Where to buy clothes mid 40s?

[Rollingdownland]

I need new clothes, both for work and home, but work is pretty casual so it's the same thing really. Went to John Lewis today and took a load of stuff in to try on: jeans, tops, shirts, jumpers, t shirts, and didn't like a single thing. Went to Trilogy and it was all so uninspiring. I also tried on stuff in Cos and looked at Uniqlo and Zara but lost the will.

I'm a size 12, late 40s but look (a little bit) younger than that, 5'6' and haven't got a waist. Baggy jeans look awful on me because of the no waist, but I know skinny jeans look dated!

I like to look vaguely modern, ie not on trend at all but I work in quite a cool place filled with very on-trend people, and so like to kind of blend in.

Any ideas? Budget middle of the road, will spend more if need be.

Have you asked those on-trend people in your workplace, even if they're not necessarily wearing clothes you'd choose for yourself?

'Love your outfit, do you mind me asking where you bought it cos I'm struggling to find decent shops at the moment?'
If they're into clothes, they'll almost certainly be flattered and enjoy talking about it.

I think instead of trying lots of random pieces, maybe try and find trousers/jeans first. Me&em and Jigsaw have lots of these - get them altered for the perfect length, on the expensive side but great quality.

Arket is good for shirts, as is Cos, maybe &Otherstories. Uniqlo for plain sweaters.

I’d try and find a pair of trousers and a pair of jeans first, then some shirts and sweaters and build from there.

I like Baukjen and Jigsaw.

This winter Me&em had a great sale and I picked up some pieces that are fantastic. Good cut and very flattering. I think I will try and buy just a few good pieces each season.

Me+Em is a great shout! I had forgotten about them, will have a look. Baukjen, Jigsaw and Arket are also good ideas - I do particularly need tops/shirts so will look at Arket for those, thank you.

@Floisme most of the people at work are much younger than me, so I'm not sure about that. And the ones who are my age are very different shapes. One is a stylist and I asked her for advice but she is 6ft and willowy and all her suggestions really didn't suit my less model-like shape, which was a shame as I loved the clothes.

Thank you all

But you're also much younger than me op and, if I saw you wearing something I liked, I would say so and ask where you bought it.

No disrespect to my lovely work mates but I would have loved to rub shoulders every day with very on trend colleagues, regardless of age, shape, size or budget, although admittedly I might not have got much work done. It's all ideas, inspiration and knowledge.

I’m that age and shop at Sezane, Me&Em, Jigsaw, Whistles and White Company for decent basics. Costs more but the cut at these places suits me. So I buy less but with a higher price tag

I gave StitchFix a go after losing interest in clothes. I loved everything they sent and kept the whole order. Cannot wait for my next box!

I'm 53 & I buy from ME+EM, whistles, jigsaw, sezane & a great independent boutique in my city.

I got some fab ME+EM stuff in the sales this year- I have lots of their clothes & really rate them. Sale is still on

My friend buys lots from Zara & another friend buys from Wyse

You could go back to John Lewis and have a personal stylist and they may show you things you may not expect.

I’m your age and buy from Zara, H&M, sometimes Asos for basics and the (very) occasional work dress ( the closet london range on there is actually quite good)
I’m fairly poor these days but if budget allows I also like Free People, Anthropologie and Reiss

Same here.

Early 40s and shop at me and em, Baukjen, Sézane, Reiss (only occasionally), recently got some great frame jeans after a recommendation on here, air and Grace trainers (they are comfy), Massimo Dutti, Brora cashmere, just got some lovely beige boots from Zara. The odd bit from ba&sh or maje. It takes a lot of time to find nice pieces sadly.

Yes! I have some v nice things from BA&SH & one or two things from Reiss too, forgot about them

I agree it does take time to find nice things unfortunately

I've ordered some tops, a shirt and some trousers from Baukjen, so thank you for that. Had a long trawl of Me+Em and also the White Company but nothing caught my eye.

I have never bought from or even considered Sezane - will go and have a look there now. Ditto ba&sh. I do have a nice couple of things from maje so might go and look at them too. Weird how you forget brands after a couple of years of mostly being at home in leggings.

.

Update: the Baukjen stuff was FABULOUS and I kept it all (this never happens) and ordered some more stuff from them, too. Never bought so many clothes in such a short space of time.

I also found some nice high waist, slightly flared jeans at Mint Velvet, after trying on every pair of jeans the high street can offer this season. £89, less than half the price of some I tried on in eg Trilogy, and the most flattering (for my size 12, 5'6', straight up and down figure).