i think i'm having a midlife clothes crisis

[Tutter]

went shopping today to find an outfit for a hen do (fist of the Second Wedding hen parties!)

ok, part of the problem may have been that the shops were stuffed with a mix of sales tat plus spring daywear, but i couldn't find anything that i even remotely liked

and really didn't identify with any of the shops

eg

oasis, warehouse, zara, mango, house of fraser therapy: too young and poor quality

hobbs, principles: too dull

karen millen: too wierd atm (tank top with built in frilly blouse, anyone?)

episode, jaeger, phase eight: too old and sensible

the only brand i even vaguely liked was whistles and they had nothing going-out-y

[grump]

is it just me, or is there a gap in the market? (37 yr olds who want to look their age but who aren't ready to give up on stylish clothes just yet???)

Im 29 (38) and i love a bit of sparkle...even have wraparound dress on today with jeans and dress has matt sequins on.

A bit of glam always cheers me up. As does a bottle of wine....oh! Is that the time?

Cheers!

The Rock n Republic jeans are lovely!

i loevt he leather bomber look
cant justify a purchase though.

they had em in new look but i htink you coudl ehar the squeak froma mile off

No i dont care that im mutton dressed as lamb either! I also think i might be a bit chavtastic!

www.newlook.co.uk/women/jackets_and_coats/jackets/1324894/132489401/ProductDetails.aspx

ooh lala " satin"

i had a riover island sparkly long knitted skinny top thing on the other week and got complimented

www.newlook.co.uk/women/new_in/new_in_accessories/1363548/136354801/ProductDetails.aspx

wonder if htis iss RWALLY placcy?

my colleague got a good unleather bomber from dorothy perkins sale.

Agree Tutter, am 37 too and find it hard to know where to shop.
How about Monsoon, perhaps a funky top with a pair of your posh jeans ?

cripes that bag is FOUL. i am also this age, get clothes from uniqlo gap. mexx can be good. jigsaw?

ooh hello all

glad to hear it's not just me. agree that reiss and french connection sometimes do the job, but just not at the moment (i think reiss have the grand total of 3 dresses online atm)

sorry cod, rl called. love the halterneck top. just the thing i used to wear when my upper arms were just that bit firmer and more tanned - a good shape for small norks and long necks

but def no skinnies for me. am a column, apparently, so need to balance wide "waist" (ha) with a bootcut. these are my current jeans of choice (rock and republic for some reason just don't look right on me)

i think i will go for dark jeans plus a good top. uninventive but safe. have to find something sheer/sparkly/satiny to make up for jeans-wearing. eg something like this that i already have but that i have already worn with same bucnh of mates

i shall have an online mooch tonight

[grump] [frump]

How about these tops?
www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/13223003
or
www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/22327003
not sure if black is your thing, but they are quite dressy and should look decent on a column...

i'm a pain in the ass i know but i don't do black

i quite like this

(i know it's a us site - am shipping some jeans so might as well get value for money from my shipping costs )

This looks good, but only available in a 14.
Not sure about this - poss neckline too high?
Shiny?
Nice shape but maybe too daytime.

Know you said Principles was dull and I do agree, but they have some decent tops, this one is pretty (if you dont like black), "slinky" even according to the website...
www.principles.co.uk/fcp/product/-/SMART-TOPS/Butterfly-Print-Slinky-Top/6606

This?

i have a feling you're goin to get pissed off with me

jackie - 1: boring
2: better but a bit round (would make me look like a barrel on matchsticks)
3: bleugh
4: too plain, and vile colour

pannacotta - dull zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

jackie - yes better with the ruffle thing

but not glam enough for girls night out

Ooh - you're a tough one to please, Tutter.

Umm - Too wide again?

No idea whether you're going to like this or not.
It's midnight blue not black, apparently.

More shiny?
I like this (not enough colour?)