WHERE, oh where are people my age supposed to shop? (mid 30s) I need serious help please!

[EachPeachPearMum]

I need some new clothes, as most of my wardrobe is too smart/formal for home, and I'm on a year's maternity leave, but WHERE am I supposed to find nice comfortable quality clothes that aren't frumpy but not made for 18 year olds? That will keep their shape, not necessarily require ironing, and haven't been made by 12 year olds? Natural materials usually (ie not polyester) Oh, and that are nice enough to wear to drop-off/pick-up DD from school...a new experience for me as she starts after Easter.

I am 35, 5' 0" and normally size 10, though DS is only 8 weeks old, so I'm closer to a 12 atm, but it's going down. I have a very, very short back (legs more normalised length) so a lot of tops I cannot wear as they tend to come mid-nipple- not a good look! V necks and boat or slash necks suit me much more than scoop or round necks. Am ample of nork (32 F at present) so buttoned up tops are not ideal, hence 10s are harder to fit in atm too. 3/4 length sleeves are usually a good length on me. I am very pale, with brown hair just past shoulder-length. Eyes are green-grey. There is no way on this earth I will be posting a pic on my profile

I have 1 pair of jeans, lots of t-shirts- the majority of which are fine for at home with the children, but I wouldn't want to wear them on the school run IYSWIM. I tend to wear blues (favourite colour), greys, blacks, and greens and browns (obv trying to look taller by emulating trees...) I am not a schiaparelli pink type person.

I am bf, and will be doing so for a while- so separates are a necessity. I am not a dress person- normally I wear trousers every day- even in the height of summer, though we haven't had one since 2006... when I was on mat leave last time (so going to be a scorcher this year, I promise )- I do own a couple of summer skirts though. I think I'd secretly like to be a dress person, but it isn't practical, and I get cold too easily. I usually wear 'plimsoll like' trainers or flat soft leather shoes (el naturalista).

There don't seem to be any magazines that are aimed at me either- I have no idea what to get or where to get it...

I have a good range of shops available, and am not completely penniless, though obviously I don't particularly feel I can justify spending thousands... just don't know where to start.

I need another pair or 2 of trousers/jeans, a couple of waist length cardigans in cotton (wool is too scratchy on DS' face) and some 'tops'. Open to any suggestions...

Help!

I can recommend H&M's current crop of cardis - I bought two from there the other day (one heathery blue, one grass green) and I love them. Nice soft cotton, a tenner each.

cyteen- they sound great! Which H&M label do they have? (divided, LOGG, etc)

anniemac I always loved zara/mango when I lived in Paris- but the range over here does not seem as good, seems to cater to younger market (or maybe it's that I'm 10years older now???)

Did Principles go bust though? Their petite stuff usually fits me well...

Yes- I think a nice jacket would be a good idea- my 'spring' jackets are too small for my chest atm... so will look for a jacket.

Wilf I find Grazia and Easyliving unreadable.... maybe it's just me I got Easy Living when I went into hosp to have DS... but there was nothing in there to read! Everything was a paragraph or 2 long- infuriating. Fashion pages were all £900 silk button up blouses in nude tones- not v practical for me atm! (Nor would they suit my colouring)
There was an interesting article on families who all dress similarly (ie all members of family get clothes from same shop) maybe I should dig it out again and see which shops I would like?

I think I am a Gap/H&M/Kew person. Plain definitely- small frame means patterns/stripes look ridiculous and swamp me.

EPPM, if money's not a huge issue, why don't you go to an image consultant?
Saves loads of time shopping as you can pinpoint colours and styles in shops much more quickly.

Or how about a personal shopper? Most department stores have them and even if you don't purchase they will get you to try things you would usually dismiss......

They're just H&M as far as I can see. Which makes sense as LOGG stuff always makes me look like a sack of spuds

Principles did go bust but you can still get their stock via Debenhams. I am fiending for a stripy skirt of theirs at the moment actually. Bloody mat leave giving me time to browse the shops (but no actual money to buy anything ).

I too am in 30s and shop in:
oasis
french connection
warehouse
gap house of fraser

book a personal shopper appt at house of fraser and you will get sorted in no time!

