Tried and tested shops for everyday wear - what are yours?

[JoinTheDots]

My very first S&B post - be gentle...

I need a wardrobe update, but no longer seem to know where to shop. Long gone are the TopShop days, but I am not yet M&S Classics material either.

I know there is loads to choose from in between, but what are your favourite places when you realise all your tops are baggy from 12 months of breastfeeding and being yanked up and down you need a few new tops to go with your bootcut jeans and converse trainers OH THE SHAME!

If it makes a difference to the advice, I am size 14, hourglass figure (decent waist, huge norkage, reasonably wide hips). Not expecting a personal shopper though!

Boden (carefully chosen) and M and S Autograph (ditto). Some Wrap.

Gap & Uniqlo for basics, bolstered with some more luxury basics from Splendid & Vince.
Jeans - pretty much exclusively J Brand, though I also really rate Topshop, which I have found to be better than many designer jeans.
Jumpers - Uniqlo do fab cashmere for good prices, and have just brought out silk/cotton/cashmere mix ones for summer which are lovely.
White Company do some nice jersey dresses which are easy wear.
Zara also good for the odd bit (esp. jackets) but have been disappointed lately.
Topshop great for more fashion-y items.

i also spend small fortune at american apparel but their stuff is so comfortable and groovy baby

Are the new Uniqlo jumpers dry clean/handwash only, or can they be shoved in the machine do you know?

Great Plains, Mint Velvet, Gap, Zara, Kew, Boden (non wacky stuff) ,Autograph or Limited Collection at M&S

Odd bits and pieces from Dorothy Perkins and Oasis

I wash my Uniqlo dry clean only jumpers in the machine on a wool wash and they are fine.

I also rate Topshop for jeans, and also French Connection too.

Zara can be hit and miss, but also worth a look.

Whistles is good for tops, dresses and staff in there are very helpful when it comes to outfit advice and styling.

White Company can be good for knitwear and spring/summer dresses.

Comptoir des cotonniers are very good quality and have some really easy pieces to wear.

Personally, I am not a big fan of the White Stuff/Fat Face look as I think its quiet hard to pull off without looking frumpy unless you are 16, skinny, use Sun-in and live in Cornwall.

I seem to end up in Uniqlo more and more these days. I am similar shape to you with smaller boobs (am tall)

Am wearing a lovely dress from there today,stretch jersey really unusual and a great fit. It looks all polo necks and puffa coats at first but they do have some really good bits and great quality

Does anyone know if there are any Uniqlo shops in t'North? I am about half way between Leeds and Sheffield.

I usually wear stuff from topshop, river island and monsoon.

I am between Leeds and Sheffield as well and would love to find a local Uniqlo, but having looked at their website I see they only have stores in the London area. I will have to go next time I go home to visit family.

I think Uniqlo have concessions in Selfridges - have seen it in Selfridges Trafford Centre but was a while ago so you would need to check.

Everday wear I go to Oasis, Warehouse, Zara, French Connection & bits and pieces from New Look, DottyP's and Debenhams

oh yes, Whistles are lovely too and Ted Baker for going out. Going to google Uniqlo

Ooh, had forgotten about Ted Baker - have just had a quick look at their website and spent money I cant afford in the sale. This forum costs me a fortune

For everyday wear, I am mainly White Stuff, Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters. With a soupçon of Next. I'm very wee though.

Boden - but not the stuff that screams Boden
Joules - ditto Boden or the really twee country wear
White Company
Isabella Oliver 365 - I live in my treggings from there at the weekends and bought one of their slouchy jumpers as well which has been been fab. Love the ruche dress too. Very easy to make great looking outfits

The above are always ordered on some form of discount code though so never pay the advertised price.

High Street
M & S Limited or Autograph - usually in the mid-season sales
Whistles - again sales
Comptoir des Cottoniers - again sales purchases
Gap - good for basics but you have to be very careful of the quality which can be iffy for what are sometimes quite expensive pieces
Monsoon - occasional lovely piece
Gant - again sales but not their overly preppy stuff
Kew

A good winter coat in a classic cut is an essential. I got mine from Kew just over two years ago and it is still standing me in good stead despite the daily abuse it receives!

