into my mother re: sniffy at shite polyester cheaply made crap! Nothing is lined anymore, impossible to find wool trousers for work etc etc!

I still like whistles, but it isn't worth their prices, so I buy it on vinted 😁

I also miss Winser London.

Oh god that blouse is awful!! Looks like something from a market stall!!

I remember not being able to afford things in Whistles and feeling like it was aspirational.

Now I can afford it, I don't want it.
I bought a few bits a couple of summers ago but I thinks it generally boring, expensive and not great quality.

It seems to have gone the way of jigsaw, lots of polyester, thin fabric and very overpriced, disappointing

I bought some amazing trousers from Whistles last week. Some items are great, some are not to my taste. I guess that is the case anywhere.

I buy knitwear from Whistles, but that’s it. I used to love their dresses.

That blouse is an absolute shocker - terrible frumpy design, awful colour, cheap looking material.

For years I fel Whisltles was nice but a little too expensive and grown up for me. Now I am grown up and have a bit of disposable income, their clothes still seem too old for me and expensive but also horrible.

Agree. The quality and styling used to be great. It went overpriced polyester over 15 years ago now I'd say. Still the occasional thing I like the look of but I just don't believe the quality is there. Real shame.

Completely agree. They used to have really good quality fabrics, interesting styles and they also used to stock a small number of selected items from other brands.

Now it’s completely different. Having said that, I have recently bought a few things from their petite range, but that’s only because as a short, slim 50 year old my options are very limited.

The quality used to be amazing, and the clothes so well cut and thoughtfully made- I've got a beautiful Whistles cashmere jumper that must be at least 15 years old which I still wear regularly. I basically followed Jane Shepherdson there from TopShop in my 20s to Whistles in my 30s, she's so incredible at what she does. But looking back I pretty much left when she did too, and I've not shopped there for years; I just find the clothes weird, and cheap looking yet expensive. However an awful lot of the high street seems to be suffering from the same fate, I'm guessing the profit margins are much tighter and they're really struggling to make decent clothes on a sensible budget. But then Sezane and &OtherStories are managing to make well made, well cut clothes at a similiar-ish price point, so it is definitely achievable.