clothes that stay the distance when you have children

[tigermoth]

I've always loved clothes, even on a limited clothes budget. However, since I've had children I am prone to burst into fits of silent laughter whenever I view what's on the rails in most high street clothes shops.

70% of the stuff found in warehouse, karen millan, zara, french connection, jigsaw, etc etc would last about five minutes in its pristine state if I wore it out with my sons. Fabrics that need dry cleaning or careful ironing, knitwear that needs hand washing, pale colours that show every dirty finger smudge, fringing, embroidery, lacy knits, etc etc just don't relate at all to my lifestyle.

I have smart work clothes hanging in the wardrobe and a few going out clothes, for the few times I need to dress up to work or to go out. But the majority of my time is spent with my children, working alone, or slobbing around. I tend to wear variations of denim, cotton and fleece - hard wearing, easy to wash, don't show all the marks. I sometimes feel I should be shopping in Millets.

There is no shop I've found that caters mainly for someone like me. I feel like an aged imposter in H and M and Top Shop, yet buy most of my 'mum on duty' and 'working alone' clothes from these places. Surely this can't be right!!!

My favourite item of winter clothing is a pair of black fleecy trousers (9.99 from H and M). Easy to wash, quick to dry (unlike denim), hard wearing, comfortable, and they don't make my bottome look big, (I think). They fit my needs perfectly. I would love to buy more pairs, but can't find any other shop that sells them.

Sometimes I feel a total freak - am I so unusual? I don't want to look old and frumpy, yet I do need practical attire to get me through the day. So I just wondered if anyone else finds this a problem, do you think mums (working or sahms) are adequately catered for by high street clothes shops? do you have a favourite mum outfit?

Janh Jigsaw is not at all for the Beckhams, if by that you meant designer-y and expensive, quite nice really tho I haven't been in there lately... what I meant about 5ft 10 was that all their skirts and dresses would sweep the floor if worn by me (5ft 5) - might be handy tho, no-one else is going to do it! Don't know in other words about their trousers. My sister's best friend is tall and always says everything is too short; as most things in standard length are too long for me esp bootcut atm, I do wonder who they are meant to fit... It's true about Boden being easily ID-edhave to be careful with some of their madder designs and does anybody have a DH who would wear their patterned shirts???

It's the Boden men's patterned trousers that worry me.

and me!

Hi, clary, I was just going by this bit in a Mancs shopping guide - I guess it's the shops it's lumped in with that are more designery (not FCUK though, surely?)

JanH I would say Jigsaw was at the expensive end of high street shopping - but then I am a cheapskate who never pays full price for anything. Its probably similar prices to French Connection which I also consider expensive. So more expensive than Next and M&S.

Not that I shop in M&S - still consider that my Mum's territory... And I only really buy Next in the sales or Next to Nothing.

I'm a Matalan fan, Bozza! (blush )

bells, you are so right! overgrown public schoolboy wear perhaps?

Ha! Janh I just bought a new mac (old Boden one sadly had a tear in it and was beyond the pale) in TK Maxx. £35, bargain! Is that budgety enough? Actually I agree about the Boden trousers TM and Bells, who does wear them??

I went in Primark the other day for the first time,I'll admit I was a bit snobby about it ,and was pleasantly surprised and am going back to have a serious look soon.Do love Boden clothes but only have two of their things so far which is from the sale as they are a bit pricey.Their sales are fab.Has anyone seen a gold,shiny,slightly pleated skirt in Wallis on their travels?I saw it in a mag and can't find it anywhere nobody has heard of it.
Hi Tigermoth,it's really lovely and with the black polo neck too.I don't know if they do free returns.I have been threatened not to buy any clothes though as we're supposed to be saving some spending money for our holiday

Tigermoth - sorry! Actually it wasnt that one, it was an olive green zip neck one and it was grim, grim, grim.

picking up on jigsaw being expensive - I agree their evening/smart ranges are beyond my budget but find the casual ranges are just about within in it (sometimes). I think my cord trousers were forty nine pounds. Justified it to myself because I knew I'd wear them a lot - that old wears per pound equation.

