My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

Mid-30s women - where do you buy your clothes??

77 replies

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 19/07/2012 12:07

I am 34 - 35 in November - and find myself at a bit of a loss as to where to buy clothes.

I am a SAHM so only really need casual things, and as we only have one income I can't splash out too much - I'd happily spend £40 on a new pair of jeans but not £70.

I am normally a size 8 (pregnant at the minute though!) so theoretically it should be quite easy to find stuff to wear, but I feel too old for most shops and too young for the rest!

This is going to be my last baby and when I can go back to dressing normally I need some inspiration about where to go...

OP posts:
Report
squoosh · 19/07/2012 12:16

You see women of all ages shopping in the usual high street chains, Topshop, Warehouse etc.

High street shops are the best for on trend fashion items. I'll never be too old to shop in Topshop.

New Look is more of a teenagey shop to me (crap quality too)

Report
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 19/07/2012 12:22

Well I'm 41 but I like shops like River Island, Top Shop, H & M, Jane Norman, New Look, Peacocks so a massive range really.

Report
OhThisIsJustGrape · 19/07/2012 12:30

I'm almost 34 and my clothes mostly come from Topshop (I live in their Baxter jeans!), H&M, Zara, River Island. All high street stuff, we're ok financially but I can't bring myself to spend £££s on everyday wear (shoes, boots, handbags and coats are an exception though ;)). I'm a SAHM and tend to wear the 'uniform' of skinnies and a top most days.

I also trawl eBay daily regularly and have had some real bargains from there this summer, I've boosted my wardrobe considerably for a fraction of what it would cost me brand new and it's all excellent condition stuff.

Report
NarcolepsyQueen · 19/07/2012 12:33

I shop in the same places as when I was 20! Topshop etc. I just buy suitable styles from within there, and don't pretend to be a gorgeous 19 year old art student in my style! I plan to shop there until old age Grin

Report
GetOrfMoiiLand · 19/07/2012 12:39

French Connection, Top Shop (some of it) and Reiss when flush, Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys for random bollocks and tights.

Report
GetOrfMoiiLand · 19/07/2012 12:39

Oh and it all depends on if I am thin.

If I feel fat I stay away from French Connection and Reiss.

Report
MegBusset · 19/07/2012 12:40

H&M for basics (vests, hoodies, tops for layering)
Topshop for jeans (Baxters)
White Stuff for tops
Fat Face for knitwear
Esprit do some nice stuff
Recently discovered Phase Eight too
New Look used to be good but quality has plummeted :(

Report
MidnightinMoscow · 19/07/2012 12:54

Whistles, Gap, Zara, and Topshop.

Am 35.

Report
dinkystinky · 19/07/2012 12:55

Asos
My wardrobe
Sometimes Topshop
Oasis
Warehouse
Matches for special occasions

Report
wonderwooman · 19/07/2012 12:58

Am fast-approaching 37

I mostly wear

Zara
Gap
Top Shop
H&M
White Stuff for tops/cardies
Jigsaw (sale bargains)
Toast (sale bargains)

Report
daisydoodoo · 19/07/2012 13:00

i'm 36 and shop in French Connection, Topshop, Gap, H&M. The odd bit from Joules or Crew. Work Clothing usually from House of Fraser or John Lewis.

Im a 12 and rarely wear trousers or jeans. I much prefer wearing dresses, I do wear skirts occassionally though. Dresses with good shoes/boots depending on weather and a few accessories, bracelets, necklaces etc and good to go. Skirts or Trousers i have to plan too much, which skirt with which top etc too much fuss for me. Wink

Report
LexieSinclair · 19/07/2012 13:05

Asda
Dorothy Perkins
Top Shop
Boden
Great Plains

Report
JodieHarsh · 19/07/2012 13:12

I am too fat and plain to get away with cheap clothes (that's not a snide remark - trust me, if I could make Primark look like Marni, I would, but it's not an option!)

But also, I have very little money.

Nightmare, let me tell you.

I therefore wear lots of vintage (from ASOS Marketplace, Etsy, lots of online vintage markets, and vinatage shops)

New clothes tend to be

Jaeger (Outlet, of course) for cashmere or silk-blend knitwear
Kurt Geiger (only ever in the sales) for shoes
East Blush Blush if I get like a 70% off voucher, because I like their unusual bits and bobs
Occasionally Religion and All Saints, when it's in the sales

I do get some bits from ASOS sometimes but it tends to fall apart as soon as look at it.

Oh and I bought my first Boden dress the other day, which IMO constituted my first step to middle age Grin

Report
trixymalixy · 19/07/2012 13:20

I'm (just) 36.

