Help! Stuck in a (Boden) style rut.

[MrsSeanBean]

I need some ideas for daytime smart-casual mummy wear. I am size 12 with a long body and short legs in comparison. Fairly in proportion but tum is on the flabby side

I especially need help with shoes/boots and tops. I often wear skirts, prefer them to trousers, but need the comfort of flats which are sturdy and comfortable enough for walking but which don't look really odd with skirts.

At the moment I am living in Boden everyday denim skirt (appropriately enough), basic long sleeved tees/tops, fun tank tops, diamond opaque tights and Hobbs elastic sided boots.

I would love to glam up a bit with some interesting but still practical and warm tops.

Ideas as in shops?

Zara
Jigsaw
Warehouse

and yes, Top Shop...

I have no style tips as am currently wearing maternity jeans (DS is 9 months ) and the biggest jumper ever, so I bet you look fab. I also suffer from "duck's disease"

White Stuff and Oasis and Fat Face maybe?

SeanBean - are you really me??

Where do you want your "look" to go, MrsSeanBean?
For example, one of my friends told me, in a nice way, that I was looking too "mumsy" (!) and frog-marched me to Urban Outfitters and All Saints. Her reasoning was that the occasional item from one of those two would take a decade off me.

That said, I'm more comfy when wandering through Noa Noa and Comptoir de cotonniers at sale time. Though Noa noa was recently mocked in a newpaper's style section for purveying clothes that were deemed thoroughlly incomprehensible by men.

I (still) love Topshop. I think it's unbeatable.

Sorry, no web links owing to having tried Noa Noa's site first and just found it unbearably precious and time-wasting, leading to a plunging feeling of demoralisation.

Hmm I am not sure about my look really. A bit quirky I suppose. I used to like Jigsaw (when they were in their poncho and tatty leather belt phase) but don't really like their offerings any more. I used to like Ghost when Tanya Sarne was at the helm. I used to love Philosophy by Alberta Ferretti (when I could afford it). I say 'used to' as I have had neitehr time or finances to go shopping properly for a long time.

I guess my look is smart scruffy, if that makes sense? I hate sequins and motifs and manmade fabrics, love cord, velvet, silk, corsages. Tend to ignore fashion and buy what I love and looks OK on me. I prefer to buy fewer versatile / good quality pieces rather than more cheaper items.

I really worry that I don't 'get' Topshop.

People who have mentioned it, can you post some links to stuff you think is good? Whenever I enter Topshop it all looks a bit 'wrong' for me. Maybe it's an age thing?

Just to say "ditto".

was a Jigsaw fan, but not at the mo, as it's all shapeless and dull, have a few Boden bits, the odd thing from Next, Kew and White Stuff.
I prefer trousers though most of the time.

sounds like white stuff would fit the bill, I have gone off jigsaw recently adn white stuff is the place for me these days, try designers at debenhams too

M&S autograph range often have things I like. Not per una though. But I am stuck in a bit of a boden rut too. I think top shop stuff is rubbish but am probably too old (36)

ohh and toast is nice though pricey

like rocha john rocha at debs too.

Nothing can persuade me re. Topshop - but maybe I'm just old (mid 30s)/uncool/too unkeen on man-made fibres. I have occasionally ventured in, and have exited very quickly.

Boden are at least reliable for cotton/cord skirts (I don't like trousers) and cotton t-shirts. They don't have logos and silly slogans, which is good. Costco are good for plain 100% merino jumpers for a bargainful £12 or so (I have a whole collection of them to go with the Boden cord skirts).

MrsSean - if you find any alternatives to Boden, I shall be interested to hear them!

Mistral have some pretty skirts and other stuff.

another person here who is totally bemused by Topshop. If I ever venture in there I feel like someone's grandma and I am just totally clueless in the face of heaps of teenagerish clothes.

I like Hobbs, Fenn Wright Mason, Phase Eight, Monsoon (sometimes), Coast (sometimes)

No way I can do Topshop- my DD does- but she is 20- and I am in my 50s!

I so agree about Jigsaw, HF - went to sales today and it is dreary

White Stuff, Fat Face, Zara, Uniqlo, Esprit, Designers at Debenhams sometimes, Coast for partywear (not very often) and local "boutiques" which stock a wide range of Hobbs, Noa Noa, French Connection, etc and have fab discounts in their sales

I am so fed up with Jigsaw- it was my staple- though pricey- but I always went in and saw a million things I would buy- now it is nothing- unless you count T shirts at £30 a shot!

I would love to find something slightly bohemian, but chic and stylish- a decent dress and skirt fgs would be great!

Check out wrap www.wraponline.co.uk/index.htm

Urban Outfitters? (if you avert your eyes to the hundreds of pretty young things shopping in there!)

Something odd happened to Jigsaw about the same time as they 'rebranded' (labels and carrier bags). The prices went up and the style went down. I have sometimes resorted to Ebay for second hand stuff which I saw and liked (circa 5 years ago) but didn't buy at the time. In fact it may be worth writing to Jigsaw to report this. Something needs to be done otherwise they will 'go under'.

Thanks for links & ideas so far btw, especially like the look of Mistral skirts, some good cord and moleskin items there

There have been a couple of posts on here on the lines of "whither Jigsaw?" Indeed, a few weeks ago I posted with a picture of a jacket from Jigsaw Junior that would now no longer be any part of Jigsaw adult. I don't know who does that now. Noa Noa and Toast do feminine/natural fabrics but not really sexy/urban.

Does anyone know who supplies that gap in the market?

Re Topshop. I know what everyone's saying about TS, I feel like that but ... my goodness it is cheap. So, in the interests of cheapness for all, I thought I'd pass on my musings on this subject (in the style of Rabbit planning to kidnap Roo):

1. Topshop is big. 2. Topshop is cheap. 3. Topshop has lots and lots of choice (see 1) 4. Topshop is a nightmare; filled with vast amounts of clothes to sort through and hundreds of other people trying to sort through it at the same time as you (see 1, 2 and 3).

My top tips for Topshop are to 1. Never, ever, ever go on a Saturday and 2. Go around other shops first, have an idea of what you're looking for and then hunt for it in Topshop. Which is of course, unethical. But it works because you've been able to get a focus somewhere smaller and then that focus helps you navigate the madness that is Topshop.

Eg. My favourite Topshop buy is a dress that sort of leapt out at me after I'd spent ages staring at the Baleciaga dresses at the V and A exhibition. It's v. suitable for a lady of my years and was breathtakingly cheap. However, if it hadn't been for the trip to the exhibition I doubt I'd ever have spotted it.

Oh, last tip: Smile gamely when the shop assistants treat you like their best-friend's mum.

Oh, we all forgot Primark

Balenciaga.

And I've x-posted with everyone and MRsSB about Jigsaw.

I think you're right - we should write.

Zen, we should agree on a date and all email Jigsaw the same day. Hopefully someone would notice then.