Where do you shop if you are 48, overweight and don't want to look like an old frump

[smartiecake]

I have completely lost any sense of my own style or even what looks nice now. I'm not a fan of trying things on in shops. I'm a size 16/18. I think lockdown has made me worse as i have been living in jeans for months. At work i usually wear dresses which i like.
When not at work i have no idea what to wear, and dislike most things in my wardrobe.
Where do i begin? Help needed please. I think i look young, people tell me i do. I dont want to look like an old frumpy mum.

I am a 16/18, I tend to wear the same things at home as at work (primary teacher).

Mainly dresses from Hobbs and Lady V or long skirts (either swishy or tshirt tube) from M&S, Primark etc. Hate trousers as my thighs are two sizes bigger than my waist and I have to hoik them up all the time.

@MollyAtTheFolly find a good tailor for your trousers and get the waists taken in! Look around for reviews, lots of dry cleaners will do a good job. It doesn’t have to cost much at all, either.

What sort of style do you like? Glam? Swedish architect? Rock chick? Pretty tea dresses and DMs? etc etc etc....what floats your boat? Then we can maybe point you in the right direction 🙂

I get a lot of my casual stuff from Hush, I’m a size 16 and the large is fine

I love Eileen Fisher, very elegant loose casual clothing in nice fabrics. Quite expensive but I always wait for the sales and buy it then.

I like Wallis. Good quality and the tops are v flattering on me.

I like dotty p H&M. Odd bit from new look as dd always in there and I snare stuff while she looks.

Occasionally fat face John Lewis online shops.

Tu
Thought
Finisterre
Seasalt - selectively
Gap online

Cos

Sea Salt
Joules
White Stuff

Great thanks. Definately some shops there I dont normally consider. I like dresses, as long as they are flattering. I dont think i look good in jeans/trousers due to my lumps and bumps, so tend to wear floaty tops to cover me up.

If you like dresses, I really like Popsy and other more vintage style dresses. Definitely more flattering than jeans. I'm short and fat.

Dorothy Perkins had some really nice summer dresses in pre lockdown as well (I got some lovely bargains!)

I am 48 and think its a really tricky age. I think some of those brands are definitely "middle aged" and "mumsy". I think fitted clothes / tailored are so much more flattering than "loose" clothes. I think Zara is worth a look, I like Oasis and Warehouse. Mint Velvet but choose carefully as can be slightly mumsy too.

I am slightly smaller than you but not much., more of a definite size 16.

Cos does me know no favours! I look like a need pegging out like a tent in some of their dresses.
However I like the following
Seamstress of Bloomsbury
Joanie
Silk fred
Weekend Doll
Some stuff at Zara is great
Bombshell HQ
I like some stuff by All Saints, especially their leather biker jackets.
I have a lot of dresses from H and M but it came be hit and miss.

My work clothes tend to be Boden or M & S Autograph, quite dull and conservative, although I do wear a lot of scarves. What or whose style do you like?

Following. I need some smartening up.

I like some fatface stuff thanks all. I will check out some others

Slightly bigger than you but Zara, H and M and whitestuff. I like Cos but I do think it can be very unstructured on me. Tk maxx as well.

I’m surprised at Zara being mentioned a few times. When I was very much a 14, I asked the sales lady in Zara to explain their sizing to me. She looked at me and said “We don’t make clothes for people as big as you”. I haven’t been in since, that was about 15 years ago though!

Navabi can have some great stuff especially in the sales. I find they do a lot of clothes with interesting sleeves for example. Their range covers a lot of designers for sizes 14 upwards.

I second Zara, ahem, not being for the more generous if figure. Have endured demoralising sessions in Zara changing rooms unable to get trousers past thighs ...

Simply Be , Joe Browns online. I find Next a good fit. It depends what you like to wear. I never wear jeans, I tend to get casual dresses for the weekend.Im size 18/20, always need to shop around.

Definitely Hush, as Hopping said. Also, surprisingly for me, White Company. I bought a long floaty skirt in the sale and it's a size 12!!

Some Next stuff is OK. I also favour Monki if you are a bit larger. They do all sizes but the cut of a lot of the clothes is more sympathetic to those of us who are not as young as we should be and have lumps and bumps

I don't really like Zara any more.

Next, I am size 20/22 & have also found a lovely online site called Shein who do a curve range that has new items weekly, very cheap but good sized, I have bought loads of T shirts, tops & pyjamas from them, they have some lovely dresses in as well, everything comes in ziplock bags, perfect for packing if going on holiday.