Beyond the High Street

[TheLongRider]

I'd like to start a collaborative thread for everyone to contribute shops, designers or online clothing sources that they love or think others might like. It's easy to get stuck in a rut of available high street shopping, but that choice is a becoming more limited as physical shops close.

There is a world of online shopping available, it does have disadvantages in terms of sizing and delivery charges but I think there is far more choice out there than just the high street.

This thread is an attempt to show what else is available across different price points and styles. It would be great if people could give an idea of what the brand is known for and it's price point. The brand/shop should have worldwide shipping so that all Mumsnet users can use them.

I'll start - I have no connection with these companies.

L F Markey UK based womenswear - strong focus on colour and casual wear. Price ££ - £££

Stable of Ireland Irish store promoting Irish design and production, natural fabrics, womenswear, menswear & accessories. Price ££-£££

Marimekko Finnish company - Womenswear, menswear, children's clothing, home wear and accessories - often does collaborations with Uniqlo. Price £ - £££

MOT Nigerian company - Womenswear, children's wear. Price ££

Great idea for a thread. I will contribute Oubas - English knitwear firm based in the Lake District. I've bought a lot of their wristwarmers and headbands as gifts.

https://www.oubasknitwear.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7WVBqrQi32-tDMSv5hCpW9z8KIMvoFylPUt4VCJVdV9vdkcrs

They have good customer service too.

@IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh You're the perfect person to contribute. Often there are threads for posters saying they can't find clothing on their high street and don't know where to look. This thread should demystify that process. Share your wisdom - don't gatekeep! 🤗

There are loads of threads which give non high street alternatives which then get flamed because they're non high street alternatives.

On another thread an hour ago I suggested Kindred of Ireland
https://kindredofireland.com/collections/dresses-1

All clothes made in Ireland, pure linen

and CFCL;
https://cfcl.jp/en/collections/women-dress
Designer used to be with Issey Miyake. Dramatic but actually easy to wear.

both dismissed as the OP was really looking for a Phase 8 style dress.

Colenimo
Dresses around £260, jackets around £300, coats around £600. All natural fabrics, all made in the UK

Colenimo

3 shops - fabulous stock put together by people who really know their stuff.

Frontiers
Dicks of Edinburgh
https://envoyofbelfast.com/blogs/looks/ss25-editorial-12#

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle
If it’s any consolation, I always find your contributions interesting and inspiring. If I suddenly find myself with much more money to spend on clothes the wares of CFCL will be high on my list.

Oh this is a great thread.

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle love these. There is a model in this called Anne - here in the purple dress. https://kindredofireland.com/products/angelina-dress-lavender

she has such an amazing story. She was stopped in Belfast randomly by a street photographer and her photos went viral

This is her https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1uIrGmIIw-/?igsh=MWNlZzhqajYxYzR6NA==

Vivien of Holloway (£) - rockabilly style but I am a big fan of their plain fitted slash-neck tops, v good for curvy/busty-types.

Essentiel Antwerp (££) - bright, unusual, good for showing off.

Me & Thee (££) - The same style of fitted/slouchy partywear, done each season in different fabrics.

Pink City Prints (££) - Lovely dresses and skirts in Indian block-print fabrics.

The Fold (£££) - Smart work clothes for stylish work gals.

Manners (££) - Incredible high-lycra clothes that can hold you (busty ladies) in without a bra.

Everlane (££) - Technically high-street but only in America so you have to buy online here (double check the sizing). Brilliant simple stylish basics, lots of cotton and linen.

Bimba Y Lola (££) - Super fun, playful clothes.

2 favourites at the moment:

Humphries and Begg - colourful, beachy, natural fabrics ££
Stine Goya - Danish contemporary, bold colour, artful prints, and sculptural silhouettes ££

not sure on ££ criteria, sorry!

Marcon court project: https://www.themarconcourtproject.co.uk/cat-patterson-collection

Not black nor white https://norblacknorwhite.com/

Celia B https://celiab.com/

I remember Anne - she was gorgeous.

I'm going to suggest a couple of s/h places if that's OK

Curate and Rotate occasional preorders of their own new clothes, manufactured in UK, very simple oversized looks. But mostly s/h, new drops on Tuesdays

Editsecondhand the best stuff gets released on Instagram, either they'll show the new clothes on stories about 4pm or they'll do a fastest fingers first message for a payment link during the day. Mostly clothes, occasional shoes and handbags.

Great thread- keep them coming.

I love this online shop and have bought several pairs of shoes. Great quality and excellent customer service.
https://memery.co.uk

I see your point @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle but often those "what can I wear to a wedding" threads are from people who don't have much confidence in their own style and/or don't attend many weddings. Often fairly trad high st occasionwear (and some réassurance) is what they're looking for, rather than some of your faves. And you do have a particular hatred of Phase Eight.

I suspect your recommendations will land much better on this thread, where people are actively seeking interesting brands or sellers that they don't know.

Following.

Do you want vintage? Scroll past this post if not.
I've singled these out because a) They sell pre-1990s stuff and b) They're real, physical shops. (Some may sell online too.)

London
Alfie's Antique Market (Marylebone-ish) - indoor market with several clothing and jewellery stalls. Interesting furniture and interiors too. And a nice cafe.
https://alfiesantiques.com

Hunky Dory, Brick Lane - https://www.hunkydoryvintage.com/

Oliver Vintage (in an arcade off Portobello Rd) https://olivervintage.co.uk

Retromania (Pimlico or thereabouts) Fara charity shop specialising in vintage.
https://www.faracharity.org/shop/retromania-london

Glasgow
Starry Starry Night - https://www.starrystarrynightvintage.co.uk

Check before you go because they're not all open all week plus these kind of shops are disappearing fast.

Good idea for a thread. I usually post these brands on similar threads. Mainly women run small makers:
Justine tabak
love and squalor
Roake
faith Rowan leeves

Thank you all! Keep them coming... Vintage, secondhand, designer or mass market as long as you can buy it, it belongs on this thread.

There's no place for criticism, if you don't like it that's fine but please contribute something you do like instead.

I'll add 45 rpm Japanese brand £££+ really interesting silhouettes and shapes. I'll probably never afford it but the styling is interesting.

Demobaza Bulgarian brand - if you want to look like an extra from Dune/Star Wars this is your brand. I bought an excellent and very wearable coat from them. Their sales are probably the best value. ££ - ££££

Perhaps you should have said in your title that you intended this as a safe space for posters actually interested in clothes, whose suggestions are usually ripped apart on other threads?

There are so many like this one:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5379343-how-not-to-look-old-at-the-wedding?reply=145941483

Sara Tiara. Tweed meets Narnia. She used to have a shop on Portobello Rd but now in Lymington. Sells online but much more fun to go to her shop, if you can, and play dressing up for a couple of hours.
https://www.saratiara.com

Edited because it's a year or so since I've been and I've just noticed the website now says shop is 'by appointment only'.