Yes. It's just a dead city.
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It seems to be cafe after cafe that’s most successful? Don’t get how people have the money 
Am I just old and not up to date with the latest fashions (at the grand old age of 29) or is the range of clothes available on the high street absolute rit compared to what was on offer only 10-15 years ago? I can't remember much before then so can't comment, but I remember being 14/15 with £5 to spend and wanting multiple items from basically every clothes shop I entered.
Contrast that with now. I can't remember the last time I actually saw something I liked in a physical shop. Online isn't much better, but at least it's easier to wade through the piles of crap to find something half decent. Everything is bad quality, weird, in a gross colour/pattern, and my major gripe is everything seems to be cut for skinny teenagers with small boobs who don't need to wear a bra (and adult women who are lucky enough to still have that body shape!).
For the first time in my life I have money to spend (not loads, but far from my teenage days of relying on pocket money!) and there is NOTHING I want. Considering women who are in their late 20s/30s/40s probably make up a big whack of the potential spending power of this country I find it bizarre that nobody is making much of an effort to cater to this demographic. I don't want a strapless, neon crop-top and I don't want to cosplay as an Amish woman in a sack! Please can someone just make something nice! I swear if companies just picked 10 random women off the street, asked them what they wanted and stocked it, they'd do a damn sight better than they're currently doing.
Contrast that with now. I can't remember the last time I actually saw something I liked in a physical shop. Online isn't much better, but at least it's easier to wade through the piles of crap to find something half decent. Everything is bad quality, weird, in a gross colour/pattern, and my major gripe is everything seems to be cut for skinny teenagers with small boobs who don't need to wear a bra (and adult women who are lucky enough to still have that body shape!).
For the first time in my life I have money to spend (not loads, but far from my teenage days of relying on pocket money!) and there is NOTHING I want. Considering women who are in their late 20s/30s/40s probably make up a big whack of the potential spending power of this country I find it bizarre that nobody is making much of an effort to cater to this demographic. I don't want a strapless, neon crop-top and I don't want to cosplay as an Amish woman in a sack! Please can someone just make something nice! I swear if companies just picked 10 random women off the street, asked them what they wanted and stocked it, they'd do a damn sight better than they're currently doing.
Totally agree with this. I'm also 29 and feel exactly the same I used to want so many clothes from the high street in my teens but today there is very little I like as most clothes are cropped which I don't like and I'm not a fan of Y2K fashion. I also don't like the puffy sleeve trend which is popular at the minute or the poor quality fabrics most high street clothes are made from now.
YES!!! I’m at a complete loss as to where to shop at the moment, I’ve even toyed with making my own clothes, it’s that desperate!
We did used to have so much choice, and the quality was so much better than all the tat that seems to be the ‘current fashion’!
ASOS et al have a lot to answer for!
I think Gen Z exclusively use Boohoo etc which are all online and don’t even shop on the high street so is a bit neglectedYES!!! I’m at a complete loss as to where to shop at the moment, I’ve even toyed with making my own clothes, it’s that desperate!
We did used to have so much choice, and the quality was so much better than all the tat that seems to be the ‘current fashion’!
ASOS et al have a lot to answer for!
In my area in the SouthEast we are getting a few little boutique places opening up (there's even one in my village) and they have lovely stuff at a decent price point (around £40 for a dress). I went into Wimbledon yesterday and even found a cute shop there with some lovely dresses at the £70 mark. A bit more than I would usually spend but they were very nice dresses.
I feel much the same. I felt that Oasis and Warehouse catered well for my demographic and style (mid 30s, work in an office, want to look pretty and mildly sexy, but not frumpy or too overtly sexy). I bought most of my clothes there and still wear then. Unfortunately both were taken over by Boohoo and the styles now look awful and quality is supposedly abysmal.
I used to love French Connection but I haven't seen anything I liked on there in ages, strange designs and fit.
I got a nice dress in a local boutique recently from Sugarhill Brighton, and I do like some of the Hobbs and Reiss stuff as a treat (some Hobbs items are frumpy though which I stay away from).
