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 worry about the cropped wide legs though.

Is that going to last because it seems a real waste to buy loads of jeans if no one is wearing them in six months time. At least skinnies are a trend that has lasted.

Also I'm never sure they look good on me. Size 12 with big arse...is this a good look? You must've have to wear a fitted top on top to avoid looking huge effect

Although fairyleas striped bottoms with yellow T outfit sounds cool

Yes I normally wear them with a more fitted top. It's a different silhouette so they take longer to catch on but that normally means they hang around longer than other trends. I'm not so sure if the cropped leg will last - it's may be more a summery thing but I'm enjoying them while they last and not spending too much on them just in case.

I'm quite short so I have to be careful but the reason I love wide legs is that they take all the focus off my thighs. After 12 years of rule by skinnies I think it's blissful.

I hate this years fashion too. I'm 29 so hardly past it - but all of it seems suited to teenagers ?

I don't think widelegs are particularly aimed at teenage bodies - in fact I'd say they're often kinder to middle aged legs than skinnies. Same with cropped length - lower legs often stand up to time better than upper legs (mine certainly have done).

I don't like frou frou sleeves but I'd say the one good thing about them is that they don't require young or thin arms.
Off the shoulder - yeah, tricky because of bra issues.

So I don't think it's all particularly teenage focussed, it's just a bit too fussy for my taste. But below the frills, I quite like the underlying direction of travel i.e. towards a different silhouette. Of course I may be eating a big chunky slice of humble pie next season - it wouldn't be the first time

What I think is a far, far bigger concern is the deterioration in quality. That's not a seasonal thing and it really is bad news for everyone.

This is the currents look that got me all . I thought we were just moving in from showing our undies, and now the top of the tights are a feature!

Faffandahalf
I have been out looking for exactly the same white top as you. Can report the nearest you will find is in Jigsaw www.jigsaw-online.com/product/cotton-t-shirt/J32452_WH000 or in Cos. Don't bother with M&S, John Lewis, Whistles, Mint Velvet, Reiss etc - wall to wall silly sleeves and polyester/ viscose. I have done the trekking round them so you don't need to!

That Poetry shop is lovely. Thanks Stella

I've got a couple of these M&S ones in black. Nice soft cotton. I suspect they will go a bit baggy on the neck, but might be okay as a stop gap?

Is this any good?
www.outdoorandcountry.co.uk/womens-barbour-international-silk-shadow-t-shirt.html?White

Or maybe this?
www.crewclothing.co.uk/ladder-lace-short-sleeve-top-wgc070-whitelinen/

Ignore me - got mixed up with somebody on another thread wanting plain white t-shirts.

Is this to your tastes? www.cyrillus.com/En/women.htm

Models are skinny French women so its difficult to say if the sizes are the same as the uk.

I have been getting lots of great stuff from some little boutique shops in my village and neighbouring village. I think because they are tiny they have to stock what women (not teenage girls) want.

Mistral, meh, like whitestuff. Too floral.

Is crew clothing any thing to do with jcrew.com
I like jcrew but it's expensive.

Usually love jigsaw but the white tshirt would be shapeless on me. would prefer a white polo to that!

here This is useful for boutique shopping but I have not used the website, only the shop. It's consistently reliable for slightly different stuff from companies not often found on the high street. Last year or two has seen some great stuff from central Europe companies join smaller French, Danish, German and other nationality makes. The model is always the same; she's about 50, in good shape but not stick thin, and Brigid has a good eye. Over the years I've found quite a few bits that have washed and worn well. Some of it is a bit MOB (but sometimes that's what's called for). Prices are higher than the chain stores, but not designer level. If you are happy at about the Boden price points, it's similar.

And like others here, I'd say Uniqlo is hard to top for cheap but well made T shirts and casual stuff. It does help to get in early on the collaborations they do, as it sells out quickly.

Yeh interesting they use an older model.

I think what sets this lot apart is that they, the two principal players, are the designer and buyer and the model, plus their husbands. Their market is usually 40+, so they are buying for the customers in their town which is not London or swanky. Their customers have budgets and just want clothes that work in everyday life. Something to meet friends in for coffee, or to go to the pub, for a meal, (which is most people in rural areas) plus the odd occasion, that gives good wearage. Nobody is buying dress to impress designer stuff, and most are dressing to camouflage imagined or real figure flaws. And they are super helpful if you go into the shop, offer coffee and suggestions, bring other sizes.