Help! Where do you shop for clothes? And where should a (moderately stylish, average-sized, comfortable but not wealthy) woman in her mid-thirties (me) shop for clothes?
On Saturday, I spent a very dispiriting morning walking around Westfield in London, going into just about every women's clothing shop, and not finding a single item of clothing that I liked. I was trying to find a new work-suitable outfit (I have a final job interview next week and DH kindly offered to buy me something new as a treat - we don't usually buy clothes for each other!). But I feel as if none of the shops cater to me:
Primark, H&M, New Look: These were my old staples, when I was younger (and poorer), but though I still like them for casual clothes, I feel as if their work stuff looks and feels cheap, and I am bit too old for it.
Zara, Topshop, River Island, All Saints: Scarily trendy... I actually backed out of All Saints in fear (plus everything is tiny in Zara).
Hobbs, Jaeger, Gant, Karen Millen, Reiss etc: Too formal (I work in a moderately creative industry, so want to be smart but not look as if I work in a bank or law firm).
Uniqlo, Next: Too dull.
Warehouse, Oasis, Dorothy Perkins: Some nice things, but everything seems to be designed for apple shapes (tight trousers and floaty tops) whereas I am definitely a pear.
M&S: Some decent things but lots of frumpy tat (I'm looking at you, Per Una)
Monsoon, Desidual etc: Too detailed / fussy
COS: Shapeless sacks
Brands that I do like / have had some success with in the past:
Boden (their smart-ish solid colours - no hodgepodge prints!), Banana Republic (very pricey), Gap (though most of their stuff seems to be shapeless linen sacks now).
My style (if I have one) is quite clean / preppy / pretty - think off-duty Jessica Alba or Reese Witherspoon. I am a pear shape, so have good collarbones and shoulders (I look great in a scoop neck vest) but chunky thighs and a fat arse, so skinny / slim trousers, pencil skirts and shorts are all awful on me. I look best in wide-legged trousers, slightly flared skirts, dresses, and relatively fitted tops, jackets and cardigans.
Does anyone have any suggestions of where I can look for clothes? Where do you buy good quality, relatively stylish clothes (that are not too pricey)?