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.

What happened? I was involved with Next at that time. It wasn’t making any money and was about to go bust. They had brought a large mail order catalogue business to get the infrastructure to run Next Directory, (Freeman’s IIRC) which was sold to keep the business afloat. Many of the issues were blamed on the founder who left and went on ti create George at Asda. The remaining Next business was taken in a different direction with lots of Chinese manufacturing.

I used to love my next directory. I used to drool over it.
I always wanted one of those patchwork cardigans that they did. Couldn't afford one.

I had a red next jacket that lasted for years. Plus, a red petite suit. It was very good quality. I think it was wool. It had a red short skirt and jacket, but it had something else too. Can't remember, maybe a longer skirt in a different material. Or a dress. It was in the power dressing days. 🤣

I think Next probably went down market when it got rid of the directory and moved online

It got so big didn’t it and those directories must have cost a fortune to produce?
I can remember the first time my mum found a ‘made in China’ label in M&S and asked to speak to the manager. I wanted to die inside but she was raging.
It seems to do very well now because of its online presence? And it stocks lots of other labels like Reiss and Nobody’s Child.
The stores are still a bit grim but I suppose very little has hanger appeal now.

Ooh. George Davies!!
He was the designer at Next . Yes. I remember. That was when it was good quality, stylish stuff.

I think he then moved to per una at marks and spencers. He had autonomy over the range - which was unusual for marks. In his time per una was good quality, and sought after. I had a gorgeous white skirt from there, which wasnt see through! It had a good lining. I wore it for years. It is impossible to buy a white skirt that isn't see through now.

I think he left marks for Asda. Per una went downhill after his departure. It is decidedly yuk. I rarely even look at it.

I’ve mentioned this before but DM worked in the sewing factories that produced M&S clothes in the 70s and always said how exacting they were in terms of quality. They’d come round to watch the sewers at work and examine the clothes and if there weren’t 8 stitches to an inch (or whatever) they’d instantly reject everything. As a result we had brilliant seconds shops locally. It all got moved abroad in the 90s.

I think some brands age at the same time as their clientele. So some like New Look and Primark will always be aiming for young people and others like Seasalt and Fatface and White Stuff and Weird Fish are now for the middle aged.
The stuff in the last four shops is very similar to what they sell on my local garden centre. Also, they really cluster don’t they? Any average upmarket town will have Seasalt and White Stuff. And RIP Joules and Laura Ashley in the same vibe- maybe their customers just got too old and died off!

Etam. Never bought much from there. But enjoyed looking round. They had a teenage range called snob which was good quality.

BHS was ok , dull and dependable, until Philip thing took over.

I suppose the 2008 crash and private equity has ruined the high street and the shopping experience. Covid has a lot to answer for, shopping has not been the same since. I have lots of pre covid stuff in my wardrobe

Next now owns FatFace, Cath Kidston and Russell & Bromley, and has a majority stake in Reiss and Joules. It is also the UK licensee for Laura Ashley.

I have a Laura Ashley velvet dress and a beautiful beaded cardigan from the early 2000's. I can't bear to get rid of them even though I never have an opportunity to wear them now (maybe the cardigan at Christmas).

Yes, Next is not what it was in terms of quality and fabrics, but strangely enough the only clothes I have bought this summer came from there (linen blend barrel trousers & shirt).

As others have said - Whistles - for a good few years about 90% of my wardrobe was from there. Not sure what happened.

I moved on to Sezane after covid but I am finding myself buying less from there too.

Me & em is my current favourite but slightly over my budget so I only buy one or two pieces per season.

Surprised by the M&S hate - I have loved their clothes this summer and have a few linen pieces from there which friends have assumed to be more expensive. Their jeans too are great.

I am happy to spend a decent amount on decent clothing but I am fed up of buying something and it looking rubbish after two washes.

I can remember going to Whistles and Hobbs in the 80’s and it felt like heaven. The tailoring was gorgeous.
Joseph was also fabulous but so expensive - I got a few bits in the sale when I could. I always wanted a Joseph coat.
Can almost still feel buttery leather shoes and handbags, too. Peak Russell & Bromley indeed. I bought shoes and a bag from there with my very first proper pay check - red suede, so not exactly classics. But they were just lovely.

