Where do I shop in my 30’s?!

[Smellbellina]

For reasons I won’t bore you with I have very little clothing at the moment. I need to return to work soon and need new outfits (for work and for my own sake!)
I have looked online and realised I am clueless.
I am in my 30’s but a very different body shape to my 20’s (DC), I am also on a budget. I don’t like Cos and couldn’t afford it if I did!
I have big boobs, a tummy, bum, and nice legs. For work I need something that won’t show cleavage or pants in any position (but nothing with too high a neckline or I look like a matron due to big bust) and has a bit of colour, I was wondering about leggings and a nice/short/floral tea dress/tunic with a cardigan. Am I horrible out of touch? Where should I shop??
Shoes wise I have Superga canvases and Dune brown boots (happy to invest in shoes and underwear but otherwise I don’t have a big budget).
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Shop wherever you want, there is no rule! Joe Browns online?

If I knew where I wanted to shop I wouldn’t have asked the question.

I like sea salt for my off-duty stuff, but it is very mumsy and I definitely look as old as I am!

I'm 31 and I shop mostly in H&M and MONKI!

I'm twenty odd years older than you op,
I also have a biggish bust 38dd, a size 14 in trousers (12 in skinny jeans) coz I've got a tummy too but I too have a small bottom and hips and slim legs.
I work in primary, early years as a TA/lSM/1-1 so need comfortable clothing,
I still shop in the shops that I went to in my thirty's, so Next, Dorothy Perkins, M&S, Debenhams, Sainsbury's and Tesco, New Look, River Island.
I buy a lot of Navy, black and grey, with a few brighter bits, mainly nice T-shirt's, trousers with stretch, and cardigans.
HTH

I wear Boden for work. Their dresses, pencil skirts and smart trousers are all great. Mainly all have pockets. I stick with black/grey/navy mainly but do introduce a few of their prints in the summer.

They have loads of sales on too.

I am a little bit older than you but these are the shops I like that you could try:
Fat Face
White Stuff (some of this can be grumpy but you can get some gems and the quality is usually good)
Monki - love the shirt dresses for work
Next for basics
Hush - quality of jersey is good, the rest not so much
Joules - like the quality but a lot of it is very recognisable as "from Joules"
John Lewis for a bit of everything

I have a few sweater dresses and shirt dresses from Monki and Cos. So comfortable and practical.

You sound like you have the same shape figure as me. For autumn/ winter I wear a lot of above the knee skirts with tights and boots for casual and smarter shoes for more formal. On the top half I keep it simple with plain fine knit tops and even polo necks. I find polo necks work ok if the knit is fine.
I buy a lot of my knit wear from boden. It’s good quality and if you stick to the plainer things it isn’t frumpy. There summer stuff is more ageing. Their essentials cotton polo necks are amazing layering wear. I also wear boatneck/batwing/volumous type sleeves knitwear. Avoid cardigans at all cost! Again boden is good. I also buy a lots in oasis, warehouse, river island and French connection. I realise Some of these shops have had issues in lockdown but think concessions will still be available. I bought some lovely pinafore dresses last year I think from oasis that were very plain on the top so worked with boobs and lived in them.
I have fallen into the trap of leggings with dresses in the summer before and try to avoid as it is a definite ‘mum’ look so prefer tights. If it’s too hot for tights then bare legs. If you have good ones get them out. Keep some leggings in your handbag for if it gets super chilly. Wear tea dresses with white trainers and a biker jacket. I have a selection of biker jackets and blazer type jackets to avoid the dreaded cardigan. Also quite liking jump suits at the moment. I have one from Sainsbury’s and one from boden ( again the boden one is plain so not an obvious boden print).

It really depends where you work, I work in a large office and live in quality black leggings from Littlewoods. (High waisted, tummy control), black cardigans or jumpers, and a colourful tea dress/tunic top.
Most of my clothes are from Littlewoods or simply be as I don't have much time to shop. Or debenhams, new look and yours on the high street. Finding it harder and harder to find decent black cardigans though which may indicate my style is not the most current
I am tall so tend to wear flat ballet type shoes for work.

Can I also add that high necklines are fine with a big bust if you keep the fabric fine and It clings a bit so it doesn’t fall straight of the bust. I actually find a lot of v necks and scoop neck tops quite aging and frumpy these days. They look quite dated. I do wear tops with a button down front and open up the buttons a bit as long as there aren’t any pockets.

Can’t go wrong with Next.

I actually quite like Sainsburys TU for work stuff these days and I’m 35!

I usually shop at Next because they sell loads of different brand and stores e.g Joules, Dorothy Perkins, Oasis.

Lots of Monki, but only buy online. Their shop close to me is bloody terrifying.

I'm an 18 so my other staples are ASOS curve and H&M+.

Leggings and a tunic top are going to make you look older than you are. If that doesn’t bother you then crack on- I mean that in all seriousness, there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable etc.

Personally I’d go for wide or straight leg trousers with a boxy style top. More fashionable. Or layers - so if you have good legs and like leggings swap them for good fitting black or dark denim skinny jeans with oversized tops - a bit of an improvement on the standard tunic and leggings. When I say oversized I mean buy a size 20 if you’re a 14 type oversized.

I am 39 and I shop at h and m, new look, asos and primark for basic stuff. We are all different but I wouldn’t step foot in Seasalt or Boden. For me the prints and colours are too “old” for me.

And yes Tu at Sainsbury’s is also very good for basic comfortable stuff.

I'm 34 and shop mainly at H&M online for work stuff or Zara. I would also avoid leggings and cardigans and anything too clingy and restrictive like pencil skirts! There's lots of nice midi skirts and dresses out at the moment. I work in an office and would avoid places like Next as you'll find half the office wearing the same stuff! Tesco do nice quality clothes too. Instead of cardigans you could try a casual blazer.

I'm 36 and shop at Zara, ASOS, H&M, Sometimes Boohoo, Missguided and Pretty little thing as they all do tall ranges.

I have had a lot from Shein recently due to being on a budget but it takes about a week to arrive from China

I’m 32 and shop at Dorothy Perkins mainly. They have loads of really nice things from office wear to summery dresses to winter jumpers etc.
I also like Zara for dresses, Tesco and Sainsbury’s for wardrobe staples and ASOS for shoes.

Thanks all these are really useful suggestions!

I think part of my problem is not knowing what to wear, but you have inspired me!
I work with children so it needs to be smart/professional but friendly and approachable. And not make me look like a walking marquee!

m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0852374005.html

Something like this for September when it’s still warm..?

@Smellbellina

m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0852374005.html

Something like this for September when it’s still warm..?

Yes that's nice. With nice sandals, avoid anything like what the model is wearing on her feet! 😆

Op you sound just like me! Similar figure. I'm clueless. Had a definite sense of style in my 20s but lost my way after a couple of DCs and no longer in the classroom. I've recently found these threads and they have helped me to reflect on what would be stylish and practical for me, and where to shop: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3973347-what-are-you-wearing-today-summer-2020-where-did-the-sunshine-go?pg=1

I’m 40. Booby and a bit fat round my tummy. Not overweight but could do with losing a stone.

I shop at H&M, Zara and Gap (when they have a sale on).

I’ve bought some great dresses from New Look, Pretty Little Things and Shein recently. I’m planning on wearing them with boots and a leather jacket in the winter.

I wear well fitting underwear though. Bras from Bravussimo and M&S tummy slimming big knickers.