Sali Hughes on high street fashion for women over 35

[elotrolado]

Just read this - so true.

www.the-pool.com/fashion/fashion-honestly/2017/20/sali-hughes-on-the-british-high-street-dressing-women-over-35

I too long for those 'flattering frocks, neat at the shoulders, sleeves and neck, but with enough fabric around the middle to invisibly accommodate a bottle of red and more than 19 calories ...'

Thanks for more inspiration Niminy (not seen the Makers Atelier before) and Empress (just been browsing the Harris Tweed website). Lovely stuff x

Banana Republic has shut all their UK stores down, I wonder if Gap will be next?

Already happening...

I get an email almost daily from Gap with 40% off...

Gap closed about 200 UK stores a couple of years ago. I also get daily discount emails, buy there is nothing I want to buy, at any price.

10 years ago, my wardrobe was largely Gap and Boden. Now I barely give them a second glance.

Yeah Gap was my favourite shop in the 90s.

It does seem odd that we all say we want basics in natural fabrics which was pretty much what Gap used to do - and yet here we are.
Same with Jaegar.

I spout off on here that I'll pay more for quality and yet every year I look at the price of Toast T shirts - which are the best quality T's I've had in years - and think 'eek I'll wait for the sales'.

I do think we're part of the problem.

Gap T shorts used to be ace.

Thick cotton in shapely fit, long enough, did not shrink or twist in the wash....

Best jeans, good cuts, 100 percent cotton

But that was in the 90s. Next was still good in the 90s as well

The 90s are a long time ago!

So am waiting for the toast sale too

Toast and Cos are so shapeless though...

64% fall in profits just announced by m&s. No shit! We could have told you that!

Actually, the best t shirts I have are HUsh

The longer length one are ace quality

I've just checked and I'm too late - the Toast Ts I wanted are sold out in my size.

Every year I do this and yet here I am, saying I'd pay more for quality
.

Gap T shorts used to be ace.

Agree. I tried on a couple of tshirts last weekend and they were so flimsy I put them back as I know they'd lose their shape after a few washes. Crap colours too.

Is Kettlewell any good? Got one of their catalogues in the post and I'm a winter so they're one of the few places that do the bold colours I like.

Do try Uniqlo for basic tees. Their non-basics don't always hit the mark for me but I live in their Henley-style tees and extra-fine merino.

So Sali makes good points about clothes for women, then you get an article like this from Jess whatshername advocating that M&S Pink Horror here (it's flying out of the shops apparently )

And don't even bother clicking on the link for the "summer's ideal" wrap mini dress - it will only make me you cry if you possess boobs of any kind except the tiny and perky variety.

I am the wrong shape for Land's End tops and it drives me nuts as the quality is excellent .
I keep trying ('extra slim cut!' 'our trimmest fit!' 'cut close to the body!') but they're always sacklike at the waist, if not straight away then after a few wears. Uniqlo for me.

.. to all the Gap nay-sayers.. it's one of the few places I can usually count on to find something! I usually only buy online as the physical shops are rubbish as you all mention, but being fairly short (5'4") I have never found anywhere that has such a comprehensive collection of petite trousers and jeans - not just shorter in the leg, but properly shorter all round. Mostly the T-shirts are shit, but the slub ones are great and the sueded cotton ones they had last year are almost all I'm wearing at the moment. Also it has brilliant customer service. I really hope it doesn't go down the plughole!

I have some T-shirts from Jcrew which are a nice shape but the quality is just awful and just not worth the price as they don't last.

I would happily pay Toast prices if they had something that didn't drown me - even their t-shirts don't fit. (I do buy all my dressing gowns there though)

Uniqlo merino fine knit cardigans, both v and crew, are brilliant value. No bobbling and excellent quality.

I love Uniqlo fine merino jumpers. I have two in black and they are easier than the cashmere ones.

I have five - two v, to crewmeck cardies and a turtleneck. They are perfect workwear and never bobble.

I said two in black.

Not the mention the two in camel.

I'd also like to point out just how AWFUL the colours are this season... Being an English Rose, I rely on summer clothing to get me through the year. I'm looking at pinks and blues especially...

There is NO WAY I'm wearing orange or mustard (ochre??) or khaki!

I recently bought this pattern from Tilly and the Buttons

Coco

If you look on Pinterest, you'll see the myriad of design options there are! It has an excellent set of instructions, and I think Tilly will guide you through it step by step online if you sign up to one of her tutorials.

I'm making my first one out of basic breton fabric, but will maybe branch out into a sweatshirt kind of fabric for winter. It doesn't have any darts, so what you maybe spend timewise with the knitted fabric, you at least don't have to put darts into it!

Someone upthread was talking about the pinafore dress she also does - I may do that next.

I do get some stuff from Lands End, but its usually the basics...

The only other place I keep meaning to try is here - excellent if you're an hourglass in search of a posh frock in a natural fabric (but they are a bit££)

Bombshell Dress

Bombshell dress -£160 and 96% polyester!!!!

@BikeRunSki - no, not all of them...

Cotton

Cotton+Lycra

Silk Dupion

Silk Crepe de Chine

However, I did say they're not cheap!