Shops that are both good and awful?

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I nominate Cotton Traders. I get all my teashirts there, I know they will fit, be the right length and be durable in the wash and come in every colour, I always buy their jeggings. I know they will fit and they currently have two items of clothing I love.
The leopard jeans and the cream balloon sleeves broderie blouse which look amazing on and are such good quality.
Then the other side of the coin, ghastly prints, granny skirts, terrible shoes.

Studio Nicholson. I have pre-Covid jumpers from them (merino for colder months, silk/cashmere mix for spring) that scarcely leave my body all year round. Fabulous quality, colours that cause people to stop me in the street to compliment them. So good I’ve recommended them to everyone I know, and given them as gifts.

On the other hand, post-Covid I’ve struggled to find anything I want to buy there. The knitwear isn’t always pure wool any more, the colours are awful, all the new tailoring is a bit grim …

It’s annoying because it means I then spend months feverishly scrolling to find satisfactory alternatives.

Woolovers.

A bit like Cotton Traders there is a lot of seriously frumpy stuff to wade through, but some absolute gems to be found. And you know it's excellent quality knitwear for the price.

I do like a lot of their stuff.

Down here in the cheap seats it would be New Look for me.
They have some good stuff but also some absolutely dreadful things made out of fabrics that I swear arent even of this planet!
TBH I quite enjoy the adventure of hunting around and trying to find decent stuff in there. I often play 'what is it made of' and try to guess by touch alone!😆

Zara, obviously. Outstanding styling on the website; some really good value dresses and skirts - but the fabric, finishing and meanness with material on too many things is astonishingly bad.

In my case it’s Kettlewell. Most stuff is “how to look invisible and dowdy” despite of all the lovely colours. BUT their cotton t-shirts and long sleeve jersey tops are the best and amazing quality.

New Look, some of the fabrics are awful, don't wash well, or odd shapes. But occasionally I find an absolute gem that becomes a staple in my wardrobe.

Oh god yes! I haven’t been to Zara in years but popped in the other day. It was terrible timing as the sales were on and it was like a really bad jumble sale. I think the trick with Zara is to find a store which is not busy and you can occasionally find something good.

I was going to say Zara too. All reasons already stated, plus too many occasions of very rude staff in the store. It’s deeply unpleasant, but I’ve had some really good things from there bought through the website.

Last time I was in there, I approached one of the sales staff asking where I would find belts. She told me there was no separate section for - and then did air quotes - ‘belts’ and that they were just mixed in with other things. While leaving the store, I walked past a whole rack of belts.

Oh, and the website is awful. It’s like they actively don’t want you to buy anything from it.

But in the spirit of this thread, on the flipside, I’ve got the best bomber jacket in the world from there. 🤷‍♀️

Joanie.

About 5-10% interesting and the rest just bonkers / weird looking fabric etc

Oliver Bonas. I don't get it, and then I buy the one thing in there that's fantastic. I have no idea who is decorating their homes with this stuff.

Horses for courses....
Most of the time the 'bonkers'ness is what I love about Joanie gear!😁

I think most shops are good and awful! I go in Cos and I love Cos but I would probably never wear 80% of it.

Actually I take that back, just looked online and I like loads!

Boden. I love their swimsuits, jumpsuits and some tops. But some of the stuff is awful - frilly and busy.

Also H&M. Their hoodies are great - nice quality and thick. Lots of their other stuff is awful polyester though.

TK Maxx - on a good day you can pick up something fantastic, on a bad day it's like all of the worst jumble sales you have ever visited all rolled into one...

I have to disagree about Zara styling on the website. I find the splayed legs of young models distasteful and the sullen expressions and silly poses distracting. I also think that the photographer’s desire to produce something he/she regards as ‘edgy ‘militates against actually being able to see the clothes clearly.

SHEIN- I have got so many dresses which people have literally stopped me in public to complement me on - day dresses / work wear and their bikinis are the best.

however, shoes have literally broken on me and some of the fabrics have been horrid. So so hit and miss

River Island, some real gems but also lots of glitz which some may love, but isn't me.

I nominate Chums. Like Cotton Traders,they have a few real gems. I've bought myself some really nice night dresses,a couple of decent T shirts and a couple of dresses. But OMFG you do have to wade through a load of ghastly granny shoes,floral print skirts and elasticated waist trousers to find them. I think these things are actually aimed at my age group (I'm nearly 62) but I wouldn't be seen dead in most of them! 😂

Got to be M&S - some really nice bits mixed in with peach cardis and lemon polyester tops

Got to be M&S - some really nice bits mixed in with peach cardis and lemon polyester tops

Got to be M&S - some really nice bits mixed in with peach cardis and lemon polyester tops

Got to be M&S - some really nice bits mixed in with peach cardis and lemon polyester tops