Have you fallen out of “love” with a shop you previously loved?

[Britpopbaby]

For me it’s &Other Stories. Granted I looked in yesterday and did try something in but there’s been a change of direction and Inam not liking it.

We had a very stingy friend who would not let her DH buy proper swim shorts.
She constructed a little bag from one of those nets veg sometimes come in and fixed it into ordinary shorts and he wore those. Not very successful.
Years on we still all laugh about R———-‘s onion bags.

And yes, what the heck are Marks doing with their skinny gussets? I assume they’re noticed by actual women before going on sale.

Also very bad customer service; I returned a dress recently because it arrived with seams undone. Despite stating returns are free for faulty goods, they deducted return postage from the refund. I've complained, nobody answers. Never again.

I'm reading & nodding along with loads here. I'm 54 & remember so many brands in the 90s which you stretched to buy with your meagre salary & lasted so well: French Connection; Whistles; Next (yes, in the early 90s Next was pricey for e.g. a suit jacket/ trousers but was covetable); Monsoon, but all just poor quality now.

I have 2 pairs of work M&S trousers from about 2008, outstanding quality with a high wool mix. Classic, wide-leg shape. Found them packed away as much too long now that I never wear heels to work, but I'm going to get them taken up. Also found an Alexa Chung for M&S navy pair (with adjustable waist buttons!) which I'm now fitting back into- I'm delighted.

Interestingly, Tu at Sainsbury's is excellent for basics- I have 2 skirts & a dress from there this summer in 100% cotton. Landsend is still great for basics, but unfortunately style wise I still buy their men's far more than their women's😡 (DH & 3 DS- yes the very fashionable 21 & 19 year old wear their sweats & plain/striped tshirts as they're v nice).

My first port of call these days is still Vinted.

I used to buy lots of conran baby and toddler clothes for my five grandchildren at Debenhams. Now they were well made.

Cotton jumpers M&S mens lovely quality and longer length.

Roman clothing bought jumpers a few years ago and 3/4 length summer trousers in pretty colours. Both still going strong wash after wash. I haven't been in Roman for three years. Their clothes look so pretty, no idea on quality now.

Look on the inside.

Remembering the fabulous wool coat from Monsoon I bought in the sale the year DS was born - almost 22. It's camel, mid thigh, belted & I wear it lots every winter. I distinctly remember it was half price at £90- I swithered as was on mat pay, but so glad I bought it!

https://www.klass.co.uk/anna-rose/dresses

My DIL bought me a dress from here two years ago. It's beautifully made a lined lace dress with a lovely neckline.

I'd never heard of them until I checked the label just now

I miss early 00’s Warehouse. I used to buy beautiful, silk dresses from there for weddings etc on a retail worker’s wage.

I worked in French Connection, Wallis, Miss Selfridge in the early 00’s - quality was so much better.

I used to do a bit of dressmaking when young and financially stretched. I still check stitching and fabrics when buying some clothes. Some is so bad. If you pulled out some fabrics on a bolt of cloth I reckon they'd rip.

That's got me thinking about kids' clothes. I had SO many that I bought & they lasted through 3 boys! Gap were amazing, as were Boden, M&S & Next. So much so I felt justified spending on decent things as I knew I'd get so much wear, particularly occasion wear/ things for best as they were worn less often. There also seemed to be lots of organic choices too.

Talking of Conran, I bought a dress from Jasper Conran Women last Spring for a wedding. It's lovely, beautifully made, plain colour, flattering. I wore it recently for DS1's graduation & got many, many compliments both times. When asked where I got it I had to sadly say they are no more- closed last summer. Someone went hunting & found it on Vinted a few weeks ago 👏. I'm now on the hunt for it in another colour as will snap it up if I see it.

Ah, forgot about Warehouse! It was our go-to mid 90s for going out-out clothes! There & Oasis. Also great work tops that were a bit edgy.

I've got a big birthday coming up. DH paying for a do fiftyish guests, outside caterers at a venue. I'm going to try on my Klass dress last worn for a christening.

Good luck 🍀

House of Fraser.

They were ever thus! DS1 couldn't be accomodated 17 years ago for his 1st school shoes. Assistant said 'He's far too wide for anything here!' after we'd taken our number & waited forever! I went to John Lewis every year after that for Startrite/ Geox. They lost a lot of revenue - 3XDC for 13 years of school. I hope your DS wasn't upset.

Now he's an adult we call DS1 Hobbit feet - wiiiiide & big still- & he wears bare-foot shoes 😀

M&S since the underwear and sparks card offers changed. For me the pants don't fit as well or last as long as my old ones, and a number of the expensive bras I bought recently are already falling apart.

I’ve fallen out with Faitfax & Favor the zips on their boots and bags are rubbish, the suede isn’t uniform any more, they are poorly finished off and thrown together now. For such a high class brand they perceive themselves to be the quality now is rubbish and are using designers to design rubbish that normal people wouldn’t use.

Bet you'll look gorgeous. Much better to wear something you love than hunting for another that you love less. Happy big birthday.

All Saints and Religion. I loved the aesthetic, but the quality for the price is absolutely terrible

Folk have referenced this. What's changed?

I ordered a cotton blouse recommended on here the other day, but not collected yet, & mistakenly ordered online not using my account.

Yes! I remember Mark One so well- was a 'cheap' shop, but perfect for those fickle, clubbing outfits (God, my tops were tiny & combats were huge- all very All Saints).

Also Benetton. I wish I'd kept all my coloured denim, especially the waistcoats- my nieces would adore them!

Urban Outfitters - overpriced and seems to just sell tat recycled from my teen years that I don't want to wear now

Zara - used to be obsessed, now I can't tell you the last time I looked at them.

Matalan - this used to be my go-to as a teen (probably because my DM was a fan) but I never shop there now

New Look - everything feels cheap and poorly made, though they do have a wide selection

River Island - way overpriced

For me it's Whistles. For years they were my go-to shop & at one point a good 85% of my wardrobe was from there.

But sometime around 2019 / 20 something changed in both the style & the quality & i lost interest totally. I have v little from there now

Lush. Their crazy hard left police hating trans loving attitudes plastered everywhere. Nope just stick to bath bombs? Any business that goes weirdly political just winds me up.