28 - where do you shop?

[98percentchocolate]

Fed up of the likes of New Look and H&M - went in today and was surrounded by teenagers in crop tops. Felt very out of place at the grand old age of 28. I have no idea where to shop though.
I love classic and elegant looks, but school run suitable. (Think Victoria Beckham) I want "roll out of bed elegance" if that makes sense?
Here is the catch. I am poor. Very poor. Would love to shop at the likes of Reiss but H&M and New Look are more my budget.
Any suggestions please? I am utterly clueless and in desperate need of help!

[Binglet]

Bumping as I am in exactly same boat.

[Wearit]

Oasis
Zara
Dorothy Perkins

[98percentchocolate]

Binglet - I posted this on Facebook earlier too (outs self) and everybody was clueless.

[98percentchocolate]

Thank you Wearit - I love Oasis. Tend not to go in Zara as my local branch makes me feel a bit uncomfortable but will give them another chance.

[Binglet]

I like DP actually. Haven't ventured there for a while. No Zara near me though. I hate online shopping for clothes which doesn't help.

[DreamingOfTheBeach]

I like new look and am just about 30.

I also find fat face is great (especially their sales)

[aFullOnMonet]

I'm 27 and most of my clothes are from TK Maxx now I think about it.

[Shadow1986]

Warehouse
Oasis
Miss selfridge
New look
River island
Dorothy Perkins
Zara

Online - very, asos

I hate the whole crop top trend and can't wait for shops to stock normal sized tops again!!

[Binglet]

I agree about the crop tops. I always think too much about the camel toe situation

[98percentchocolate]

YY to the crop top trend! Aren't they cold????
Googling lots now. DP gone to hide the credit card.

[MegMogandOwlToo]

Mostly Dorothy Perkins and oasis, but do get some plainer items from new look, next and Primark.

[Binglet]

Ive only ever bought DD clothes from Next. Might pop in and have a look. Got some birthday money to spend thank god as I am very poor too OP.

[TheFormidableMrsC]

I am nearly 46 and have no issue with wearing skinny jeans or anything else. I like all the high street shops although River Island has taken a bit of a dive lately. Again, the crop top issue, my 17 year old with her 22 inch waist looks fabulous. It is unrealistic though. I love Monsoon, I use e-bay quite a lot for premium brands I couldn't otherwise afford. BooHoo is good, Joules is good (although that requires a budget and is a treat buy for me). ASOS is amazing as they cater for just about everybody. I think it's just about being comfortable with your style and less to do with where you shop. There is a website "Everything 5 pounds", I get quite a bit on there although you don't know the brands but have mostly received Topshop pieces, it is a bit hit and miss though. I also love Topshop and buy from there as much as I can. I am very much of the view that it doesn't matter where it comes from or the various sizes, just go with what you're comfortable with.

[aFullOnMonet]

I've noticed the crop top trend. I really wanted to wear a trouser suit for a wedding I'm attending soon so looked on ASOS. All the options were trousers and a crop top.

On the note, if any of you know of a nice trouser and non-crop top combo I could wear to a summer wedding, don't be shy!

[JustWanaBeHappy]

pfft try being 35

I loved being 28 and trendy and skinny I wore what the fuck I wanted

YOU ARE STILL SO YOUNG OP shop where the fuck you want

[avocadotoast]

Not a bloody clue. I'm 27 and just had a baby two weeks ago. I'm lucky in that my pre-pregnancy jeans fit again now but I don't feel like I have anything else to wear. Trying to find tops I can feed in is a bloody nightmare!

[Want2bSupermum]

I mix and match. I get tops in the granny part of the department store where they are always longer, pants from the ranges for 20 something's and everything else is from the sales of more expensive stores or charity shops. I do a lot of jeans (colours I have are blue, black, red, pink and white) with a tshirt and jacket (brown velvet, Chanel style knock off, navy, black, red and purple) for everyday. It's easy and foolproof in that it's not fashionable so your not in style to go out of it IYKWIM.

My work clothes are a different kettle of fish I won't bore you with.

[Floisme]

I'm treading in very carefully here as I'm more than twice your age but I regularly shop at H&M!

Once you get past the displays and the 'magazine shoot' section it has loads of classic, elegant stuff. The quality is a bit random (like the sizing) but it can be suprisingly good. I do tend to steer clear at weekends but if you go midweek you'll see lots of women like me there and I promise you we never wear crop tops

[98percentchocolate]

Avocado - congratulations! And very that you are back in your pre-pregnancy clothes already - I'm still not back in and DD is well into her third year now!

I've been googling all night and today checking out the online selection. H&M is definitely a case of being scared off by the teenagers in there yesterday. Their website has some great basics and some really elegant pieces. Think I'm going to take Floisme's advice and go midweek (providing DD plays ball!)

Thanks for all of the advice, good to know I'm not alone! I think I need to do more research before I go shopping in the future and AVOID Saturdays!

Want2b - I love the sound of your jacket - I think that's what I'm aiming for. Understated, elegant piece that can be worn without too much effort or fuss.

The formidable - what is the delivery like on everything5pounds? Getting mixed reviews on t'interwebs.

[justjuanmorebeer]

I like cos and stories. Pricey but you can get some good stuff on ebay. I buy most stuff new or barely used on ebay to be honest, I rarely go physical shopping.
Check out the website brandalley, that can be really good sometimes. I got a bunch of Jaeger boutique items last year for £20 ish reduced from 200 per item.
Otherwise tkmaxx is good if you have the stamina.

[squizita]

Zara, Uniqlo, LOGG from H&M, Next.

I also go to charity shops in rich high streets and find worn once designer stuff (obviously you can't bank on this method, it's more a luck thing).
I also buy a lot of vintage and high quality (not silly prom dresses) repro for work. Lasts well and timeless.

I am slightly ageing rock/vintage in style.

[squizita]

Oh but for the record I'm 10 years older than you.
I had a "dress like a grown up" phase in my 20s and now really regret it as though I subscribe to "wear what you want at any age" work and kids get in the way ... I view my gap/white company flirtations aged 25-7 as wasted years of boring clothes, fuelled by the silly idea grown ups with proper jobs in Surrey dressed a certain way ... moved back to London and felt like lamb dressed as mutton!

[Googlers123]

Hm have got loads of more classic things in, just look at the clothes and stop looking at the young customers

[Want2bSupermum]

Thanks! What's awesome about wearing jeans/ skirt, tshirt and jacket is that while it's plain it's easy to figure out what I'm wearing. I used to dress very differently but with 2 young kids I just don't have the time for it.

[98percentchocolate]

I think that's part of my problem want2b - I would love to wear some of the younger fashions but it just isn't realistic with a 3 year old and with DD about to start at the local preschool I'm seriously going to have to cut down on my time spent getting ready in the mornings! Normally my staple is nice too, jeans, leather jacket, boots. I want to vary that a bit but still be in that vein if you see what I mean?
Thanks for all of the tips - been googling like mad and have bought a few pretty pieces (blazer, nice tops, patterned trousers and on the lookout for a nice bomber jacket)
Did some smart ebaying too and bought a beautiful Reiss dress for work - that'll look better than my beaten up black trousers and black jacket!