Where should I buy clothes?

[Sandpitnotmoshpit]

In the past 4 years I've bought very few non maternity clothes as I've had two children so spent most of my time pregnant/breastfeeding/too large to wear my pre pregnancy clothes.

I'm going back to work in September and I need some new things. And just generally some autumn/winter clothes generally.

I feel a bit lost, and that I can't go back to the places I bought stuff before children - I just feel like my style has changed and I don't enjoy the shops I used to like. In the past a lot of my clothes have come from & other stories and Zara, but basically I no longer need very much at all for evenings out of day time activities without kids. I also want to buy less things and buy stuff which is more ethical - comes from the UK, made in small batches etc. Some brands I've found like this I struggle with as I just find the clothes incredibly dull. I am happy to hand wash most of my clothes on cold in the washing machine or literally by hand. However, despite doing this I feel increasingly that 50% of what I buy immediately shrinks or bobbles and I'm very frustrated by the quality which seems to have massively decreased. So e.g. Whistles I would have bought from 5 years ago but no I feel the quality is dreadful or at least incredibly hit and miss.

I need smart stuff for work (not super corporate, basically anything up to but not including jeans is fine), weekends running around with small children but also the odd pub trip etc. I used to buy a lot of occasionwear but most people I know are now married and I'll rent if I need super smart stuff. Id really like some new sweatshirts for autumn and was tempted by the sezanne ones last year but everyone on here seems to say they are crap quality! My children at the moment are 100% better dressed than me!

Clothes I like the look of
but in some cases I don't really want to buy due to ethical standards/poor quality of clothes/not fitting my lifestyle now
& Other stories
Sezanne
Reformation
Rixo
Whistles
Aligne (like these, will still buy from)
John Lewis own brand
Paloma Wool
Kitri
Massimo dutti
Ganni
Uniqlo (can't wear a whole outfit of stuff that's boring though)
Arket
Cos

I'm 36 and a size 12 and don't have big boobs so some stuff like e.g. nobody's child dresses doesn't fit for that reason. I'm crap in anything really oversized, feel like it makes me look fat. Would prefer trousers and shirts for work. I like patterns. Sorry if you've got through this long post, very grateful!

I feel like I will keep buying stuff from Cos, Arket etc but would really like some other ideas.

Also, sorry just to add, I think a massive problem for me at the moment is that I've always hated buying clothes online and now I have very little time to go to the shops and find central London shopping or Westfield (these are the places which are accessible to me) really stressful. I like having a mooch in the independent shops where I live which so stock an interesting range of clothes. So also happy for shop recommendations in north, east or central London.

Community Clothing
Palava
Klements
Colenimo
Eat Dust Clothing
Jo Gordon
King & Tuckfield
La Fetiche (sales maybe?)
Plümo
Studio Nicholson
YMC

And for expert curation of new stuff from countless brands:

Collagerie

Or, if you have the patience,

Net-a-Porter sales
Thr Outnet

These are all online, a couple at least have physical stores. (Can you identify what it is about shopping online that you find unsatisfying? After shopping in physical stores for many years longer than you’ve been alive, I find online shopping a hundred times better than any declining High St, and can’t help feeling that if you master it you’ll find life much easier going forward. For groceries as well as clothes.)

I had a long list of wholesome, homespun clothing enterprises - but some have closed and others stock about six items each …

🤔 …

When you find a brand that you like, get it on Vinted. Someone else has washed it, worn it and done the bobble / shrink test for you. I bought a Principles dress that actually bobbled when I was wearing it! From new It was recycled after one wash.

Oh dear - have you changed your mind, @Sandpitnotmoshpit?

It's totally normal to feel like your style has changed after having kids. For work, you might like Baukjen and People Tree—they're ethical and have great quality. Thought Clothing is another good option for stylish and sustainable pieces. For weekends, try Finisterre or Saint + Sofia for practical yet chic looks. Hush has cozy sweatshirts perfect for autumn. Hope this helps!

Sorry I just realized I wrote a really long reply and didn't post it!

@Wildermess Thanks, this is great. A few of these I have looked at already - I like studio Nicolson. Community is one of the brands I want to like but find too boring!

So I live pretty near central London, so declining high street not really an issue - everything is here if they sell in a physical shop. What I hate about online shopping is not being able to try anything on. I feel sizing is super inconsistent and I'm fussy with my clothes so I end up returning 70-90% of what I buy. Some brands I just wouldn't buy from online (e.g. Uniqlo) as I've read on here that you might not get your money back with returns.

I do buy online, but I'd probably prefer to do a mixture. For example with trousers - unless I'm rebuying something I already have I'd estimate I try on 20/30 pairs for every pair I actually buy!

I'm working my way through all your suggestions thank you so much.

People tree is one I'd forgotten about, thanks @emily012 . I'm not a fan of Baukjen - I've ordered some stuff from there before and didn't like the fabrics. I need to have another look at thought clothing.

@IncessantNameChanger lots of my clothes are from vinted. Particularly in the last few years as I've bought lots which was in different sizes where I didn't want to be wearing it forever. I've seen a really decline in the stuff I search for on vinted over the past few months and had quite a few shit experiences which has put me off it a bit.