realised today that I suit shirts rather than t-shirts

[Gatekeeper]

I bought a shirt at a charity shop yesterday- slightly fitted blue-grey linen mix with nehru collar and slightly puffed short sleeves...sounds awful but isn't and I can't believe how much better I look wearing it . Tried my usual t-shirt on and I look like a sack of flour

Has anyone seen any soft, slightly stretchy semi fitted shirts about please? I live in a one horse town with no shops so have to brace myself to go to Newcastle. Ta!

H&M do some lovely shirts.
Starting from around £7.99

I'm the same - shirts are so much more forgiving than clingy jersey teeshirts.

Actually, you started in the right place - charity shops are a good source of shirts. They tend to be more long-lasting than jersey items, so there is often a good selection. Likewise, eBay.

Shopwise, I second the suggestion of H&M!

Gatekeeper, that's the thing about shopping in a charity shop: you go in looking for something in your size, hopefully a decent name, so you consider styles which you wouldn't usually go for.
Like you, I was pleased to find a well-fitting charity shop shirt- a Gerry Weber for just a few pounds.

I bought three more shirts from charity shops yesterday- from Laura Ashley, Pepperberry and Indigo at M & S. As has been said before, I am starting to accept T shirts do me no favours and I have bought charity shop shirts before on a whim and realised this is the way to go . I live in knitwear most of the year, but spring/summer challenges me. I have tried shirts from Primark in the past, but the cut just isn't right, will have a look at H&M though.

thanks all; I'm going to keep my eyes peeled in charity shops from now on. I'm going to rethink what i wear. I'm 52 and a size 16 hourglass shape but you can't tell this from my clothes

Get yourself to Whitley Bay, loads of great charity shops and a fantastic second hand clothes shop (I got a matching irregular choice handbag and pair of shoes in there for £20 a few months back).

Whitley Bay a favourite haunt for charity shops plus fish and chips from the Whitley Whaler and then a hunt for sea glass (and an ice cream)

Not seen a second hand clothes shop Magpie? What is it called?

It's called The Stock Exchange, it's on Park View.
I like the sound of your Whitley Bay trips!

thanks Magpie; will def go and have a pootle round when I'm next there

yes, me too! t shirts highlight belly and complete lack of bust on me. shirts skim nicely over my shoulders and look smarter on me.

i have to iron a bit more now though!

Is there a Uniqlo in Newcastle - they have bargain linen shirts in all colours (I'm wearing one in pale grey).

Thanks to this thread I have just bought 4 decent shirts from a charity shop for a total of £8! I've always worn t shirt style tops but am down to about 3 that fit nicely and I feel comfortable in. It had just never occurred to me to try shirts until I read this thread, but having tried some on, they definitely hide my lumps and bumps better and look a bit smarter / more put together than my usual tops. So thank you

Yay for shirts!

got some more from a charity shop so am very pleased with meself!

I also got measured for a bra from a proper lingerie shop "Sadie the Bra Lady". I'm saying measured but no tapes were involved. 'Sadie' took a long look at me and said "hmm" (whilst I'm standing there in badly fitting bra from M&S)

Off she goes and comes back with a thing of beauty but ohhh the price!! £39 . I look at the difference in my profile though with old bra compared to new and handed over my debit card without a murmur

am now 36EE compared to M&S measuring me at 40c and dh can't take his eyes off 'em

Wenchelda you are very welcome

I don't think there is a Uniqlo nearby Mamia15 but I like the sound of those shirts. I love linen- even if it does crease