So, as a 34 year old, where can I buy clothes?

[dogdaysareover]

Just doing some internet shopping (or trying to) and I have realised I don't know any shops which I think I am target market for. Used to love Topshop, H and M, Oasis, etc, but whenever I look in these places now I just don't 'get it' (crop tops and striped leggings anyone?). I LOATHE Next because everything has twee fuckingcat or Eiffel Tower logos, or cutout shoulders WTAF? Zara does not accomodate my 34G boobs. Never has and never will. Places like Hobbs and Whistles, I love for work or special occasions, but way too pricey for sitting on floor of local toddler group which is most days of my terribly exciting week Have just tried Boden, but didn't feel the love, think the styles aren't great for my type of figure (size 14, hourglass, huge norks). Gap I find boooorrriiing. So, help me mumsnet, where are the stylish shops with age-appropriate clothes which will love my figure?

[Drywhiteplease]

Op...at 34 you hardly have to find " age appropriate" shops. I'm older and shop in all the shops you've listed but I know my style, what suits my shape, lifestyle and budget. Once you have sorted this out then you can look in all shops and just pick out what is good for you.

[Chubfuddler]

I'm also 34 but different body type to you (size 12/14 pear shape) and thinking back over last six months I have bought clothes from:

Zara
Great Plains
M & S
banana republic
Boden (weed out the hotch potch shite)
Top shop
New look
Me & em
Mint velvet
Uniqulo
H & m

Weed out the polyester and you are in no way too old for most of the high street.

[nextphase]

no advice, as I'm about as unfashionable as it gets, but a similar age and shape.

Out with fashionable SIL on hols at the moment. She has admired my "help, I need some summer clothes" H&M and Dorothy Perkins dress / leggings combos atm.

Otherwise I live in jeans and Tee's but if anyone has any other suggestions (that doesn't involve heals!) I'll consider.

Good luck with your shopping!

[mewkins]

Same age but different shape. I also think it's better to look round lots of shops than discount some entirely. There are gems to be had in most places. Most of my clothes are Gap, Great Plains, h&m, esprit, oasis (disagree that this is too young- would say a lot is targeted at 30s and a lot is work appropriate too), warehouse, fat face, white stuff, john lewis, tk maxx.
You are too young to be pigeonholed!

[Kione]

Same age I looooove TKMaxx website, Dorothy Perkins, I do like Next and for boobies Pepperberry is fab. If some sites are pricey, go straight for the clearance bit.
Just discovered Zalando and I like Asos too.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Great Plains
Wallis
Banana Republic
Mint Velvet occasionally

[QueenCadbury]

I agree with the others. You can shop anywhere at any age. My mum still gets bits from oasis. Even though the high st will always have the on trend stuff (leggings, crop tops) most still churn out the same basics year after year that's suitable for all ages.

[iMe]

Take a look at John Lewis, they stock a wide range, and you can narrow your search to eg. Dresses, colours, price range etc. I also love Zalando and esprit for free delivery and returns.

[Lottapianos]

Hi OP
I'm 33 and same shape as you and I sympathise. I've been noticing all these crop tops in the shops and thinking how many people I know who could actually wear one of the damn things. Answer - zero. So why are they every-flipping-where at the moment?

Sick of being told what we 'should' be wearing

Anyway, like you I have had no luck in Zara and Gap is indeed extremely dull. I mostly buy in Next, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams (John Rocha in particular) but have also had luck in Matalan and Wallis. Always Bravissimo for bras. There are also some nice bits to be found in M&S, but you do have to run fast through the Classic Collection and Per Una horrors to get to them.

[notnowbernard]

I'm 35
I shop at Gap, H&m, topshop...
eBay is great too

[Chubfuddler]

No one means us to wear those crop tops.

[VenusRising]

I also have your shape OP 34hh boobs though.... looking for a dress at the moment for a May occasion.
I've looked at pepperberry, but the colours are gawd awful, and I have a stick out bum so Gap Zara Reiss etc high street are too tight round my hips for my waist. Sigh.

