Proof of good taste?

exactly.

Anyway, what is good taste - who decides?

Years ago I bought a top and skirt from a rather more upmarket label to wear for a wedding, and then saw it in cheaper copies everywhere.
It is still sitting at the back of the wardrobe waiting patiently for another outing. Or the charity shop.

More years ago I bought a lovely winter coat in tartan and then saw absolutely everyone wearing it, so I sent it to the jumble sale.

Nowadays I am always behind any trend and it doesn't bother me at all.

I have never seen anything on tv , clothes, decor, furniture etc that I posess, so now I am worried, perhaps I have no taste.

I once bought a Jaeger suit, heavily reduced in their sale.

Then I noticed a female politician (can't remember who) wearing it on tv on several occasions.

I felt a bit iffy about it but I did keep the suit. In fact I had the jacket until a few months ago.

Lisa from Emmerdale wears the same top as me. It came from Bon Marche, and I've noticed she wears their clothes a lot. I haven't thrown it away - yet!

It's because when you buy something you buy into an image. For example, if I wanted some jewellery that was on sale at H Samuel or Argos [for the same price] I would buy it from the jewellers. It's called HyacinthBucket syndrome ! My daughters duvet and curtains set was on Eastenders at one time and I went off it straight away .

Why is everyone so snobbish about their clothes/household effects being in a soap? Presumably you watch them...

I do go to the Denny factory shop but I was assuming there weren't to many outlet stores round Walford!

The factory shop might be cheap but DH always sighs very loudly when I've been! Come to think about it, I haven't been for ages - must be due another trip!

kitty I have to second what when says about the Denby Outlet at Boundary Mill I have been able to collect quite a decent amount from there at amazing prices,I am collecting the set towards DS1s wedding present the likes of the casseroles etc I have bought at JLs when they have a 33% sale so well worth looking about for good deals.

one of my lovely Port Merion plates adorns the wall of Roy and the late Hayley's flat. I've built up quite a collection and it's used every day but I have never thought of putting any of it on a wall. My 'street cred' went right out the window when my husband pointed it out!

I have a lovely pair of trousers in which I think I look the cat's pyjamas and yesterday an identical pair were in the Sunday Times available from Zara. Yes, I'm miffed! Nothing wrong with Zara but mine were somewhat more expensive!

kitty Have you ever visited the Denby Pottery factory and shop which can't be too far away from you? It is worth the trip and when I last visited had a Dartington outlet and every design in Denby both perfect and seconds which are good quality when "picked through".There is also a restaurant and Factory tours. I think there are other small retail outlets.

I threw out some scatter cushions when I saw them in Hayley and Roy Cropper's flat!

kitty Denby pottery is really inexpensive in places like Boundary Mill. When they have their sales on, often 60% off an already lower price, plus an extra 10% for customers who apply for notification cards and emails, the cost is very low. Usually, it's outlet pieces that may have a minor, hardly noticeable flaw, but there are more than enough to make up complete sets.

Carole Jackson has quite a few Phase eight tops the same as mine. I would hate to think people thought I had copied her.

A few years ago, I bought an M&S cardigan which Carole Jackson then wore in every episode of Eastenders for about a month! I had to send it to Oxfam!

I l ove Denby pottery, which isn't particularly cheap, but see it used quite a lot in soaps and am confused by how some of the families on TV can afford it!

I remember seeing pictures of Charles and Diana at home when they hadn't been married long. Their sofa was covered in Laura Ashley cushions - exactly the same as mine, only theirs will have been specially made while I had bought the same material and made my own.

Oh dear petallus. I did exactly the same years and years ago when Steve's mum and dad were still together. We had proudly decorated our lounge and to my horror they had the same wallpaper, my only saving grace was that instead of having a border across the middle of the wall I had a 'dado'rail.

A school friend's Father made a 1970's type Bar in their lounge, quilted beige and it was framed by mirrors with Cola signs. I was very impressed. It was more The Goods than Only Fools. I spend half any viewing time of Ever Decreasing Circles or The Good Life looking at the home furnishings. I worked at an Accountants after marrying and the topic of coffee breaks would be what tog Continental Quilt do you have?

Years ago, when M&S were sometimes doing really nice clothes, I bought a very attractive jumper from them. Or at least it was very attractive until I saw Michelle wearing the same one on Eastenders! I never felt the same about it again.

this is my one

But I bought it from John Lewis. Of course.

Oh no, Harrigran!

We put what we thought were tasteful Laura Ashley tiles in our ensuite, then cheaper versions of the pattern in wallpaper, curtains, duvet covers kept appearing in lots of TV programmes. It began to look like rent-a-pattern.

My duvet cover was on Miranda.