Brands we have loved and lost?

I miss C&A, BHS, Woolworths, M&S St Michael brand when the clothes were well-made, a lovely fashion store in Norwich called 5th Avenue, Gordon Thodays, where my mother spent ages looking for materials and dress patterns (it used to bore me back then, but now I wish it was still here!), Callard &Bowsers nougat, Cheese Whizz spread, Pagan perfume by Picot, Smith's broken crisps, 1d Hovis loaves.

Not sure that I particularly miss them, but about 20 years ago I paid around a tenner for an electric hand mixer from TCM a very cheap German retailer long since gone. It’s still going strong and I use it at least, I’d say, on average once a week.

I miss Essence Rare by Houbigant, wore it on my wedding day as I’d saved the last squirt.
Also miss PanYan pickle, it had a lovely sharp tang ! Yum!

Next do most of their swimsuits in standard and long body (on line)

I think we got Drene in bottles but I think it could be had in sachets. My mother thought it kept us safe from the dreaded nits.

Yes Drene shampoo. My mum always washed our hair with it. It was in a ‘wavy’ shaped bottle if I remember correctly.

Oh yes! Clothkits! Made lots of matching outfits for my eldest two (now 49 and 46) and I am definitely not a good needlewoman. My youngest granddaughter still has one of the little toys meant for the pockets.

Oh, Drene shampoo. Was it in a sort of sachet that you rubbed directly on your hair rubysong?

Clothkits are still available online I think and some are in a craft shop in Liskeard.
I really miss Fendi perfume. It is sometimes on eBay at astonishing prices. I also miss Drene shampoo which we used to have as children. It had a lovely smell. I wish I could just smell it.
It would take me straight back to the fifties, sitting in the bath, my mother pouring water over my hair, with me making a fuss even though I had a flannel over my face.

Just remembered: "Fillery's Chocolate Covered Toffee" in a 1/2 pound slab and wrapped in wax paper. My how good - but watch your teeth.

Agree with Chelsea Girl. Remember being so slim I could fit in Tammy Girl(for teens). And of course Woolworths, those wonderful pic-a-mix days with my pocket money.

Oh and BHS for knitwear, tops and bags
Woolworths
Principles
And also Richard shops

The mention of Aqua Manda brings back happy memories. When I was sixteen, I used to get ready for Saturday nights with an Aqua Manda bath. Then my boyfriend would come round for naughty behaviour, whilst my sister and brother-in-law were out and their kids were asleep upstairs!

Oh, he was so handsome and he had a beard. Turned out to be a ratbag, though. Not worth the outlay in Aqua Manda.

Opal mints, they became Pacers and then disappeared
Spangles especially old english
Barley sugar sticks
Proper dolly mixtures
aztec bars

Sorry to mention the December word - C - but it always meant Maple Brazils. Simply cannot obtain them anywhere this year!

C & A for hats!
Woolworths for all sorts,
and the perfume I miss is Eau de Gucci.

How lovely to be reminded of Clothkits! I made lots of things for both DD and myself plus many pretty knitted dresses for her with co-ordinating tights.

Carluccio’s has just re-opened in Chichester, but on sign of EWM opening again.

Oh yes, I miss C&A, Richards and BHS. I still have some garments from those shops that have lasted so well. Nothing like them now except Bon Marche, but things don't last as well from them. (jumpers get bobbly quickly). I did have a spend in C&A in Bruges a few years back, but not sure it's still there.

I miss the old recipe of Daddies sauce. It is not like it used to be.

Me too. I loved all those stores...

Used to love the smell of Charlie perfume until I was pregnant in 1975. Couldn’t bear the smell of it after that !!!!

Oh definitely BHS!
I have to agree with lots here that M&S have lost it a bit. I really hope they find it again - I’d hate to see them disappear. I bought a couple of pairs of jeans (with tencel) from their classic collection just before it disappeared. They are the comfiest! Now of course I can’t find any that fit as well. If I’d known, I’d have stocked up! I have a large-ish collection of their cashmere which I love.

Another vote for Clothkits. In particular that it was possible to match tights and sweaters.

Oh Aqua Manda. I used to buy a sachet of their bath stuff with my Saturday job wages. At 14, I thought I was so sophisticated!

My DH pines for Panyan pickle!
Aqua Manda - they relaunched a few years ago in Debenhams, around Christmas.
M&S quality clothes - many then were made in the UK
Sweater Shop - we used to go to huge reject sales in Leicester in the 90s
Clothkits - I made super quilted jackets for DD with little animals to fit in the pockets. They had great knitwear too.