mid-forties - style revamp needed!

[masuki]

How/Where do I start revamping my wardrobe? Most of my clothes are old and dusty, and a morning spent in TopShop at the weekend showed me I am not in that league anymore - I couldnt understand the fastenings, the fabrics, the whole shebang! It was most humiliating!

I need afew outfits for school-runs, weekend dates with hubbie, and simple stylish clothes to potter about in!!! Help please - where should I look?

Not Topshop!

I go to -

Gap or Oasis for jeans;
M&S Limited or Autograph for good quality t-shirts and the occasional dress;
Warehouse for silk dresses and camis (though they haven't had any nice ones for ages);
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania sale for my most favourite little black dress ever;
Joules for the occasional cute and quirky summer dress;
Hobbs sales for good quality basics like t-shirts and coats;
French Connection for black work skirts;
Phase Eight sales for the v occasional dress (have to look carefully though as a lot of it is vile);
White Company for plain but good tops and dresses.

thankyou so much, that gives me somewhere to start!

Am not qute sure of the look I want really, so used to wearing my old dusty numbers! How would I find a whole new style/look???

Phase Eight is great, especially when there is a sale on. I've also bought some nice items from the Betty Jackson label in Debenhams. Hobbs is good too.

thanks for suggestions - any more out there???

I'm mid-forties and currently wearing my two pairs of J Brand Houlihans to death (one vintage navy, one khaki) with sandals (sparkly flip-flops or wedge ultra high with ankle straps) and pretty (read almost dressy) tops from Marni, Vanessa Bruno, Carven, Sandro, B&SH...

I like all the shops Colonel suggest and would add Mint Velvet.co.uk as my most recent find and cant live without brand.

Im 38 and find it tough on the High Street to find a balance between mutton dressed as lamb and fuddy duddy. Mint Velvet has the kind of relaxed but stylish casualwear (nice jeans, dressy tops, lovely knitwear) that I spend most of my life in. I also love their dresses for smarter occasions. They have a style guide on their website which shows lots of their items put into outfits which I find really helpful, gives me ideas and sometimes it reminds me of something I already have and could wear in a different way IYSWIM

My absolute essentials would be dark indigo slim jeans (GAP) , Jersey Blazer (Uniqlo) , great slouchy tan leather bag, ballet pumps, loads of smartish tops from Limited Collection/MintVelvet/oasis etc.

I agree with what the others have said. I am 41 and wear pretty much similar stuff. I like good jeans that fit really well, got some great skinnies in French connection and some houlihan-esque skinny cargos by Salsa jeans. Denim skirt and wide legged high waist dark inigo jeans from GAP.

Totally agree 'gillybobs' love Mint Velvet @ House of Fraser too!!

I'm 40 but think that Topshop can be ok. I like the jeans and have bought some trousers and other things from there recently.

Agree alot of it is best suited to 14 year olds.

I also like
Gap
Jigsaw (hit and miss, but ok at moment I think)
LK Bennett (work dresses and shoes)
Hobbs also for work things but can be a bit dull
Whistles is one of my favourite shops
french connection - jeans nice, but havne't bought any recently. and also going out stuff/casual things
I also have some toast things (but also can be a bit dull and quite pricey)

I agree with the anglomania recommendation

Also have recently bought things from Isabella Oliver.

I don't particularly like Mint Velvet I'm afraid. it was all grey and quite cheap looking imo. Also sized pretty small so made me feel like a heiffer. I never find anything nice at M&S either, but we only have a small one, and I don't look at the website ever

I don't really buy designer clothes, but probably should buy fewer off the high street and get better quality things. But I like shopping too much! If I did, I would get some proper jeans I think.

Beattie - agree Mint Vlevet do a lot of grey but also have bought lots of navy, cream and black there too - not exactly colourful its true but I buy most things in these neutrals and add colour with the odd top or scarf/necklace. I find it helps me have a wardrobe that all works really well together IYSWIM. Have to disagree that it looks cheap - every time I wear a piece from Mint Velvet Im asked where its from. Their breton top has been through my washing machine 30 plus times in last few months and its like new and their wool knitwear is fab. Im a busty 16 and everything I have from them is size 16.

Interesting about the Mint Velvet sizing. I am usually a size 8/10 and when I finally tried some tops from there, they were ALL too small, even size 12 was snug

And to answer op - how about Zara for some bits & pieces?

I find that in Mint Velvet the t-shirts come up tiny and the dresses come up huge. I also think that the quality is very hit and miss.

I would say
Gap
Autograph
White Company
Hobbs
Betty Jackson in Debenhams

That said, I think the quality at White Company has deteriorated recently- the things I bought last season have not worn that well (little holes in jersey) - fine if it's primark prices, not so fine when it cost over £50.