Rubbish clothes?
Mar 5th 2009, 1:56 am
#76
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 310
Re: Rubbish clothes?
I bought a nice work suit in Jacqui-E at the weekend, they had some lovely clothes and although it cost more than I would have spent in the UK (because I would buy my work clothes from Next) it was not too bad. Jacket $200 and trousers $89.
Mar 5th 2009, 2:07 am
#77
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Point Cook, Melbourne
Posts: 585
Re: Rubbish clothes?
$89 isn't bad at all for a pair of trousers, I would definately pay that, lets hope they last longer than 6 or so washes
Portmans isn't too bad either for workwear although I still find they don't last as long as I would like.
Mar 5th 2009, 2:08 am
#78
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brunswick, Melbourne
Posts: 25
Re: Rubbish clothes?
I also found clothes to be generally better quality and cheaper in the U.K.
I can only speak in terms of what it's like in Melbourne. For the most part, it's one extreme to the next. It's either cheap, crappy clothing or high-end, quality, designer wear... but expensive.
For men living/visiting Melbourne (I'm male so don't know much about women's clothing!), take a wander down Little Collins Street. You'll find at least two city blocks of boutique shops (Satch, Calibre, Ag, etc.) lined along both sides of the lane, all latest European or Melb-pioneered fashions, but expect to pay a lot. I go there but only in sale season, which is actually great - they tend to bring the prices down considerably.
Also Melbourne Central is full of great clothing shops (and shoe shops) including heaps of chain stores. It is arranged in different levels. Ground floor - cheaper stuff. Middle floor - mid-range chain stores. Top floor - boutiques.
Chadstone isn't too bad either. Then there's Greville Street, Prahran for alternative, grunge wear, Chapel Street and Toorak Road for high-end designer stuff, plus some chain stores and... Essendon DFO - massive in scale, direct factory outlets for the quality stuff at cheaper prices. Also Southern Cross Station DFO.
Great quality stuff is all there if you know where to look. Actually it's not even hard to find. I find that newcomers to the country tend to end up shopping in very generic chain stores and shopping centres because these are more visible - the local knowledge is missing, which makes a BIG difference.
Just expect to pay more for quality clothes than in the UK. It's unfortunately one of those cases where the UK is cheaper than Australia. You make up for it eating out at cheaper prices than the UK (at least here in Melbourne).
By the way, I personally would never buy clothing from Target and certainly NOT KMart or Big W. Australians only buy from these places if they're desperate!
I can only speak in terms of what it's like in Melbourne. For the most part, it's one extreme to the next. It's either cheap, crappy clothing or high-end, quality, designer wear... but expensive.
For men living/visiting Melbourne (I'm male so don't know much about women's clothing!), take a wander down Little Collins Street. You'll find at least two city blocks of boutique shops (Satch, Calibre, Ag, etc.) lined along both sides of the lane, all latest European or Melb-pioneered fashions, but expect to pay a lot. I go there but only in sale season, which is actually great - they tend to bring the prices down considerably.
Also Melbourne Central is full of great clothing shops (and shoe shops) including heaps of chain stores. It is arranged in different levels. Ground floor - cheaper stuff. Middle floor - mid-range chain stores. Top floor - boutiques.
Chadstone isn't too bad either. Then there's Greville Street, Prahran for alternative, grunge wear, Chapel Street and Toorak Road for high-end designer stuff, plus some chain stores and... Essendon DFO - massive in scale, direct factory outlets for the quality stuff at cheaper prices. Also Southern Cross Station DFO.
Great quality stuff is all there if you know where to look. Actually it's not even hard to find. I find that newcomers to the country tend to end up shopping in very generic chain stores and shopping centres because these are more visible - the local knowledge is missing, which makes a BIG difference.
Just expect to pay more for quality clothes than in the UK. It's unfortunately one of those cases where the UK is cheaper than Australia. You make up for it eating out at cheaper prices than the UK (at least here in Melbourne).
By the way, I personally would never buy clothing from Target and certainly NOT KMart or Big W. Australians only buy from these places if they're desperate!
Mar 5th 2009, 2:12 am
#79
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,600
Re: Rubbish clothes?
Most of the shopping in Australia is awful. I have a complete nightmare trying to find anything nice. The quality is shocking so even if you do find something that’s ok it looks terrible after one wash.
I have got some of the girls in my office shopping at Marks & Spencers and top shop online and they all say how much better it is.
You go into the shops and the clothes are horrendous, really bad styles, colours, quality. I actually bought a pair of trousers in Target for work the other week in desperation for something new for work. I won’t be doing that again, after about three washes the seams have twisted and they’ve gone bobbly.
I know people always slag off people on here who say they miss Next, Gap etc but I really miss them for the quality. I have clothes that I wear for work at the moment, some of which are four years old from Next and the trousers still look new. The kids clothes that I have from Next and Gap have been passed down through two children and I’ve actually just passed some onto a lady in work as they are still perfect. On the other hand, the kids clothes that I have from Target etc are good for the bin by the time they grow out of them, couldn’t contemplate putting it on another child cause they look like rags.
