Please help me shop (preferably online) to dress my age, not my mother's!

[pendulum]

I am 34 and have just got back to pre-preg weight after my second child. My casual wardrobe is old and desperately needs an overhaul but I live in a small town ruled by Laura Ashley and Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

I have begun a dangerous liaison with the Boden catalogue. The other day I caught myself trying on something that Kate Middleton would wear around Bond Street and realised this has to stop.

Sooooo- my mission is to rediscover my youthful(ish) self while avoiding looking like mutton with two kids in tow. Can anyone offer recommendations for shops that fit the bill, and ideally sell online?

La Redoute is brilliant and do online too. What I like about them is that once you have established what size you are in their clothes (by ordering a cheap top or something)... all their clothes are very true to size. I order a lot online for me a DDs (teens) and I have never yet had to send anything back.

thanks helliebean, have never tried them so will have a look.

any others?

next?

monsoon?

coast are now online

argos additions carry some Oasis clothes in their catalogue which are great - think oasis are now online too which is also good

you'll be needing some shoes - head to office and ravel sites

m&s and next for the basics, debehnams have loads of the designers ranges available monsoon for occassions!

Sorry for any repeats, these are the first ones that come to mind:

www.hobbs.co.uk

www.oasis-stores.com

www.principles.co.uk/pws/Ho me.ice

www.warehouse.co.uk

www.monsoon.co.uk

www.newlook.co.uk/women/s tore.aspx

www.debenhams.com

I'm 37 and have recently rediscovered Warehouse for silk camis and dresses in really pretty colours and patterns. However, their sizes do come up a bit small, so be prepared to size up (I have to for dresses).

Oasis I find over-priced for the quality but I've got a few nice bits in the sales, especially (again) silk dresses and some well cut trousers.

M & S Limited Collection is worth a look too.

www.topshop.com

www.lkbennett.com/

www.frenchconnection.co.uk/

And the ultimate clothes shopping website....if you want to look for inspiration/go crazy/dream www.net-a-porter.com/intl/Home.ice

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thanks everyone

I do like monsoon stuff but occasionally wonder if it is a little ageing (rather like laura a.) Have been really disappointed with next lately but maybe I am judging them on their (awful) nmaternity wear?

french connection and oasis are historically my shops of choice but I haven't been near them for years, will take another look.

I think I am struggling a little with finding a "look" for myself hence the search for a shop that will supply me with one!) I have never been a trainers and t-shirt kind of girl but am aware of tendency to dress above my age... and god knows my sleep deprived face already adds 5 years to my 34

ah pendulum, you aren't living in the borders are you ? i know your pain!

this is a lovely website with some really nice clothes:

uttam

the yumi pages are good.

asos has lovely trendy stuff at reasonable prices. but you must beware. some of the stuff is very very young skinny and trendy. but if you know what sort of thing you want, then its very reasonable.
size is a bit hit and miss. alwasy look at the garment measurements, rather than the label size. and tbh, if you are above a 14, then they wont really have much fo ryou.

That uttam website, do you really need to give them your contact details before browsing. have i missed something?

sorry, my mistake, i linked to the wholesale pages.....

www.uttamdirect.com/

try that instead!

they have good clearances sometimes.

Read Eve magazine - they have great fashion for adults.

Whitestuff and Great Plains they make me feel on-trend but not mutton!
Not dressing head to foot in any one brand is meant to be the key to stylishness, so they say

ara, not the borders but an english 'market' town (unfortunately not Portabello)

The uttam clothes are really original and I like the colours but I don't think the unstructured shapes would suit me- I am a size 8 and would be a bit swamped by lots of drapey fabric.

what I usually wear:

• jeans (although most of mine are boot cut which I realise is now a Fashion Crime Prospect of jeans shopping with 2 kids is terrifying!

• heavyish casual boots (always brown, never black)

• colour colour colour on top to detract from washed out skin . Think it is the colour that attracts me to boden but am scared of their identikit look.ideally I picture myself in a silk cami with a delicate knitted cardigan in contrast colour but with a 5 month old my days of handwashing are on hold!

pukkapatch, thanks for the asos tip, have always assumed it was just knock offs of stars' Oscar dresses but will investigate!

I was in COS today and very impressed with their clothes - but some of the dresses were a bit short for my liking....

Has anyone bought anything from there? Think they are just in London though at the moment....

I really like Uttam/Yumi but this range is not as good imo. Hoping they'll add more. You see a lot of schlebs wearing their stuff but amazingly not too expensive.

They had some lovely Autumn/Winter rich fabrics and different dress and skirt lengths but this season it's ok as long as you want mid thigh...I don't!

They also do a decent end of season sale.