Any ideas for a jacket and skirt combo that actually doesn't gape, or have to be such a big size I look like the 80s revisited in a bad Maggie ThatcherXDynasty way, or indeed look like I'm 45 going on 60.
I've quite good legs so don't feel like I should have to cover up completly!

I think I'll have to go to a tailor sorry for the hijack!

[foxysocks]

I'm 33 but a diff shape. I like john lewis - they stock lots of different brands and are all in the same place, assistants are excellent as is the returns policy. brands I look at specifically when I'm there are whistles, nicole farhi, toast, mango, reiss, wolford (for tights). i never find anything in mint velvet, phase 8, ted baker, white stuff but they all have a presence in JL.

I would say I also shop fairly regularly at the outnet, asos and all saints.

in addition I have bought in the last year from me&em, shopbop, hush, baukjen, donna ida and gap but much less frequently.

[shopalot]

Chubfuddler - I have just had a look me &em which is a site I had never seen before. Love some of the bits. Is it the sort of website where you get discount codes or is the price you see the price you pay IYSWIM?

[foxysocks]

shopalot me&em have amazing sales. I would never pay FP personally, my budget doesn't stretch to it. they do sometimes do discount codes too, worth singing up to newsletters and see what pops up. the jersey is really excellent quality, thick and heavy, and the sheer tops I have from them have washed really well too.

[shopalot]

Thanks. I did suspect it was a "use a code" website!!!! Prices just seem too expensive. Will look around for a code. I like the scoop neck ruched dress in navy and tempted by the fit and flare dress in teal and navy. Both lovely dresses that I think would dress up or down. (My kind of dresses)

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Venus, look at Rockabilly on eBay.

[Chubfuddler]

Oh god never pay full price for me & em! Or boden come to that. Google discount code + boden and you will always save at least 10% and free delivery.

Me & em have great sales. I only shop high end high street in sales.

[freerangeeggs]

I'm 29 and agree that there's a bit of a gap in the market for women in their late twenties/early thirties who don't want to dress like teenagers or students any more but aren't quite ready to dress like their mums.

I love Topshop. Yes, it has a lot of leggings covered in peace signs, denim shorts with panther eyes on the crotch etc etc but it also has some fashionable, good quality stuff. (I actually bought a crop top from there the other day )

I also look in River Island sometimes but everything is so spangly - it looks like there's been some sort of sequin explosion in there. I frigging hate sequin and sparkly clothes. I had a voucher for RI that I didn't use for a year because I just didn't see anything I wanted. Miss Selfridge is similar but I have some nice stuff from there.

Oasis is alright but I find the quality to be variable and sometimes the designs and prints can be a bit twee.

I've found Uniqlo to be quite good lately for basic tops and vests. I bought a couple of nice scarves there too.

Have you tried Urban Outfitters? FCUK were good last season but I'm not liking their summer stuff so far.

[olivertheoctopus]

I'm a big fan of White Stuff but annoyingly so is my 62yo mother and she's several dress sizes smaller than me

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Venus - if you can afford Reiss, you might be able to stretch to Vivienne Westwood for a dress for a special occasion - and she is the Goddess of designing for hourglass figures.

Dog - I'm older than you but I still find the odd piece in Topshop. I'm quite fond of Warehouse too. I find that the fabrics in Warehouse are generally better than Oasis which has got increasingly polyester-ish.

What sort of styles do you like?

[VenusRising]

Thanks lovelies! no budget for Vivenne Westwood I'm afraid but now that I think about it, Im a bit princess Eugenie in shape and colouring. Might go and get some ideas there.... or not!!!

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Venus, I have checked and I meant Collectif as the brand, rockabilly is the style, oops.

[Grockle]

I'm 35 & tend to buy basics from:
new look -great for skinny jeans
primark -stretchy jeans
H & m - vest tops & leggings

Dotty Ps, Wallis & monsoon (sales) for prettier tops/ dresses.

I no longer wear fat face, next or white stuff because everyone my age & above seems to wear them & the patterns & design are so recognizable.