Shopping Advice?

[Jenny Marie]

Hello,

I'm an American expat living in Bristol. I've discovered some difficulty in shopping for basics and hopefully I could get some help. I need two things: comfy, black, hippie like sandals preferably with stretchy stuff or leathery stuff and white undershirts--like boys undershirts basically (jeans + those are my favorite thing...) Back home, I'd buy these kinds of things at Big Lots, or Target, or possibly Meijers as their fairly basic items. However, here in Bristol, I don't know where to get these things for reasonable (by UK standards..) prices. I don't want to go to H&M and pay £5 for a tank top or something, I would rather just buy a cheap pack of them somewhere. So shoppers, any suggestions??

Jenny

[Elphaba]

I think you are going to be disillusioned if you think £5 is expensive for a t-shirt!!

For quality basics always try M&S, but you won't find decent quality clothes for cheaper than H&M or M&S.

-

[Bevdeforges]

M&S is the standard for decent t-shirts and the like. If you have an Asda nearby, you might try them. (Asda is owned by WalMart these days.)
Cheers,
Bev

[Wils & Nance]

Originally Posted by Jenny Marie

Hello,

I'm an American expat living in Bristol. I've discovered some difficulty in shopping for basics and hopefully I could get some help. I need two things: comfy, black, hippie like sandals preferably with stretchy stuff or leathery stuff and white undershirts--like boys undershirts basically (jeans + those are my favorite thing...) Back home, I'd buy these kinds of things at Big Lots, or Target, or possibly Meijers as their fairly basic items. However, here in Bristol, I don't know where to get these things for reasonable (by UK standards..) prices. I don't want to go to H&M and pay £5 for a tank top or something, I would rather just buy a cheap pack of them somewhere. So shoppers, any suggestions??

Jenny

Hi Jenny,
Not being cheeky, but is it bigger sizes your looking for ? you mention 'Big Lots', which I believe is a store for people who are a bit bigger than a size 12......!
You could try Evans or an online catalogue called Simply Be...............they are not expensive.....you can buy T-shirt packs through Simply Be, maybe 3 for £10. And they do wider fitting shoes, clothing sizes from a size 14 upwards ! I often use Simply be, I'm narrow backed but have a big bust, I find it ideal for blouses and tops !
Hope this helps,
Nance

[peppera-ann-]

Big Lots is a discount store for wholes sale lots...lol..not bigger sizes! hahah that is cute. Im going to have the same problem when i get there..unless i drop 50 pounds of course..but im an ebay addict. i get everything off of there no matter what size i am!
good luck..try ebay.uk.com

[izzysmum04]

£5 isn't too bad a price, considering. You might try somewhere like Primark. That is the only place I could think of that would probably be cheaper. Good luck!

[MichelleAlison]

Originally Posted by izzysmum04

£5 isn't too bad a price, considering. You might try somewhere like Primark. That is the only place I could think of that would probably be cheaper. Good luck!

Hi Jenny Marie, it did surprise me when you said you couldn't find basic items in the UK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Primark is probably the best. I also used to buy at Sports Soccer (a large chain in every shopping centre) which sold cheap designer makes and often for under a fiver...........

Michelle

[izzysmum04]

I agree Michelle, Primark is about the best when it comes to finding basic items. I actually love shopping there.

[jlms]

£5 is cheap (too cheap) for any items of clothing. Welcome to the UK.

If you really want dirt cheap you can try Primark or Matalan (Matalan has a website where you can buy stuff).

Primark's reputation is in the ropes due to recent allegations (BBC's Panorma I think) that they use child labour for their products (which is one of the only viable ways to make $5 look expensive ...)

[MichelleAlison]

Originally Posted by jlms

£5 is cheap (too cheap) for any items of clothing. Welcome to the UK.

If you really want dirt cheap you can try Primark or Matalan (Matalan has a website where you can buy stuff).

Primark's reputation is in the ropes due to recent allegations (BBC's Panorma I think) that they use child labour for their products (which is one of the only viable ways to make $5 look expensive ...)

Although I didn't see Panorama, I would have thought that this was a worldwide problem and that most businesses just turned a blind eye. Unfortunately, with the recession, more and more people are turning to the cheaper stores regardless of child labour. What a sad world!