Poor quality clothing

i always liked my jogging trousers, now i have to wear them all the time, even on special occasions as i have lymphedema and now have to wear something that is soft against my skin, the inside of my thighs are swollen and my legs are constantly bandaged, because of this i try to buy nice tops, i am also a size 22/24, shopping outside also means using a wheelchair so i try to buy online, i use bonmarche, studio and damart but even these are not as good quality as they used to be and can be very expensive. i have also found some since good quality items in charity shops, ebay and on vinted, i don't mind second hand items, i have also googled something like ladies cardigans and it has come up with a list and some are shops that i can go to and try the item on. i think us older ladies just have to shop around to find something that does not make use mutton dressed as lamb, although in saying that my mum who is 78 still buys some nice things from primark.

Thanks for the Bella di Notte suggestion Mayisay. Just looked on line and they are rather too floral for me. I shall try Forgotten Tribes .

I haven’t bought a single item of clothing since August 2022. There is hardly anywhere in my opinion catering for the mid sixties woman. I buy sometimes from QVC and Ideal World shopping channels. I also like individual brands independent ladies clothes shops. There is a lovely one in Exmouth Devon. However I know what I like and what suits me. I’ve just bought cut offs and tops from aforementioned shopping channels this week.

I don`t think we can blame Brexit for everything..
poor quality clothes were here long before that.

I like Sahara, but I always go down a size, they have some nice stuff in this year.
I like Hush, but the last couple of skirts I’ve bought have been poor quality.
I’m jest sending a top back to East, ordered two in the same size, but there is a massive difference in them.
I dabble about a bit, the odd thing in Anthropology, and independent stores, but I admit the choice isn’t great, it would probably be better if I lost a couple of stone.

I'm sure Patrick from the Sewing Bee commented that we have clothing already manufactured to last us for the next 50 years.

Fast fashion is largely responsible for the huge amount of poor quality clothing.

My daughter introduced me to Baukjen- have a look
www.baukjen.com/

MrsTeacup

I used to be able to go onto M&S for a csrcigan or pair of hood quality Per Una jeans....now the fabric is cheap & nasty, can't distinguish from Primary
And don't get me started on M&S knickers....

My daughter (mid fifties) and I buy our jeans from Marks and Spencer. So many styles to choose from and the quality is good. In the autumn of last year I bought three pairs of their skinny jeans. Very reasonably priced. The fit /length is great. They wash well, no fading. I've been asked several times where I bought my jeans. I used to pay £150 for NYD jeans. Marks and Spencer's are equally good.

I shop on vinted, eBay, car boot sales and charity, shops to find brands I can’t not afford and to be sustainable. I just got a joules coat for £7 ( buying out of season) A sea salt dress £8 a Karen Millan bag £4. A couple of weeks back I got a Ted Baker bag for £5. Much of what I buy still has tags on especially at car boot sales where people just want to get rid of their stuff. I also go to clothing swaps where it cost me nothing apart from a £2 entry fee.
I don’t buy new. I have not done so, for many years and I am always being told how stylish I am. I got a long red teddy coat at the car boot sale; it was new with a tag. I got it on a very hot day last summer I paid £2 for it. If I had a pound for everyone who has stopped me this winter and asked me where I got it, I would have a tidy sum.
Fashion is one of the most unethical unsustainable industries going so I buy preloved.

Maybe time to question how many new clothes we need - for me anyway .If I get invited to something needing smarter clothes ie for my sons wedding - I open my half of the wardrobe and get a dress out - cost me £80 but worn to several weddings including my sons Phase 8. We have a White Stuff which is fine but no M and S and Woolovers seems to be good quality so far . I do wear things many times unless too old to wear so then goes to charity shops and they may even recycle earning a bit of money for the charity if not good enough to sell .

MissChateline

My partner and I spent a whole day in Leeds a couple of weeks ago looking for a nice top for a wedding do. There was nothing of any decent quality or material. We looked everywhere from Harvey Nicks, Hobbs to H&M. It was all shoddy workmanship, cheap material and very overpriced. There was very little under £80.
So very despondent we scoured charity shops and finally found a lovely shirt in a local vintage shop in our small town. Lovely design, well made, nicely finished for £20.

