Right, please re-educate me. Which shops are stylish?

[INeedThatForkOff]

I've been reading the love to hate White Stuff thread in amusement and embarrassmemt, because although I always look shit in their stuff I do tend to keep looking at it and thinking maybe I'll get this or that while I lose a bit of baby weight. It inexplicably holds its value on eBay too, so I've been kind of lulled into thinking it's stylish.

So. I'm currently a size 16 but in the process of shifting 3st accumulated over two babies and three years. I look dreadful at the moment, wearing a limited mix of horrible Frugi breastfeeding stuff, a couple of maternity dresses and a pair of vile Next stretchy bootcuts (yeah, I know) with BFing tops. I absolutely hate what I'm wearing but there seems no point in spending good money when I have every intention if being a size ten by the end of the year.

But it begs the question, how did I end up with such an awful postnatal wardrobe in the first place? Well I shop online, buying whatever's cheap and will do.

I'm sending back the latest ill-judged order of half price Amari stuff tomorrow, and earlier I thought, well I might as well jut order a few things from Next. Then I got a fucking grip on myself.

Which shops tend to be stylish and a bit fashionable without being too expensive? I'm 35 and dumpy, and want to stop looking like crap all the time.

Uniqlo great for jeans, Breton tops and cashmere
Cos is good, but really helps if you can get to a store as trying on is key
Gap have the odd really nice thing, they do a great denim shirt and some nice Merino knits.

I personally think of White Stuff as being older in style, I'm 32 and think its way too old for me (disclaimer: I know it is each to their own though!)

If you want to try some new styles without spending too much I'd have a rummage around in Zara or Dorothy Perkins, you can't go too far wrong in those shops at the moment. Then, once you have found your way a bit again with your own style you can move up to more expensive brands if you wanted to knowing that you have a better idea of your own style and your money isn't going to be wasted on stuff that won't get worn.

Most importantly, don't beat yourself up about weight gain or loss of style whilst you have been busy having babies. It isn't forever and you will find your mojo again, I think the same thing has happened to a lot of us to a greater or lesser degree in the 'baby years'.

Amber Is Uniqlo only online? I've heard it mentioned on S&B but have never seen one or bought from there. Is it pricey?

Gah, I need to go on an actual shopping trip don't I? Apart from Dorothy Perkins, there are none of those in our town. Probably why White Stuff is the fallback option.

Nah there are stores, but I think mainly London-centric. Not terribly pricey, jean c. £30, so more expensive than New Look/Primark, less than TS/Oasis etc. One of the best things about buying in store from Uniqlo is the free alterations service on jeans.

"One of the best
things about buying in store
from Uniqlo is the free
alterations service on jeans."

A free alteration service?! Need to find my nearest store! Thanks Amber.

Humpf. No Uniqlo anywhere near me. Gah.

Do take a look at Next. I have been all pooh poohy about Next in the past BUT I think they may have had a change in buyer. I am in a similar position to you (1.5 stone overweight post babies) and Next has been good for buying cheap work dresses. You may be surprised!

A warning about Uniqlo if is in possession of arse and tits - a lot of it is pretty boxy. I love the stretchy things, but anything loose cut or straight is not flattering to the curvier figure.

I mostly shop online:

Zara (blouses/jackets)
H&M (T's, skinnies, basics)
Great Plains (the odd top)
GAP (jeans)
Banana Republic (the odd top)
Massimo Dutti (lovely stuff but comes up small)
Uniglo (jeans/ thermals / cashmere)
NotOnTheHighStreet (have independent labels)
ASOS (good for dresses, shirts)
The Pretty Dress Co (the odd wiggle dress ;)
EBAY (scarves - I have an addiction to vintage and oversize prints)
Mint Velvet
Fashion Union (never bought but a friend has, cheap fashion)

I also love net a porter and the outnet for designer bargains, but they're still £££...

I find LK Bennett, Whistles, French Connection, Reiss, etc all fine if I am having a thin month, otherwise they all come up teeny...

Try using ShopStyle.co.uk. You can put in 'Black Straight Leg Jeans' and it comes up with loads of options..