Similarly I have more disposable income now than at any time in my life, and I seem to spend the least amount I ever have on clothes. I loved "old" Topshop from about 2001-2010. I rarely visit the High Street now, full of absolute tat usually. Prefer online
I’m late 30s and feel the same. The high street is not what it was and nice clothes seem hard to come by. I find some nice bits in Zara, but it isn’t the cheapest and I hate shopping there because it’s always ridiculously busy. Fatface have some nice things too, but it’s pricier than Zara and some of it is too mumsy. I miss the high street of the 90s/early 2000s 
I quite like Zara too, and have got some nice bits there, mainly casual clothes.I’m late 30s and feel the same. The high street is not what it was and nice clothes seem hard to come by. I find some nice bits in Zara, but it isn’t the cheapest and I hate shopping there because it’s always ridiculously busy. Fatface have some nice things too, but it’s pricier than Zara and some of it is too mumsy. I miss the high street of the 90s/early 2000s
The high street of the 2000s was an absolute golden age, for me at least. I loved going on Saturdays to see what was in the shops, I still remember the sense of excitement going into Topshop, Miss Selfridge, River Island (before it went trashy circa 2005) etc.
I am not a fan of the high street, ours as most now are, is full of hairdressers/barbers, phone shops, charity shops and coffee shops.
Most clothes stores stock so very little size range/colours.
I hate on line shopping.
Most clothes stores stock so very little size range/colours.
I hate on line shopping.
I think the high street will come back, hopefully with a bit more variety. There are some nice Towns near me with decent shops, Coffee Shops are all over the place but gradually thigs will readjust as people see a gap in the market. I've seriously considered opening a shop myself. I'm in my 50's but not frumpy or mutton and there is definitely a gap in the market for shops, particularly as more and more stuff online is garbage
I would be more inclined to visit a little boutique now than ever, as I feel like many of the clothing chains are gone crap, or no longer exist in physical form.
Omg, yes! I see a dress that is pretty much okay but then I see puffy sleeves and it ruins it. It can look good on some people but I already have quite broad shoulders, a broad ribcage and a big chest so it makes me look like a rugby player.
Oasis and Warehouse were great for stuff like that. If I want Boohoo style clothes I'll shop at Boohoo - I'm sick of it being everywhere. I had a horrible shock recently when I had a look at Karen Millen when I needed an outfit for a wedding. Absolute rubbish since being acquired by Boohoo but the prices haven't gone down significantly. Really disappointing!
I usually buy online now which is a shame because I have fond memories of spending hours browsing clothes shops with friends when I was younger and could buy maybe one item and month.
Yes, definitely a gap in the market for clothes shops! There are a few independent shops where I live but a little more high end than I'm generally looking for. I'm not expecting Primark prices in a boutique but equally can't afford hundreds of pounds for one item. Something in the middle with more everyday clothes would be fab!
Who knows, maybe the current state of the high street will turn out to be a blessing in disguise and encourage more independent shops rather than the same chains in every town (though some of the chains that have left my high street are sorely missed!)
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High street clothes shops are rubbish now even Asda's clothing has gone all teenager style of crop tops etc and bloody disney rit. Also I picked up a t shirt in there the other day and it was £16!
I thought boohoo etc was at knockdown prices as it’s poor quality and I wanted the cheapest bikini possible. Knowing Zara etc would be £20 plus and having heard of missguided’s £1 bikini, I tried to get one on boohoo and the top was like £15 and bottoms £12 so not even that cheap? And worse quality than Topshop, oasis etc
£16 in Asda?! I don't want to sound like a miser but unless it had embellishments etc. on it that's Topshop t shirt prices for me!
Most clothes atm are one extreme or the other, they're either tarty, overly revealing, uncomfortable, tight, or they're really frumpy, baggy, with an weird pattern and shapeless. Most women just want something inbetween - something that shows off your shape but also classy and comfy, I don't get why that's hard for companies to design
Warehouse used to hit the mark so well for me there, I got lovely fitted clothes there that weren't too revealing for an office environment, yet showed off my figure.Most clothes atm are one extreme or the other, they're either tarty, overly revealing, uncomfortable, tight, or they're really frumpy, baggy, with an weird pattern and shapeless. Most women just want something inbetween - something that shows off your shape but also classy and comfy, I don't get why that's hard for companies to design
And breathable materials as well! I've got a secret soft spot for Monsoon as they use linen and cotton- polyester stinks after a bit and is either too heavy or too flimsy so you can see your bra through the top
Why can't you buy a linen shirt and cotton trousers for a reasonable price on the high street?
Why can't you buy a linen shirt and cotton trousers for a reasonable price on the high street?