Where to buy clothes as a tall chunkier woman

[AlwaysPurple]

I need some recommendations on where I can buy new tops. I'm 5'7 but have a long top half and short bottom half, to the extent that a lot of tops simply don't reach my trousers. In the winter I tend to wear baggy jumpers/knitwear and it's OK, but now summer is approaching, I'm struggling to find anything. I had a baby last year and it's fair to say I've gained a bit of a tummy. I'd like to shift it but progress is slow. I'm 31 and typically a size 14.

Last week I went to Next and all I could find was shapeless viscose and polyester stuff which does nothing for my shape, or super tight fitting stuff which I don't want. I ordered some stuff from Weird Fish, much nicer material but again big and shapeless. H&M is fine if you're under 25, but I'm not, I'm a working mum. Last year I bought some bits from Long Tall Sally, which were nicely long but baggy and a bit frumpy. That suited me while breastfeeding but not anymore.

Is this just the fashion these days? Please help me! Suggestions very welcome. DH suggested I start making my own clothes which might have to be a last resort!

I'm 5,10, with a long torso. A little bit older than you.

H and M has plenty for those over 25... I also shop in Primark without issue and supermarkets. Shops aimed at 30 something's with cash all seem to presume you will also be around 5,4... I'm skint, so don't shop in them.

Look cheaper, because in all honesty, I've never found this to be an issue, other than when I've tried to buy something spendy.

I’m 5’7 with a long back but a size 10-12. I like longer (or just average length on me) tops because I’m pear shaped and so shorter tops don’t look good.

With Long Tall Sally, I size down and so buy an 8 in tops where I would normally buy a 10 and they then look less frumpy, if you avoid the polyester ones too.

If you are looking for basics, I’ve been buying these t-shirts in different colours, from Next for a few years, which are a good length in the regular fit, in my normal size 10: https://www.next.co.uk/style/st423998/q82399#q82399 To add though, that the single packs seem to have changed to small, medium, etc, this year, so I don’t know how the fit is, although some of the multi-packs still have numbered sizes.

Tall range at Next

M&S great at the moment, don’t do ridiculously short tops, and they do long length trousers in a lot of styles.

Boden is good for trousers but I find their tops can be a bit narrow if you’re broad of shoulder.

mint velvet is good.

I still get bits from H&M.

Hush is good although sometimes the price a bit high for quality.

John Lewis has some good brands at the moment.

Oh and gap are good for long trousers too!

I am tallish and have broad shoulders, long torso, and Phase Eight is cut well for my figure. They actually seem to grade sleeves and armholes, which a lot of places don't do. I've had some nice shirts and tops that had good length.

M+S is ridiculously short. I think average in UK is 5'5" but I think they grade for shorter. tops also aren't pre-washed quite often so they shrink immediately. Their proportions are quite bad the larger you go up the sizes, particularly if you aren't a shortarse.