I went shopping last night and everything was crap

[CountessDracula]

What has happened to the normal clothes?

EVERYTHING looks like it is aimed at the xmas party market. Surely people need normal clothes too!

you are a fusspot

what are you doing wanting normal clothes in the run up to Christmas you unreasonable thing?

Bear in mind the swimwear comes back in at the start of January.

Well I need a new suit
And a new raincoat

CD I soooooo want this coat. Silk taffeta - that'll be machine washable at 40 degrees, right?

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That's gorgeous, PW. But I don't "get" those coats ... are they coats or dresses?!

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Well, at £200 you wouldn't want to take it off once you got indoors (or indeed ever)

You can never go wrong with slipper socks, Clara - although you'd get a bit chilly if that were all you wore.

I like all the party stuff too, but it's true that there's not much else around. I could really do with some worky stuff. I was going to leave it until I'd lost some weight, but that ain't gonna happen until I stop scoffing, so I might just as well go ahead and buy.

Bought a skirt in Tesco a couple of weeks ago. £15, a bargain, I thought. I've only worn it twice but it's gone really furry on the bum, to the point that a couple of people have pointed it out .

ahem, need I remind you.......the Law of Clothing Shops:

go with money - nothing love nor money nor the threat of a snog from Jeremy Clarkson could persuade you to wear

gothmoney - dozens of items which are gorgeous, practical, reasonably priced and make you look like Elle McPherson

You went with money didn't you

oh gawd, I need a new suit. If you find a nice one, can you tell me please? I have had it with suit finding.

In the end, I bought a Next one out of desperation (and I NEVER buy from Next) but I don't really like the shape (though it does a job) - the trousers almost look flared they are so strangely cut (like an exaggerated boot cut).

I want a really comfortable one that is shaped nicely. You wouldn't think it was too much to ask.

should be go with not goth obviously.....

like the idea of gothmoney though, only exchangeable for black lipstick and stripey tights

A friend of mine bought a Betty Jackson suit from Debenhams recently and was very pleased with it.

My friend tried that Hobbs coat on ystdy, it is totally gorgeous.

Actually, I've got a couple of pairs of Next "suit" trousers which I quite like, Foxinsocks. Depends on your body shape and whatnot, I suppose.

oh yes, I acknowledge that I am bloody difficult when it comes to shopping .

I have to wear petite trousers (hence the odd shape) because I'm 5'6'' but have a really long back and quite large shoulders so that buggers up a lot of 'normal' shaped clothes iyswim!

aah have not been to a Debenhams in years! They don't seem to have many round here. I will go and look if it's worth it though.

Oh I'm just round all over, so I like to think that the wide-ish bottoms on the Next trousers slim my middle bit. In reality, I probably just look ridiculous (and I'm possibly not quite as chubby as I think, but you know what it's like when you feel a bit bloated).

I shall have a little think about good places to get work suits.

Debenhams near me is not very inspiring. What about Principles? Anything in there?