I shop in a variety of places and don't think myself especially stylish...but wanted to suggest buying cheapish few bits from Dorothy Perkins, H&M, Ebay etc so that you can feel better about yourself and your clothes from NOW, rather than feeling that you're just waiting to lose the weight. That positivity is more likely to help with the weight loss, I think. And if the weight falls off so fast that none of it fits in 6 months I think you'll be happy enough with your achievement to get over the fact you spent a bit of money on clothes that no longer fit.

I agree treat yourself to a capsule wardrobe now to make you feel better, ideas?

GOOD QUALITY skinnies, high waisted. these can be the basis
COS I agree had loads of simple and stylish tops that are v flattering
I love Zara but the sizing can be evil, even XXL is only a 14 sometimes
M&S, but only the big ones can have nuggets
Zara and hace COS have really nice jackets
ASOS is also worth a trawl as has funky/on trend stuff
Whistles sizing can be kind, try sales

I 100% agree that you need to spend some £££ to make yourself feel better, and then if you lose weight, some u can still wear and some you ebay

and if you only have White puke and DP, maybe you need to treat yourself to a day trip !!

I agree. I think I need tp buy a few bits now. I fancy some of the Next body shaping slim jeans, and maybe a trip to Warehouse, Oasis, French Connection etc. I need to step away from Monsoon too!

I agree. I think I need tp buy a few bits now. I fancy some of the Next body shaping slim jeans, and maybe a trip to Warehouse, Oasis, French Connection etc. I need to step away from Monsoon too!

Well OP I am older than you but being a frump is my worst nightmare.

H and M is my fave price wise.I love it.

Zara is lovely

Oasis too, but more expensive.

Think it nice to mix and match. Don't rule out any shops. As well as the above I like Republic, new look, dorothy perkinS River Island. Any High st.

Stop beating yourself up and dressing down until you lose the weight-size 16 is NOT huge.

I am a 14/16 and I also try to dress nicely. I have finally managed to stop trying to dress in the latest fashion and stick to what I know suits me.

I wear dresses every day-either with tights,black,coloured or fancy or if it is too cold then with leggings.

I like a vintage look so wear a lot of 40's style tea dresses with stockings/hold-ups. Little cardigans from primark that nip the waist are great.

Get out there and get to the shops. Try stuff on that you wouldnt normally.

Good luck!

OH and before you shop....

wear a good bra
wear spanx (primarks are great)
wear easy heels
wear slip dress and black opaques
do hair and make up

Its makes SUCH a difference!!!!!

Ooh I am SO shamelessly making my place!

OP I sound in EXACTLY the same position as you... Except I still dress like a student.

I'm with you Trazzletoes only I only have one child and I've been mainly shopping at Sainsburys for the last few years.

Yes yes to shopping in a decent bra and tights, leggings, neutral coloured layering top.

No good trying on a dress or tunic with hairy pale winter legs sticking out the bottom or deciding if you like a cardigan over a wild flowery top.

Try and wear the rest of the outfit you are going shopping to complete.

Or cheat and take heels and a plain top into the changing room even though your not buying.

Cos is great and sizing for normal people too. I also really like Zara but can be a bit on the small side.

Sorry, I'm also a size 16 but dress like a size 10 student

I think there are stylish and minging clothes in every shop, so am not loyal to any particular brand.

I find it really helps to look at Net-A-Porter or Matches websites to get ideas as their models are so well styled. I flick through page after page of whole outfits and things will just jump out at me as being fabulous. I then try to imagine my head stuck at the top of the outfit and quite often it'll be obvious that I would look ridiculous because I'm not a 5'11 model it won't work on me.

I then set about trying to recreate for less ££ the ones that are (a) fabulous and (b) not ridiculous. It is so much easier to go shopping when you have something in mind.

White Stuff is as easily lampooned as Boden etc, but at the end of the day they just sell jeans, tops, jumpers etc, many of which are perfectly fine, and some of which are fab.

Don't be hidebound by the idea that some shops are bad and some shops are good. This is nonsense. There's cool stuff and horrible stuff in most high street shops.

Ignore the catalogues and branding, think of what clothes you want. I got the worlds best jumper in White Stuff this year and I bloody love it. Boden skinnies are getting good wom on the blogs too. They're just clothes - nobody needs to know where they came from or how cheesy the catalogue was.