What brands to go to for good quality stylish clothes?

[CorporateBull]

I am at a loss. I have a decent budget for new clothes but want to buy good quality stuff that will last. I’m just emerging from a longish period of buying very little and living in the same clothes.
Many of the brands I used to buy from have disappeared or now seem to sell expensive polyester, and current trends just don’t suit me.
I have no idea which of the brands I see ads online for are real decent ones and which are dodgy resellers from China!
Please suggest some nice places to try for natural fibres and classic styles? I’m late forties and tend to be a jeans and jumper type - overweight and not very groomed!

Yes, silly.

Unless OP is wearing them too short, with naff trainers and a zip up fleece from Millets, she’s unlikely to look particularly dated.

If anyone else is in love with Sezane there are fab Facebook groups that show the clothes in real life on real women and give great styling and sizing advice. The UK Facebook group is pretty quiet-the best is the French one 'Sezane Addict' which will automatically translate into English. The French women are so stylish!

I love the idea of Toast and bought a dress from there in the summer. It was a Small. I'm a size 12 and 5 foot 8. It swamped me and looked ridiculous. I can't believe they have the sizing right at all.

You need to look at Manners London
www.mannersldn.com

there are dresses, but the t-shirts, long sleeve tops etc are Amazing…
thick stretch cotton, the quality is brilliant.

some lovely colours, Bardot tops, all sorts.

have a look, she often does sales through the year. It’s ran by a single mum Sally, it’s all ethical.

Max Mara, Loro Piana and Ralph Lauren.

It's also about purchasing pieces in quality fabrics too and I would also check out the outlet stores or even some secondhand or charity shops for some good finds. Don't think about trends, just find pieces that suit your body shape and get things tailored if needed.

It's worth taking inventory of your wardrobe and then making a list of items that you'd want to have in your wardrobe. Then editing your closet down and keeping pieces that are of good quality. Then make a list of pieces that you need and purchase them when you can.

I live off of a capsule wardrobe which has taken me quite some time to put together as quality items do come at a cost. And it has lasted me for years and years. I don't feel the need to go out and shop frivolously for things unless it needs to be replaced.

Hmm … Yes, I know it’s poor form to criticise another poster’s suggestions - but, really, @Daydre4mer - your perception of sophisticated, flattering and well cut clothes must be very different to mine. The brand you link certainly has clothes that might work in other situations but they’re patently not what the OP has asked for.

And you must know that …

To those mocking my suggestion of M&S jeggings:

1. the OP asked for 'basics' along with other suggestions
2. I suggested buying the 'cosy' ones - thick, warm, matte, stretchy, good quality material, and one size up, so they look more like slim trousers. In black. Not the mock jeans.
3. I was not remotely suggesting that the OP wore them to a corporate meeting, but if she is working from home some of the time....
4. I am wearing them right now to do housework, but tonight I shall be going out and will wear a vintage red silk and velvet evening jacket from a posh Paris boutique purchased from a charity shop. With flowy evening trousers - don't know the brand - from EBay.

One type of garment is obviously not suitable for all occasions.

I don't like Sezanne very much.

So I’ve fallen a bit in love with this, although it is very much NOT in the capsule wardrobe basics that go with everything category.

www.sezane.com/en/product/junie-dress/sage#size-XS

So far I’ve looked at Sezane and Arket and found quite a few things I like the look of. Max Mara has some very welcome classics.

Some of the other suggestions I’m already familiar with (Toast has now brought its long-handled cobweb broom under £50 in the sale) but I have a list to get through. I will report on any purchases.

Try maje, Sandro, Zadig Voltaire or rag and bone.

Be careful with sizing @CorporateBull if you buy from Sèzane. I've found some of their things to be about a size and a half smaller than the label on me. I'm very curvy though especially on my top half (polite way of saying I am ginormous of nork).

Place marking. It's my 50th in about a year and I've decided the year leading up to it will be a makeover for me.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads I wouldn’t have bought it if it was not in the sale. I had a gift card then, so I bought it with the gift card.

Love Sezane and that dress is something you could wear all the time OP. I’ve also never regretted anything I’ve bought from there, they have a (smallish) shop in Notting Hill if you want to try before committing.
I quite like Baukjen for jeans, they fit me well, and Bretons (thicker than other brands).
Reiss I think has gone downhill badly over the last 6-10 years in terms of quality and prices have gone up (they also seem to have changed cut as my older pieces still fit well but I’d need to size up now, but like PP I am also too heavy).
I like some pieces from Me and Em but the less designed more staple basic pieces.
Aspiga are good for summer dresses.
Hope have a few nice bits in too but you need to be choosy.

Sezane, Kin at JL, Whistles, Arket, Cos, Me & M, hush, Mint Velvet xx

never heard of this brand, just had a quick peep, they are absolutely gorgeous, shame they're still too pricey for my budget😩

I bet that itches like a bastard. I’ve got the hide of a rhino and can wear most things but just the word mohair makes my skin crawl.

OMG sezane - why won't they show what the clothes actually look like? All this off shoulder and half tucked cardigans. SHOW ME THE BLOODY HEM!

@Claudia84 I agree! The only information I can glean from the website is that their models look great with tousled hair. I'd quite like to get a vague idea of the shape of the actual garment!

Agree! Or a still life! I liked the lace blouse but can't work it out from the photos

Isn't that sage dress just a long cardigan? Beautiful, yes, but agree with PP that it looks itchy.

Sezane use kid mohair, I normally don’t touch mohair because it itches to fuck, but am currently sat in one of their jumpers which is 34% kid mohair and it’s fine, no t-shirt underneath.

I have really enjoyed reading this thread as I am also currently with my wardrobe. Got rid of lots of things in recent years as I felt like they just didn’t suit me anymore (and now regret some of the thjngs I got rid of!) and struggling to find things I like that will suit me. I am short and skinny so lots of the stuff around currently completely swamps me. I used to treat myself to a few items from Sandro when on sale but their stuff has become more expensive and also now aimed at a younger women (but maybe that’s just my impression).

@scottishnames I wouldn't worry too much. There was only one poster commenting on your suggestions and I think they were quite rude .

I imagine there are a lot of posters on here like myself who are not particularly stylish but really enjoy looking at other posters recommendations.

I too think Cos have slightly lost their way at the moment.