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.

Tkmaxx is your friend for well made reasonably priced workwear I find

Ok vitamin c fair point but I think I am shaped like a monkey with a long body and short thighs though.
And it comes back to my point about the cheaper shops - I have so many things in my wardrobe that were perfectly just-above-the-knee when I bought them but shrunk to just-below-the-knickers after a wash.

Another vote for uniqlo for basics, deffo White Company and Fatface Gap and Boden, All Saints. Scotch and Soda, ASOS. tkMaxx online I can't bear the shop aside from the bags and sunglasses section. I'm nearly always casually dressed, can't really help with 'Work Wear'
I find I choose a lot of New Look items through ASOS same with Vero Moda dresses which could be work wear unless you have to wear tailoring. When I do have to at least resemble a smartly dressed woman I just go for paired down simple classics with a decent bag.
I'm not quite 40 but do dress terribly mutton for my age but I look younger so I'm sticking to it! I have a student vibe apparently and one day I guess I graduate into having a professor vibe.
I buy a few bits in local charity shops which help supplement my more expensive purchases and I find that helps keep things on a longer rotation, so I'm not just wearing the same three occasion jackets or whatever. I got a Henry Holland coat for £3. (worn it a few times, ebayed since)
I will be studying this thread to find new age appropriate shops :))

"but I think I am shaped like a monkey with a long body and short thighs though"

MY LONG-TORSOED SIBLING!

My stupidly long torso is one of the reasons I like All Saints, their t-shirts actually properly cover my midriff - the belly top look is not the best on a fortysomething woman who's had two children. It's also why I've never got on with Boden dresses because their waistline ends up being somewhere around my ribs, giving me a strangely rectangular appearance.

Yep. Long-torsoed monkey here too!
And also why I hate Boden

I think Toast fits classic but cool and interesting..
At the moment I love their OAS stuff because it makes me feel as though I'm some kind of craftsperson instead of a bored office worker..

I also like COS and Plumo - huge shapeless clothes are for me!

Leedy, great to see someone mention Eric Bompard, I love them! Twice-yearly sales and the best quality cashmere I've ever come across. I live in their sweaters 8 months of the year. I accidentally shrunk one and my eight year old now proudly marches around in it.

I feel like a living cliche here..Toast (sale), Boden trousers (they've really gone to shite lately with their polyester dresses) Cos, Uniqlo. Occasional thing from Joules or Hobbs.

I'm rather older than 40. I still buy and wear lots of things from H&M - work trousers, work shirts, jeans and knitwear mainly. The occasional work dress. I also buy from Zara, uniqlo, UO, fatface and occasionally white stuff (they size so big but sometimes they have lovely stuff, although sometimes they really don't). I have one super smart dress from Hobbs which I bought 12 years ago, and one super smart dress from the pretty dress company. I don't wear it very often because I feel like I am saving it for a special occasion which never actually materialises (it would be a work related special occasion, when not at work I live in jeans and Ts). I also occasionally buy from ASOS. As someone said upthread, Next sizing is ridiculously big so I haven't shopped there for years.

Watching with interest

Since I've turned 42 I've made some investments from all saints, hush, rag and bone and madewell. Also got a fab, smart-looking navy bomber jacket from urban outfitters the other day for under £60! Felt well smug about that.