Your in your early forties... where do you shop?

[bettybigballs]

Size 14 apple, senior role in a young, creative company (trendy, smartish, casual), where do you shop?

I'be just sent back a huge mixed brand haul from ASOS, all synthetic, thin crap. Most of my work wear is Cos which is less than flattering for an apple. The French brands I like aren't designed for the large of shoulder or bust and lots of brands are just too 'officey' I need some inspiration desperately!

Thanks @Miseryisabutterfly I’ll sign up for the newsletter to see if that helps. 👍

I'm 40....I generally buy from Mint Velvet, Hush, Whistles and H&M.

It's more about the shape than the shop

I'm Apple. Great legs . Great boobs.

I don't tend to wear trousers, more in warm spring and autumn, then a cigarette shape with a quirky shoe.

I have quirky shoes, silver and gold brogues for example.

I wear dresses, straight short tunics in a good heavy material and well cut. I have dresses from Reiss, Joules, Zara, Laura Ashley, Next, H&M

My no no's are jumpers from anywhere on the general high street as they aren't cut long enough on the body. Mostly nor are trousers

I am a 30G bust so I do shop for clothes at Bravissimo but they often get the sleeves wrong so it's hit and miss.

Good quality tights are my difficulty with skinny long legs. But Guilia Blues, Manzi on Amazon are good.

Jackets need to be just the right length and a boxy cut. Blazers don't work.
Long line open jackets are good over a block slim line colour (Faith in Keeping Faith is a good inspiration)

@pipsqueakbollock I have the same long body, large bust (32G) (although just realised after typing that you mentioned long skinny legs, so maybe not!). Where do you buy jumpers from? I struggle with clothing from Bravissimo because the waist is always way too high up.

Does anyone shop from Sosander? I look through their catalogues that come through the door, and the dresses look like they could work on me, but I've never ordered from there.

Mint Velvet, M&S, Hush (but casuals, not work clothes), some jersey basics from Kettlewell. I tend to find Zalando can be more age appropriate than Asos. I'm interested in where other people. are shopping

Most of my clothes are from Boden. The 14 regular seems to be designed for my body shape so I rarely need to send anything back. I avoid anything patterned.

I also have some recent ish things from Jigsaw, Next and M&S.

John lewis womens clothes selection has a lot of the above named brands and I find their curation really good.
Try to visit a store though as on their website there is too too much choice

I’m also mid-40s and a size 14 apple shape (post babies) / size 12 on top. I shop in:

Cos: for dresses and trousers, but recently quality has been variable and hit/miss
Jigsaw: for trousers, t-shirts and knitwear
Toast: for trousers (stylish and comfy waist)
Uniqlo: mainly for casual joggers and t-shirts
APC: great coats and jackets, good sales
Margaret Howell: love this shop, but can only afford it in the sales / occasional treat
Community Clothing: recently discovered this shop, but waiting for things to be in stock
Huit: I bought some jeans there, great quality
Levi’s: have recently rediscover, very comfy and great style

That should say Hiut (not Huit)!

I’m a size 16, but most of my wardrobe is Uniqlo and Jigsaw. Then it’s odd pieces from Whistles, Kin, Toast, Banana Republic and some jeans from Boden and Hiut. Really very little variety in my wardrobe 🤣

@missmoon can you please tell me which style Hiut jeans you bought as I am late 40's, size 12(ish!) and tend towards apple shape (carry all weight around my middle)
I'd love a pair of these jeans but don't know which ones to go for
thanks

@UniBallEye I bought the Dina in black, which is stretchy and comfortable. I got it in size 14 - 33 in, which is a good fit given the stretch, although I could probably have got away with 14 - 32 in: hiutdenim.co.uk/collections/womens/products/the-dina

I also tried the Peggy style, but found the non-stretch material and high waist less comfortable. The denim was beautiful though!

I like The White Company, All Saints (especially for jeans) Zara, Mango, Whistles, Mint Velvet, Reiss and Oliver Bonas for everyday wear. We have a designer outlet here so also have a few bits from Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss because they were relatively affordable if not complete bargains!

Im mid 40s and used to buy all previously mentioned but have been trying some different brands lately: Thought, Poetry, Part Two, Masai, Grizas. If Im up for spending more I go to Max Mara, Outnet, Matches and for bargains Zara, Mango etc

White Stuff, Weird Fish, Gap, Seasalt, Lands End, Joules.

Banana Republic for jeans.

White Company, Hobbs, Jigsaw, Baukjen, Part Two.
Like that look of Sezane.
Watch those EU-to-UK shipping charges when buying online though! Since Brexit they’re a killer.

Studio
I wear dresses and leggings so the stuff I know will fit me and it’s bloody cheap

All over really but as I have been mostly buying online recently I guess I tend to stick with places where sizing is reliable.
Sezane, Hush, H&M, ASOS, Levi's, Urban Outfitters, Oliver Bonas are all places I've shopped for clothes over the last year. Toast for knitwear.
I also shop a lot for clothes in two small boutiques in the town where I live but not so much recently as they've obviously been closed.

Few work bits from
VILA
selected femme

Otherwise it’s
Zara
&other stories
Whistles
Mark’s and Spencer’s
Monki- really good basics. And cheap!
Arket in the sales
French Connection sometimes but used to be my go to.
ASOS-for more of a smash and grab situation when I have something coming up!

Cannot get on with the shapes in
Mint velvet
Hush
Cos

Oh and baukjen which has the WORST styling but the clothes are lovely.

I am 41 and hilariously apple shaped, I do a lot of gap for trousers and jeans, boden for work shirts, odd bit of H&M, lidl for basics and sports wear from Nike and lululemon.

I'm 44, my budget is fairly low & I shop at places where I can use my Blue Light Card discount for example.

Most recently my clothes / footwear comes from:
River Island
JD Sport
Primark
New Look
Accessorize
Zara
Office
Dune
F&F at Tesco
Next
Lipsy at Next
Gap

I miss Dorothy Perkins as their jeans always fitted me! And I liked some of the items in Topshop.

If I had a (much) higher budget I would love to shop from The Kooples, Ganni, Pinko, Self Portrait, Kurt Geiger.

I love the look of Zimmerman dresses!! But they are mostly over £500, often over £1k.

Another Boden girl here. Mid 40s. They do some really cool and different stuff which quite honestly I struggle to find on the high street. I love their earrings and necklaces too. They keep up with the latest trends too.

Jeans from Paige or J Brand. Wear my jeans to death so invest in them.

Reiss occasionally but went in there the other and found nothing exciting at all.

LKBennett can have some great one off pieces. Just picked up a dress there which I love.

Jigsaw - but expensive for what it is.

Whistles - snapped up a long green sequin skirt in the sale and pair that with a big black cashmere and chunky flat boots.

White Company for pyjamas and maybe the odd t shirt.