I'm 5ft 1, curvy Size 10 and mid-thirties but tend to find that I can get well-fitting good quality stuff that won't date from most of the above places if you look hard enough and hold out for sales/ discount codes. I also try to avoid too high fashion clothing but may perhaps accessorise with something cheaper (a la Primark!) which brings it up to date without making me look mutton dressed as lamb. When buying I also try to envisage what something will go with in my existing wardrobe so I have quite a few mix and match outfits and have also found that I am buying less in quantity but far better quality. It also means I don't get easily bored with what's in my wardrobe so perhaps avoid impulse purchases a bit more nowadays. It's only in the last couple of years or so that I've also finally been able to marry up what actually suits me clothing wise with the style I like so there are now far fewer occasions when I leave the house feeling that I have quite got it right. I'm still really nervous about colour though and do tend to be fairly conservative. However, I am trying to inject some colour with some braver choices from time to time! I also try and plan my outfits for the week and hang them up on a Sunday evening with the shoes, underwear, accessories I want for each outfit so I don't have to worry about it when yet again I am rushing DS out the house to nursery and on to work and running v v late!

If you're looking for a wardrobe update perhaps look at getting a good hair cut first? I found that my hairstyle (which changed radically a couple of years ago) really helped me find my style and a look I was comfortable with.

Sorry that turned out to be an epic

Just realised I probably sounded incredibly patroning too! Sorry!

Zara, Isabella Oliver gap and asos, the day i wear a Boden print I have asked my dh to shoot me . I found it very hard to know what to wear after baby number one and a big lesson for me has been, just because I am a mum doesn't mean I have to dress like one.

White stuff and fat face sorry.

I am almost 42, size 10/12 5ft 9" and I wear mainly Gap (for cheap jeans, especially love the long and lean flared ones in indigo, great shape for me) and knitwear - but I only EVER buy in sales, massive discounts to be had! They often have very nice scarves too.

French connection for dressier / nicer day time wear and their jeans / skinny cargos are fabulous. I also have a number of dresses for night time from there too, their stuff suits my shape.

Monsoon for some knitwear (chunky cardigans etc) but only in sales again

M&S autograph & LE for longsleeved t-shirts in nice colours and leggings

H&M for breton tops!

Noa Noa for loads of things, dresses, tunics, knitwear, coats - I really like their stuff.

Boden, I have a few (plain) things from there and like them a lot. But I am selective and don't like loud colours or busy prints.

I used to LOVE Jesire, but sadly they are gone out of business.

I quite like Whistles (but have to admit I liked it a lot more before they changed designer a fwe years back) no local stockist to me anymore either

Jigsaw - similar story to whistles really for me.

Cos - some nice basic bits & jewellery but have to watch the fit as some shapes can be very odd.

Day by Malene Birger - if I won the lotto I would ONLY dress from here

I always browse in places like oasis and primark but generally stick to places where I know the sizing and fit suit me.

Shoes are a problem area all of their own - I used to LOVE pied a terre but local depart store stopped stocking them and I went into a show decline ! Have been finding some gems in clarks (to my initial horror! Who would have thought it a few years ago!)

I like some phase 8 dresses for night (judicious choices though!) and LK Bennett shoes / shoe boots

Most of my tops are from Next, Lands End or M&S - I tend to like plain, comfortable and cotton, so there's plenty of choice there for me. During the week, I actually wear Next jogging bottoms because they're comfortable without looking scruffy. Jeans I get from M&S, Debenhams or GAP (apparently I'm long and lean!) but I don't have many pairs because I'm distinctly uncurvy and find it very hard to buy anything flattering for my shape that isn't too low cut.

Any knitwear, I've usually made myself. I can make something in lovely soft merino for far less than something similar in scratchy acrylic would cost, so no real help with that one.

H and M for denim, everyday tops, t-shirts, knitwear, jackets etc. Its always a worth a rummage around. The quality isn't always great but its cheap so I don't mind crawling around after the kids wearing it.

Dexter - thanks for the info. Dp does all our washing: I don't even know if our machine HAS a wool wash!

Ages ago someone advised looking in Comptoir des Cotonniers for ideas. I found that really helpful. Otherwise I just follow everyone else and say some Boden (it is good in that you can order lots, try on and return), isabella Oliver, Uniqlo (I think their jeans are really good for curves - have a great pair from last year with not much lycra in that realy holds me in. This years good but a bit stretchier). Can you potter round a John Lewis for inspiration - they're really helpful when you have babies and toddlers with you. And I would watch Phase Eight. my experience is that they are not kind to norkage (I am a similar shape to you)

More love for French Connection here, perfect for pear shapes and sometimes there's a 20% discount code floating around.

Monsoon, Zara, the odd thing from Oasis, Phase Eight & M&S Autograph.

Online- Boden (NOT the mad polka-dotted, appliquey, "fun" stuff!), the odd thing from Joules & Asos.

NotOnTheHighStreet, also has some lovely, unusual tea dresses, which are my default look!

For a real treat, Vivienne Westwood. I am adoring my coat that DH bought me for Christmas, the cut is so flattering on curves.