Mumsnet Talk

Need a wardrobe update, spent 6+ hours on the high street today and found practically nothing (well bibs for DS and a pair of tweezers)

33, size 12, 5'3", big-ish boobs, hourglass shape I guess

In summary:

M&S: unimaginative, frumpy

Whistles: overpriced, looks good on hanger but largely shapeless

H&M: cheap creasy material, too young

Wallis: yuck, mumsy patterns, stretchy jersey everything

New Look: just, no

Phase Eight: phasing out your fashionable years

Fat Face: looks like chewed up rope

Joules: oh dear god shoot me now, childish patterns, reminds me of the sort of stuff the posh sister on peep show wears

Boden: (yes looked online) as above for Joules but add £30

French Connection: not terrible but too expensive

Zara: depressing sizing and don't have the patience to rifle through it all, also have to get trousers altered as shorter than those statuesque continentals

River Island: makes me feel old, gives me a neon headache

Primark: no because I want decent quality and clothes that don't go a funny shape in the wash

TopShop: used to be my staple but I find less and less to try on every time I go in. Getting too old. Too many skimpy dresses, slogan tees, and low back tops

Next: not very stylish, bit like the sort of clothes you wear when you want to look presentable but have given up on looking at all fashionable

Reiss: nothing here ever seems to look good on me! Think you need Kate Middleton proportions

Cos: I just don't get it

Someone help me!! Where else to try? Why is there so very little out there for 30-something working mums that combines style with practicality??

Ps I also loathe Asos ( too young) and can't find anything I like on Me&Em and Atterley Rd

I share your pain and wait with hope for answers. I'm 5'3",size 12 and will be 40 on Sunday. I may be no spring chicken but at my height don't want to be frumpy either. Not normally a problem for me, I stick to black , but I have a wedding to go to. I lost 3 stone recently and now have nothing to wear.

A couple of shops you didn't mention -
Banana Republic (nice petite range in store)
Uniqlo (free alterations)
Gap ( their skinny jeans/ cords fit me and I am 5'2

Oasis?

Oasis and me have never got on Fork - it doesn't help that I don't like patterns or prints or fussy shapes. Just want good, well tailored, smart but comfortable and classic clothes with a nod to the latest trends.

Gap is too much the other way

Been meaning to try BR actually, I've only been to the New York branches while on holiday and they were awful, but I hear the Regents St store is good

What's jaeger like these days?
Anyone like Hoss Intropia- another one I want to check out

For an hour-glass / busty figure have you tried http://pepperberry.com ?

I share your pain as I am exactly the same proportions as you are. I went to good old John Lewis a couple of months ago to get styled. I ended up with a couple of dresses from joules. I read what you said but at least they did not make my figure look matronly. Some Gucci dresses also looked nice but the price tag meant I did not buy.

Chino type trousers in bright colours also look good on me. The problem area is finding suitable tops to go with the, and my big boobs. I think u have to just perceiver and find gems in the above list you have stated.

I mostly go in with a particular thing in mind and don't buy anything until I find the right fit.

Not helpful I know.

I will be watching this thread.

Esprit and French connection are good. Also Jigsaw occasionally have good things.

Pinupgirl online store is made for hour glass figures.

Dorothy Perkins.

Some stuff for teenagers but good for work wear.

Have you tried The White Company (wait for the sale as v pricey)? Braintree also have lovely stuff albeit some patterns which you might not like.

Fenn Wright Manson. They are my failsafe when all others let me down (but if you look online and don't like their stuff, don't slag it off too harshly as you'll be dissing 75% of my wardrobe).

If you didn't like Fat Face, I cant see you getting on with White Stuff as they're broadly similiar.

Debenhams a have a large selection from a number of designers. Rocha John Rocha may be worth looking at, but Red Herring would be too young I think going off your comments.

ASOS White Collection / all ASOS.
Masimo Dutti (good online also but Regents St & Westfield)
Jaeger Boutique
Cos
Hobbs (I find it a little frumpy but some nice stuff)
Ted Baker (again, a tad too flouncy for me but the odd nice piece)
Zara - keep trying! Who cares what size the label says if you who it's just that shop!
Anglomania (look on the Outnet.com)
Reiss
Anna (small boutique with online)
The Dressing Room (as above)
Matches
Whistles (I know you're not sure but I get stacks here)
Mango

I'm 43, size 12 and 5'8. I work in a very image conscious / trend led industry and adore fashion & clothes but want to be both fashionable & stylish. These are the shops I go to generally.

Monsoon? I've had some success there lately but had to try about fifteen items to buy three. I'm a pear shape though.

Monsoon is my fail safe. Some of Ted Baker and Karen Millen are quite flattering for my hour glass figure. HTH.

Oh and come over to Style and Beauty! Nobody bites and there's many a tip and link!

I'm 49, 5'10" and size 12. I really struggled to find work clothes i liked and struggled even more to find stuff for weddings etc. then i realised that the shops in my home town were not suitable and looked further afield. Now i will usually find something in LK Bennett.
Hobbs, Jaeger, Phase 8 worth browsing for individual items. East is good for tops. Banana Republic has some nice stuff in. Austin Reed is good if I want to be really formal.

None of the shops are cheap but I tend to browse in store then look at the online sales (House of Fraser, John Lewis). I've got some great bargains that way.

Laura Ashley? If you can wade through all the florals they have some lovely plain stuff.

East is my shop of choice, but not so good lately. Hoping for some decent summer stuff soon.

Ooh thanks all, nice to wake up to plenty of suggestions
Going to check them out today
Just annoys me how little there seems to be aimed at me out there, i think whistles have the idea right (on trend but not too trendy, good quality) but the shapes just don't work for me

Do you have a House of Fraser near you? I find the fashion floor there pretty good. They have loads of decent high st brands (Ted Baker, Reiss, French Connection, etc) in one place, and some less common labels (Nougat, Bastyan). The one on Oxford St is great for a speed shop. I also like BR for work stuff and Oasis is having a really good season. I've long been a fan of Zara and Mango and find the odd good piece in Whistles and Massimo Dutti.

Noa Noa have some fab pieces, a little bohemian in places but really well made.

I really struggle to find clothes I like, I feel far too old for Top Shop, New Look etc.

I buy basics from Primark ( skinny jeans, long sleeve tshirts) and then buy the rest from M&S, Phase Eight and various other shops.

I tend to go to a designer outlet village every now and then too get inspiration and buy bits up.

Glad it's not just me! I'm 31 and feel too old for the shops I used to go to

Problem is, my limited budget. Some if the abovementioned are far too expensive for me!

I have that same problem Blackholes so I hit the sales and don't fret if I'm not quite 'on trend' (horrible expression, IMHO).

I got some lovely things at the Debehem's sale last year, including 3 pairs of jeans and some tops, for about £30 total.