Personally I am counting the weeks until I go back to the UK for a holiday so I can finally buy some decent clothes.
The one good point for shopping here is the surfwear, I have a few pairs of trousers from Roxy and shorts from Billabong etc and the quality is excellent.
I have got some of the girls in my office shopping at Marks & Spencers and top shop online and they all say how much better it is.
You go into the shops and the clothes are horrendous, really bad styles, colours, quality. I actually bought a pair of trousers in Target for work the other week in desperation for something new for work. I won’t be doing that again, after about three washes the seams have twisted and they’ve gone bobbly.
I know people always slag off people on here who say they miss Next, Gap etc but I really miss them for the quality. I have clothes that I wear for work at the moment, some of which are four years old from Next and the trousers still look new. The kids clothes that I have from Next and Gap have been passed down through two children and I’ve actually just passed some onto a lady in work as they are still perfect. On the other hand, the kids clothes that I have from Target etc are good for the bin by the time they grow out of them, couldn’t contemplate putting it on another child cause they look like rags.
Personally I am counting the weeks until I go back to the UK for a holiday so I can finally buy some decent clothes.
The one good point for shopping here is the surfwear, I have a few pairs of trousers from Roxy and shorts from Billabong etc and the quality is excellent.
It is best to give up , stop torturing yourself with trying One girl I know shops a lot on UK ebay, lots of good stuff on there, brand new, and the sellers will ship over here if you are willing to take the risk
There is one shop that I like, Witchery, it actually has some nice, good quality clothes but I think it's quite expensive when you compare it to something of the same quality in the UK, say Oasis.
One girl I know shops a lot on UK ebay, lots of good stuff on there, brand new, and the sellers will ship over here if you are willing to take the risk There is one shop that I like, Witchery, it actually has some nice, good quality clothes but I think it's quite expensive when you compare it to something of the same quality in the UK, say Oasis.
I would say the quality in Target is pretty much the same as every other Australian clothes shop and trust me I have looked in nearly every one. Target seemed to have some OK looking work clothes so I thought I would try a pair in desperation but I wouldn't bother again.
M&S underwear is great, lasts for ages, very good quality, so I think we will have to agree to disagree
I think the difference is that I have stuff in my wardrobe now, that I’ve had for a few years that I shipped over here, and the quality is still great. Only basic bits, black knitted jumpers, work trousers, office shirts etc and I will be bringing them out this winter again. On the other hand, I have items in my wardrobe that I bought in Australia last year and the only place they’ll be going this year is to the bin, as they haven’t worn well and look like rags.
M&S underwear is great, lasts for ages, very good quality, so I think we will have to agree to disagree
I think the difference is that I have stuff in my wardrobe now, that I’ve had for a few years that I shipped over here, and the quality is still great. Only basic bits, black knitted jumpers, work trousers, office shirts etc and I will be bringing them out this winter again. On the other hand, I have items in my wardrobe that I bought in Australia last year and the only place they’ll be going this year is to the bin, as they haven’t worn well and look like rags.
I said that I bought one pair of trousers in Target to try it and my opinion is that it was rubbish.
I have looked in Myers and Country Road. I found a nice pair of trousers in Country Road but they were $300. Now I only wanted them for work and didn't want to spend that amount. In the UK, there are plenty of mid-range shops, M&S, Next, Oasis, Warehouse etc. All good quality for workwear and you don't have to spend a fortune. Here it seems to be cheap tat or expensive, nothing in between so unless you want to spend an absolute fortune you can't really find anything.
I think it will be a discussion that will never be resolved, some people can be happy with the shopping over here, personally for me coming from London, I can't even compare it, I long to be able to walk down Oxford Street or go to Bluewater and be able to see something worth buying. I am counting the weeks until my holiday back to the UK
I have looked in Myers and Country Road. I found a nice pair of trousers in Country Road but they were $300. Now I only wanted them for work and didn't want to spend that amount. In the UK, there are plenty of mid-range shops, M&S, Next, Oasis, Warehouse etc. All good quality for workwear and you don't have to spend a fortune. Here it seems to be cheap tat or expensive, nothing in between so unless you want to spend an absolute fortune you can't really find anything.
I think it will be a discussion that will never be resolved, some people can be happy with the shopping over here, personally for me coming from London, I can't even compare it, I long to be able to walk down Oxford Street or go to Bluewater and be able to see something worth buying. I am counting the weeks until my holiday back to the UK
Rachel1978: "Clothes."
Magnus: "Clothes?"
Rachel1978: "Yes . . . clothes."
Mar 5th 2009, 2:35 am
#82
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 310
Re: Rubbish clothes?
I looked in Portmans and they had some nice stuff but personally I thought the quality was much better in Jacqui-E. Will let you know, only worn it to one interview so far!
