Anyone interested in a 'what we are buying'wearing' thread for those of us who love clothes but have a New Look/Dorothy Perkins/Primark/HM budget?

[MimikosPanda]

I love following some blogs and I liked lurking on the AW threads but I can never afford the clothes, shoes and bags that are talked about. I love looking at different styles and then have the challenge of trying to find a cheaper look on the cheaper end of the high street. I'd love to hear what others are finding to give me some ideas.
One of the blogs I follow is doesmybumlook40.blogspot.co.uk, I love Kat's style and whilst she has the odd bit from Primark or H&M there is a lot of Toast, Massimo Dutti, Jigsaw, Whistles and these are just too expensive for me.
So, does anyone fancy sharing tips on good finds on the budget highstreet?

Also ASOS have some well priced things. The quality of there own brand clothes has declined recently, but the ASOS brand shoes are fabulous and they also have Vero Moda which is nice.

I really like Revlon stuff. Their Colourstay foundation is my very-close second favourite makeup. Good colour selection, (not orange!) great staying power, does exactly what it says on the tin.

H&M have some nice things atm.

I'm hoping to have a good look around H&M tomorrow because it has been too long. I'm visiting friends and hoping to call in to the big mall nearby. Not sure if DC will be willing but I'll try.

Andwhenyougetthere is the purple jumper dress a recent buy?

I live in the back of beyond, and the only city close to me has very limited shops (not even Gap or Zara), so H&M is one of my main shops for clothes. I stopped shopping in DP & Topshop a while ago. I am also very short which makes finding clothes tricky.

I have three pairs of these H&M skinnies in black, navy and burgundy. They have been fantastic - kept their colour and shape after numerous washes.

I'm currently wearing this

Its a bit more expensive than my usual Primark, H&M stuff but it looked nice online. Wasn't sure when I ttried it on at home as I'm a size 16 and wasn't sure it was very flattering. But decided to keep it. Wearing it with leggings.

Great thread! Was getting a bit sick of the 'Manolo Blahnik/Louboutin competitiveness/who's the most stylish MN' shit on S&B lately! I also tend to find clothes from Toast, Massimo Duti, Whistles a bit on the dull side!!

I don't usually buy many clothes but lately I've had a bit of a splurge. I needed a new coat for work and found a black boucle biker coat which was only £40 and looks similar to the ones sold out from Zara, a pink bobbly jumper and some skinny jeans from Next.

Today I have been ice skating with dd for her birthday and I wore my coated DP snake print black jeggings which are absolutely the comfiest jeggings I have ever worn, River Island fluffy cream jumper and a spiky necklace from H & M.

I also love Revlon and Rimmel nail varnishes, MUA eyeshadow palettes, the new Rimmel Apocalypse lip lacquers and my skin care is Nivea Daily Essentials moisturiser £2.99. I do tend to splurge on foundation (EL Double wear) and mascara (Clinique High Impact).

I love F&F from Tesco, probably because with 4 wee ones its my only chance to shop! recently bought a cotton ditsy print tunic but it actually feels silky the cotton is so soft. also got the £20 brown knee boots from tesco this winter.
P.S. love this thread idea well done!

I've not shopped in New Look for years but allowed myself an impulse buy yesterday when I saw this in the window. £12.99!! And it is lovely, it is a lovely shape and the material feels nice. I have a cream Fat Face cardigan bought in the sales that I will wear it with, and leggings.

Coldcup, i love that dress. I might have to buy that online. x

Great thread. My budget is zero/charity shop at the moment but it is my birthday coming up soon.

I suspect this thread will become a permanent fixture. Excellent! I'm an H&M person when I do shop (sadly not as often as I'd like). I don't like most of Tesco stuff but the things I do have, I love. Amazingly well made and they wash fine. Nothing recently but I've got my eye on some navy blue cigarette trousers (with a narrow red belt) that I suspect are going to be very good.

I absolutely love H and M and always have. I buy so much from there! The prices are great and they are always a little bit 'different' than the rest of the high st. I bought a coat before Xmas and no exaggeration, nearly everytime I go out in it someone asks where its from. Strangers in the street.

I also buy dc's a lot of stuff from H and M as I think they are funky for kids. And dp has tshirts, boxers etc from there too.

