So, where do '40 something's buy their clothes?

[Miggins]

I am now in my early 40's and find it a real struggle knowing where to buy clothes. Don't want to look like 'mutton' but equally am not ready for the likes of Wallis and White Stuff.
Help!

[borisjohnsonshair]

Gap, H&M, Ebay, M&S, Fatface. I'm probably very frumpy though. What's wrong with White Stuff?

[Gillybobs]

Great Plains, Mint Velvet, Gap, Banana Republic, and you just can't beat Boden for skinny jeans and ankle skimmer trousers that actually fit

[Gillybobs]

Massimmo dutti also does excellent higher end high street stuff, lots of natural fabrics

[ExcuseTypos]

I'm 47 and shop in Gap, Whistles, Jigsaw, and Boden(plain stuff only- no patterns).

Last winter I also got a few things from French Connection.

A big John Lewis is good for have a rummage.

[Minimammoth]

I really don't get this buying for age thing. Buy and wear what suits you and what you feel great in. < I am older than you and shop in all sorts of places>

[ExcuseTypos]

Oh I had a look on the Massimo Dutti website for the first time the other day.

I really liked their stuff.

[Gillybobs]

excuse lovely isn't it? I think they are similar in style to Zara but far better quality

[XBenedict]

Gap, Hobbs, Mint Velvet, Austin Reed, Crew Co, Coast

[Primadonnagirl]

I agree it's hard but some of these suggestions are out of my budget..gap isn't but I always feel like I should be dancing around in an advert when I wear their stuff plus they do have an issue with sizing I think...I too would welcome high street suggestions but not M and S or Next ..I have banned them cos I'm sick of always going there..I don't mind Internet shopping but live in a flat so delivery isn't easy plus I like to see what I'm getting...I don't think any shop is not appropriate to me cos of age I just find shops aimed at younger people a bit unpleasant and clothes are often poor quality and over priced

[Miggins]

Minima moth, it's not that I think you should buy for your age but that I find that clothes from shops I used to buy from in my 20s and 30s no longer suit me. Really I'm just looking for ideas and inspiration.

[nipersvest]

i am 42, on a tight budget and like to shop from uniqlo, tkmaxx, ebay, la redoute, h&m. mostly i shop online but tkmaxx is better done in store.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Anywhere and everywhere. Recent purchases have been from comptoir des cottoniers, J Crew and Topshop

[ExcuseTypos]

Yes, I've had some bargains from TKMax this year. I just have to be in the right mood to shop there.

I've got a couple of tops which should have been over £80 and were under £30. Also a couple of pairs of skinny Levi's which are perfect and were a third of their original price.

I agree with you Gilly. I do like a lot of things in Zara but usually don't like the quality.

[GeorginaWorsley]

Am 46 and like
Mint Velvet
Phase Eight
Some Boden
Some Cos,although shapes not great for me
Occasional Fat Face,White Stuff,Whote Company
Independant boutiques for Sandwich,Avoca,NoaNoa etc
Have minimal luck in Zara,occasionally get dresses in Dorothy Perkins,French Connection.
Used to like Autograph but little to tempt me recently.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I like Zara for coats and jackets but the quality of the rest of their stuff is not great. Also way too much viscose and polyester for me.

I used to like Whistles a lot but not tempted by much there anymore.

[DewDr0p]

I shop all over the place too and I'm 40. I do know what you mean OP, I think there is a real gap in the market for trend-driven clothes in easier to wear shapes iykwim? A lot of recent fashion is only wearable by teenagers or the exceptionally blessed imho. If I had a bigger budget it'd be no issue but I don't

I've recently bought in Oasis, Gap, Zara, Warehouse. Even bought dress in Wallis last autumn - it was snakeskin print so the right side of mumsy I think

[bulletproofgerbil]

Oasis
Zara for
Espirit for jeans
Fat face for t shirts/scarves/jerseys
River Island for vest tops
Am 52 and finding it more and more difficult to find stuff within my budget that I like and is flattering.
TK Maxx for winter coats/jackets.

[CointreauVersial]

Zara
Warehouse
Next
M&S
Mango
Gap

[elQuintoConyo]

Massimo Dutti is owned by Inditex who own Zara. Just thought you'd like to know. Very nice stuff in there.
I'm 38 and I shop all over the place. I'm also one of those annoying people who can sew - I've just spent an hour replacing boring white buttons on a boring grey blouse with red ones to make something a bit more va-voom. Ok, very slightly

[IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt]

I'm a fair bit older than you. Would suggest..

Uniqlo .. many bargains to be had and their clothes last well. Recent good purchases include scarf (some lovely ones there atm), shirt and heat tech thermals (have lived in them)
Massimo Ditto ... find their stuff great quality. It can be higher high street end but some pieces are quite reasonable actually
Zara ... mixed quality and sizing but recommend jackets in particular which are good value and much worn
TKMaxx ... especially good for sports clothing and bags. Plenty of other stuff but you will need to rummage.

[BeattieBow]

this summer I have bought a lot from Whistles. I also buy from Cos, Gap, Jigsaw (just gone back to it - I like a lot of their tops and jackets). Sometimes I find something I like in either M&S or Next ,but very rarely.

I also like topshop for jeans and massimo dutti. I keep meaning to go back to French Connection as last summer I liked their stuff - haven't looked yet though.

I keep trying Zara but I don't think it suits me much and I don't like all the man made fibres.

I mostly buy online as I have a young baby and work full time, so I also like Me & Em (pricey). I used to buy from Toast, but haven't seen anything in there for a while, and also Baukjen, but haven't got anything from there either for a while.

I want to try J Crew but I would like to try it on in a shop before going online as it's quite pricey for me.

Boden looks dreadful on me. I keep buying things and they just look terribly frumpy on me.

[BeattieBow]

I have also seen a couple of Hobbs dresses recommended in the weekend magazines recently and they look nice. I keep buying too many work-y things though and I'm only in the office 3 days a week.

i do struggle with non-work stuff and always look rather overdressed!

[mewkins]

Esprit.co.uk - huge choice to suit any age. Online but free delivery and returns (they may even do that collect plus thing whereyou can pick up ffrom the local shop.