Which brands do you think are aimed at cool, smart (maybe slightly older) women?

[JAdoreMonPetitLabradorDodu]

Inspired by the phone-in on Woman’s Hour(that probably says all you need to know about my demographic.) I’m wondering which brands nowadays are aimed at women like this in the UK.

I feel I’ve been through my quirky mum of toddlers, vintage 50s dresses and casual work from home phases and I’m a bit stuck as to where to go next.

I guess I’m like a lot of you (although obviously we won’t all share the same tastes.) Professional job, older kids, richer, but not as slim as I was, reasonably urbane interests and way past wanting to look cute and sexy.

Which brands do you think cater for those of us who want to look cool, clever and, on a good (or bad) day, maybe a little intimidating?

You need this thread. (Ends with a truly epic list of sources.)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4753001-can-we-talk-about-clothing-brands-and-target-demographics?reply=124266319

Gosh, that’s a 40 page thread that completely passed me by.

The only brand I could think of was Toast, so I’ll hopefully find some more there.

I like leather shoes (not trainers), natural clothing, and clothes with decent cuts and fabrics that show neither my cleavage nor my knicker line. Who knew it was so much to ask?!

I’m so fed up of endless viscose flowered midi dresses in the shops, and don’t feel quite ready for an ‘embellished jumper’ just yet.

I was about to recommend the same thread as SomethingMustBeScaringThemAway - which reminds me, there are still brands on there that I've not checked out yet. Mind you, most of them would probably never admit to catering for us but then that's partly what the thread's about.

Haven't read the other thread yet, but Cos, and Jigsaw leap to mind.

For shoes, look at Tracey Neuls (I love her shoes so much!)

https://traceyneuls.com/

Place marking so I can read the whole thing

Thank you

"Target demographics" is just marketing jargon.

Better to just let clothes be clothes, and choose the ones that you like and feel good in.

If you want to look professional (and intimidating when required) at work, it depends a bit on the norms of your sector. But in general, there are two main things
a) wear a jacket
b) wear the same colours as those with power - and that's usually black, navy or dark grey

I think it's difficult to recommend brands (especially for non-work wear) until you have worked out for yourself what you want to look like.

The "how to look expensive" threads tend to have similar advice whichever one it is:
a) good haircut
b) clean nails (don't have to be manicured, but at least shaped and clean)
c) polished shoes (or clean and in good condition if not polishable)
d) clothes in natural fibres whenever possible, and always clean - at the start of the day at least
e) maintain a normal weight
f) get well fitting bras
g) avoid exaggerated fashions

But you’re talking to mature women, @RoseAndRose, not 21 year old graduates - we know all that!

Although actually, for women there’s great power in asserting the freedom to wear a bright red dress, for instance, as a demonstration of one’s seniority. Pre-Covid, in an office environment, it might only have been the newer recruits wearing a cheap dark skirt suit.

(Choosing clothes you like, as opposed to things presumed ‘suitable’ for middle age, is very much the subject of the thread I linked above.)

I didn't mean to recommend cheap clothing.

I did however mention natural fibres, and they are generally not cheap (but if you can recommend good jackets of natural fibres (including the lining) that are at a lowish price point, I'd be interested to hear about them).

Wearing bright colours doesn't always deliver the statement it's intended to, especially as (unless very rich) you'd need to wear it frequently (to justify the likely cost of something that looks right) and that changes the impact.

(I am glad we are reiterating the same points about rejecting ageism! Perhaps OP will get the thread title amended?)

But how is it ageist to want clothing that works for - I dunno - a particular section of your life? The thread title isn’t suggesting that there are clothes someone shouldn’t wear.

But as the OP has observed, there’s a 40 page thread that covers all this. Why not have a look?

Sezane. Mint Velvet. Cos. Arket. Toast. Meandem.

That’s right. I did all of the things recommended years ago. I’ve got bored of a few of them pretty quickly, but that’s perhaps more reflection of me, them of the advice.

I’m thinking more smart like Mary Beard, not smart like Moneypenny. If I started wearing matching shoes and bags, my colleague, think I’ve had some sort of an episode.

I think I find it difficult to get behind the advice of wearing clothes that are a similar colour to those in power (not least because a notable grand dame of my profession frequently favours a red Mountain Warehouse fleece, and unless at a conference, and often, even at a conference, pretty much anything goes nowadays.)

It’s not about looking professional or conveying power (not least, because mercifully, nowadays I run the shop.) It’s about finding clothes, which, more generally, fit in with my taste at this stage of my life (which, of course will not align with everybody else’s tastes, regardless of the stage of life.).