Dorothy P's used to be frumpy. Not now. They have so much nice stuff. Lovely accessories and bags too.

New look used to look like tat I think, but they are great now. They have lots of great little dresses in there that are only about 20 quid ish. I got 2 dresses a while ago which were absolute bargains. And I just bought a pair of hi waist jeans which I've never tried before and didn't think would suit me. New lOok bras fit me very well too.

Supermarkets often have good stuff too. Though they can be hit and miss. Asda don't tend to fit me great. I got two pairs of boots from tesco recently, mega cheap.

Re nail varnish.....I've tried lots and find Revlon and Boots no 7 the best for application ( nice wide brush).... My tip for longer lasting is use a decent top coat though.
I shop everywhere. I think when buying cheap look at the fabric content.....I'm a bit of a stickler for that. I don't buy plastic shoes or acrylic, and am a bit weary of polyester. But I've bought some great pieces ( which people assume are more expensive) in H and M, Matalan, DP etc.

I'm on the other thread too and although it's mostly all out of my budget I love it for inspiration as they all seem to have a great eye for colour and detail.

My recent buy was these shoes to wear out with black cropped trousers.

Nail varnish wise, the best I've found is Rimmel, mavala and nails inc (I especially love their top coat). I was incredibly disappointed in chanel who do the most wonderful colours and I saved my boots points and it chips and peels within minutes.

I agree about the decent top coat for nail varnish, I always use one and most of my colours last 5-6 days with it, but the MUA was badly chipped in 24 hours. Miss Sporty was watery and streaky. I also find Barry M chip and wear easily but they have some fabulous glitters.

Fab thread! I do buy some higher end stuff although by high end I mean Zara and Baukjen not Toast or the like. I also get bits from H & M, Sainsbury's, T K Maxx etc. I have a couple of pairs of Sainsbos skinnies that have kept their shape better than ones costing 3 times as much. Knee baggies afflicts me quickly as an kneeling to change DS2 all the time.

I have a bright red mac from H & M which was a brilliant buy. It's so flattering and gives me a great hourglass figure. I get loads of comments on it :) Not bad for £30!

I love charity shops too. Not second hand, vintage darling! I think if tasked way more imagination and style to look great on a lower budget.

Mimikos Avon is good for long lasting nail varnish. They are around £6 full price but there are always offers on, this month they were £3.50 and you got a free nail file and buffer with them.

Please excuse iPhone typos....

Next has those type of jeans that Selma Blair has on in the link. They are called tapered and, I think, about £30. I was eyeing them up yesterday.

Has anyone tried the cigarette type trousers from Next? They have them in grey, black and navy.

Wow, I'm thrilled the thread has had so many responses. I was going to be brave and post it awhile ago but was bothered there'd be no replies! Woyld love it if it continues, so many of us shop in this budget range and there seems to be so little magazine or blog wise that caters for that price range.

ColdCup That dress you linked to is lovely, I have an almost identical one from there just in a different print. Its a great dress style bevause it can be dressed up or down really easily. Think I paid about £22 for mine so you got a bargain.

Wasabi I think I have the same H&M mac, I loved it in red but was cowardly and got it in navy. YY to hourglass figure, very flattering on. Had a lot of compliments too including one friend who asked if I minded if she bought it too. She had to track one down though because they'd nearly sold out.

Today I'm wearing, though still in bed actually because DH has given me a lie in, so will later be wearing:

Denim mini skirt, worn low slung on hips - Next@ebay
Brown opaques - Home bargains
Ugg style sheepskin boots -Bearpaw@TKMaxx
Vest tops - Primark & Matalan (wear several, am cold blooded!)
Pocket long sleeve top - Primark
Scarf - Primark

My tights from home bargains were only £1.60 so today will be a test to see if they are any good. If they are I'm going back to stock up whilst they still have them. They had brown, grey and black.

I know ugg style boots are a bit like style marmite these days but because I'm so cold all the time I do wear my Bearpaws more than I should.

Thanks Coco I'll try to get into a Next today and look out for them. I think they'd make a great summer casual alternative to my skinnies.

Just marking place, def my kind of thread too! Will get stuck in later

The nail varnish from peacocks is the best I've ever tried. Its in an OPI shape bottle and doesn't chip. I've got some bright red on and not a single chip after 2 weeks and I batter my nails so usually chipped within the day!!