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.

I used to buy a pair of their slipper bootees each year but stopped a few years ago as they skimped and reduced the size of the fluffy edge and they no longer looked as lovely!

As a man, it's Next and River Island. They used to be good for really nice smart/casual clothing, but it's went to f#ck now.

Really!!! Jeez, I didn’t see those badges, that’s vile.
I must admit, the men who post their pics on their facebook page amuse me.
The stupid poses; no woman I know ever stands or sits like that 🤣

Mind you, some of the women do some REALLY weird poses too! I look at them and I just think, WHY? Why are you putting pics of yourself looking like a complete twat on Facebook?

I’ve got loads of pairs and I don’t need any more so that’s that 🙌
Don’t need chub rubs either.

I bought some trousers from Roman. They smelled of some dressing or another and looked like a rag when washed. Linen trousers from Sainsbury’s are much better.

I used to like Brand Alley, but they are nigh impossible to return. I had to get very firm when I eventually found someone to speak to.

I’d like some decent quality plain coloured cotton t shirts. I don’t want slogans or sequins or sparkle. Seems an impossible ask these days.

I’m not going to pay an extortionate price for Reiss, Whistles, Jigsaw garments that clearly cost pennies to produce. M&S have shot themselves in the foot by changing the Sparks card, which wasn’t great to start with. I look at Braforme for bras now.

I think it was roundabout 1989, all the Chelsea Girls turned into River Islands. Our Chelsea Girl had funky, 60s style swirly purple frontage and decor. I was not impressed by the 'Trading Post' aesthetic of the new River Island, packing cases dotted round bare wood floors and the like. RI used to do nice clothes and, especially, decent leather bags and purses. Their bags and purses are a right load of tat now, cheap plastic, awful garish designs.

This thread is truly depressing. What most of the brands that are being commented negatively on have in common is private equity deals that cream off all the profit, squeeze quality and then eventually collapse. LK Bennett and Russell & Bromley being two recent examples of what were very good high street retailers going bust after the vultures feasted on the carcass.

I worked for all three Boots, Next and Body Shop as a Saturday girl / student back in the 80s/90s. These shops do not bear a single resemblance to the giants of the high street they once were. It's very sad that some of our biggest names have been sold off with next to no opposition. Britain is truly unique in knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

New Look I used to love now it’s just Primark but twice the price. I don’t get the attraction of scamp and dude at all, I think it looks so frumpy.

I do like Zara and M&S but never in store- always filtering online

I'd forgotten about Benetton! They were HUGE...

GAP used to be great too... Sigh...

Dorothy Perkins, and Oasis!

I’ve discovered crew clothing for basics and mountain warehouse for normal summer dresses. I’m such a basic dresser!

Primark- expensive for what it is: poorly made clothes that don’t last. Their beauty stuff is pretty good though and the only reason I go in now.

M and S : They don’t seem to know who they are selling to. There is the odd item I like but not enough to temp me to drive to town.

Lush: staff have always been pushy but their politics is pissing me off. I just want to buy soap- not be lectured via posters etc. The cost has shot up too so I tend to avoid.

Boden: patterns are a bit much now. But can find older more simple designs on Vinted.

My son had narrow feet and Clarks never had his size and width in a shoe he needed for school. We used Startrite for many years until he found Next did narrow style shoes. He was so little, skinny clothes were the same. You should see him now 💪💪

First time buying Mountain Warehouse recently- in a town with mostly outdoor shops & bought some shorts- high cotton content, great length & flattering. 👍

I am still shopping in Benetton! I go to the shop in oxford Street and occasionally order online, though the returns process is painful. And if I am in Europe, I will always pop into a branch. Love their cotton and linen shirts.

Yup, DS2, long, skinny feet & as much of a pain to buy for as his wide brother. Needed skinny waist in everything too. Still has long, skinny feet but is way taller than his huge brother & has rugby thighs that would burst skinny seams 😆.

That's good to know. One DIL would be very upset she's always loved Fairfax.

They're still better than the UGG mules I used to buy both DILs because they loved them. Two years ago I bought them both a pair at Xmas. By Easter they were falling apart.

It’s good isn’t it! I had delivered a couple of dresses that were a little tight in the bust so went to return.. I presumed they would Be £50 or £60, like fat face dresses are, but were only £10! So thought I might as well keep them for that price!

I know, they were indeed massive. Sisley was their other brand too.

Gap was super. DH's favourite jeans are still going strong, but he restricts wear so as they don't die!😀.

Really?! When I was in the ones I looked at were £40-£60, & a jumpsuit at £80 (think was another brand). Shorts were in the sale, though. You got very lucky!

Crew clothing is liked by one son and wife. It's well made, decent fabrics.

Another son is into Cotswold Fox clothing.

Third son is a right Worzel Gummidge but his wife approves of weird fish jumpers and Brook Taverner shirts

One unsung hero. I bought DIL a Nobody's Child summer dress back in April. It looked pretty online. It's gorgeous, well made, fits well and she's lived in it this summer.

They were made in the UK before though. LA were a huge employer in my local area. When they moved their manufacturing abroad after Laura Ashley died the whole ethos changed to profit rather than good quality furnishings and clothing in natural materials.

Hush. It’s extortionate for basics and designs are not as good as they used to be.

I’m another who remembers when Next first appeared on the High Street and how the shops looked different with their folded jumpers and denim, lots of different colours of corduroy and wool coats. My mum and I both loved the textures and colours of everything and loved layering throughout autumn and winter. Mum still wears the wool tank tops every winter. One summer in the early 1980s a magazine I bought called Just Seventeen featured Next’s latest collection and I saved up pocket money to buy a voluminous shirt/tunic made from thick cotton and printed with big orange and pink possibly flowers or abstract, can’t remember. It was a risky, unsafe option which the rest of my friends weren’t ready for.