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'Old Lady shops'

(220 Posts)
Rocketstop2 Sat 02-May-26 19:02:42

I made myself laugh today as I saw something I liked in a leaflet for what I used to term 'An old lady shop' ! It kind of put me off, although I have sent for the clothing to try.
It got me thinking, even though we are older now, are there still shops you feel you might be too young to buy from? I aim this at all ages too, as we are all only a certain age in our own heads.
I can remember as a young girl wearing Marks and Spencer stuff that My Mum had bought and vowing 'When I'm grown up I shall NEVER shop at Marks and Spencer.' (I did !!)
So, anyone else??

Blossoming Sun 03-May-26 10:47:30

I like Seasalt, Roman and Fat Face for their petite ranges. It’s not easy being a shrimp smile. I am a little ole lady and I don’t give a damn!

fancyflowers Sun 03-May-26 10:49:19

Does anyone remember C & A and their 'Clockhouse' section for teenagers? I used to go there for clothes when I was young

Nowadays I mostly shop at either M & S or online.

Astitchintime Sun 03-May-26 10:53:17

I’m in my 70’s but I certainly do not want to wear twin set and pearls although I do know women younger than me who do just that, their choice, I don’t criticise.

I do avoid taking MrA clothes shopping with me though, he was once married to a very old fashioned woman apparently and this reflects in some of the garments he picks up and asks ‘is this what you’re after?’

Kate1949 Sun 03-May-26 10:58:09

These boots are from Cotton Traders. I don't think they are frumpy. Maybe they are ......

BlueBelle Sun 03-May-26 11:00:39

Allira

kittylester

Was it Damart? A leaflet from them came today and I just put it straight in the bin on the basis that it's an old lady brand......and i'm definitely not an old lady!!

I bought three Damart thermal vests last winter 😁
Kept me toasty and warm.

allira I bought two a black one and a skin coloured one, and they were as thin as silk, but so very warm, they were V neck which I couldn’t find anywhere else, with some very pretty lace trim they are really brilliant and I loved them, certainly not old lady at all
I think there’s some really judgemental posts on here

hollysteers Sun 03-May-26 11:11:44

MissAdventure

Does anyone remember Ethel Austin?
I think it had branches elsewhere, and i loved the clothes.

I grew up with Ethel Austin shops in the northwest and carried on buying from them until they closed down.
Good value, especially for basics and children's clothes👍

Blossoming Sun 03-May-26 11:17:19

Allira

I'm wearing a very old Dash top bought from a designer outlet years ago, straight cotton trousers from Cotton Traders and an ancient M&S cardigan which is a linen mix and has worn well.

But I'm Not Going Out.

Has Dash gone into administration? Haven't seen any of their clothes for years.

Bonmarché stock Dash now.

Esmay Sun 03-May-26 12:17:16

I was in Primark last week and joined two ladies,who were older tbsm me but the same size .
We were searching for the larger sizes ,which are always hard to find .
We all said that the clothes in Primark have improved enormously .
And then , one of them said something that surprised me - that the clothes in Yours are designed for old ladies.
I thought that they were for big girls .

Allira Sun 03-May-26 12:20:49

Blossoming

Allira

I'm wearing a very old Dash top bought from a designer outlet years ago, straight cotton trousers from Cotton Traders and an ancient M&S cardigan which is a linen mix and has worn well.

But I'm Not Going Out.

Has Dash gone into administration? Haven't seen any of their clothes for years.

Bonmarché stock Dash now.

Oh! Thank you.

But we're not allowed to shop there apparently 😁

Allira Sun 03-May-26 12:22:26

BlueBelle

Allira

kittylester

Was it Damart? A leaflet from them came today and I just put it straight in the bin on the basis that it's an old lady brand......and i'm definitely not an old lady!!

I bought three Damart thermal vests last winter 😁
Kept me toasty and warm.

allira I bought two a black one and a skin coloured one, and they were as thin as silk, but so very warm, they were V neck which I couldn’t find anywhere else, with some very pretty lace trim they are really brilliant and I loved them, certainly not old lady at all
I think there’s some really judgemental posts on here

But we would probably never go out in just our vests so no-one will ever know 😁

Beechnut Sun 03-May-26 12:43:10

Allira

BlueBelle

Allira

kittylester

Was it Damart? A leaflet from them came today and I just put it straight in the bin on the basis that it's an old lady brand......and i'm definitely not an old lady!!

I bought three Damart thermal vests last winter 😁
Kept me toasty and warm.

allira I bought two a black one and a skin coloured one, and they were as thin as silk, but so very warm, they were V neck which I couldn’t find anywhere else, with some very pretty lace trim they are really brilliant and I loved them, certainly not old lady at all
I think there’s some really judgemental posts on here

But we would probably never go out in just our vests so no-one will ever know 😁

I always think a bit of lace makes all the difference 😀

MayBee70 Sun 03-May-26 12:48:47

David Nieper. Overpriced, too.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 03-May-26 13:07:00

fancyflowers

Does anyone remember C & A and their 'Clockhouse' section for teenagers? I used to go there for clothes when I was young

Nowadays I mostly shop at either M & S or online.