I often find that a good search on eBay yields good results, especially when buying brands which I couldn't normally afford e.g. Boden. You have to be a bit savvy though and ask questions. Beware though - eBaying can be addictive!

mayisay Thank you for your Bella di Notte tip, their website looks good.
I used to live in Boden but they seem to be aiming for a younger market now, or I've just got older. I haven't bought many new clothes over the last winter but have now found a lovely summer dress in Next and I've bought my new summer chinos from M&S - they seem to be a good quality.

I used to be able to go onto M&S for a csrcigan or pair of hood quality Per Una jeans....now the fabric is cheap & nasty, can't distinguish from Primary
And don't get me started on M&S knickers....

Until I was about eighty I made my own dresses trousers and suits but it became difficult to buy decent materials and fabric retailers hard to find.
I would not buy from Marks etc for fear of meeting someone wearing the same thing.

Moggycuddler

I recently discovered Forgotten Tribes (online.) If you're looking for something a bit different . . .

I've had clothes from them...good quality and a bit different

Never buy anything from Australia if you think your stuff is low quality! Think paper thin and only last a couple of washes- all made in China of course.

Wow. So glad it isn’t only me who thinks we are all being made to look like one another.
Also, I’ve taken to check where items come from and hat they are made from. One other truth is….maybe we all have too many clothes.
I got, somewhat, fed up of finding clothes which presented darts in the wrong places and so forth.
So….I now make many of my clothes. In that I am very fortunate.

I recently discovered Forgotten Tribes (online.) If you're looking for something a bit different . . .

M&S shoes come in half sizes.

Because I'm a bit wider from the waist down I find it difficult to get decent clothes from the main retail clothing shops. I started buying from Bon Marche who did good sizes. I like leggings and often wear them under a dress in the summer but I found that they shrank a lot when drying. I've now found another shop called Yours who sell great clothes, good sizes and their leggings wash well and don't shrink.
By the way I'm 70. Have a look at their website and see what you think.
www.yoursclothing.co.uk/

glammagran

I agree with you Madwoman11. With almost no exceptions all my bras from my teens onwards have come from M&S. I have some good quality ones which are 15 years old from there. The quality now is rubbish (scratchy cotton) especially the more expensive Autograph range which I’ve had fall apart after being worn a few times. For the first time I’ve switched to Next but I’m not holding my breath. I bought a jumper from Hobbs and was amazed to read the Made in China label. I often buy from Roman but not this year as nothing I buy seems to fit any longer (same size for several years) so return almost everything. Living an hour away from any proper shopping (Bath is nearest) means I shop online most of the time.

Try Bravissimo for bras.. easy process online and good quality. There is a shop in Bath with well trained staff

mayisay

I can recommend a small company called Bella di Notte. They are based in Yorkshire and sell really well made separates and nightwear/underwear. Good quality, wash and wear really well, and not made in China!

Thank you for your recommendation. I have looked at the website. Lovely selection of summer clothes. Also, free delivery and returns. I shall be ordering from this company.

I agree with you Madwoman11. With almost no exceptions all my bras from my teens onwards have come from M&S. I have some good quality ones which are 15 years old from there. The quality now is rubbish (scratchy cotton) especially the more expensive Autograph range which I’ve had fall apart after being worn a few times. For the first time I’ve switched to Next but I’m not holding my breath. I bought a jumper from Hobbs and was amazed to read the Made in China label. I often buy from Roman but not this year as nothing I buy seems to fit any longer (same size for several years) so return almost everything. Living an hour away from any proper shopping (Bath is nearest) means I shop online most of the time.

I agree with the quality of clothing being a worse standard than it used to be - same shop, cheap fabrics these days I had noticed well before Brexit. I've recently discovered Vinted and have found some beautiful bargains many still with tags but all - so far well worth taking the plunge. Now just to start selling my own 'too good to throw out, but will never wear ' clothes.

I’ve tried M&S on three occasions this year alone looking for specific outfits, one being a funeral and left in despair 😔 (they have a fetish this season for trouser suits but with shorts not trousers) and the shoe department well …just dire.

Sad to say there’s nowhere that sells formal or even just well made trousers, jackets and coats in a variety of sizes.
M &S is about the only department store left in Derby now (new Frazers ) is a joke really and they aren’t catering for me at all.

Shops are doomed really I know but I just don’t enjoy the shopping on line experience.