I love the jigsaw sales and have my heart set on a velevet skirt with lots of little frills at the bottom. It really is nice, honestly! Still too much the last time I looked. Waiting for it to come in at under thirty pounds. Best bargain of my life was from jigsaw - a cashmere crombie coat with a 2 inch rip in the lining. Cost me thirty pounds. Hope this isn't boring your too much. Before I go, is it just me or does anyone else find the jigsaw sales staff much too pushy. Every time I try something on, I can guarantee some twenty year old assistant will do a real 'suits you madam' rountine. Very offputting.

BK - re boden menswear 'overgrown public schoolboy' quite!

star - that patchwork skirt. Could you say to your dh you are not actually buying it, you are just having it sent through the post so you can try it on......

going back to the lightweight fleeces thing - I keep looking in uniqulo but still haven't seen many really lightwieght fleeces - their much advertised fleece jacket is still to heavy for indoors, I think.
Enid - I missed that olive green number in the boden catalogue. Do tell if you find a good supply of nice fleeces elsewhere.

I know this is suposed to be a thread about our clothes, but I find Primark is very good for clothes for my DS's, long shorts were brilliant last summer and I buy all their jeans there(lots of different colours), they have worn and washed really well.Have also bought DH some great golf shirts, very cheap.
Never seem lucky for myself though !!!

Re Boden-had postcard today for clearance sale in tunbridge wells,thursday 11th feb. I buy lots but only in their sales. ds1 is challenged in the waist dept. and they do great elasticated boys trousers up to age 12. Also vote for their cords for woman, nice colours and high waists (but not worth the full price)

Tigermoth-you're a naughty person I'm still feeling a 'little'guilty over trying to get rid of him in town the other day so I could sneak over to debenhams to the stilla counter.

Tigermoth, sadly it is getting to the stage where all the shops chuck out their winter gear and restock with summer stuff, so your search for a lightweight fleece might be doomed! However, have you tried Whitestuff? Similar market to Fatface, and also in sale mode, but might be worth a try. I got a hoodie in a very soft fleece from Gap for only £15, but that was before Xmas. Fatface have just opened up in Wimbledon - hurray!

I don't have a waist - but also don't have any hips ie I resemble a tube. Anybody know where I can find a pair of jeans to fit, or am I doomed to elasticated waist joggers forever?

PS one negative of Fatface is that my top (v. cheap in the sale!) has the words "Fatface" embroidered on the shoulder - not a top to wear on sensitive days...

florenceuk

If you are lucky enough to be tubish, you are made for hipsters from girl's shops. For instance, gap kids and top shop/miss selfridge. Get your belly pierced too, for good measure.

Well, tube-like - more like tube with bulgy bit in the middle. Put it this way - if most women are hourglass or pear-shaped, I am apple-shaped. Not sure Topshop does that particular body shape!

Belly-piercing with stretchmarks - no thanks!!

Dh wears dodgy Boden trousers - Lounging trousers he calls them - not sure what they're called in the catalogue - they're elasticated waist soft and tartan - and I admit to wearing them too when in need of a snuggle! He also has one of their wierd patchwork shirts but has never dared wear it yet!
I'm more of a Matalan girl myself!

PS Perhaps I ought to add he has never worn them out of the house - he won't even put the bins out in them - strictly for private 'lounging'!

Tigermoth, in our Uniqlo they have fleece long sleeve tops, just like long sleeve t-shirts, but small V neck and very thin fleece, and I think they are about £9, is that the sort of thing you are looking for?

Agree with Bozza about trousers knees wearing through. I live in jeans and cords but almost all have patches, holes or are about to go through. Am realising that the more expensive ones actually do last longer (ie Levis rather than Hennes) but is it worth the double price, not sure. People sometimes suggest I have paid to get mny jeans 'distressed' but honestly it is just stinginess, I mend them with groovy patches cos I cant bear to throw them out if its only the knees that are gone.

If you yank up your pants legs before you kneel down they don't wear through quite as fast - or at least do it in a different patch each time - you have to not mind your shoes, socks and calves sticking out behind you though!