Feel so deflated after the shops today.

[Lightsandtights]

Everything is black, white, beige or khaki. It’s just all so dull and I can’t wear any of those colours. Zara had some lovely pieces but boxy or oversized jumpers just make me look massive. I’m a size 12 with boobs. Today was just so difficult and I couldn’t find anything smart causal. If I wanted a bog standard hoodie, puffer jacket or gilet, these were in abundance. I just wanted one or two nice tops/jumpers. I tried Zara, H&M, New Look and Primark. I’ve got marks and Spencer while DS is at rugby tomorrow.

Has anyone else been shopping recently? Have you found anything lovely?

Not sure if it's trendy but got one a Joe Brown leaflet and it looked quite bright and jewel colours. Not really looked at it yet but it looked less dreary than the shops.

Well … I am fond of Zara, but if you’re looking for jumpers you want natural fibres - which you’re not going to find in abundance in these relatively ‘bog standard’ shops.

If you want to limit how much you spend, maybe identify some slightly better brands you like, and look for them pre-owned?

The shops you mentioned are probably aimed at young women or teenagers who are less fussy about how the clothes suit them as long as they are in the latest fashions.

How about Merino Rib Side Tie Tabard | Pink – Jigsaw (jigsaw-online.com)

Oliver Bonas is good for nice, colourful and patterned jumpers.

White stuff has some colourful varied jumpers.

not drab. I'm looking at high street brands
Women's Jumpers | Knitted Jumpers | White Stuff | White Stuff
Women's Knitwear. Designed In Cornwall - Seasalt Cornwall
Women's jumpers | Knitwear | Tu clothing (sainsburys.co.uk)
Women's Knitwear | Oliver Bonas

I sympathize, OP.

I buy secondhand- partially because it's what I can afford, and also because I can find clothes that I actually like from years previous. Much wider selection of styles than the shops will stock.

Lots of clothes on trend right now just don't suit my body type. Lots of jeans seem to be cropped at an odd length that looks great if you are 20 and 5 foot 10 but just makes my short 5 foot 3 arse look like a pirate.

I've pretty much only shopped online for years now, much better than the standard high street offerings.

What kind of styles do you like OP? Lots of colours available in shops like Oliver Bonas, White Stuff, Fat Face, Brakeburn, Lucy & Yak, Lily & Me. I really like M&S, too. I also buy a fair bit on eBay either brand new or in great used condition but I search for specific brands only.

I was in the shops earlier today and granted I was on a mission buying things for kids so not looking for me - but in the windows I passed on way to find kids things, there was quite a bit of green (bright not khaki), burgundy and red/pink.

agree Oliver Bonas is good for range of colours.

There are some nice jumpers in Sainsbury's of all places at the moment

Probably not everyone's cup if tea but I love this

Thanks for responding everyone. Big boobs mean no high necks unfortunately. I do like that jigsaw tabard but it would just make me look huge.

I will take a look at Oliver Bonas so thank you for suggesting there. I will also look at Joe Browns. Hopefully M&S will give a couple of options tomorrow. I did also visit Next today but I left fairly quickly. They’ve still got a sale on and it looked a bit like a jumble sale.

I seem to suit deep V necks or a boat/slash neck in tops. Long sleeves and fairly fitted. I’d like some decent trousers too.

I'm not sure two hundred quid for one item is in most people's price bracket. None of the shops OP mentioned are this expensive.

Tbh, @Lightsandtights, if you’re only looking in physical shops in a limited area you’re really not going to find the best of what’s available.

You might find it enjoyable to browse:

American Vintage
Colenimo
Community Clothing
Farm Rio
Sister Jane

Just for fun. See if anything appeals. Some of the above have excellent sales; the others should be discoverable pre-owned if they’re outside your budget. Either way, it really is a waste of your time, energy and money to stick to legacy brands on your local High St.

I agree OP I think clothes have got worse over the years it’s all looks weird or oversized. Nothing seems fitted anymore. I used to love shopping at oasis but they went under during the pandemic and the new online one feels odd.

I tend to buy winter jumpers at next or m and s now as they are semi decent and have nice colours. But I don’t get that wow feeling anymore from shops that I used to get if I saw something really lovely and pretty.

I only buy from Vinted and charity shops for that reason.

Same OP! I found Next online had some colourful and quite nice jumpers, trousers and an abundance of colourful dresses.

Love and Roses (on next online!) had a jumper which was so gorgeous.

I top find the fashion trends dull and weird at the moment. No I don't want to dress like a teenage boy from 1999.

I distinctively remember my teen brother going to college in 1999ish wearing beige baggy jeans, with a boxy khaki fleece top - Zara have mannequins in a similar outift. Its hilarious. He looked ridiculous then and the teens who wear it now look the same level of ridiculous.

Same here OP - spent hours looking yesterday for warmish jumpers - found nothing.

I've heard a lot of praise for M&S this winter so good luck there.

Looking for cardis and finding nearly everything is bloomin cropped -so I feel your pain!
I thought this was pretty tho
https://www.oliverbonas.com/ie/fashion/puff-sleeve-blue-knitted-cardigan-361715#selection.color=15

Have a look here - I’ve sorted by v neck and there are quite a few colour options https://www.nearlynewcashmere.co.uk/collections/womens-v-neck

I think they are all stocking autumn colours because they're doing "it's autumn now!" I can't wear them, either. I agree with the previous poster that plenty of people just buy whatever is trending and don't know that they may suit entirely different colours.

I, too, use Vinted. I wanted some turtle/polo necks for layering and I was able to find exactly what I wanted in by preferred colours.

Joe Browns always have bold vibrant colours

Another vote for Oliver Bonas here. Also, have a look at the Kettlewell website for colourful V necks, scoop necks, etc.

Ooo I love it too! As I've got older I just don't want to wear black any more, love colours or something with a pattern.