I don't understand fashion right now.

[Faffandahalf]

Fucks sake. I'm 36. And I'm hot. Not gorgeous hot just bloody humid hot.

Trying to find decent summer clothes for work and home oh and holidays is proving a challenge. That's an understatement.

What the hell is going on with fashion at the moment. I've been on all the high street websites and all I'm seeing is shitloads of fugly cropped, off shoulder, cold shoulder, no sleeve, ripped sleeve, ripped jeans, ripped hems, embroidered grandma florals, corset tops, fluro colours etc etc bullshit.

Where are real actual clothes for grown women??

It's summer for like 2.5 seconds. I don't want to spend loads of money but seriously someone point me somewhere I can find something nice to wear (please dont say fat face, white stuff, boden etc.)

I hate those mangled jeans that end where my hair begins by my ankles. Stupid trousers. Cropped proper tailored trousers in chino cloth are brill, found some in Benetton at an affordable price out of sheer desperation. (Had boycotted Benetton from teens due to poor advertising standards)

I hate all that fake polyester nonsense that makes me sweat unnaturally. Why doesn't the natural fibres industry jump onboard and use the niche for natural fabrics?

Think it's all about cost, I remember a few years ago reading that the price of cotton had jumped and this would have an effect on clothes prices.

I despair though, because I loathe the horrible polyester stuff that's in abundance everywhere

This summer I have been mostly wearing cotton shirt dresses courtesy of Cos and Toast (and a little gem that I got in Hobbs sale last year). Realising that 2 bar birkies have had a resurgence, my faithful old friends have stood me in good stead.

Like Floisme, not all of us in the grandma bracket want unnecessary ruffs and frills

What I hate is that someone High Up in Fashion decides that THIS is in and heaven help you if you want something else.
All the shops have the same colour palette each season and if you don't suit chartreuse green or tangerine this year, tough.

I am also looking for a nice casual dress for summer...
"that looks nice online"
*looks at bigger picture and it's got those daft bell sleeves

I get some great un fussy summer bits from

• uniqlo (I get everything from here)
• H&M
• &Otherstories

I'm 35

I basically live in head to toe uniqlo for the most part

I posted this on a similar thread but I just want to scream it. Tk max online had some gorgeous linen dresses and I've been wearing mine a lot. I got a white maxi Ralph Lauren one for about £40, total bargain and the other makes where Rosemarine and Stella Martini. They have washed really well and line dried. So handy. I love linen.

It's a pity more people don't make their own clothes - that'd teach the fashion retailers!!

Sorry grandmas. I didn't mean it.

No I don't do sea salt boden etc.

I'm a weird shape anyway and nothing in boden fits. Size 12 giant boobs and bum.

I'm not a 'boring' dresser. I love colour and prints and things. I just can't be doing with Bardot tops and cold shoulder and fluffy sleeves. It looks stupid on me. Also I'm a teacher. The kids would laugh me out of the classroom

So many clothes are see through. I see a lovely cool looking shirt and it is actually see through.

I've just hit the 40's and have a reasonable but not massive clothes budget I really like this place. They have a few shops in the NW and a place in Chiswick but I have ordered plenty online. They have stuff for all sizes www.laundryb.com/

Uniqlo is the way to go with light weight cottons in neutral colours at affordable prices.

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women

I get a lot of stuff from uniqlo.

But if you want drapey, try Poetry (some has detailing I dinmt like, but a lot of it is just plain, nice and hangs well). They usually have plenty in white and near-white.

www.poetryfashion.co.uk

Ooh poetry is lovely. A little on the pricey side for me even in the sale but they have got some lovely things I may be able to pick up under £50. Thanks.

What kind of bra/ support are people wearing under the off the shoulder tops and dresses? Strapless bras are no good post breastfeeding

I don't like cold shoulder tops but I do like off the shoulder. I just don't wear a bra under. I love the pale pinks and blues this summer. I've been wearing this dress loads:
m.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350047626?dim1=1&dim2=7&omniturecode=Google-PPC-Shopping-Women-Clothing-Dresses-Short_Mini_Dresses&gclid=CjwKCAjwhYLLBRBIEiwAtFeED2WbDNrJ8wHzodANAq5Mds47objXOyu7RjHZLj1ayuvFR6eTJQIQ0hoC43AQAvD_BwE

What are sizes like in Uniqlo ? I'm a size 10/12 so would I be a medium?

I'm intrigued by the success of those Andy Pandy tops (off the shoulder, made of blue and white striped fabric, big sleeves, massive in the body).

Everybody seems to be wearing them but they look bloody awful.

I've had a lot of nice things by Esprit - there is a huge selection on Amazon and reasonably priced too!

It's all disgusting! H&M do have some simple v neck and scoop neck T shirts but that's about it.

My DD bought a few nice tops when we were in London but she's 17 and can get away with a Bardot style top, but even she didn't find much.

Someone posted this on fb and I've ordered it! Very unlike me but, what the hell, I can always send back and it does look super comfortable.

boringbetty I'm an 8/10 and I'm a medium in Uniqlo tops. I ordered a top in a small size like I usually do in other shops but had to return it and get it in a medium instead.

I've picked up some great bits in Mistral recently...worth a look?

I love the fashion at the moment. I am 36 and I really like basics from Next and Sainsbury's (not so see through tops) matched with more in trend stuff from H and M and New Look. Asos are also good.

My fave current outfit is stripy navy and white cropped wide leg trousers from H and M paired with a yellow T shirt from Next with flared sleeves. I also really like Next cropped wide leg jeans - I have three pairs! They're just so comfy and a nice alternative to skinny jeans etc.

This summer I have bought
Denim skirt -Gap
Cotton jumper -John Smedley from their sale they feel gorgeous and have so many lovely colours I'll be back for Autumn.
Denim shorts- Select
Converse
Calvin Klein sliders
Shorts for around the house- Superdry
Cotton t-shirts - H&M
A cotton dress that I got in Topshop in the January sales.
Feels like it's been hard work finding stuff for this summer but I'm happy with what I bought.
Not buying until Autumn now.

I don't seem able to click on any items on the Mistral site, so can't add to my basket.

Can somebody see if they can do it please, so I know if it's me/my phone that's the problem?

I agree with Fairylea about widelegs - I love them cropped and I love them long and swishy and high waisted and I'm just so bloody pleased to see them back, I don't really care about frilly sleeves.

I haven't got on with summer fashion for years but for me, the really great thing about this summer is that the dominance of skinny jeans - and the whole silhouette that went with them - has been broken. People who like them can still wear them but, for those who don't, there's a choice at last. I think the change of silhouette is far more significant than a glut of rococo tops because hopefully it should continue into next season.