My wife swears by Hobbs for smart casual - but I think has got a bit over the top on prices recently.

Principles has gone bust
Noticed when I was in Cardiff yessterday, shame I liked a lot of their stuff.
I ma 37 and like
Fat Face
River Island
Gap
M&S - for basics
Primark for quirky bargains

I'm gap for basics. Try layering their long sleeve t-shirts in black or white under a lower cut short-sleeve top for a more modern look and to keep your modesty.

I also like Fatface. They have some nice smocky type / empire line tops which are great over a T-shirt.

Zara have good cotton cardis in at the mo. The longer line ones.

Cyteen, whereabouts do you live? Are you after the stripy skirt with the navy underskirt? there are a few shops left open until 4pm tomorrow. Debenhams do have the whole range, but only instore and not on the website as they are not allowed to, something to do with the Deliotte.

Uniqlo! Definitely - they have great casual tops in all colours and styles, plus very easy to wear jeans (inc. skinny, wide leg etc). And a few more of the moment items. And great value. I love them!

Can't beat Gap for trews either.

nontoxic -where would I find an image consultant? Am intrigued... as I am not a multinational corporaation Sounds promising though- I'm sure I could do with one...

lumpsdumps hi I am in Leicester and have seen the skirt several times in Debenhams...just can't justify afford it

You can buy principles stuff on Amazon.

Each Peach is very pretty (actually she looks just like her daughter whose pic is on her profile) so I don't understand the no photo line!

EachPeach - I suspect that you would not like Peacocks and I think that their ethical track record is on a par with Primark.

For jeans, I'd recommend Gap long and lean (in 'ankle' fit for shorties!) or New Look Hula jeans (which come in various different lengths).

M&S and Gap tend to have reasonable quality long or 3 quarter sleeved t-shirts in a variety of colours and necklines.

Hi Cyteen, have been on the amazon site for you and they haven't got the skirt on there, I have the skirt and I absolutely love it, though I haven't worn it since my last day at work as it was part of my uniform and I'm still abit raw about how we were treated. I would recommend it though I wouldn't now obviously buy it from Debenhams for obvious reasons!

Kettlewell colours (mail order) is good for plain coloured tops/cardigans which are good quality.

EachPeach, House of Colour or Colour Me Beautiful have consultants all over the country.

Or you can find an independent one in Yellow Pages.

There's a lady with a website, www.improbability.co.uk who I think is in Northampton, but the best way to find an independent one is probably wom.

Sorry that's www.improvability.co.uk (!) and it's in Chesterfield.

White Stuff isn't made for tall people - I'm 5'7" and their trousers are only just long enough - I love their tops though

EPPM can you do floaty linen trousers or do you feel swamped by too much material?

Janeite you are very kind... but I must point out to any readers that Janeite does wear spectacles
I wonder if maybe I have the face version of body dysmorphia... yes- my DD is a 'mini-me' completely... but as I get older, I look more and more like my father in a wig!

somuchtobits thank you for reminding me about kettlewell, had seen a recommendation on mn before and forgotten them.

mimsum- floaty are just too much for my little legs, I'm afraid. Usually go with straight leg or boot cut tbh.

nontoxic thank you for the link... I am sure I would be very scared of one of those people though...

I like Principles, Monsoon, Wallis.

I go into H&M but I've regretted everything I've ever bought in there.

I would wear tartan hotpants or a black cat suit, whatever I wanted to wear, whatever my eye was drawn to.... I certainly haven't done that for a long time. I started to tone it down a little bit at about 27 actually, I was wearing a catsuit from H&M as it happens and I did wonder, hmmmmmmmmmm, mouton, peut-etre!! I haven't felt like that in a long time.

I mean, when I was 21, I'd wear anything. I'm very careful now because I don't want to look like a half-eejit, or even a complete eejit.

Margot- don't think I would ever have worn tartan hotpants! not really me IYKWIM

They probably weren't really me either, but at 21, I didn't see myself as being connected to the clothes. If I liked something, I'd wear it.

Now, I can look at something on a hangar and recognise that it's beautiful, but not for me!

I wear my clothes now. At 21 I probably looked a bit like Sue Pollard (well, hell no, I never looked that bad)