I shop in Zara, FC, great plains, h&m, warehouse, Dorothy Perkins and Primark mostly.

Report
kickingKcurlyC · 19/07/2012 13:29

I'm 32 and I feel too old in TopShop already!

Report
BedHog · 19/07/2012 13:40

Ebay mostly - much easier to shop in the comfort of your own home, and much cheaper too. If I'm in town then I like Primark, Select, New Look. It's easy to style 'young' fashion in a more mature way without looking like mutton, just pick pieces carefully and use layering, leggings under skirts etc. And avoid anything too 'trendy'.

Grin at Getorfmoiland buying random bollocks at the supermarket - that would be in the 'value' sausages then!!

Report
Yorkpud · 19/07/2012 13:47

I seem to shop mainly in Asda, Next, Primark, Dorothy Perkins and Oasis(sale only).

Report
IWillOnlyEatBeans · 19/07/2012 14:24

Thanks.

I suppose part of the problem is shopping with a toddler in tow so I don't feel like I have time to browse and think about things properly.

I don't really like shopping online as I just end up sending everything back as it doesn't fit (have odd proportions. I was in the gym once when a man felt compelled to come over and tell me that I had a short body. Thanks!!)

I never really go into H&M as I feel like you have to rummage around too much to find anything, but maybe I'll give it another go. I'll also track down my nearest Zara and Warehouse...

OP posts:
Report
QueenCadbury · 19/07/2012 14:25

I'm 38 and a SAHM and shop mainly in Gap (their stuff always fitsme really well) and oasis. Then also warehouse, Dorothy perkins for tops, fat face and white stuff. I'm signed up for emails so I tend to try things on in shops and then wait for a discount codes to be emailed and then order on line. Loads of high street shops are always sending discount codes so unless I need something there and then I rarely pay full price for anything.

Report
bleedingheart · 19/07/2012 14:44

Zara, Primark, Asos (trousers, tops & tees), monsoon (plain items), uniqlo (knitwear), eBay (Levi's jeans)

If you wear them most days, it's worth spending the biggest chunk of your money on jeans. After years of trying to find jeans that fit (and still fit after washing!), I'm sticking with Levi's ! I have three pairs I bought from eBay, brand new for less than the cost of one pair in the shops!

Report
bleedingheart · 19/07/2012 14:54

Zara, H & M, Primark, Asos (trousers, tops & tees), monsoon (plain items), uniqlo (knitwear), eBay (Levi's jeans)

If you wear them most days, it's worth spending the biggest chunk of your money on jeans. After years of trying to find jeans that fit (and still fit after washing!), I'm sticking with Levi's ! I have three pairs I bought from eBay, brand new for less than the cost of one pair in the shops!

Report
Fluffycloudland77 · 19/07/2012 17:33

All Saints.

Report

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

PromQueenWithin · 19/07/2012 17:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sansucre · 19/07/2012 19:32

At the age of 37, I've realised it's better to buy a few nice pieces and wear them constantly rather than lots of cheap things. I look terrible in cheap clothing anyway, it's not cut for my shape and never fits properly anyway. I'm also a fabric snob, but that's more because synthetic fibres give me a rash.

So, the bulk of my wardrobe comes from COS and Whistles with a few bits from Sessun, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Sandro, J Crew and Isabella Oliver.

I also buy a few 'designer' bits and pieces from My-Wardrobe and Liberty too. Shoes come from a variety of places, summer sandals tend to be cheap though, brogues, ballerinas and ankle boots less so as I'm on my feet for a lot of the day and well-made comfortable footwear is expensive! Tights are from Falke as they last for ages and are more cost effective than dozens of pairs from M&S.

I think Zara is good for accessories but i've given up buying skirts and dresses from there as they're always too short. In fact, skirt lengths have made nearly all high street shops out of bounds for me. I have good legs but I don't think mid-thigh is an appropriate length for work!

Aside from the COS clothing, most of the clothing I own have been purchased with a discount voucher, on sale/during a promotion or from eBay. Orla Kiely's summer sale proved to be rather fruitful, I purchased a mac which I've not taken off since I got it - definitely the best summer 2012 buy!

PS. I plan my wardrobe, and shop twice a year with the odd purchase here and there as needed.

I realise and know I'm in a very lucky position here.

Report
ceeveebee · 19/07/2012 19:41

I'm 36 and shop in Reiss, Zara, Oasis, Banana Republic, Ted Baker, Coast, Uniqlo or Gap for basics, and the odd thing from M&S Autograph for work. I go to Bicester Village a couple of times a year and buy a lot of last season stuff at huge discount, especially workwear and 'occassion' stuff that doesn't really date.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.