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 ...'

[twilightcafe]

I thought it was just me who couldn't find a thing on the High Street. Well said, Sali!

I will defend Mary Portas' clothing range. It was made for my shape: 5ft10, size 16/18 (on a good day).
The garments did lack 'hanger appeal' - you definitely had to try them on rather than trust the website photo.
Jeans were cut with a high waist and from decent fabric without staying into NYDJ territory.
When House of Fraser had a clearance sale, I bought as much of it as I could carry out.

[shinynewusername]

Try finding a swimsuit if you are tall and busty for a start

Oh god, yes. I'm fairly slim but with big boobs and bum. Finding any swimsuit that doesn't look 3 sizes too small is impossible. If it fits on the torso, the boobs and arse are hanging out - and I'm way past the age where that's a good look . Even suits designed for DD+ boobs are hopelessly skimpy on the bum.

[Scotlass]

Yes, yes, yes

Her wish list is exactly what I want, except I can't find it in mid price range

[StrawberryMouse]

I just want to wear a bra!! Please! No tape, no plastic straps, no sticky shit to accommodate the weird cutouts and necklines and shoulders they keep coming up with. A normal little bra under a nice little dress.
Please.

[IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday]

I just want to wear a bra

Hear hear!! So many items are instantly discounted when you see you can't wear a bra. Why don't shops/designers realise this?!

I envisage sales starting very early this year, as they try to shift the masses of stock that isn't selling.

[SirVixofVixHall]

I only have one friend who never wears a bra. All my friends, (late 30s to 80s) wear bras. So anything with skinny straps or strange cut-outs at the back, is rejected from the off .

[shinynewusername]

Fear not, Ladies - our troubles are over:

[BitOutOfPractice]

Everyone raving about COS. Really?

Just been to look for a new dress and thought I'd have a look there after all the recommendations here.

These were the first two dresses the site offered me.

[April229]

100 % correct.

[SwedishEdith]

I like the grey Cos dress. Would wear that one

[SirVixofVixHall]

I hate my knees, and being taller makes dresses shorter. I want to be able to sit down without knicker flashing ! I think that Cos dress looks like Workhouse uniform, but I do have some lovely Cos trousers, and big loose, jumpers.

[mrsmildred]

Those dresses are prime examples of what PP have said and I agree, the website is shocking and you really have to try stuff on. The grey dress hangs completely differently in reality. Also, that model is really tall, I have the grey sweatshirt dress she models and it is just above the knee on me at 5'6". On her its like a mini dress or tunic.

[littleredpear]

Hell yeah to wearing a bra!

[FelixFelix]

I've always avoided Cos as I thought it was for people with a straight up and down figure. Am I wrong about this? There's one in Leeds which I might have a look at.

[Dulcimena]

That khaki Cos dress is lovely IRL. Great quality, nice fabric, just lovely.

I agree with a Pp about Weekday - I get on well with the whole H&M group actually. Cos, Other Stories for a bit of frivolity (agree that the quality's not consistent, and there's too much poly and viscose), Monki, Weekday and H&M itself for reasonably priced stuff in decent fabrics. Obviously there are horrors everywhere but I find better fabrics and cuts that generally work for me there. Between those places and Uniqlo/Muji I'm basically sorted.

[mistywillow17]

Oh, I agree so so much. I'm about to start a new job, and although the dress code states "smart casual", they looked quite formal when I went in to interview. So I need to update my work wardrobe, as where I work now is at the more casual end of the spectrum.

Easy, I thought, just pick up some nice smart v-neck jumpers and simple tops, to go with my smart trousers and newly acquired pencil skirt.

But NOWHERE on the high street can I find a straightforward top, in a non-neon colour, or without slashes on the sleeves or clown-like ruffles/ massive flappy sleeves. And I can't bear to pay designer prices for something I consider to be such a basic item of clothing. After scouring the high street and coming up empty handed, I have literally spent nearly a thousand pounds on online orders, but returned all but £50 worth.
I have the money to spend- but the shops don't seem to care about me as a customer.

[Fozzleyplum]

That article reflects everything I've been moaning about! I'm 49 and a tall size 12 (10 in some brands). I don't want:

synthetic fabrics
cheap looking clothes
shapeless tops to cover a "gut" I don't have
trousers in 1 too-short size - I need at least a 32 leg, longer to wear with heels
trendy sleeves/cut out/embroidery
Short bodied dresses so the waist band is hovering round my ribs

I buy my clothes from Ebay (lots of Maxmara and silk shirts-I ignore dry clean only instructions and wash them), decent cashmere from Brora and Pure Collection, and the very wearable, ethically produced clothes from People Tree. I can't be bothered to go into town any more.

[BearFoxBear]

M&S need Sali to sort them out! Put her in charge of buying and we'd all be able to shop again (I hearby lay claim to a percentage should this come to pass )

[JennyHolzersGhost]

I have blacklisted Cos after the only two things I ever bought there shrank horribly in the wash. Absolutely terrible fabrics. And I find it very easy to look ultra frump in their stuff anyway.

I get all my non work trousers (jeans, chinos, leggings even) from Gap. I know someone above said they find sizing variable but I don't find that - once you establish your size it's pretty reliable in my experience.

I get cotton tshirts (incl longsleeve) and vests from H&M. Jumpers and cardis from Uniqlo.

The thing I find hard is work wear. I had the most perfect pair of black work trousers from Toast but they have worn through after about two years of almost daily use and they don't make them any more so I am in mourning.
Similarly I have a fantastic navy pair of wool-mix trousers from M&S which I bought about three years ago but they seem to have been a lucky find just before their buyers finished killing off every good thing in life and so can I replace them ? Like hell can I. so when they wear through I am totally without work trousers and the effort it takes to find a decent pair is more than I can be bothered to even contemplate.

[JennyHolzersGhost]

Oh and I've said this before but I have had a couple of good jackets - suit jacket and a leather jacket - from Next of all places. I was shocked frankly but it's such thin pickings out there that I'll take it where I can get it tbh.

[EnidButton]

It's casual stuff I struggle with the list in Summer. Occasion wear, nights out and workwear is ok but for day to day....??

[PickAChew]

That dress has salmon pink pubes all the way up the front, shiny :o

[PickAChew]

next have some rather fab linen blends, this year - I had a grope and a squeeze, instore after returning something (half a pair of pyjamas, when I'd ordered the full pair for DS1!) and it hangs great and doesn't scrumple when you look at it. Not for the shy of arm, unfortunately, as it's all sleeveless.

[PickAChew]

Sorry, but the opening page of The Finery does not inspire. it breaks the first golden need of a bra and even the slender model has saggy tits in it.

[JennyHolzersGhost]

Also - Clarks - while I'm at it - what is wrong with you ? you used to do the most perfect point toed flat work pumps in various colours. Now it's all girly round toed ballet pumps or horrible orthopaedic retirement shoes. Bring back the smart flats ffs!