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Designer labels - who cares?

(143 Posts)
lovebeigecardigans1955 Sun 23-Jul-23 06:31:08

Is anyone else faintly amused by this? A newspaper item of a young woman leaving an exclusive restaurant with a famous companion in which her attire was mentioned in great detail. Perhaps they knew little else about her and had column inches to fill.

All rather silly, as in, 'Ms Smith, 28, wore a £500 dress by Z... was educated at ... posh school. She carried a £2,000 bag from Chanel, wore £500 Hermes sandals, a Rolex watch worth more than £20,000 and a three-piece jewellery set from V... with earrings costing £4,000.'

Does it matter? No, I'm not jealous. If such a description was about little old me it would read as follows:

Mrs Cardigans left the cafe at John Lewis after a light lunch with a (fantasy here) tall, handsome toy-boy. Reality -alone.
Mrs Cardigans, 68, who wore jeggings from M&S, grew up in the midlands, went to X County Secondary School for Girls. She carried a beige handbag from T K Maxx worth £25. Her shopping bag was a home-made affair using old patchwork. Her t-shirt and lightweight summer shoes, her £20 watch and earrings were also from a supermarket.

How would you (just for fun) describe your clothing, accessories or jewellery? Throw in a bit of fantasy if you like.

Joseann Fri 28-Jul-23 14:31:30

Well they were wrong M0nica. It's an old fashioned term but still used in the independent sector.

Joseann Fri 28-Jul-23 14:37:05

PS technically "private " isn't really a helpful term because a lot of schools have charitable status.
Traditionally back in the day a public school's head had to be a member of the Headmaster's Conference, HMC. Nowadays, this includes Headmistresses. There's a lot of snobbery around this.

Joseann Fri 28-Jul-23 14:39:17

Sorry OP, back to M & S and Primark. 👗 👖

seadragon Fri 28-Jul-23 19:59:35

I was delighted when a waitress recognised my outfit as a 'Lucy & Yak' outfit. We had a lovely chat about this wonderful company which provides affordable, beautiful, ethical and colourful clothes...many in corduroy, my favourite fabric. I was invited to join their community page which is very inclusive and supportive of its membership with no trolling or backbiting. They are opening stores up and down the country where people are rediscovering the joys of "not-shopping-on- line-but-with- friends-instead. Here's the link in case you are interested: lucyandyak.com/pages/about-us

M0nica Fri 28-Jul-23 20:57:44

Joseann Not where I live. Since I was given this information by someone in the independent sector, I am not wrong.

That the term 'public school' is still in common parlance does not mean that the term is still in formal use.

Joseann Fri 28-Jul-23 21:19:59

M0nica may I refer you to the Independent Schools Council ISC website which clearly states, Sometimes the term ‘public school’ is also used to refer to a private school.
They are the overarching body for independent schools so know their stuff.

ImogenMac Fri 28-Jul-23 22:01:31

Joseann is spot on. To be frank, using the term ‘public school’ is generally applied to the more elite private schools- usually with regard to a distinguished history and famous high achieving alumni.

Deedaa Fri 28-Jul-23 22:32:03

I have come late to this thread as most of the week has been spent dodging the paparazzi. I have now taken refuge in my black armchair (£50 from the Heart Foundation shop) I am currently wearing an elderly Seasalt top (eBay) and a pair of 2 year old M&S trousers. I have casually kicked off my 4 year old Hotter sandals while I type this on my bottom of the range lap top, bought 2nd hand 4 years ago.

Foxygloves Fri 28-Jul-23 22:35:16

Can’t believe this is causing controversy!
Everybody knows what a public school is in England, also that until recently the girls’ equivalent of the HMC (Headmasters’ Conference) was the GPDST -Girls’ Public Day School Trust.
But if anybody is wondering why were these top schools called “public” it is because in the medieval era there were church schools and guild schools, which had religious or trade restrictions on admissions, and “public” schools to which any members of the public could sent their sons provided they could afford the fees.

Scribbles Fri 28-Jul-23 23:56:39

Everybody knows what a public school is in England, also that until recently the girls’ equivalent of the HMC (Headmasters’ Conference) was the GPDST -Girls’ Public Day School Trust.

