What on earth am I meant to wear?

[SeventhIdiot]

I've been shopping today on the high street and at an outlet village and for the first time come home with nothing. Nothing fits, the fabrics are nasty, the designs are awful. I'm looking across the price board from Primark to John Lewis and designer brands at the outlet village.

Please can someone direct me towards something nice and wearable for both home and work for a woman in her 40s. I'm tearing my hair out here.

Following! I have very similar wants (also love jewel colours) and am also finding it impossible at the moment, everything seems to be cheap looking tat to me right now. Plus honestly I think jewel colours seem to not be much in fashion right now. I have the additional complication of being a size 20 too but some shops go up to my size now so will check out suggestions on here as well. The best stuff I’ve found at the minute is in M and S!

M&S, TU, Oliver Bonas for me.

I've bought a few bits from Joanie recently - Dress

I've been looking at bits on Roman and Izabel London Dresses or an Izabel London top

Generally speaking, I've bought quite a bit on Vinted recently. Brands like: Karen Millen, Jasper Conran, Boden, M&S, Peacocks, Warehouse, Joules and Crew Clothing Company.

Have you tried TU at Sainsburys? I find some lovely bits in there whilst food shopping and I find the quality is good too

For online I like Nobody’s Child, Mango, Oliver Bonas

I don’t understand this. I don’t wear gold.

Seasalt for trousers, Mango for jeans and blazers, supermarkets for tops and shirts. Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys all have reasonable stuff, usually quite middle of the road. La Redoute and Esprit could be worth a look.

I don’t buy anything polyester.

I don’t think you can just shop on the high street these days. You have to root about online.

I have to agree with you.

OMG some of the links on here 😫

Well I'm in my 40's and ame home from town yesterday with more bags than usual - Zara, H&M, Primark, M&S, Next all had things in I liked and bought 😊

However I haven't seen anything I'd wear on the links that have been posed on this thread so maybe I don't wear the same kind of things as you lot!

Phase Eight have some nice things this season. I was thinking this dress could be useful.

Or this one. I like the sleeves

I like this - one of the first things I've liked on this thread.

I've also just seen these and love them so much it hurts, but I think they'd look awful on me. I'm definitely going to go and try them on though.

Even if you don’t know, you can extrapolate. I would take it to mean what it says, so shiny dark red, emerald and sapphire. Not dusty, pastel etc.

I'm larger in that department and since the closure of the pepperberry range most my new things have been seasalt - thick stretch jersey fits so much better than standard cotton

It's lovely but would be indecently short on me

Have a look at lands end 😊

Yes for me too as is. But I thought firstly the model might be a bit taller than me (I dont know how tall you are obviously!) so may warrant a try-on. And secondly maybe thick wool tights or even some wideish-leg knitted relaxed trousers. Phase Eight isn't known for being too racy!

I also like this dress from Vivere which I think is Savannah Miller's label but it may be too sludgy colour-wise for you.

I'm 54 and my 25yr old DD has banned me from white stuff and Seasalt, she said I'm not old enough for that yet. 😁
I like M and S for wide leg trousers, worn with trainers or boots and a fitted jacket or a boxy jacket.
For cosy evenings it's thermal leggings from Primark with an oversized hoodies. If I'm going anywhere nice, I like Ted Baker and I've a couple of Biden (plain) wrap dresses.

Boden* even!

I'm nearly 43 and currently in Lucy & yak dungas and a cardi from Tu. I've got a seasalt coat like all the sensible mums do but I wouldn't wear 90% of their clothes, it's all a bit recent retiree for me. Soz.

Work wear I usually wear wide legged trousers from m&s with white trainers or a mini skirt with black tights and knee high boots. Either a shirt or fine knit. Weekends and WFH are Levi's and chunky jumpers or sweatshirts. Mostly shop in m&s, next, Tu, albaray, Joanie, cos, Arket, Uniqlo.

I’ve bought quite a bit of knit wear from Boden and sezane this autumn both do lots of jewel colours in natural fibres (cashmere and alpaca).

Also bought wide legged trousers from m&s and wide leg jeans from next.

I’ve also bought a couple of “wool” dresses but sent them back as they are mostly polyester and I know from experience they will look bobbled and cheap after a couple of washes.

the only polyester I’ve bought into this season is a couple of satin slip skirts (new look have loads) which I’m pairing with above cashmere and alpaca. It’s a nod to a current trend without breaking the bank.

These are beautiful however on my 5ft 4 apple frame I looked like a reject from Blackpool circus