Thank you for the jigsaw recommendation. I would’ve discounted it until recently, but I picked up a gorgeous cloud cashmere sweater last month and I’m loving wearing it with wide leg cords and brogueish boots. https://www.jigsaw-online.com/products/cloud-cashmere-crew-jumper-navy?variant=43117464289446&istCompanyId=5cb36b28-3b54-4573-9793-5e46611a0358&istFeedId=862761a5-2bf0-4417-ab0a-7e46ee93302a&istItemId=ripxwpmxp&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxayHzdO5ggMVlMLtCh3wGwQBEAQYASABEgL0xvD_BwE

Place marking

American
JCrew

Spanish
Massimo Dutti
Adolpho Dominguez

French
APC
Sandro
Maje
Gerard Darrel
Sézane
Claudie Pierrot
Bobbies - shoes
La Redoute
BA&SH

British ish!
Baukjen
Me&Em
Russell & Bromley
LK Bennett
Whistles
Jigsaw
And/Or
Toast
Margaret Howell
The Dressing Room
Shop at Anna
Brand Alley
Sterlet
Sunspel
Snow Finel
Palaver
Iris Fashion
Raey
Me&Em
Wrap London

Swedish
&Other Stories
Arket
COS

Misc.
Zealand’s
Libertine Libertine
Essentiel Antwerp

Here are a few from my list.

Lykia thanks so much, that’s really helpful. There are a few brands there already that I know and shop from, but a few I have never heard of and will definitely check out.

I think I need to explore the European brands more. When I’ve been in places like Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, I picked up some really lovely items in the past, albeit a bit more expensive than we are used to in the UK.

I just bought three "going out" tops from Urban Outfitters which is at least 20 years younger than my demographic. I actually wanted to wear something fitted for the first time in ages as I've lost some weight and am much more toned. Most of the shops which are in my demographic only have long, floaty or boxy tops. I will wear them with high waist bootcut jeans and boots rather than a very small skirt though, and they won't looked cropped on me. Basically the type of tops I wore in about 1995 (probably with a tiny skirt then) which I still like.

I always look a bit intimidating anyway as I'm fairly tall!

So I don't tend to stick to my demographic for shopping though I do appreciate quality fabric more than when I was younger and keep items for longer.

list on Feb thread, acknowledgement to haribonoyoudont & botemp

www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4753001-can-we-talk-about-clothing-brands-and-target-demographics?page=39

I also don't think you should stick to clothing aimed at your (and my) demographic. Wear what suits you and what suits your lifestyle.

I have also fairly recently bought things from Urban Outfitters, Topshop and Asos.

If pushed, I don't like manmade fibres and then have to spend much more (to get, e.g wool trousers), but I don't like all the flouncy stuff that's around and don't really suit Toast/Margaret Howell/Plumo.

My favourite shops/labels are currently Zadig & Voltaire, The Kooples, Isabel Marant, Ganni and BA&SH. But I don't have the money to buy much from them sadly. I spend time going through the Zara and Mango websites to try to get the same look for much less money.

I did buy a book recommended on here which I found really useful to work out what my style is (after buying far too much stuff from Toast mostly that looked rubbish on me). How to stop spending money you don't have on clothes you don't wear

I don't think seeking out clothes aimed at a certain demographic is the same thing as staying in your lane. Of course we can shop at Top Shop and H&M whenever we wish but, as you get older, things happen both to your body and in your life and sometimes you want your clothes to reflect that, and you want to talk about it too.

What's ageist - at least in my book - is using someone's age as an insult, and talking about an age group as if they all look the same. Both things happen on this board but I don't think that's what this thread, or the one that's been recommended, is about.

Of course it’s not necessary to buy clothes aimed only at one’s own demographic. But we are all busy, have limited time, and only want to spend some of it looking at and buying clothes. Looking at brands that work for others like us is a pretty handy shortcut, I would have thought.

Anyway, at risk of answering my own question, I’ve just bought this for a conference I’m attending in January and hope it will do the job when it arrives. I’ve not bought from The Fold before but will report back as to the quality: https://thefoldlondon.com/product/elwood-knitted-dress-plum-merino/

I’m also very tempted by this. I like that it’s a bit sculptural but I’m little and might sort of vanish in it. https://thefoldlondon.com/product/adeline-midi-dress-navy-stretch-ponte/

@JAdoreMonPetitLabradorDodu those 2 dresses just ooze sophistication. I love the burgundy one. Quite classic and very elegant.

Do let us know what the quality is like.

This!

I'm still shopping where I shopped 10/15 years ago - but seeking out the better quality/cut items and sizing up or down to whatever looks more stylish. I'm a dress size 8-10 and 5'8" and often buy things in M or L these days - oversize knitwear for example looks more luxury wherever it's from.