Yes! The person who lived next door to us when we were first married, was a buyer for C&A and I was the happy recipient of quite a few freebies.

Aldom Sun 03-May-26 13:13:31

MayBee70

David Nieper. Overpriced, too.

I bought a dressing gown from David Nieper a few months ago.
I thought it would be rather special considering the price....not far off £200. There's nothing special about it! I kept the garment because I couldn't find another supplier who offered a gown with a zipper fastening.
But I would never buy from them again.
Customer service was excellent I should add.

Magenta8 Sun 03-May-26 13:20:02

I have just had a look to see if the Damart catalogue is as bad as I remember it. Some of it actually looks OK but quite a few items are definitely 'Old lady'.

What amused me was the fact that all the models look under 30. Possibly some might even still be in their teens. One particularly young looking model looked very happy to be wearing a sky blue, cable stitch, acrylic cardigan.

Norah Sun 03-May-26 13:40:12

sixandahalf

I think it's rather unkind to posters or friends who shop at these places.

They are on the whole cheap and do the job.

We can't all manage Seasalt, Sahara,Jigsaw and so on.

Indeed.

I just throw on whatever I like, never worrying that I'm old.

I typically wear jeans, not trousers, no elastic - I'm happy.

Rocketstop2 Sun 03-May-26 13:49:30

kittylester

I suspect the point Rocketstop was making was not about the cost or the style of the clothes but pure concept of buying from Damart. I might buy something very similar from somewhere else - just not from Damart.

Yes that's right, I was not 'Rubbishing ' any shop or discussing the cost of any of the clothes, it was just about perceptions really of what each of us PERSONALLY consider an 'Old Lady shop' and we would feel a bit odd buying from !
A good range of answers on this thread !

Jaxjacky Sun 03-May-26 13:54:22

Are there shops for ‘old men’ too?

62Granny Sun 03-May-26 13:59:29

I think Damart still have a reputation as thermal vests and old ladies slippers but tbh although I find their clothes in the same style as Cotton Traders and are ok I have given them a whirl in the past although you have to pay postage on returns.

Rocketstop2 Sun 03-May-26 14:01:19

Jaxjacky

Are there shops for ‘old men’ too?

Why ? Do you want to buy one Jaxjacky ?grin

ViceVersa Sun 03-May-26 14:06:18

Jaxjacky

Are there shops for ‘old men’ too?

Have to admit, we found it really hard finding clothes for my late FiL, especially as he was in his late 90s and getting too frail to actually visit shops. The amount of times we bought something for him and had to return it was unbelievable.

Aldom Sun 03-May-26 14:06:54

Jaxjacky

Are there shops for ‘old men’ too?

There's a gentleman's outfitters in Shrewsbury which looks as if it's still in the 1950''s. smile

M0nica Sun 03-May-26 14:13:57

I clearly lack pride. I will shop anywhere that has what I want.

I am what my grandmother called a 'chilly mortal', I feel the cold and I have been buying damart thermal vests for over 40 years. Nothing else, because none of it appeals.

I have occasional bought from Bon Marche. There is a branch in town, so I walk through it now and again. Again a habit I have had for years. I have even been known to shop in M&S.

I hate buying clothes online. They often do not fit and colour and uality are poor. I sometimes think some good uality stores have a special line in cheapos for online sale only, hoping that people will not be bothered to return them.

My local stores are Bon Marche, Fat Face and Mountain Warehouse. If I drive to the town outskirts there is Tesco and if I drive 15 miles down the dual carriageway, Sainsbury, Matalan, River Island, M&S, and Next are immediately accessible in a warehouse park. I buy trousers online from Lands End. I have been doing it for aeons, so cannot remember how that started.

Some of the above are 'old lady' stores, but then - what I see some 'old ladies' wearing, any shop they shop in is likely to suit me. I saw an 'old lady' yesterday who clearly shops in Gudrun Sjoden. She had a calf length loose cotton top over baggy trousers. She looked chic and cool, in every sense of the word.

Babsbada Sun 03-May-26 14:18:55

I buy whatever looks good and is within my price range and yes, Damart excellent for thermals.
I shop vintage, John Lewis and Zara mostly but have a great pair of FatFace jeans and some excellent Vionic trainers.
I dont do Primark though and try to stick to sustainable brands.

Jaxjacky Sun 03-May-26 14:24:34

I’ve already got a much younger one thanks Rocketstop 😄
I just wondered if any shops were labelled in that way by people.