30 something mums - where do you shop for good quality basics?

[MollyDaydream]

I am tired of making clothing decisions in the morning, have lost some baby weight recently and want to really reduce down my casual wardrobe to a few good quality basics that will mix and match.

I am wondering where the best places are to look for things that will last?

In the past I have gone for quantity over quality, H&M, New Look etc. I want to invest in some simple classic stuff that will last though.

I don't think there are rules when it comes to quality and shops. I have recently bought some really good quality t-shirts from H&M and some really crappy designers ones in the past, so you will never know until you touch the fabric to see how see through/ thin it is. However having said that, Reiss can be pricey but their basics do last forever.

I like White company basic dresses in the sale but ditto above. Zara can have nice cotton and linen tshirts which are better than much more expensive ones. I think the main thing is to check fabric labels at high street shops.

Most places are hit and miss. Uniqlo and M&S can be good. M&S have great linen shirts which were around the £20 mark, in a vast range of colours, and much better cut and quality than the Boden one I have. Monsoon is good for knitwear, Oasis for nice things to wear that are a bit more up to date.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The other complication is that I need petite sizes.

Zara H&M Sainsbury’s warehouse

Jigsaw do some lovely long and short-sleeved t shirts; the quality is great and they wash beautifully. i also think french connection have a really good basics range which you invariably have to get online because they don't stock it in their shops.
And Cos. Obviously. their quality for the price point amazes me still.

Why is age relevant here? Do you have to buy your underwear somewhere different if you're 20 something? Or 40 something?

Uniqlo. They do petite sizes too.

BIWI - I don't know about underwear particularly (though I don't wear thongs anymore!) but do you not find different shops cater to different age ranges?

I'm sure that some shops target a particular demographic. But that doesn't mean that people have to avoid shopping there! For example, TopShop is clearly aimed at a younger shopper, but plenty of older women shop there, because they like it.

And that's exactly how it should be. Age shouldn't determine what you're 'allowed' to buy or wear.

Why would a mum dress differently to a "non-mum"?

Goodness me, people are picky today

Of course people can dress as they like, but I feel too old for teen fashion and not ready for Boden and Fat Face yet. Mum clothes eg practical, comfortable. YES YES I know teens can shop in Boden and mums can wear high heels and crop tops but I just want advice on good quality basics from people of a similar age and lifestyle.

M&S basic tshirts are nice, quite thick and don't go a funny shape. Oasis is my go to for dresses.

Hobs, Whistles, LK Bennet are all classic and good quality, and you can get cloths at high street prices on sale. I used to shop in Zara, H&M, Mango, Top Shop, but the quality is terrible of most of the stuff.

Isadora666, because some clothes are more practical to wear when you have very small children and you are regularly cleaning up after them.

Other than when pregnant or breastfeeding, I can honestly say the fact I have kids hasn't influenced what I wear.

Anyway Molly,
I’m also in my 30s but I still occasionally shop in Topshop for jeans, and I recently bought a lovely embroidered skirt in the sale there.
I also buy a lot from Uniqlo and New Look for long sleeve cotton tops. I find clothes in M&S very unflattering for me as I am 5’2” and their tops look like tunics on me. I do however, still buy their cotton underwear.

That’s nice.

Uniqlo. Cos. I have some great t shirts from a brand called Samsoe and samsoe. Petit bateau if striped tops appeal. Some seasalt stuff is good if you avoid the frumpier styles and prints.

Of course age affects where many people shop. On average, you'll see more 20 somethings in Topshop than in Next or M&S. Shops cater their stock to target particular demographics.

It isn't that OP has to shop somewhere, just that some shops are going to fit her needs better than others.

But why?

Why does your age determine what fits your needs better than others?

If you're older or younger than the OP's '30 something' what do you think that actually means in terms of clothes/basics?

But all OP wants to know is what shops will fit her needs best - simple, classic stuff that will last and as she's a mum I presume she wants things that can take a bashing. That's completely acceptable. And maybe she doesn't want to wander about all of the shops, just a few that will best fit her criteria.

She doesn't for example want me to suggest Berschka, because that's targeted at teens ime. Yes, she could go in and find some nice things, no one is stopping her.

I presume that OP wants less things that need dry cleaning, things that can be washed easily or aren't too delicate, steering away from crop tops/Daisy Dukes/heels etc. Things that avoid being overly trendy and won't just be in for one season, so cold shoulders, mad
ruffling etc probably isn't ideal. I imagine the look she wants is something along the lines of Ted Baker, Whistles.

OK, I'm looking at Hobbs, Whistles, Jigsaw.
I do quite like M&S for leggings/jeggings.
I'm struggling to find petite sizes on the Uniqlo website though

Molly, Uniqlo doesn’t really have a petite section but their tops are cut so that it doesn’t look too long on someone my height. Also, they usually include all the measurements with each item so take a few minutes to measure similar clothes for comparison.

@RavenWings. All of those things may very well be true. But age doesn't come into that, does it? Which is my point. This thread is a very good example of the casual 'oh I never thought about that' ageism which pervades Mumsnet.