You're 40, working mum, want to look classic but cool and interesting... Where do you shop!?

[puft]

My first thread...
Had to face up to it this morning. I am TOO OLD to shop at h&m any longer. The clothes shrink, they're too short and badly cut.
I don't particularly like shopping so I've been going there out of habit for the past 20 years.
Today I am wearing a patterned dress (too short), a massive baggy jumper (bobbly), Chelsea boots quite like but I should invest in a proper pair as I wear them everyday and these were from the supermarket I think.
Where should I shop for my age and to look more expensive and fashionable and also for clothes that last more than a few washes?
And who are your style icons? I need some inspiration please, thank you.
Sorry if I'm duplicating another thread.

Its it and miss, which seems to be the case for everywhere these days ufortunately. You just have to make a call on individual items when you try them on and decide if you think the quality is there.

Despite my mumsnet name I do brush up now and then. I buy a few pieces from Great Plains every season,, French Connection last year when I lost weight and from Next/ fat face but never wear a whole outfit from those. H&m I can't get away with any more.

I'm 40. Two kids & work full time. I think I look cool, trendy (enough) and classy for my corporate job. For work I shop mostly at Karen Millen& Zara. Outside work, it's Zara again, some top shop and ASOS. I spend wisely on nice pieces and would rather spend the money on my shoes, bag and coat/jacket.

Mango and Benetton.

New Look for the odd piece. H&M for basic tops. Zara for dresses and shirts.

COS, J Crew, The Outnet and Shopbop sale. I'm not buying clothes at the moment have far too many to justify shopping.

I mooch about John Lewis picking different things from different concessions.
I like the plain boden stuff for shape and quality but hate the patterns.
I plan to try the bench outlet for slouchy casual stuff after seeing nice bench clothes in a ski resort shop in France.

It surely depends on your style/size/colouring?

I am a blondish 5ft 40something year old. My work is casual so I tend to wear jeans - rag and bone or frame. In winter I wear a lot of cashmere - got some very good jumpers in the sale from jaeger and I think the quality is great. At the moment I am wearing lots of silk shirts ( I like equipment - they go in the sales often and are lovely) with leather jacket - I got a nice navy one from the white company.

I do shop a lot on netaporter and the outnet as well.

I can't be doing with the majority of cheap clothes any more as I don't like the fabrics (generalising but can't bear polyester or viscose) and I don't think they wash well.

I've also bought a fair few bits from hush for the summer.

Oh and for going out I like reiss for dresses. I tend to spend more on shoes and bags.

Definitely check out jaeger outlet, lots of dry clean only is my only gripe with it - makes a bargain dress work out very expensive.

Baukjen ok but think they've got it a bit wrong this season. Still a few nice things but I wouldn't buy it all, which I've been tempted to be in last few years.

I know you say you feel too old for h&m but I still do pretty well in top shop. Only thing I'd add is that I go to a flagship one as the small branches often only have the teen-friendly fashions in them, but if you can find the full range (or spend hours online) then also worth a punt.

Whistles is fantastic but their pricing has just gone crazy lately. I now only buy there in sales.

I see lots of people recommending Hush, I've never had anything from there before but placed my first order earlier today so can PM you a £10 voucher for refer a friend if you want it?

Finally do check out & Other Stories - bit like grown up h&m. Yes it is as hit and miss as h&m but they have some nice pieces and great value.

&Otherstories and FineryLondon.

Karen Millen, ted baker speak, French connection and reiss

Jeans I go to salsa , 7 forallmankind and maybe Levis.

Tights from next, John Lewis and H&M

Thanks so much for all the tips. There are loads of places I've not heard of so I will be checking them all out. Greengardenpixie I think I'm on your wavelength, that's the sort of thing I'm thinking.
I've only just started to have any money or time think about what I'm wearing and although money is still a consideration I think I definitely need to spend more on 'pieces' (sorry- wanker klaxon).
Don't get me wrong, I still buy things from h&m but their dresses always shrink after one wash and my 40 year old simply thighs don't need to be on display.

Simply thighs sounds like an M&S chicken dish. I meant dimply obviously.
untamedshrew that would be amazingly kind of you, thank you.

I love hush too plus Great Plains, white company, mint velvet and very selected non identifiable items from fat face, white stuff and boden.

Uniqlo do brilliant dresses if that helps?

UntamedShrew
Could I have the £10 voucher for Hush please.
I've seen a lovely jacket/cardigan from there but it's £70

Is it the basket knit jacket cold?

I used to shop at uniqlo dingbatsfur and I like it generally but we moved away from the city so places like that, COS, Reiss and jigsaw seem unattainably sophisticated to me now! I'm still wearing a ten year old dress from there actually, it's so comfy and slouchy. I was really excited by the Liberty range but nothing really jumped out at me.

I like plain items from Phase Eight, John Lewis Capsule, Hobbs and Jigsaw. I wear a lot of plain things like denim leggings ( more comfortable than skinny jeans but with the same look) and long line vests from Next.

Mint Velvet boots are lovely.

I'm 42 and have similar tastes and I would say 50% of my wardrobe is from Esprit. I'm lucky to have a big Esprit store within walking distance of my home, but the good stuff is on their website - you just need to hunt for it!

The other 50% is an assortment of different brands, mainly bought from department stores. Right now I'm loving CopCopine and DDP's summer collections. Not sure if they are available in the UK though.

Yes Dancegirl
I'm only 5'2 and a size 12 so I'm hoping it's not too boxy on me. I usually wear blazer style jackets because of having massive boobs.
I might look like that MP (now retired) Anne thingymajig!

I'm so glad someone said H&M sizing is rubbish, I've only recently started shopping there and quite like the style of a lot of their stuff but can't fit into much of it :( I have definitely put on weight lately but good to know I'm not as much of a heffer as I thought!

Like a lot of other posters I love Hush although I do find the quality a bit hit and miss. Their styling is amazing and makes you lust after things you wouldn't look twice at elsewhere - worth shopping around to try and achieve that look for less ££ eg their longline vests are £25, Matalan do 2 for £5. I don't know what the quality's like but as I only use them for layering I think they'll do, then I can afford to spend £45 on Hush harems which I do think are better than cheaper versions.

I like some stuff from Fatface, White Stuff and Seasalt but avoid the very floral mumsy stuff and go for plainer items which tend to be good quality. Next clearance section brings up some good bargains and I love TK Maxx (although more for home stuff these days!) John Lewis or House of Fraser are good as they have so many brands under one roof.

I second Esprit: they have a lot of cotton stuff, it's good quality, well cut...
I never buy full price. If you sign up you get regular discount codes and they also have reduced items online.
Their sizing is reliable, and I get free p&p and returns.
I'm not a patterns person, and I find their plain tops brilliant.

Gap still has a few good bits if you sift through the synthetic crap.

Well, esprit is a revelation. I had completely the wrong impression.
However in what universe is this a 'dress'?
m.esprit.co.uk/denim-dress-in-100-cotton-016CC1E014_902?referrer=default
You can practically see the side of her knickers.

Yep, love the French websites vitaminb. Maybe I'll have a look on eBay.
I found Base Range yesterday and I lovd the look of everything on the models but it's so unwearable for anyone with a normal size and shape.

Nobody else shop in Tesco and Asda then?

[Creeps off to look at finances]

I get a fair few things from H&M, but mostly things like summer tops, scarves, jumper dresses, etc. Their tailoring is just not wearable most of the time.
I get a lot from La Redoute, and Asos with the odd item from Boden thrown in.

I turn 37 in a few days (not too happy about it but it's a whole other thread)