what am I meant to wear?

[misshardbroom]

In a nutshell...

...age 33, size 10-12 (but more the 12 end these days if I'm honest), seriously flabby tummy issue due to 3 children and late night chocolate habit.

Just gone back to work p/t as a school administrator after 6 years at home, but I'm still running round after young children when I'm not at work.

I usually have a very limited clothes budget.

I like to look as though I have some concept of fashion, but I've never been cool.

Went shopping yesterday and ended up completely bewildered. The affordable shops (e.g. H&M) seemed way too young for me, can no longer bear the Primark shopping experience, but feel I'm too young for Laura Ashley and Per Una. So what in the name of all that is good & holy am I supposed to wear?

Help me before I show up to the school gates in my bra and pants in desperation.

oh, and I should have added - if anyone has any secret mail order companies they'd like to share, that would be even more great.

Am the same age as you - have you tried Zara? H&M do have some nice stuff in but you have to rummage. For work I tend to stick to smart trousers/top/jacket combo, but have never been fashion conscious

Hi there.
I'm 32 and slightly bigger than you (14), btw, but probably quite similar in terms of wanting to look vaguely fashionable, but never having been uber cool .

I mix and match from lots of different shops. There is no one shop I love, and accepting that has been good for my shopping experience .

I have also found a style that suits me (I think/hope!?), which is 'day dresses' that have a drapey front to mask up mum tum, are a bit fitted around the waist to accentuate that and then a V neck to accentuate decent bust. I wear them with black leggings/thick tights and boot in cooler weather / leggings or bare legs & sandals/flip flops in summer. It's got me out of a jeans-and-tops rut, and I can dress the style up for more formal occasions, too. I'm presuming you don;t have to dress ultra formally for work?

Shops I find stuff in:

White Stuff - always shop online, as none near me, and usually try to stick to their sale stuff.

Great Plains - ditto

Fat Face - ditto

Top shop for a few basics - but I also tend to shop online, as the stores give me a headache (too many 14 yr olds giggling )

M&S for a few basics - I quite like their slim leg dark blue jeans and their extra long black leggings for underneath dresses/tunics.

Zara - lots of it is too flimsy and young for me, but I do find one or two nice things most seasons. They are good for jackets and 'on trend' shoes, I find.

Dotty P - has got a lot better in recent years. Also nice and cheap. I buy a few bits here in quite regularly.

Warehouse - a very young shop, but does have the occasional lovely piece for quite cheap. I got a great print dress there a few months ago that is very versatile and was only £30.

I must admit, I do like Primark and New Look, but I think they are only worth a visit when you already have some decent basics and are looking for accessories - jewellery, scarves, cardis etc - to add to an outfit, or for summery stuff for very hot weather (not worth spending much on hot weather clothes for this country!).

Hope that helps a little bit. I actually hate clothes shopping and find it stressful, so have got it down to a fine art in terms of which shops I know I might have a chance of finding something in and which are just a complete no go.