Current season despair

[eurochick]

So. On Sunday I ventured to the shops for the first time in a few weeks with a bit of my bonus burning a hole in my wallet.

I came home with....some shoes and some moisturiser. I went to Oasis, Zara, Reiss, Whistles, French Connection, Ted Baker - all my usual haunts - and I couldn't find a single garment I wanted to buy. All the shops are filled with nasty 80s style pastel coloured shyte. The 80s was bad enough the first time around. Now I can see how an 18 yr old Hoxton art student could look good in this stuff, but a 36 year old lawyer?

I've just given a load of stuff to the clothes bank and could do with restocking. I generally favour well-made simple clothes with a nod to current fashion. But there didn't seem to be any way to do that with this seasons offerings. Everything looked like it had fallen off Madonna in her Desperately Seeking Susan era. Incidentally, I noticed no one was buying. Maybe that is because the summer stuff is in and the weather was miserable. Or maybe because others are having the same reaction as me!

Any hints and tips? I am 5'6, 10-12 and in reasonable shape.

Another one here with a wardrobe mainly courtesy of ebay. It's a bit of a gamble when you order something, but at least there's more choice

It was my birthday and my husband gave me cash to buy some stuff with.
It is hard for over 30's ladies.
Where do you shop?
I ended up with the white company maxi, and this top from M&S, which is long
I like m&S Indigo and limited ranges.
www.marksandspencer.com/Limited-Collection-Bird-Print-Shell/dp/B0076SWE1M?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_26&nodeId=342625031&sr=1-26&qid=1336208933

Cannot find what I need at all.

Simple smart longish lightweight cardy for work. A smart trench coat/mac with a bit of stretch in the material. Some high heeled shoe boots for work. Some black or grey skinny jeans.

All the shops seem to have is see-through nylon summer tops and coloured jeans. Useless!

I've seen grey skinny jeans in a few places. I think M&S, the jeggings that lots of people on here like, do some in grey.

Well, I am just back from a reasonably successful shop - all in M&S of all places.

Dark blue jegging jeans things (v flattering)
100% Cotton striped sleeveless top
Striped top with gathering at the neck (quite Anglomania-esque)
Grey top with draping thing going on

Now all I need is some sort of linen mix short sleeved cardigan thing to wear over the sleeveless one and I will have something to wear at weekends if the weather ever gets any warmer!

Failed on shoes though - what do people wear with skinny jeans when they don't want to wear heeled ankle boots?

M&S Autograph had some gorgeous black suede shoe boot things - far too high for me but really nice.

And have you tried The White Company for a cardigan?

And do try the M&S black jegging things - they are great, though if you are at all hour-glassy, you will need a belt with them.

My grumble is that none of the summer dresses and tops are warm enough for an air-conditioned office. Sleeveless chiffony stuff just doesn't work when your sitting still at a desk with a chill blowing through the building.

Have been hunting for warm-ish clothes but failed miserably.

Just had a mooch around John Lewis and failed to find a single thing. Feel proper grumpy now!

Cos dresses are so shapeless. I tried on about 26 the other day in a rare afternoon of childless shopping. Only one looked ok. This one. It can be pulled in at the middle and draped flatteringly. So is good for my size 14/16 hourglass figure.
www.cosstores.com/Store/Women/New/Tie_belt_dress/365246-711575.1%231065036

www.cosstores.com/Store/Women/New/Tie_belt_dress/365246-711575.1%231065036
Trying link again