Everybody knows? Blimey! Call me an ignorant pleb, if you like, but I didn't!

Joseann Sat 29-Jul-23 09:18:21

That's an idea - it's one fir Pedants' Corner to resolve!

Today, Josegirl is wearing M&S khaki trousers and an ancient pair of Cath Kidston flowery plimsolls. The flowery top is from Joules.
I'm trying to mingle in at a folk festival!

ronib Sat 29-Jul-23 10:15:05

Ronib today is wearing an orange linen maxi skirt in the SuzyD sale maybe with a white top and bright green summer jumper arranged casually around the neck . Sloane Ranger dunno! And the obligatory pair of solid leather boots with privately funded orthotics to stop ankle wobble. Joya boots with Senso soles. Hum.
My poorly sighted sister will definitely be able to keep track of me from a distance as we scour the local table top jumble sale in the village with 40 tables available outside individual houses. £1 for the map going to charity.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 29-Jul-23 13:08:22

Mrs Cardigans is wearing mostly M&S - soft spice coloured jeggings underwear. Her pink shoes are from the supermarket and the t-shirt is of indeterminate vintage and origin.

She is feeling a bit damp and sweaty as she had to tackle the lawn single-handedly as her handsome toy-boy doesn't do gardening.

Jaxjacky Sat 29-Jul-23 13:54:18

Mrs jax doesn’t know much about schools as Nanny sorted out out that tedious nonsense for Tristram and Veronica.
Today she is reclining in very faded denims, label disintegrated, with a pale yellow Joe Brown’s shirt, her feet are clad in pink toe post sandals, (flip flops), she’s hoping the sun may appear.

Callistemon21 Sat 29-Jul-23 14:03:46

Ms C is decidedly unfashionable in cotton trousers and t shirt from Cotton Traders 😁 and was spied by the paparazzi trying to de-cobweb the conservatory. She was heard letting out a startled scream as a large spider slowly descended from her hair and dangled in front of her nose.

toscalily Sat 29-Jul-23 15:34:30

Lady T was seen emerging from the famous, high end grocery store Lidl wearing very smart black jeans from Bon Marche, fitting her short pear shape exceedingly well, so much so that she may possibly be up for 'The rear of the year’ occolade, she was also wearing a purple t shirt from Lands End, an exclusive buy about 5 years ago and a floaty scarf from the south american rain forest boutique.

Casually flung over the top was a rain jacket purchased on sale (when popping in for milk) from another giant of the retail trade, Asda, her navy blue leather, 15 year old, not bought in Paris handbag looked highly desirable but as it was pouring with rain impossible to read the label.

Pushing her loaded trolley filled with luxurious goods, items such as the very well known make of beans (means) and the premium brand, single origin, exclusive tea PG Tips could be seen getting rather soggy on the top of the bags. She elegantly entered into her sleek, silver, highly sort after, vintage, circa 2011 Honda.

Arriving home, after staggering in through the rain with all the shopping and putting most of it away (staff day off) she was greeted by slightly deaf Lord T, with the words “I did not hear you come in”, this of course is a frequent and highly suspect occurrence. He, was attired in shorts, t shirt, and socks from which he cannot be parted even when the sun is shining as he suffers from heat rash on his feet at the slightest ray of sunshine therefore necessitating the wearing of socks with or with out sandals, this of course is a top fashion look to be envied.

TillyTrotter Mon 31-Jul-23 06:42:40

Tilly T arrived at the restaurant wearing dark shades but there was no mistaking her with her distinctive pink hair.
Diners stopped to watch as she swished past, to be shown to a table in the corner.
If you want to be noticed like Tilly, here is her look summed up:
Ditsy floral midi dress £22 - Matalan,
ecru cotton edge-to-edge cardi also Matalan £23 ,
PVC navy blue and white tote bag M&S (about 4 years old, no idea of price) ,
Rieker wedge sandals - bought in Ireland in 2018 (cheaper there, but still 45 Euro’s),
and pink hair out of a box (Superdrug £4.99).