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 ££

You must create YMC clothing - similar vibes to Toast and LF Markey - similar prices.

Dashing Tweeds Beautiful unique tweeds - I love their raver tweed. Some ready-to-wear clothing and amazing fabrics.

A.P.C. French brand - lovely bags, womenswear and menswear.

Rae Feather Irish brand - feminine clothing maybe more mainstream than many other suggestions on this thread

The Label Edition Spanish brand - Really interesting office wear - Great looking shirts.

I was tidying up my bookmarks and initially couldn't remember why I'd saved this. It's very Me+Em, Princess Catherine, neither of which are remotely bad, just not me, but looking closely the dresses look exceptionally well made.

There's a phyisical shop in Elizabeth Street London.

I've got a hankering after a perfect Kristin Scott Thomas Mrs Danvers black dress. These are 100% wool crepe and fully lined.[ I won't buy one, but it's nice to know 100% wool, fully lined dresses still exist]

Beulah
Beulah wool crepe dress 1
Beulah wool crepe dress 2

Working through the photos on my phone makes me realise again just how much I miss Matches; there are so many brands that I only became aware of because Matches promoted or collaborated with them. This is one (that seems to have survived!) - I haven’t bought from them, but I might:

https://teijastore.com/collections/skirts

There's some wonderful suggestions on this- many new to me

I expect everyone already knows about Batsheva but they deserve a mention on here as they're currently being bashed on another thread.
Batsheva

Again? 😅

What does ridiculously handmade mean? Is that a good or bad thing?

I sometimes make and wear my own clothes which you wouldn't find in the high street so feeling self conscious now!

A very good thing

Oh so they have. Colenimo do that too but then follow it up with a model (possibly the owner?) wearing them who always looks fabulous.

I'm guessing this

"Ridiculously" hand made
"Ridiculously" hand made

The amount of effort put into creating that must have been phenomenal. Completely beautiful. If I saw anyone wearing that jacket and skirt I'd be chasing them down the street demanding to know where they bought it.

Yup - phenomenal describes it. Definitely a good thing @Noshadelamp!

(I come from a long line of professional and domestic seamstresses - the gene has bypassed me. But although I can’t kit out all the family young in beautifully smocked frocks - I am quite good at shopping. Or at least, good at recognising outstanding clothes. I actually buy very little.)

Thank you @Doggymummar , @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle and @IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh

So lovely to share an appreciation for handmade clothes instead of the old "too poor to buy designer so makes their own clothes" stereotype!

I feel so inspired by this whole thread, thank you @TheLongRider

If my son ever gets married, I'm wearing that silver Pollyanna pleated skirt.
I think I've read that Rita Britton recruited seamstresses who used to work in Barnsley sewing factories before they all closed down.

Looking handmade (whether they actually are, or not,) is what I adore about:

Cawley Studio (Something-core. Can be made to order.)

Chopova Lowena (Hardcore and prices reflect that.)

Colin Burke (Heirloom quality knitwear.)

La Fetiche (Knitwear ++, prices from casual to lifelong commitment. Breathtaking quality.)

Maison Margiela (For me this is like looking in a fantasy mirror. Fabrics that dry cleaners refuse to touch. Designer prices.)

Some of my favourites already mentioned here but I will add:

£ - https://pinklemons.boutique/
££ - https://nrbyclothing.com/pages/shop (this is available in some physical John Lewis stores but not all of them I think)
https://sondeflor.com/ - lovely linens
£££ (+) - https://www.suzannah.com/ - if you want to cosplay Royal Lady (which I rather do sometimes)

A fitted jacket with a full skirt is one of my favourite styles (love Dior's New Look). I really like the jacket and silk pleated skirt by Pollyanna. If you're short of funds but can sew a straight line, it would be quite easy to make as it's just a pleated dirndl attached to a waist band. You'd probably need 6 metres of Dupion silk and it'll cost you about £150 - £200 to make. Mind you, if you mess it up, it's an expensive cock-up!

I can sew a reasonably straight line but I'm scared of silk. I might have a go with a sturdier fabric though.

That silk skirt is heavenly.

Not to compare on any way, but I am really rather delighted with this vintage Monsoon Twilight silk maxi skirt that I scored on Vinted this weekend. An utter bargain, and I suspect the quality will be good (made in England).

That’s lovely

Thank you. I hope to get a fair bit of wear out of it - I think I can dress down with a jumper or up with a fitted jacket.

It's lovely.

I'm starting to see the point of Vinted. In the past any time I've looked, even stuff I owned looked as if it had been used to line a dog basket but the algorithms are now working.

It's currently suggesting dresses from Alémais, Laura Ashley, [including a Laura Ashley silk dress from the 2000s which I own and is in my "not a hope in hell will this fit again, but you never know " chest ] Ghospell, &Daughter, Sideline, Meadows, Molly Goddard , Cawley Studio, Cecilie Bahnsen , WiggyKit, Doen and Beulah. And I didn't even ask it to !

That’s impressive, @IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle!

I haven’t yet embraced Vinted, for various reasons, but I’d certainly be interested in seeing what an algorithm might pick for me.

I have quite a few Monsoon Twilight pieces from Vinted - most recently a dark green velvet jacket with twiddly bits on it - I’ll post a pic of it. Also a cut- work one.

I use it a lot, mainly because of a big weight loss. I’ve sold and replaced many things (several times in some cases!).

The more selective you are in your searches, the better the algorithm suggestions will be. I search by size (obvs), brand, condition and fabric. That tends to winnow out the worst of the chaff.

I’ve had some absolute belters, and a few misses. Worth a try imo.