To hate all clothes... too young or too mumsy

[gwincath]

Having a mare picking clothes for a few special occasions coming up over the next few months... I'm late 40s and clothes just either seem too young or too mumsy, I just wanna look nice
Any store/brand suggestion appreciated

I get away with wearing cheap dresses / trousers and tops because I usually match up accessories with lots of colour, my latest fave outfit is a pair of black tapered trousers and black loose top (I am a size 20) teamed with some TU orange flats with tassles on, matching orange tassel earrings (Primark) and an orange cardi

I am 48, 5ft 89" and size 12.
I mainly wear clothes from the following:

Whistles
Jigsaw
Noa Noa
The Kooples
Maeje (more selective there)
Scotch and Soda (Maison Scotch)
Gap
French Connection

I am 5ft 9" NOT 89"!!!

Oliver Bonas is worth a shout too - particularly fir short people like me.

Just looked at the Whistles website and my debit card is twitching

Oo yes love Oliver Bonas

ginger not the jeggings I tried on they have no zip or buttons, you just pull them on, I like proper jeans with a zip and top button.

Buster thank you that does look a nice shirt, will investigate the other one you suggested and fingers crossed it’s not square ( like everything else these days!)

I've just discovered Oliver Bonas, for me gets the right balance of fluid yet fitted in all the right places. Big YY to Zara and Jigsaw, and Mint
Velvet.

& other stories have lovely clothes but you have to return via a dpd drop off AND you can’t exchange. Boden is still miles the best for online delivery/ return/ exchange; hush and cos are annoying as sizing is so varied so it is hard to know what size to order. Obviously all this irrelevant if you can get to actual shops!

For those of you saying you're thicker around the waist these days, have you tried sizing down in jeans, but getting maternity ones?! Sounds bonkers but I did this in New Look last week and they fit perfectly on the legs and are comfy on my over-sized tummy . The over-bump bit of material sucks me in and as long as I'm not wearing a skin-tight top then no one will ever know not that I give a shit.

other stories clothes are vv overpriced for what they are.

online shops like esprit and la redoute are worth exploring imo but i do love uniqlo as it's such good value and well made.

YANBU I every time I try to clothes shop I get grumpy and realise I just hate everything!

And Other Stories is fabulous!!

What's esprit sizing like? I'm looking at their t shirts but I'm 5ft 10 and big bust...

esprit sizing is on the small size go for the larger size. La redoute has a really good range for er bigger sizes (by bigger i mean bigger than an normal uk 14)

other stories are for a thin uk size 10/12 nothing more

Bettyboo that looks like a Benetton look did you try There? X

I'm plus sized, and saving up for a Seasalt Cornwall blowout. They also do sizes 10-16. Very expensive for my budget, but the quality is excellent. I also like Joe Browns for Simply Be, but it's not great quality for the price, however I like the dresses, card is and tunics. I'm 40.

No I didn’t Bauble thanks for the heads up, will have a look.

I have recently lost a couple of stone and have been saving like mad to splurge on a new wardrobe. But I have not bought anything other than shoes. Fashion has not moved on from last year. Same Bardot or cutout tops, hideous florals, polyester, stupid frilly sleeves. Zara has gone mad. Used to be classics with a twist, now they are just twisted.

I'm a little younger but today am wearing head to toe Topshop.

80% of my clothes are Topshop, Zara or H&M. Odd bit of ASOS, All Saints, M&S, Whistles, Uniqlo. But then I wouldn't go into White Stuff so we might have very different style... I also wouldn't bother with DP, Oasis, River Island, New Look etc.

My philosophy is wear what you like don't worry whether it really suits you or is flattering or is "expensive" looking or whatever. Just have fun with it, go with your gut and choose things you love that make you feel exciting and daring not safe.

Coming back to this thread to read properly as I could have written your OP!
I love Oasis. Both for work and casual. Have just discovered And Other Stories, find the odd thing in Espirit and H&M and very occasionally Zara. Wish they'd all move on from cold shoulder and bardot though!
Shoes I like Dune or Head over Heels from Dune, Clarks and New Look.

@Yvest I love the sound of your style! Are you super skinny and tall?!

pug size 10, and thank you

I'm knocking on 40 and love Oasis, yes they do a lot of polyester but they also do the odd cotton and lots of viscose, but I love their style and there clothes last me well, for me it's a look I love. Jeans wise it's River Island or Sainsburys. I've got the odd thing from M&S (Alexa Chung coat and dress). I'm not a lover of Joules, Fat Face or Sea Salt as I find them a bit Yummy Mummy for me.