Affordable fashion in your 40s

[CornishGem1975]

I'd like to try and be a bit more 'put together' this year and also just liven up my wardrobe a bit, however, the budget is limited.

Where do you shop for affordable bits? I'm not just talking about things like jeans, or plain staples but nice dresses, skirts, tops etc things that are fun and vibrant.

Any hidden gems? Good websites?

Try vinted for second hand. I wear lots of whistles and hush etc now-would not have been paying full price!

@Zooforhouse

Try vinted for second hand. I wear lots of whistles and hush etc now-would not have been paying full price!

Was coming on to say this. This week I took delivery of a super expensive minimalist Scandi pinafore; a short sleeved cashmere sweater from M&S; a Principles cashmere and angora roll neck; a wool cape from Zara (my new favourite thing); an Avoca scarf; couple of Boden bits for the DCs and a pair of Hollister jeans.

Immaculate, cost less than £40. New would have been ten times that.

I’m a jeans a t-shirt person, even for work, but smarten up a bit with a Blazer and sometimes a dress and Blazer, bought a couple of things from here this week. www.brakeburn.com/collections/womens-winter-sale

Honestly I think second hand is your best bet if you want higher quality; most cheaper brands are just fast fashion crap and its harder (albeit not impossible) to look put together in that sort of thing. My best buys recently have been secondhand Hobbs, Jigsaw, Joseph etc - I barely buy anything new now and have a pretty decent wardrobe (just nowhere to wear most of it now I WFH!)

Go on zalando they have loads of brands and you can filter by price.

@BusterGonad

Isn't that funny about Mango, where I am I find Zara really difficult, I've bought a few dresses etc and always take them back as they just don't look right. 50% of my Mango purchases were actually via the app, the products are shipped from Spain. They took ages to arrive but the dresses were so worth the wait. I loved Oasis a few years ago. Such pretty stuff but it got very pricey towards the end.

Oasis is still going online and constantly has a sakd on. If you're prepared to wait for new stock to go to sale you can get dresses for eg £30 half price.

They also do the useful but dangerous Klarna so you can spread the cost

I've taken a punt on a sale dress from Oasis; wondering what the sizing and quality is like now they are online only (didn't some other firm like Boohoo buy the brand when the stores closed?).
I used to rely on Oasis and Warehouse.
Zara is hit and miss (and you need to have low expectations for in store customer service in my experience). Decent basics though and I like their shoes and accessories.
Second the posts saying Mango has improved.

Thank you, but I'm not sure I trust Boohoo to make anything as good as the original Oasis, which I loved.

I buy whistles, lk bennett and Hobbs dresses on eBay

M&S for plain knitwear. Just before Christmas I realized I'd been in the same 4 or 5 jumpers since before Covid and I bought about 10 from M&S. Very pleased with price/quality/colour. Plain t shirts, M&S.
I agree with Mango, I see it as the grown up version of Zara. Zara coats are very good quality/price though I'm hovering over a couple of Mango ones at the moment.
My work trousers are Boden Hampshires. Ponte stretch fabric, make me feel smart yet slimmer and comfortable.

@JaneJeffer

Go on zalando they have loads of brands and you can filter by price.

Agree with this. Just remembered half my M&S jumper haul was from Zalando.

Massimo Dutti is great too.

Search Ebay for Hallhuber (or go to Germany…). Esspecially their dresses are fab. Decent German quality and elegant designs.

I've gone back to eBay recently for things. - currently waiting on delivery of a boucle coat from M&S I got for under £10.
I set up alerts for particular things I'm after - currently I'd love a cerise pink cocoon coat but can't find one I like so am patiently waiting for a notification.

I find it quite satisfying to shop like this these days as I am trying to reduce my footprint and avoid too much unsustainable fashion.

TK Maxx is worth a punt too. The occasional treasure. I just bought a Massimo Dutti sheepskin flying jacket in there for £60.

H&M have some brilliant things, if you’d can wade through the tat.
Monki was great last summer, less so this season, but that will hopefully change again.

Zara does nice jewellery. I bought a lovely set of necklaces made from glass beads, reminds me of stuff I saw in Greece years ago. They're a bit boho looking. Very colourful and add a nice touch to plan outfits.

*plain outfits!

What are mango like for the large of tum? I'm a bit chubby especially around my mid and upper body (classic apple) a 14-16 will their sizing/style work for me?

@JorisBohnson2

What are mango like for the large of tum? I'm a bit chubby especially around my mid and upper body (classic apple) a 14-16 will their sizing/style work for me?

I'm a 14 to 16, my extra weight is on my tummy and boobs (slim legs, arms and bum). I wear their jeans in a 14/XL/42. Dresses are an XL/14 except if they are very fitted. T shirts vary from a L/12 if its lose fit to XL/14 if its quite a tight fit. Overal I'd say the sizing is generous.

@BusterGonad I agree about Boohoo!
I was shocked at even the reduced prices of knitwear in the sale on the Oasis and Warehouse websites.

John Lewis sell mango if that helps...

[quote GellerYeller]@BusterGonad I agree about Boohoo!
I was shocked at even the reduced prices of knitwear in the sale on the Oasis and Warehouse websites.[/quote]
And I do not like the way they marketed it on Facebook, I followed Oasis and then when it changed over they seemed to change who they were aiming at, and it all looked a bit rubbish, I liked Oasis because some of it was a bit quirky, I loved their use of Ditsy prints, little collars and cuffs, they always had lovely shirt dresses and weren't afraid of colour. My style has changed since then, I did find Joanie clothing filled the gap for a while but now I'm very much into clothes to wear in my 'everyday life' I don't work so I'm usually at home, buying groceries, or taking my son out for the day. I obviously still like lovely dresses but now they're ones I can dress down with knitwear and boots rather then ones just for nights out with friends.

Roman seem to have a lot of nice dresses in that price range.

I used to LOVE Oasis. It was my go to shop.

Won’t go near it now it’s owned by Boohoo

For those who used to like Oasis, Oliver Bonas might be worth a look.