Where should I buy my clothes?

[Inaminutenow]

37years old, never been particularly fashion-conscious, but starting to be a bit puzzled as to where people like me buy nice clothes? I mean I can get a nice t-shirt from places like Next or New Look, but that's about it; wouldn't dream of going to TopShop and the like. Where do you shop for clothes, what clothes do you like?
I'm mostly jeans type of person, a bit sporty, not particularly keen on heels. However, don't want to enter the dreaded mumsy / frumpy category - please advise .

Hi I am in my mid thirties and really like Oasis and Monsoon for tops. Julien McDonald at Debenhams and Hobbs for dresses. I am not fashionable IMO but like 'pretty' tops and from these shops they last. However, I am also a bit of a bargain hunter and you can be very lucky in Primark and Tesco.

I'd wear these with a boyfriend cardigan/blazer:
www.oasis-stores.com/wrap-drape-top/tops/oasis/fcp-product/3190367546

www.oasis-stores.com/lace-applique-top/tops/oasis/fcp-product/4490132208

For a night out with pencil skirt/black trousers:
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_007010801860_-1

What sort of budget?

I like H&M for bright coloured cheap vests (better quality than primark IMO), Me & Em for jersey dresses, Vince (on Shopbop) for t-shirts and vests if I have spare money, and Topshop for jeans.

F&F at Tesco is surpirsingly good, H&M, Dorothy Perkins and Boden when they have a sale on.

Oh, and M&S for their 5 pocket jeggings, my wardrobe staple..!

I'm only 26 but I dress older. I'm quite tall and most high street brands like Topshop and Primark really don't fit me. M&S shape is terrible for me - pear shaped and their clothes are too short and too wide around the waist.

So for me it's a mix of John Lewis, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Monsoon, basic tops from H&M. The occasional Zara top. I think Next is overrated - a lot more expensive than H&M and IMHO the quality isn't much better.

The best jeans I've ever found are Not Your Daughter's Jeans sold in John Lewis - they're very price but so worth it. Other makes I love are Phase Eight and Karen Millen (certain things, they do really nice winter coats). They're all not cheap but you can get some good deals in the sales.

Thanks all for your suggestions - there are a few that I hadn't looked at before, so will check them out!

Asos is good.
H&m.
Uniqlo if you're anywhere near them.

My thoughts recently:

Discovered that the clothes in Next are inferior quality to Matalan, except the prices are higher. What gives, eh?

For high street, I think Oasis, Reiss, Hobbs and occasionally M&S/BHS are quite good. For higher end high street I love Jaeger, but I don't think they have much of a collection and it is more 'work' focused, which is a shame cos the quality is superb.

Lower end - I would prefer Primark and Matalan to DP/Topshop/H&M, etc. Although the styles are a bit nicer in the latter stores, the quality and prices are ridiculous. I can't believe these stores expect me to pay over £45 for a thin polyester frock.

The worst?
Warehouse.
Styles ok but quality and pricing insane.

Also, DON"T fall prey to banning yourself from stores due to your age.
I am 39 and shop in all of them, it is fully about your style and how you wear a thing than where you shop. People of all ages in my town go in topshop. The mix of teen and middle aged in there is constant and no big deal.

There's a really self defeating, negative aspect to this mindset and it never makes anyone feel good. Cheap shitty clothes are commonly pushed at teens because manufacturers consider them easier to manipulate/extract cash from. That is all.

If you have more to spend and want classier pieces, Hobbs, French Connection, Reiss, etc are worth a look.

Also try a website called 'Atterley Road'.
Many of the above stores sell through it, a bit like ASOS but a tad more expensive. I got some lovely Hobbs and Whistles tees from there!

I go anywhere - Topshop have some really nice stuff, my mum's 60 and finds loads of their petite range (she's 5 ft 0) really good for her, especially boxy jumpers etc. You do have to wade through a lot of crap and check what things are made of before buying though - they have some truly awful acrylic jumpers for £40+, but then you'll find a lovely pure angora one amongst the rubbish.

I mainly shop online at ASOS and sometimes Uniqlo. My favourite shops to browse in are Whistles, NW3, House of Fraser, Oasis, Mango and Topshop.