I'm shopping for new clothes. I want to cry. Where to go?!

[PeakAchoo]

I need some new clothes. I especially need some new trousers/jeans. I want these basics but I'm also in the market for a few statement pieces (bottoms or tops).

I decided to hit up New Look (my favourite shop) online and buy absolutely anything that took my fancy.

That has turned out to be basically nothing because everything is shit. I've found a few pairs of wide leg trousers and that's about it.

Everything is just awful. There are no statement tops or trousers that I can find, everything is so safe and same-y. The jumpers are all box-y, shapeless, and look bobbly already. The T-shirts are all slouchy and trying to be quirky with logos of old bands on them.
Even the models are making me feel depressed - they're beautiful young women but all slumped shoulders and concave midriffs.

Is everywhere equally as awful? Where shall I try to give my wardrobe a bit of a boost, where I could get some good basic stuff and a few statement pieces?

I'm not a fan of Uniqlo. I don't particularly like Yumi or Joe Browns. I'm boycotting M&S. I've never been able to get on with sizing at H&M.

Help me, MN!

Ever considered taking up sewing as a hobby? You can get very creative making your own clothes in the shapes/designs/patterns/colours of your choice. Or knitting (jumpers, jackets). If you don’t already, you might find the first couple of attempts might be substandard, but it’s not difficult, really, and practice makes perfect!

I'm the same. Boxy, over sized clothes don't suit me, I'm 5' 3" and have a small frame, I look like someone's chucked the contents of a washing basket over me!

I'm quite a classic dresser, but one who can't wear wool or cashmere and hates shirts and trench coats (collars and buttons irritate me) ... I like really simple, pared down elegant clothes that fit me. I've sort of given up. Very occasionally I'll find something, but it takes a lot of searching. There isn't one shop where I like lots of the things.

Don't get me started on sizing ...

I do think this is always worth a try, however people are much more savvy about it now and will trawl said areas to buy up and sell at inflated prices on Vinted etc.

Charity Shop Girl on Insta in good for inspiration though (and she's local to Cheshire).

Lucy and Yak! You'll never look back (bak?).

https://lucyandyak.com/

Have you tried a well-cut suit/suit jacket, YSL Le Smoking style? I think that look could look really good on you.

Was just wondering why no one had mentioned Lucy & Yak, then noticed someone finally has above!
Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but certainly not boring. Plus they’re really well made and have a great range of sizes.

Why are you boycotting M&S PeakAchoo? They've improved their offer a lot.

Yes, certainly not boring. Interesting style I'd say. Like yu say, not everyone's cup of tea!

You’ve got a great figure OP but why in gods name are you shopping at teenage brands like New Look. ( especially using terms like classic and well cut with what you want) . For the same money you could buy much nicer quality for your money. I don’t have a huge budget for clothes at the moment but I like to be fashion forward but plan what I want rather than just seeing what’s out there. I have just bought some great trousers & t shirt from Me & Em in the sale and have been taking a look at Albaray. I bought a long black maxi skirt from Arket which tends to be more classic than Cos. ( Cos is not all boxy and oversized though). If you like colour then maybe Essential Antwerp or LF Markey could be a good second hand option.

I hate everything in the shops too. Am on a no buy and hoping to buy only in charity shops in the future. I do like wide leg trousers, but hate puff sleeves, tiers on dresses, Amish core, florals, massive oversized sacks... I could go on for ever.

I know, I hate shopping on the High Street these days, it's a v dispiriting experience. Tbh I get most of my clothes from charity shops these days. Last year I bought 3 quite nice dresses from Wallis online, a turquoise dress in the Next sale, a lovely green cardigan in TKMax and a few pairs of shoes in shops, but everything else was secondhand. I'm currently on a diet just so I can fit into the many lovely clothes I already own in my wardrobe!

Interesting that not one person on this thread has mentioned Boden, which used to be the mumsnet shop of choice, with people talking about sales weeks in advance. Do they just sell to America now or are they the next Bodyshop?

I’ve never liked Boden. Too old fashioned for me.

Fat Face. I’d be screwed if they ever went bust!

I don’t know what retailers are thinking with some of these models-it puts me right off their clothes as their proportions surely don’t relate to 90% of the female population!

I don't find New Look to be a particularly teenage brand. My 68 year old mum always finds something lovely in New Look whenever we go shopping together 😅

I find Cos really dull and dowdy. I've just looked at Albaray (never heard of it before) but its the same thing - lots of oversized beige jumpers.

I also really struggle with sizing - so much stuff on the high street aimed more at adults (I mean, not New Look!) is just too bloody big!

Thanks for the Lucy and Yak recommendations. I had come across them before but I'm not that keen. I'm not sure how to articulate what I don't like about their style - feels like its trying to be 'crazy' while actually being incredibly safe.

Because of their unisex changing room policy.

Next?
Mint Velvet?

I still buy things from.Boden now and again but MUCH less than I used to - I used it a lot for work wear as a 20-something in a London law firm, doubt it has any of that market now. I still have a lovely woollen pencil skirt with a little fishtail from back then, must dig it out. I also used to buy a lot of "chunky knitwear" (sorry!) from there - really heavy, quality knitted jacket type cardis, and what they used to call coatigans. Also good cashmere, and their swimwear used to be good back then, also used to get a lot of Bretons... Christ, thinking about I used to rely on them a lot. I remember their catalogue had felt very aspirational for me as a rural Northern teen - Parisian locations, lot of straight white teeth and long blonde hair, ballet flats and "fun" prints...so when I graduated I thought it was the height of chic!

At the same time (2004-7) I was also buying PJs from Hush and feeling like it was a cool new secret label, as it wasn't well-known then. Also Toast - I had two beautiful cardigans from there, albeit sale prices, so incredibly it must have felt reasonably affordable to me, an EA with a student loan to repay and an Islington room to pay for!

I also loved Noa Noa on Upper St, and Petit Bateau in Hampstead. There was.another boutique on Upper St that I liked - maybe Stone, anyone remember that? Other than that I shopped at Zara and Gap and had a lot of French Sole ballet flats, those were the days!

Apologies, this has turned v self-indulgent...