Live webchat with Mary Portas on Monday 10 May (1-2pm). PLUS, if you're over 40, a chance to take part in her next C4 series

[HelenMumsnet]

Retail guru and television presenter Mary Portas will be joining us for a live webchat on Monday 10 May from 1-2pm to discuss shopping, style and her brand new fashion crusade for women over 40.

As a mother of two, Mary juggles a television career and writing a weekly shop review column in the Telegraph with running Yellowdoor, her successful retail-branding and communications agency.

Mary's about to start filming a new Channel 4 TV series that will follow her quest to fill the gap in the fashion market for fabulous, forty-plus women.

She particularly wants to know:

• Do you think your fashion needs are served by high-street retailers?
  
  
• When you shop for fashion, is it as fun and easy an experience as it was when you were younger or do you find it a trial?
  
  
• Is there a brand on the high street that gives you what you want?
  
  
• What are the brands that are failing you?
  
  
• Would you rather see a picture of a woman your own age marketing the brands you buy or are you happy to see youthful, perfect faces?
  
  Mary knows shops and shopping better than anyone and she'll be ready to answer all of your shopping quandaries, from where to find the best service to where to shop for the best one-offs.
  
  Television cameras will be following Mary as she takes part in the live webchat. Your comments may be used in the television show but we won't identify you.
  
  As part of the television series, Mary is also looking for opinionated women who will be part of her focus group, advising her on anything from where to buy the best-fitting dress to road-testing whole fashion collections.
  
  This will involve a number of days filming in London over the next six months and will cover travel expenses for these days.
  
  If you're interested in being involved please email [email protected] with your name, your MN nickname, your contact details and why you think you should be part of the show.
  
  Thanks, MNHQ

[JustineMumsnet]

Mary's here - wearing office shorts .

[MaryPortas]

Penthesilieaia Yes I think that's vital - so many people jumped on the ethical bandwagon to make themselves look like good retailers but were just paying lip service

Actually I think buying second hand is also something that's really important to women and I intend to have a second hand section in my shop - would you come if I had a second hand section?

[chimchar]

[dawntigga]

Chimchar try Dents classic bags great leather.

IHeartDentsTiggaxx

[JumeirahJane]

Hear hear Boff

Hope Mary answers SelkirkGrace's question - I also struggle to find clothes that fit my 6ft size 16ish frame without resorting to frumptastic tunics and jeans that cling to my knees but sag round my thighs and end an inch above the top of my shoes. Etc.

[VivienLeigh]

We need clothes with more pockets!

Where are you meant to put your credit card, school letters, keys etc? I don't want to take a bag out all the time, esp having spent the last 6 years lugging a change bag around and am now FREE of it!

Where can you find utility type clothes without looking like someone from Prisoner Cell Block H?

[MaryPortas]

coffeemonster on denim: of course over 40's can wear denim - but never over denim ie denim short and jeans - but jeans are brilliant and I'm gong to go after the right fitting pair - women's backsides change after 40 and it's all about the fit.

DavidHameron: I feel really strongly that I have to understand physical requirements - but don't want to talk about muffin tops - I want to celebrate women's shapes.

I promise to find the right denims at the right price - ie not designer.

[Housemum]

What are your thoughts on "vanity sizing"? Just because I'm past 40 doesn't mean I'm stupid - my waist is bigger post-children yet I'm now a size 12 jeans in M&S after being a 14 for years, without losing weight or toning up!

Like many people on here I'm after the Holy Grail of mum-wear - I want something other than jeans, that's not "workwear" (see Next) or the same as my mum wears (Per Una). True smart casual - WASHABLE nicely styled trousers and tops/jackets that are more relaxed than work outfits, and mid-height smart heeled shoes that you can walk to school in not high wedges to break your ankles or flats to make you frumpy. (But not granny-style court shoes) I'm hard to please I guess ...

[MaryPortas]

VivienLeigh : have you never heard of a handbag?

[MaryPortas]

hellymelly - you could live til you're 90 - why are you worrying about being a granny in your 40's? Go ahead and wear vintage but mix it with some modern pieces - too much vintage makes you look a bit odd - and actually this rule applies to all vintage, whatever age you are.

[brimfull]

Mary-you're hair is fab , who does it? and do you spend ages diong it in the am?

spect that's been asked at the start of this thread

[BoffinMum]

Mary, developing the vanity sizing point, could you actually get rid of women's sizes such as 8-10-12-14-16-18 and replace them with centimetre and inches sizes so we know exactly where we stand with clothes, like men do?

[brimfull]

god no boffin that would be so depressing

[CMOTdibbler]

In your shops Mary, will you have a lady who is the jeans equivalent of the bra lady who looks you up and down, then fetches you a perfectly fitting, flattering bra ?

I hate buying jeans as there are so many choices, and I don't have time to go through umpteen different brands and shapes to find my perfect jeans. I'd pay a lot of money to have really nice jeans picked for me tbh

[brimfull]

I just want clothes that flatter us with ample norkage.

[dawntigga]

Boff, take a tape measure with you - I do!

IGetOddLooksButIDon'tCareTiggaxx

[BoffinMum]

And another thing ... why are women forced to hobble themselves in shoes that hurt even if you put gel pads in? Is it beyond the wit of science and cordwainery (if that is a word) to invent something that is actually comfortable to walk in, that you can't feel the pavement through, that doesn't make you look like a librarian?

[chimchar]

thanks mary...not at all worried about keeping up with slebs...i'm far more of an aging studenty/scruffy/arty/individual type trying hard to grow my style up....although somehow i suspect that a grown up handbag won't actually do that for me!

you are fab!

[brimfull]

and a useful but stylish raincoat would be good

[LoveBeingAHungParliament]

like a padded bra but for shoes?

[MaryPortas]

housemum - agree washable is really important - who can afford dry cleaning? Sizing is a massive issue as I say and I'd love some of you to help me with this, I want to look at loads of women, so do shout if you'd like to be involved.

And no you are not hard to please - you're right. I want to hear this, it's important that you feel fashionable not frumpy but also that you can wear it. I'm hoping to work with Clarks on this very issue because I think they are brilliant shoemakers at high street prices.

[BoffinMum]

Dibbler that is a genius suggestion!

[brimfull]

there is a fortune to be made if half of these issues are addressed