Seasalt? Yay or nay?

[TheAmusedQuail]

Since I now work exclusively from home, I've gradually drifted (plummeted) from smart work dress everyday to living in leggings.

I'm not ancient, but not a bright young thing either.

I've been looking for some dresses that are comfy for daily wear but also look a bit nicer than the leggings sweater combo I've sunk into.

I've come across Seasalt and have seen a few dresses on there that I like BUT I'm worried they're a bit grannyish. I genuinely can't tell what's OK anymore.

Are Seasalt generally for the older woman? I'd shop elsewhere if the stuff was in my price bracket, but Next et al don't have a lot that I've liked recently.

Only you can answer this as it’s entirely personal. Seasalt stuff is not to my taste. But if you like it who cares what I think?

I can't wear their trousers either, they are a strange fit.

I’m 35, not my vibe at all. All looks very dowdy and plain.

My 84 year old friend finds Seasalt prints dowdy and ageing 😄. I think their block colour dresses in good fabrics (ie not jersey) can be lovely though and flatteringly cut.

Are we talking about Seasalt or Cos here? Because like them or not, you can’t accuse Seasalt clothes of being plain - have you not seen some of their prints?

Exactly. Dowdy and plain to me is Uniqlo...

Tbf - not for years 😅 I did just have a look on the website and you’re right. Still not my taste but not the vibe I thought it was.

Tbh I’m less bothered by people of any age choosing to wear what they like than I am by one poster’s repeated digs at the fashion police. Do they mean other women choosing to dress as they like? Or is it having the temerity to express an opinion - on a Style & Beauty board - on clothes and fashion that is so unforgivable? Is it only people who actively promote a particular type of High St shop who are allowed or welcome here?

I’m over 60. I care deeply about clothes and enjoy getting dressed. I like to look vaguely fabulous in my mirror, and to that end am happy to spend quite freely on things that appeal to me. (I don’t much care about other people’s opinions on my clothes - I’m usually trounced on MN, and complimented every time I leave the house in real life.) I’ve never worn anything by Seasalt, FatFace, Joules, Boden … But I have a friend of a similar age who greeted me at her door recently looking absolutely magnificent in what I later learned was a Seasalt dress. It suited her hair, her face, her proportions and her attitude. She has a world class brain and an enviable life - I would look like a hobbit in most of her wardrobe but would never dream of trying to steer her to other choices. Nor do I pass judgement on anyone else’s clothes in real life - unless they specifically ask.

On the other hand I adore talking about theoretical outfits on an anonymous forum. Why that attracts the slur of fashion police is a mystery to me - given that I have absolutely no influence over the choices of internet strangers.

@NorWouldTilly you sound fab , good on you- the thing is though whilst you love following ‘fashion’ and brands - you are open minded about friends and others who are perfectly happy to dress in fatface, joules etc - the problem I think is many very fashion conscious women on mumsnet aren’t so open minded and seem to have a bit of a broom up their backside attitude against women who aren’t that interested in particular brands , often because they are expensive/don’t suit them etc and speak as if we are some kind of lesser species who don’t care how we look - I think that’s why the term fashion police is used- personally I’m not into fashion following anymore but quite happy for others to be - your cash, your choice- but conversely I don’t think it’s right to be knocking women who may make certain other choices through budgets/priorities or plain old can’t be arsed.

For me it's a nay, their clothes just don't seem to be what I'm after. My DM wears some Seasalt items.

I find most of their clothes a bit old fashioned, but they are traditional and definitely suit some people.

That said, I bought the most beautiful skirt (design and colour) from Seasalt only last week, the first time I’ve ever purchased anything (apart from their lovely socks)!!!

We seem to agree!! I like your style!!

@Nitgel There definitely is a city look. Not corporate but well cut clothes and no block printing. More silk shirt and quality bag and jewellery. It’s just a more groomed look than a walking the dog look. Trainers are ok anywhere though!

I dislike the term fashion police too. It’s not about policing anything - it’s about having ideas and being aware of fashion. Seasalt is not positioning itself in the fashion market. It’s clearly comfortable and practical clothing. So it’s ok to say that. It’s also ok, to say, on a thread asking for opinions, that you don’t think what they offer suits everyone or every occasion. It’s just how it is!

Personally I find Seasalt stuff only caters for a certain shape. It's fine if you have wide shoulders and/or big boobs, but the stuff hangs and gapes if you have a narrow frame and are flat chested. All their tops looks like a sack on me, same as White Stuff.

Plus their prints are a bit predictable and often ugly. The shape of the skirts I often find triangular. Somehow I look awful in all their stuff, so yeah, not a fan.

Other than that, great 😬

Criticisms like this are completely fine.

Stating that "only my granny would wear that", "even my 85 year old granny wouldn't wear that", "librarians would wear that", and descriptions of mumsy or frumpy are rude and sneery and that is why I have used the term fashion police.

I see a lot of clothes on here that I dislike but I'm not rude about them.

For the record I don't own many Seasalt clothes because I don't care for the patterns. I have a friend who does, and she really suits them.

Actually I think it's fine to be rude about clothes. I don't mince my words if I'm talking about a film or book I don't like and I don't see why clothes should get special treatment. But I try and do it without being rude about people who do like them.

I also think it's perfectly possible to be rude about clothes without dragging old ladies, grannies, your mother-in-law or your old geography teacher into your argument. Anyone who can't manage that - well carry on as I don't believe in banning words, but don't be offended if I form an impression of you and it's not a favourable one.

I like this seasalt look and would say it was classic and neat which would suit me. It's hard to find well made clothes in good fabrics
https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/teasel-head-organic-cotton-shirt?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&color=20125&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23171850874&gbraid=0AAAAAD_rcomJhiwOGwu2VVKLXESMVt-6H&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPzHBhDCARIsALlWNG2_-mUkDGcb5pgADFx833JSNBfQ33FzZvV_Kz3AdCiz19PzoPQAc3waAgxnEALw_wcB

but don't be offended if I form an impression of you and it's not a favourable one.

😁

They are classic, high quality, well made, practical and look comfy. Not really my taste but they are very popular.

Guilty as charged @RampantIvy and @Floisme I used the f word for the Seasalt print dresses and I apologise😳

I have also cackled at Toast being described on mn as Gulag Librarian or Austere Novelist Chic.

The irony is, I do wear a lot of Seasalt and Toast. Often both together 😮

Apology accepted 😄
(although I chuckled at the terms Gulag librarian and Austere Novelist Chic)

Actually I don't feel as strongly about 'frumpy' but I'm just off out so that'll have to wait for another day.

I like sea salt Jersey dresses, they're warm on cooler days. I can wash, dry, wear without ironing. Some patterns are not for me but others are. I get them as presents from daughter who knows what I like.

They're a change from trousers and tops.

@OhDear111 I’m a 54-year-old Londoner and frequent flier at the Royal Opera House. I wear a lot of Seasalt - gasp, even to the ROH.
You have to be selective about the prints - I think the quality of the print design has fallen over the past few years, and I can’t bear the ditsy florals - but the quality is lovely, the shapes are flattering (for me), the colours are interesting and it’s so lovely to find natural fibres in an acrylic-ridden world.