Clothes advice please ladies...

[LobstersLass]

I am a hopeless case. I don't really know what I'm doing with clothes. Where should a mid 30s professional woman be shopping?

For work I always wear black tailored trousers, a black top and a jacket.

Away from work I wear jeans or linen trousers teamed with a cotton top (like a posh t-shirt).

I make random purchases when I desparately need new clothes, but am never convinced that they're particualry great decisions.

Anyway, I need style advice. I want to feel good. Dammit, I want to look good!

Here's the challenge...
I am 5'3'', size 16/18, apple shaped. Good tits, legs ok, midriff appalling.

Please help!

I need to know which shops I should be going to and what kind of stuff I should be wearing. I need a total overhaul. I have money to spend on clothes, just no idea what I should be buying.

Many thanks in advance.

Thanks Pannacotta, sorry I didn't take that in!
And thanks TillyScoutsmum too.

I shall have a look right now.
I feel a shopping trip coming on next weekend!

LobsterLass if you do decide to try and shed a few pounds, can really recommend the Food Doctor, aka Ian Marber.
He is a good nutritionist who doesn't believe in "diets" as such, rather that we are more moderate and healthy in our eating habits. He has loads of good ideas for apple types (who are more prone to diabetes and heart problems).
He has his own website and books
www.thefooddoctor.com/default.asp?src=fdcom

Pannacotta, 20 years of yo-yo dieting have led to me being fat. I think I need to start moving about more and eating smaller portions. Sounds easy huh! Thanks for the book recommendation. I will get order it.

Slight complicating factor in all this is that I'm 5 weeks pregnant, so I'm not going to be getting thinner anytime soon!

However, this is a fabulous opportunity to start eating healthily and exercising regularly otherwise I'll be a total state once baby arrives.