Where to buy new basics?

[baggagecabbage]

I know this is a bit vague and style is subjective but I need some help.

I've lost a lot of weight (six dress sizes) and hate shopping. I need to kit myself out with things like jeans and tops but haven't got a clue. On the one hand I have spent the past decade morbidly obese and viewed clothes shopping as a mission to cover myself up and not draw attention to my bulges. I spent my entire thirties dreading buying new clothes. To that end, I would like to show my slimmer figure off. I also don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb (I hope I don't offfend anyone here, I am just talking about myself). Can anyone suggest where they buy good fitting jeans and nice tops.
I tend to spend the weekends ferrying my son around to various sports clubs so I'm looking for stylish but casual.

Thanks in advance!

Wow congratulations on your weight loss, that's incredible and I bet you feel amazing. I really rate Uniqlo for decent basics. They are not expensive, decent quality and their clothes seem to last. The only thing is, their sizing is a bit crazy, so if you can, id recommend trying on in-store. I also really like Cos for decent quality jeans and T-shirts.

Well done on the weight loss! Jeans are the WORST thing to shop for whatever your size. I tend to stick to M&S or Next but I tried some different styles on in H&M yesterday and came away with 2 really well fitting pairs, both wide leg, one slightly cropped. My 20 year old thinks they look cool so I’ll take that as a win.

Congratulations OP!

It might be worth trying out John Lewis's free personal styling service:

https://www.johnlewis.com/our-services/personal-styling

Finding the right jeans can be trial and error.

I too have lost weight and went jeans shopping last week and surprisingly, well to me Next had some corkers. I never shop in Next but so good bought 2 pairs

I agree with Next and M&S. Both have different lengths which makes a really big difference.

Of course M&S won't have any of the sizes in the actual shop because they never do but their ordering for click and collect and delivery is good.

I’d say it all depends on your budget and what size you’ve gone down to.

H&m tend to fit better on smaller sizes. Yours has flattering clothes of you’re now down to a 16 for instance. M&s is good but then again george at asda has some good stuff too!
i’d say have a day- go to a few shops and try on to find your own style.

Thank you all for your very kind replies. I've gone from a size 20 to a 10. My mind hasn't caught up with my body and I'm still in terribly fitting clothes which look awful. I can't seem to bring myself to picking up a size 10 in a shop. I've actually found it quite difficult.

I will check out Next, Uniqlo and M&S.

I would just like for once to feel nice in clothes rather than wanting to disappear.

Goodness! - I imagine you must feel very different (and possibly a little shell shocked) with your new size?

Given that this is S&B it might be nice to wander beyond Em and Ess, Next, and JL. Though I agree Uniqlo can supply all the basics.

Community Clothing will also do that - with added ethical and environmental credits. Correspondingly more expensive than Uniqlo, but …

Then you want

Zara
Colorful Standard
& Other Stories
Cos
Massimo Dutti

For more particular style:

American Vintage
Palava
YMC

And if you want to dress up:

Realisation Par for cool silk dresses.

Tfat would be a start, though the world’s your oyster. Just browse as many (recommended) sites as you can to get your eye in with new proportions, lengths, colour combinations, etc.

(PS I think we aim to avoid the meat phrase on this board …)

Well done on your weight loss!

A relative of mine gets a lot of things from George at Asda and always looks great. I think because she also always has: styled hair, jewellery and nice nails.

Hollister jeans fit really nicely.

I work in next and I never shopped there before but we do have some nice stuff now

My advice is to open one of our accounts and order loads of stuff from our website to try at home . Returns are so easy and we do soooo many every day so you won't look out of place .

We have all the brands on our website so loads to choose from but our own brand jeans are actually really good these days .

I would help you if you came in my shop and although we are always under staffed I'm sure someone would help you in your local if you asked .

I love dressing people especially when they have lost weight and you can show them there figures ! 🥰

Also my sister lost 8 stone after a gastric sleeve and these jeans are her go to because she is a big squishy .. they are universally flattering and safe in my experience

www.next.co.uk/style/st447409/d78840#d78840

They come in all lengths and are stretchy and flattering .. if you aren't used to wearing jeans the black are a safe start !

In a similar situation I ordered a load of clothes from Boden because they have plenty of choice and easy returns. I could try loads on at home and although I sent most back, I had plenty of time to make sure I was really happy with what I kept. Anywhere that has good variety and a decent returns policy would work.

Wowsers op. Firstly give yourself time for your mind to catch up with your new figure. Jeans are a flippin nightmare to get right, you need to just try loads on I think, regardless of size. I like Urban Outfitters for jeans, you could also try ordering a selection from ASOS and see what style works for you now?

Maybe try a personal shopper appointment at John Lewis? I recently bought the white stuff cropped wide leg jeans which are great (but do come up large)

well done, OP! Its great though isnt it?? (Ive gone from a size 22 to a 10 and clothes have gone from a trial to a real pleasure!).

Ive found Vinted really helpful. I dont have many shops locally so its a great way to try out new brands on the cheap. Also a good way of experimenting with styles and colours you might not have thought of.
I just bought a pair of brand new wide legged lilac jeans from Tu off Vinted. Both the colour and cut are way more flattering then I was expecting!

Blimey well done!

definitely just shop around - you’ll find your new “you”

River Island have a good sale on at the moment