Classic, long lasting brands

[Holyforkingshirtball]

I have recently lost quite a bit of weight (and am doing my best to keep it off). I want to improve my wardrobe as i still dress the same way that I did when I was a student (despite being 40 this year!).

I want to invest in some good, classic pieces that will last for a good while but I haven't a clue what brands to start to look at.

I don't like particularly bright or busy prints and suit more structured clothes than the oversized aesthetic of somewhere like Hush.

Can anyone help on where I should start to look so that I can dress like a grown up rather than an aging student?

Jigsaw, Whistles, Reiss (expensive unless Outlet), Zara. Definitely not Toast as they look like sacks unless you are very tall. BrandAlley and Zalando do a good mix of clothing.

Hush
Boden
Next
John Lewis own
White Stuff
MnS

I do all my shopping online

Try midlifechic.com for style ideas and great blog too

sorry wrong thread

If you have some cash then Max Mara is brilliant. Comptoir des Cotonniers and Joseph are both fantastic too. If you like Paul Smith or Vivienne Westwood those might add colour.

It sounds like you are looking for ‘tailored for 2020’ type of look. Not stuffy 90s tailoring but Now WFH type. It’s a great look and one worth investing in as you will probably get longevity from those type of places.

It’s all about mix and matching. I’m a 49 yr old teacher ... my wardrobe for work and home/play are often the same but I change the look by wearing shoes, Birkenstock for example or trainers. I wear a lot of dresses, pretty skirts and tops and trousers with pretty femine tops not tight necessarily but fitted .....with trainers they look more casual but you can also dress them up with shoes or heals
I have a few key pieces and accessories (love a bit of marc Jacobs) but I shop online at next quite a bit because you can order online get next day delivery (free to a local store) try on at home, keep or return... suits my lifestyle! I love a lot of the Emma Willis collection too.
Don’t go out and buy loads of stuff just a few pieces, try some dresses and dress up or down
Good luck x

Meandem (Me and Em) do really great clothes. Comfortable but smart. Like Hush's smarter big sister. Sizes are quite generous so might need to size down.

I forgot Jigsaw. J. Crew are a good bet too. Sorry about recommending Toast etc as i misread the bit about Hush.

I don't get the love for Me+Em and Baukjen. Baukjen seems to cater for women much taller than me.

If you have the money, then definitely aim for Max Mara and the like. Hoopers is still there? Wow.

YYY to Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith and Comptoir des Cotoniers.

and Joseph.

Sophie Shohet is a great Instagramer to follow

Websites that specialise in dresses/skirts can be great, e.g. Emily and Fin (I'm an academic too).

My advice is to find a couple of high-end brands you like, look at their stuff to get your eye in, and take it from there. Buy Vogue, Hello! Fashion and maybe one or two other magazines for a few months & look at Matches & Net-a-Porter to get ideas of brands and overall looks you like. It sounds like you’re after a sophisticated, European sort of look. Get an idea of the overall picture you’re going for.

Agree with previous poster about midlifechic. She's not my style but writes well and analyses looks, trends and has done posts on how to work out hem lengths to suit you etc
Also, why not give JL another go? It's free, you can return stuff. Just pick a different stylist!

Some M&S especially Autograph but slim pickings on clothes since lockdown.
Boden for 7/8 trousers
Pure collection for cashmere
Some Ralph Lauren in the sale
Zara can do good trench coats in their autumn line as does Hobbs
Banana republic for more traditional work shirts and work wear
Odd bits from Gap

I love Baukjen, and don't get the PP who says it's just for tall women (I'm 5' 5"), but I haven't bought any of their trousers! Ethical, lasts really well, and classic shapes & patterns. Slightly more structured than Me+Em, but still on the casual side.

That was me villanova, I have some tops from them and they are long, but when I looked at dresses and trousers, they were w-a-y too long for me. I'm average height/not petite.

Me+Em get rave reviews but when I looked I didn't like them. I think I picked up a top and trousers. The top was heavy (the Baukjen ones are too) and the trousers had false pockets (hmm!). Maybe I should try looking again.

Have a look on the Outnet for brands like theory, max Mara, Joseph, Donna Karen etc you can sometimes pick up some really beautiful simple classics very reasonably priced.

I would say Max Mara, Ralph Lauren, Massimo Dutti

Don't write off Toast altogether - they have some excellent tops and trousers that don't have that oversized thing going on

@MikeUniformMike

I forgot Jigsaw. J. Crew are a good bet too. Sorry about recommending Toast etc as i misread the bit about Hush.

I don't get the love for Me+Em and Baukjen. Baukjen seems to cater for women much taller than me.

If you have the money, then definitely aim for Max Mara and the like. Hoopers is still there? Wow.

I think Hoopers would outlast the apocalypse!

Thank you very much for all the suggestions, I'm going to spend a day looking at all the websites and Pinteresting the looks I like and seeing how I can mix and match stuff. I've followed the Instagram suggestions too

That's reassuring to know.
There used to be nice boutiques in Wilmslow. I wonder if there still are - it's footballer's wives area.

MeandEm; Massimo Dutti; Jigsaw; Baukjen all worth looking at. Cos can also be good (ignore the miserable looking models swamped in too-large clothes!).