High Street Shops

[ahtisyourself]

I was reminiscing to myself earlier, thinking back on the days when I’d get paid and get the bus into town and have a rummage in all the high street shops. I especially miss Topshop, in particular the hay day of 05-15. What I wouldn’t give to have a rummage through the clothing archives! I know you can still get it on asos but it’s not the same imo. You couldn’t beat wandering on there on a day when they’d have new stock in. There was a period there where they were knocking it out style wise. Could be pricy mind - but I still have things in good nick from like ten years ago. Do you think it’ll ever come back?! Oh how I miss it

 

[thegirlscout]

I was reminiscing to myself earlier, thinking back on the days when I’d get paid and get the bus into town and have a rummage in all the high street shops. I especially miss Topshop, in particular the hay day of 05-15. What I wouldn’t give to have a rummage through the clothing archives! I know you can still get it on asos but it’s not the same imo. You couldn’t beat wandering on there on a day when they’d have new stock in. There was a period there where they were knocking it out style wise. Could be pricy mind - but I still have things in good nick from like ten years ago. Do you think it’ll ever come back?! Oh how I miss it

I don’t think so, much cheaper being on ASPS. Remember when Kate Miss designed for them?
I think nowadays shops need to be more of an ~experience~ to get the shoppers in.

 

[Silverback]

I miss it too but it had lost the touch it had circa 2005.

I really miss Gap. Our local one had a perpetual sale on where you could get really good basics for half price!

And I miss Morgan. That’s just nostalgia though rather than an actual wish to shop there these days. I remember I had an orange crop top and black kick flare trousers from there in the late 90s and thought I was the tit.

 

[Blonde_moment]

I miss Morgan and Kookai for nostalgia reasons. It was the place to shop when I was in high school. Also, you were nobody if you didn’t have a Shellys shoes satchel as your school bag

On a serious note, it does make me sad that the high street is declining. I love being able to have an afternoon mooching around the shops and nothing beats seeing clothes in person and being able to try them on. It’s so much cheaper online though that I don’t see things improving for the high street. Plus, no transport/parking charges etc.

 

[Snippysnips]

Am actually disgusted at the state of my town now, it used to be such a bustling little town with tons, I get most went out of business but the council don't help it with new places with overpricing rent, they even chased a really good shop away because originally they wanted that part of the town for the council buildings so chased away these little shops to get it then they decided to not bother with it so not only has it been left empty but the little shops are gone

But its not till its Xmas do I realise just what we don't have, I miss woolworths, BHS, debanhams, toys R us, they were all great for gifts

I can't see much shops being there in the next 10 years, they constantly ask you to go shop local so you try an there's nothing, for me I have one shop for clothes which is new look an somtimes I don't like whats in, there's nothing for guys or young kids so I've no option but to go online

 

[ahtisyourself]

There is literally no draw to my town now only New Look and Primark. We used to have loads like H&M, Topshop, River Island, A Wear, Miss Selfridge, Monsoon.. etc etc.. now we have virtually nothing. I used to love going in for a mooch about and trying on loads of clothes, coming home with tonnes of bags but now there’s literally no point making the effort to go in. There’s nowhere to go now if you want to have a look for a nice outfit

 

[lastdis]

I miss it too but it had lost the touch it had circa 2005.

I really miss Gap. Our local one had a perpetual sale on where you could get really good basics for half price!

And I miss Morgan. That’s just nostalgia though rather than an actual wish to shop there these days. I remember I had an orange crop top and black kick flare trousers from there in the late 90s and thought I was the tit.

ASOS do some Morgan I got some jeans a few months back

Anyone remember bay trading, use to get my going out stuff from there when I was clearly too young to be in any club

 

[MrsBsDayOff]

There is literally no draw to my town now only New Look and Primark. We used to have loads like H&M, Topshop, River Island, A Wear, Miss Selfridge, Monsoon.. etc etc.. now we have virtually nothing. I used to love going in for a mooch about and trying on loads of clothes, coming home with tonnes of bags but now there’s literally no point making the effort to go in. There’s nowhere to go now if you want to have a look for a nice outfit

I miss this too, I loved going into the high street on a Saturday as a teenager and in my twenties, browsing around the shops. No online shopping to browse in advance so you could genuinely be surprised by something you saw in person.

I particularly miss Topshop, Oasis and Warehouse. All these "exist" online but it's not the same. I've read shocking reviews of Oasis and Warehouse since Boohoo took them over, i used to spend hundreds a year in each but I abandoned them when Boohoo bought them.

In response to one of the posters, I remember Bay Trading and still have a bikini from there that I wear. I also got lovely bits from Morgan for going out when I was a teenager.

Does anyone remember MK One? I didn't like it personally and never bought much there, but it was popular with other girls in my school.

 

[StephenTJackson]

My usual city for shopping, there's nothing left.

Primark I've almost stopped using because even for cheap basics, the quality is not there. Work t-shirts is all I buy from there now. I've stopped even buying socks there. Last lot I bought were awful, so I have switched to TKMaxx for socks, buying Pierre Cardin ones from there. Bit more money, but much better quality.

The high streets are dead. I'm partial to The Works, but as the only shop worth going to at the bottom of a street, it's easier to go online.

Even the shopping centres, three, one big one drained the other two. But even the big one has very little interesting. Just the usual Next, H&M, TKMaxx etc. Nothing special to drag you in. Just easier to go online.

 

[Warpaint]

It was said that with all the big chains going, independent shops would thrive in cities and town. I've not seen much evidence of it in the last 10 years though. They are there but don't seem to last long.

 

[TheScarletgirl]

Everything is now owned by the same people who are all online . Less competition only Primark seems to do well on the high street . Ten years ago we were all talking about the decline in pubs which now seem to be doing ok post pandemic.

I use to love
Bay
morgan
roxy
jane normal
oasis
topshop
miss selfridge
gap

 

[HaggisInMyBin]

ASOS do some Morgan I got some jeans a few months back

Anyone remember bay trading, use to get my going out stuff from there when I was clearly too young to be in any club

I’ve still got a jacket I got from Bay Trading in about 1997. I wore it the other week - I’m 43 now.