Clothes shops for a 41 year old

[Passmyslippers]

My friend recently told me I'm not too old to shop at Topshop & miss Selfridge and it got me thinking maybe I need to change my shopping routine and grow up a bit..

So where do you shop when you are the wrong side of 40?

I’m 50 on Monday, I mainly shop in Zara, Topshop, H&M and All Saints - I’m probably not very ‘age appropriate’

I wear a lot of Boden for work. I like Karen Millen coats and skirts. The occasional bit of mint velvet. (But I hate that a lot of the tops have the back tie thing going on so avoid those, too mummsy) Casual wise I tend to wear skinny's from places like vero moda

I find department stores or boutiques with a range of stuff in better for me nowadays. Or online Boden for work, I also like their flats and funky print boots for work)

Oh I'm 45

I'm 43. I've never shopped in Top Shop or Miss Selfridge but that's because I've never liked the clothes.

I have rubbish shops near me and don't get much chance to go clothes shopping these days but when I do, I go to H&M, Oasis, Warehouse, John Lewis ... erm ... I do most of my clothes shopping online and an ever-increasing proportion of my wardrobe is from Esprit. I also buy the odd thing from Hush.

If I had the funds I would still shop in Jigsaw, which used to be my favourite clothes shop, but I can't afford it any more

I'm 41 too. I don't shop in Top Shop as I find the clothes are designed for young girls, so nothing fits properly. Plus I think it's really expensive for not great quality stuff!

I get quite a few bits in New Look and I get my jeans from GAP. Primarks ok for basics. I really struggle to find work clothes though.

I'm 56 and shop in Cos, &Other Stories, Seasalt and TK Maxx. If I had more money I'd add Toast and John Lewis to the list. If I was thin enough I'd definitely go into Zara, Topshop & H&M to keep up to date, but in my experience they're not much good for anyone over size 12, and that ship has sailed!

I'm in my 40s. I buy high street from places like whistles, French connection or reiss. Outnet for bargains. And selfridges for a treat!

Oooh - and on line I like baukjen.

S/he is not your friend ...

Whistles, Jigsaw, All Saints, Label Lab at House of Fraser.

Stuff from Hobbs, Mint Velvet and similar tends to stick 5 to 10 years on me (same age as you) but I think that's because of my size.

Your friend is cheeky isn't she? If you like your clothes and feel good in them then keep going to Topshop!

Thanks for all your replies!

I love whistles & jigsaw but unless I can get a bargain on eBay then it's out of my price range.

Like another comment, Hobbs & mint velvet puts years on me too I feel.

Ha yes my friend is a little blunt but I don't mind that as I'd hate someone to think I'm dressing age inappropriate!

I just need to find a cheap but expensive looking alternative!

I like Jigsaw for a treat. I also scan various shops, like Ted Baker, Hobbs, Mint Velvet, Linea, Phase Eight and Reiss, just keep an eye out every where. Oasis for the odd thing but they have a tendency to make nice things out of dreadful fabric, so you have to be IN THE SHOP rather than risk ordering on line. Zara is for taller people I think so I never go in there, it's too mad and busy and bright and chaotic.

All of the shops I listed can have clothes that 'put years on you'. Even if you find a shop that often sells things you like, you still have to be really selective. There was a shop ''country casuals'' (gone now) and occasionally I got the odd nice thing in there, just by scanning and not being prejudiced against any one shop. Just take every item of clothing as an individual and don't hold its label against it! or allow its label to recommend it either.

I never understand these threads - how can anyone be too old for a shop.

Im 53 and buy what I like, and what suits me. If its a top in Jigsaw thats great, but equally great in Top Shop. I would suggest you find out what clothes you like, that suit you and make you feel happy. Clothes should make you feel confident and happy, never buy anything which you dont feel great in no matter where it is from.

Top shop, Karen Millen, Oasis, French connection. I also still like some of the surf brands like O'Neill but I feel the need to choose carefully there are some of their stuff is very young looking.

I don't think it matters where you shop but for me personally I don't want to look 19 from the back veiw and then turn round and give someone a shock when they see that I'm much older! That said apparently I don't look 43 and could pass for still being in my 30's so I don't care what your freind says, I'm cracking on and enjoying my clothes.

If you are very thin, I think you can still shop in Top Shop!

I now tend to go for New Look, H+M, Supermarkets (especially F+F and Tu), Dorothy Perkins, Gap, Fat Face, White Stuff and Boden. I have also just bought a Hush dress which I love.

Oasis and Warehouse are good, too.

Allsaints, Whistles, Topshop Boutique, Toast, Hush, Selfridges.

I don't want to look 19 from the back veiw and then turn round and give someone a shock when they see that I'm much older!

Their fault for looking in the first place. The expectation having, sexist pricks.

I'm 41. Still shop at Top Shop but often it's disappointing with lots of crop tops. Zara is good? My favourite is & Other Stories...

I mostly shop in Oasis, Warehouse, Gap, Mint Velvet, Mango and Boden. They all have a tendency to veer into synthetic fabric horror, though- I don't think I spend enough to avoid that. Having said that, when I occasionally check higher-end shops they're just as bad.

There is no such thing as "age inappropriate".

Actually Top Shop is a treasure. I'm considerably older than you OP - my all time favourite jumper was bought from Top Shop about seven years ago. Still wonderful. One of those short run designer collaborations in proper wool. A long knitted dress was another success. And one of my all time favourite summer dresses ...

Actually, thinking about it, if I'm browsing Top Shop online I tend to filter from highest to lowest price - so I see all the exclusives and Unique stuff first. On the very rare occasion I go into an actual shop I'm always struck by something random and cheap and brilliant.

I'm 49 and shop everywhere. I buy things I like that suit and fit me. My age doesn't come into the equation. I will never pander to someone's boring age appropriate prejudice.
Maybe she's a bit jealous op?

I've got a few years on you and I'd say the places you shouldn't shop at are places like White Stuff and Fat Face because of their tendance for shapelessness and hippy patterns, can look terrible as you put on weight in middle age. Top Shop or Whistles both fine! The places I've bought from most this year are COS, ASOS, Boden (cashmere), La Redoute, Next (cheap cotton basics).

I'm 42, all my jeans come from topshop. I love them.