Where do people shop for good quality basics/Trousers?

[Grumpymiddleagedwoman43]

I have just been to EVERY SINGLE shop in my home town. I cannot find any decent basic long sleeve tops (not 3/4 length) with either a scoop/v-neck.
I am a cold soul, so always need long sleeves under everything to keep warm.
Also struggling with trousers, I am slim but straight (waist and hips almost same circumference)- high waisted look awful on me, and virtually all the wide leg trousers I try have inches flapping down!
I am flummoxed. I am 5'5, size 10 but athletic and I CANNOT find anything that looks half decent. Help me please :)
(FWIW can't stand Next, M & S, or most high street brands as I find the quality is very poor now and nothing looks good after the first wash)

Uniqlo?

Matalan have a decent selection of black trousers if you need something like that for work. Jeans are pretty good too.

Next have a really good selection of basic t shirts online I know it says crew neck, but it's very scoops for a crew
Land's End

Agree with next for tops, selection of colours too. For trousers I like Klass. I've bought quite a few pairs of trousers and good quality. They have online shopping and in store, which will depend on your location.

Gap might work for you.

She did state that she doesn't like next, though next have a wider range these days with varying brands...

Cos

I've just bought these trousers, low to mid rise and they feel so comfortable!!

https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/uk/p/hollister-livvy-wide-leg-pants-54573408?categoryId=99210&faceout=model&seq=12

My black trousers are all Asda, very cheap ones too.

I got my black trousers in Next, they're actually okay and I feel the same as you about Next clothing. Also have a pair of tweed ones from River Island.

Fat Face have some nice trousers at the moment.

Tops I have the same problem, long sleeved v neck seem to be a rare find these days.

Uniqlo are great for basics

I'm with you on the m&s quality, it really gone down hill , in last two years the trousers I have have brought have faded after a couple of washings, and yes I do use a liquid for colours, and a couple of tops the long sleeved polo, turtle neck tops that they do every year, have gone the same. The only things I buy there now are thermals and underwear.

I think the Gap long sleeve tops are the best. Nice thick cotton and a bit of Lycra. Better than Marks, Cos (my favourite shop) and Jigsaw

Uniqulo
I've bought 3 pairs over the last 6 months and they're lasting so much better than the more expensive brands that I tried before.
They wash brilliantly. No ironing.

Goodness, @Grumpymiddleagedwoman43 - you could have saved yourself all that needless effort and gone straight to Community Clothing - which is online only apart from the odd pop-up shop.

Excellent quality, ethics, environmental commitments - a curated range of UK made clothes, so no wading through millions of pages of tat. (I do not work for them!) Have a look at the trousers in particular.

(Oh no - I’m supposed to have given up S&B for Lent! But your suffering melted my heart, @Grumpymiddleagedwoman43 …)

I have a john lewis cotton long sleeved top with a scoop neck this will be its 3rd summer, so it seems to wash well.

Jigsaw pretty good. Try the Paris trousers, currently 20% off. Good for slim athletic frame.

Seasalt?

Arket, & Other Stories, Abercrombie, Reformation, Massimo Dutti, Cos, Sezane?

Boden do long sleeved sleeved tops with a scoop neck

Thanks for all your replies, I'll check out COS and Gap. I just always prefer real life shopping particularly with trousers as the fit is so important. Seem to send 95% of stuff back from online, but looks like there isn't much of an option these days.

I've just remembered one more that might be worth a look - Everlane.

https://www.everlane.com/collections/womens-sale

Brand Alley too

Do you not possess a friendly local tailor, @Grumpymiddleagedwoman43? No High St price clothes are made with the care or attention we used to be able to expect - so it’s more than likely that clothes might need some alteration. That isn’t a fault in the buyer - it’s just a fact of life.

Landsend for good quality long sleeved t-shirts that have round necks. I too get cross at the 3/4sleeves 😂