British families.

Riley_G

I've joined my towns local facebook page and been put in touch with some board game groups. My boyfriend has said our neighbor might play chess and it could be a fun when I see him or he see's me to give me his move or my move.  I ordered some board games from Amazon because I couldn't find a toy store in the local town, I found the bookstore (waterstone?) that had a few.

One thing you Brits have better than the US is your TV, At my boyfriends we have something that I can only describe as DirecTV we had it in the place I worked for the sports, but the choice is amazing. I also love how fewer adverts you have! 

I have found thrift store. I don't have a lot of clothes, so I loved the quirkiness one lady said to me "You are American!" :') She then proceeded to try and sell me a load of British clothes from "Brands I'll never see again". like BHS, C&A, La Senza. I also was told Primark was the place to go for lots of clothes cheap. Just working out my sizing in various shops is a nightmare, Converting from US to UK. 

kimwp

Riley_G said:

NB, having a "mash" or "mashing" the tea is a local (not sure to where) thing, others will be a bit surprised if you say that.

Mash the tea? What do you do on that?

I went to a pub earlier and asked for some chips for after my meal. I forgot chips are french fries here! Oh well might as well start my lockdown body now! 

Someone earlier talked about letting the tea "mash" (leaving it in the hot water) 

MovingForwards

One of the major grumbles with us women is the sizing of clothes, unfortunately being a size 10 could be an 8, 12, 14 depending on which shop you go into and varies within the shop depending on manufacturer. It's always best to try them on before buying, near on impossible at the moment.

Stick with trying to buy a few items to get through winter and worry about sorting your wardrobe properly next year, or whenever things are normal.

maman

Not sure about the US but there's a developing move away from fast fashion here for various reasons . I'd buy whatever you can from charity shops when they open, trying to go for more expensive brands and good fabrics rather than the well worn stuff from Primark and supermarkets which they also try to sell. If you must buy new try to go for quality that will last.
During lockdown you could try ebay. 😊

Riley_G

My boyfriends ordered me a coat we saw in River Island (Its the most expensive item of clothing I've ever owned). All my stuff from the States was from thrift, Walmart, Target or  New York and Co. I was living pay check to pay check. So I generally buy to make do and last. Boyfriend suggested I do the same that we get me kitted out for Winter, then move forward get more things.

For women's clothing what would you say are the go to brands? I liked River Island and Topshop. Primark a lot of stuff felt like it was cheap. 

elsien

Primark is cheap. It's designed to be fast fashion and certainly not built to last. 

Riley_G

elsien said:

Primark is cheap. It's designed to be fast fashion and certainly not built to last. 

Oh yes I agree. I bought some underwear from there and the eyes pinged out! Its cheap. Don't think they'll do a return. 

SaintJudy

Ohh I miss C&A so much!

maman

I have heaps of things from charity shops. For new, I like Zara and an online company called Nobody's Child has nice dresses. Knickers I'd buy in Victoria's Secrets. Bras I'd get measured for in John Lewis or M&S and then buy them in TKMaxx . TKMaxx is always worth a look, although I think it's getting a bit expensive. They have good handbags. 

Riley_G

maman said:

I have heaps of things from charity shops. For new, I like Zara and an online company called Nobody's Child has nice dresses. Knickers I'd buy in Victoria's Secrets. Bras I'd get measured for in John Lewis or M&S and then buy them in TKMaxx . TKMaxx is always worth a look, although I think it's getting a bit expensive. They have good handbags. 

I could never afford Victoria's Secrets. Would love some of their stuff. Boyfriend told me to have a look and see. Theyre good as they use US sizes. I am wearing a Primark bra and it doesn't fit at all. I'm told thats common. I was told another place called Boux Avenue. 

I can't afford everything at the moment. Boyfriend is buying me things but I feel bad when a bra in Victoria's Secrets/Boux Avenue is £25/40 but as someone suggest ebay is great!

I was told about Missguided. Asos and topshop. Not had a look. I will look at Zara.

M&S I was always told was for the elderly. I hear their food is great but expensive.