I still look, but I am falling out of love with Boden now. The prices are very expensive whereas they just used to be a bit dear. It used to be worth it - I’m still wearing dresses I bought fifteen years ago. But stuff I bought four years ago just seemed to fall apart at the seams, or the beautiful patterned fabrics washed out and faded, or went all bobbly and I had to throw them away. So I can’t justify spending all that money on dresses that just won’t last. It makes me quite sad as I’m a sucker for a Boden pattern!

also Laura Ashley - I got a pea green coloured wool coat from there for my 18th. I wore it to death and I only got rid of it in my early 30s. It was stunning but it was dear when I got it. But you get what you pay for I guess. I think I’d have to spend hundreds now to get something of comparable quality and I’d be worrried it wouldn’t last. Even Jaegar don’t seem to be the quality that they once were.

This is a good point. I remember how beautiful the merchandising & displays were at Oasis. The Argyll St store was lovely to shop in. In later years they started pumping in a synthetic jasmine scent which was horrific… Worse than The White Company.

Last time I was in the fitting rooms at H&M, I was confronted with a polyester-clad blancmange mountain, that sadly was my own reflection. In the huge, no-escape mirror with prison-grade spotlights overhead. I didn’t buy anything, needless to say…

I worked in Miss Selfridge in the late 80’s and a couple of girls went to work in Oasis when it first opened and the stuff was gorgeous.
Lots of detailing, gorgeous suede skirts and bags.
That was a lovely street in London.
I can remember going to Kookai in Covent Garden and got some lovely things.
But Oasis was really great. Back in the day Warehouse when Jeff Banks had it was fabulous. Lots of lovely jersey draped tops, skirts and leggings.

Yes, Warehouse did lovely silk dresses. Oasis had great suits & wool coats, too. French Connection as well. I’ve kept some pieces.

I had forgotten how much I loved Warehouse. I had a couple of lovely jackets from there in the 90s which I wore to work for years. And a gorgeous black ankle length skirt.

Warehouse in the 80s rocked.

When I was 15 I had bought some black harem pants, a beige linen jacket and a black fitted jacket.

I bought a lovely wool coat from tk maxx for only £40 after returning two m and s ones that ripped only after a couple of wears. Was hoping for more from there but not seen anything else sadly

I still have a lovely wool little black dress from warehouse I bought 18 years ago or thereabouts and a couple of years ago I lost weight and wore it to my Christmas party. I genuinely don’t know where to buy nice clothes from anymore. I’ve been looking for a proper leather jacket for ages and can’t find anything I trust.

I still remember my first ever Next outfit when it opened. A dark red angora cardigan with a check wool skirt. It was exceptional quality & made with natural fabrics. I haven't set foot in my local Next for years ever since my kids grew out of the kids clothes, which were relatively decent.

Warehouse was fantastic in the 80's.
I vividly remember a lime green t & trousers in cotton I bought in my late teens that looked really good on.
Later on I bought several silk dresses. In fact dd2 is wearing an old black one of mine this summer I found at the back of a wardrobe. It's lined in silk too. You rarely have that even in pricey brands now

Likewise Principles set me up for my first job when I needed suiting. Good blouses and jackets for starting off.

I know. I know. I had some fantastic stuff from those places too. What the hell happened ?

@teaandtoastwithmarmite wool coats are arriving online now at Tk Maxx. I particularly like Nicole Farhi coats and bought a couple last year in wool/cashmere mix and have seen some similar fringed wool ones coming in.

👍

Yes. Those would have been in the days of the st Michael brand. Good British quality. Real wool.
I used to buy in the seconds shop. It didnt look like seconds.
There is such rubbish in the m&s outlet centres today.

I had some Laura ashley dresses and tops. There's some Laura ashley fashion in Rivals, i love watching it for the fashion nostalgia.

They also sold their own material and patterns at one time. I made some of my own Laura ashley dresses in Laura ashley material.
I had a black baby cord dress with a floral pattern, which I bought. It lasted years. Their baby cord was so soft. A smaller cord than pincord.

I currently have a jumper and nightie from Laura ashley but they're not natural fibres.