If you are around 40 and not rich, where do you buy clothes?

[maggiethemagpie]

It seems that M and S and Next just churn out more and more crap every year. I can't afford to go to the really expensive places like Whistles or Reiss. I'm stuck in a white stuff/ fat face/ mantary rut for casual stuff and have historically gone to M and S for work stuff but just can't face wading through piles of guff any more.

Where the hell do I go? After two babies and a lifelong love of food I'm a bit podgy round the middle, a size 14 so not massive but not a skinny minnie.

So, mid to lower end of the market, what's best?

H&M, Topshop, ASOS and River Island mostly. I hate shopping and M&S and TK Max are way too much effort. I like small shops with cheap clothes that are right there in front of you when you walk in.

I like Joe Browns. Fun and quirky

I shop in Sainsbury's, Gap, Uniqlo, Matalan, M&S, some more expensive brands but from the Outlet only. I also like Apricot branded dresses from New Look.

Apart from Uniqlo, which are great for basic knitwear, I do not shop online as sizing is so inconsistent, I can't face sending back almost all I order.

I find Next hopeless because they seem to cut for apples and I'm a curvy/pear shape. They had some lovely dresses but a 14 was OK in the hips but at least 2 sizes too big around the waist and it didn't look easily alterable.

Mango

H&M , DP , new look and fat face. Always in the sales I very rarely by anything full price unless it from primark as it's cheap as chips.

I buy loads of Cos, but I usually blitz the sale twice a year, or from eBay - don't do full price.

ASOS - I've picked up lots of bargains in their sales. Particularly good for maternity.

Zara every once in a while a H&M for basics and the occasional star find of things which look much more expensive than they actually are (I have a dress that cost me a fiver which is always complemented).

GAP in their permanent sale for basics.

Zalando, free delivery and returns and have lots of brands. I tend to put things on my wish-list and then check back a week or so later because they have frequent reductions. I've had a couple of nice blouses for £8 or £9 recently plus a lovely Marc O'Polo top for £30 should have been £80.

Recently I've been buying everything from Gap. Not very exciting but I'm going the capsule wardrobe thing and their stuff is perfect for it

TK Maxx

Next m&s and Boden. But nothing with garish patterns or made of polyester.

Buy lots off ebay - the above plus jaeger, hobbs etc

Supermarkets (Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury)
Primark
Everything £5 dot com (postage is a fiver too so its better to buy more things than just one. I got 3 dresses for £20 the other week)

I keep meaning to look at Matalan, but haven't got round to it.
Im 37

Uniqlo

Gap, zalando, h & m, asos. I prefer to shop online so asos and zalando are pretty good as I can order loads and send back loads free of charge.

Cos. Buy less often if need be. The clothes are smart, well cut and classic enough that they last. I'm still wearing dresses I bought 4 or 5 years ago and have had a lot of use.

I'm much nearer 50 but eBay is my main supplier. Loads of barely worn clothes for next to nothing. Just got a zara dress for 99p

I always seem to find just what I want at M&S and it nearly always fits me really well. I love a lot of their dresses which suit me.

I'm a curvy size 16 so not easy at all to find clothes that fit well.
Boden always fits me well and is also true to size.
I like Sainsburys and TKMaxx.

Boden actually lists the measurements of each garment, as well as the generalised a size 14 equals these measurements. That way you can steer clear of things that are going to be too close fitting or too loose depending on your body shape.

I buy from Boden, White Stuff, Monsoon and some stuff from M&S

Dorothy Perkins have the odd good basic, like jersey maxi skirts.

Uniqlo, and Cos (but only in the sale).
Also, some stuff from Mango & Zara

Same as Generalbobbit, eBay. 43 and have a lovely wardrobe of Toast, Whistles and Cos. All bought in great condition or new.

I probably look quite well off. I am not

Ebay, tkmaxx. Both need quite a bit of searching. Else just wait for sales. Casual- Gap. I only wear jeans. Not averse to M&S jeans and Autograph.

Tkmaxx is very hit and miss but I've some fabulous work wear from real brands like Ecru.

Lot of White Stuff comes up on ebay.

I an 46, 5ft 9" 11st (trying to get back to 10st 3lbs) size 10/12. I shop in GAP for jeans & knitwear, monsoon for tops and dresses (selective shopping there though), boden (lots from here but again I choose with care) noa noa and a very small amount of zara and h&m

Oh! I forgot COS - I buy lots from there but have to select the shapes wisely as they can be very boxy on me

I also like Whistles and Jigsaw (sales)

Charity shops, uniqlo, zara, cos.