Where do you buy your fabulous clothes?

[unlikelywitch]

I’m just after looking through Zara’s ‘new in’ and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such dull, uninspiring clothes!

Zara, Mango, H&M, etc have been my go to shops for years but I feel I’m beginning to outgrow them. I want to start taking risks and having more fun with fashion - sort of Carrie Bradshaw-esque - but I’m not sure where to start. I follow India De Baufort who’s gorgeous and while I love a lot of her outfits, most of them are ££££ and some feel a teeny bit try hard.

What are you go to shops and brands for clothes that make you look and feel fabulous?

I like small independent shops and they usually sell interesting things. Like this, to throw on over a plain vest or long sleeved top and jeans.

I love wandering around charity shops. You can get some amazing, quality stuff, from a whole range of good & even designer labels. I have a better wardrobe since using them then I had before.

Their clothing isn’t quite what I’m after @AlertCat but some of the jewellery is really interesting!

I definitely think charity shops and buying second hand is something I need to do more @KindLemonSquid.

My favourite brands are -

Maje
Sandro
Elisabetta Franchi
Reformation
Claudie Pierlot

Following. I don't know Elisabetta Franchetti. I have things from Maje, Sandro and Claudie Pierlot and was enthusiastic about buying from them in the sale a few years ago.

Other than one very durable navy wool coat from CP, I have to say that all of the other things, especially dresses and blouses, haven't worn well and look sort of cheap, synthetic, frayed and generally Zara/Mango like (I also like those shops).

I can't afford to buy clothes in any higher price range (in fact, can't really afford to buy in this one) but would love some suggestions for similar mid-upper range brands that are better quality but also fun and not sacklike.

(I loathe Toast. I like Arket a lot for jeans, long sleeve t-shirts etc, but it isn't exactly fun.)

I like Sugarhill Brighton.

And Nobody’s Child - though the quality is hit and miss.

Love Wolf and Badger for mix of brands. Also Free People, Anthropologie, Maje, and Ganni.

I was looking at the Zara new collection today too. Why is it filled with suits? No one wears suits any more, and people who do wear them for work won’t want a badly cut polyester Zara suit.

I like the look of Ganni and Essentiel Antwerp but can’t afford it so can’t comment on the quality.

Really like some of the Elisabetta Franchi stuff - expensive but there’s quite a lot of it on Vinted! The others seem like a more elevated Zara, Mango et al.

Not so helpful, but visited Denmark recently and the stock in Zara in Copenhagen was absolutely beautiful, far surpassing the jumble of nonsense in the UK store I popped into recently. No idea what's odd with UK Zara but feels like we're being short-changed.

I agree with you. Zara in the UK is very poor compared to the stores in Europe.
Here they seem to insist of having 50 of everything on the racks and shelves, the same for H&M. It just makes the shops look a mess. I rarely go in there now.

Charity shops. You've got access to those brands but from many different years/seasons, as well as other brands that might not usually be your thing but the odd piece will catch your eye, and those one odd independent or overseas pieces.

I’m really into vintage Vivienne Westwood atm but the clothes are still quite pricey second hand. Lusting after several pairs of the anglomania Melissa heels on Vinted and Vestaire Collective which seem to be more reasonable.

Have a look at Sezane too. I’m not into their frilly blouses but some of their knits and jackets are nice. I also seem to have quite a bit of COS in my wardrobe. Mainly tops and trousers.

Currently I have great fun wearing the brands I've been accused of being a paid plant for.

Palava, Klements, Cabbages & Roses, Colenimo, Batsheva, Baum und Pferdgarten, Sister Jane, Oska, Ganni, Edina Ronay, L F Markey, Pauw, Casey Casey , Egg and a new discovery CFCL. Max Mara, but only for coats

The owners of this boutique have been an inspiration over the years.
Frontiers

I had exactly the same thought in Mango this weekend. Half the shop was full of suits .. seemed bizarre!

I've often wondered if it would be worth a one night trip to a European city solely for the purpose of restocking my wardrobe.

Cos mostly but am also up for having more fun with my wardrobe so here for ideas.

I discovered flannels in the Christmas/January sales loads of brands to trawl through. My budget is small but I got some MAC jeans reduced from something like 200quid to a tenner, some cargo trousers for similar, and a Ganni jumper retailing for 450 quid for 50 on VINTED. Found lovely wide legs trousers at Hollister I think Livvy was the style name and some gorgeous sweater dresses and PJ's from JL Everyday range.

I am going to try charity shops this weekend but we only have next Roman Fatface and marks in our town so I don't go,D out much hope

@unlikelywitch

Rixo is my new favourite. Very flattering silhouettes, feminine and vintage inspired prints.

Monsoon. I must have about a dozen of their dresses.

Look at Sezane, Other Stories, Nobody's Child and Ro&Zo

I like ba&sh, maje, the kooples, sezane & much like a pp i love visiting European cities & picking up unusual things in small boutiques. Italy is especially good for this I've found!

I used to go to Amsterdam every 18 months or so to get work jackets and skirts from Pauw but I don't really need that sort of very highly tailored clothes now. I've kept everything as it was too lovely to get rid of but don't wear it now.

I went to Frankfurt in 2019 for this very reason. Very expensive but gorgeous clothes.

A Greek friend once said that she couldnt believe how bad the clothes were in the UK. We do seem to end up with the shit.