Going shopping tomorrow for my summer holiday wardrobe but need EVERYTHING! Haven't bought ANYTHING for about 4 years. Where to start?

[thegrumpyqueen]

So I haven't really bought any clothes for about 4 years. With the exception of maternity clothes and the odd dress for the odd wedding. I need everything. But especially need clothes for my summer holiday next week. Where do I start?

I shall head to M&S for pants, bras, socks etc. But what about t-shirts, skirts, dresses etc? I don't need a lot but do need something.

I'm about 5'5, size 12 on top size 14 below. Not the best legs or tummy but quite like my boobs! Am probably about a stone off my ideal weight still so am torn between investing in clothes to last a while and buying cheap.

Oh and I hate shopping! So where do I head to get this done fast and well? I'm a kind of Gap girls at heart I think. Mostly live in jeans and converse but want to look a bit more... stylish I think...

Please help!

Where are you going on holiday? Will it be hot or not? Do you need a bikini/swimming costume?

Hot (I hope). But I think I'm good for bikini/swimming costume. Have a 2/3 depending on the old tummy!

And there is no way I can do bra and bikini shopping in the same day! Agh!

M&S do great tummy flattering swimsuits in a range of colours. Do you like Fat Face or White Stuff style clothing? I live in jeans and converse ( hence the name) and like the tops there. The also do great summer dresses.

You could always have a spend up in good old Primark and try some things that you wouldn't usually go for. Especially as you are going on holiday. (I am usually a bit braver) You can get pretty much everything from one shop if you wanted and then if you like something, upgrade to better quality later. x

Wear clothes you can get on and off easily.

Try to buy complete outfits. I am always ending up with a skirt and not a think to go with it.

And why can't you do bra and bikini shopping in one day? Surely it is easier to kill two birds with one stone.

Just a word of warning - there isn't a lot of summer stuff left in the shops now. For swimwear I would try Debenhams and M & S. For other clothes it is pot luck. M & S have hardly any summer stuff left. Debenhams have some bits left in the sale, so I would just try anywhere you can.

I bought some fantastic bikinis from a site called "Simply Beach" - free delivery and returns.

Some expensive, some in the sale, some very reasonably priced.

Out of the three that I ordered, I kept two.

I don´t think you will find much in the shops tbh.

I bought some vest tops from Primark with a built in bra support (proper support at my age) about £5 each IIRC.

Linen trousers M&S.
Denim skirt M&S.

I need to take my 12.6 yo DS shopping tomorrow for holiday clothes and school training shoes.

On the plus side, he's not as <span class="line-through">expensive</span> high maintainence as his younger sister.
But he thinks a Bart Simpson T-shirt is the height of chic <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Hmm" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/hmm-PR4o6B1t.png">


Good luck with shopping <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png">