I don't know where to shop anymore. where do you find stylish clothes??

[lolaismyfavoriteandmybest]

Dh says I've started dressing like my mother so I've tried looking for some more exciting clothes but I don't know where to shop. I'm completely out of touch with style.

I went out last night to treat myself and found myself shopping at next and M&S and buying safe plain v nevked tops and bootcut traosers ans propagating my mumsy look.

I'm mid thirties and have a big build I'm a size 16 now, although alot of that is nork. I need extra long leg in trousers which is why i get sucked back to next as I struggle to find stuff to fit elsewhere.

Where else can I look? what should I be wearing?? please help!

nothing to be jealous of trust me!

I used to buy gap jeans year and years ago. then I found longer ones in next....

I gave up on dp and new look ages ago as I didn't like the clothes at the time. maybe worth another look.

I shop at Fatface. I am 38 and size 14, although often a 12 in FF. That is probably why I like them! I mainly stick to their jeans and Ts though, can't really do the floppy hippy sundress stuff anymore.

Bravissimo has the odd (top) bit for busty ladies.

I'm a big fan of Kew. Nothing very daring but well made, stylish clothes. Kind of like a cheaper Jigsaw before it went shit.

I'm in love with the white company at the moment. Their clothes are lovely.

jigsaw really has gone shit recently hasn't it? it used to be effortlessly classic but young. now it is weird and old.

Debi, agree with you about Gap - great selection jeans and trousers in lots of different lengths.

OP - STAY AWAY FROM MANGO - trust me, their fit comes up waaaayyy small! I think all of the their stuff is cut to fit teenage girls. I'm a size 10 and wouldn't dream of shopping there - the stuff didn't even look good when I was a small size 8!!!

You need to find "your style".

I am 50, but am a size 10 and everyone believes I am younger and find it hard too- but I tend to find a mix of things from:

Boden ( sorry)
Kew
Jigsaw ( hardly anything now)
White Stuff ( occasional top)
White Company ( nice knits sometimes)
Top Shop ( got a lovely cotton fitted cardi for £20)
Zara

It's as much about knowing what suits your shape and colouring. I need to wear simple and fitted, as I am fairly short- I know that certain styles such as calf length skirts, full skirts, and fussy tops swamp me, and add 10 years!

You are still young enough to do Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, and some stuff from Next.

How about French connection too? They have good longer length trousers, and lots of tunic tops (for the skinny jeans/tunic look)

That and maybe invest in a good pair of boots (well 2 actually) 1 for tucking into jeans - like a flat pair of riding boots. And one to wear with skirts/knit dresses tights in autumn/winter.

And I have mentioned this on another thread, use that Gok method of choosing 3 matching colours and only buying stuff in these colours. That way everything goes with everything. This includes scarves/bags/necklaces, as well as actual clothing (my mum has done this with the colours beige, red and white for summer and has worked well for her. For A/W she is going Navy, grey and purple!)

We had a thread posting to this dress a while ago, and looks great on it's own over skinny jeans (not bootcut!) or with a long sleeved T/polo neck under it for winter
www.wallis-fashion.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId= 20551&storeId=12557&categoryId=145409&parentcategoryrn=140428&productId=1236135&langId=-1
and you can always put shirt fitted jacket with it too, and linen scarf.

short fitted jacket

What about phase eight. I think they do some fab stuff but often feel I am too short and round for some of it. Looks classic but interesting. Wallis are doing a some fab tunics for autumn

Joules? I really love them. Really well made clothes that always look good. I avoid the polo shirts etc as I clearly don't have a horse.
gah, avoid next! Clothes fall apart and stretch really quickly in my experience.

This thread has great shopping suggestions BUT if you want to stop dressing "like your mum" I think MrsMerryweather's advice is the best. The answer is all in the style.

If you don't take a little time to really think about your style, you're just going to go to different shops and either buy nothing or, alarmingly, buy stuff that still makes you look like your mum!

It's so hard after you have dc because your style does change and your life, and the way you evolve your style changes too. Think about it - when you were younger, you went to school and hung out with loads of people your age, and then again in your early twenties. All that time, you were picking up style cues - what to wear, what not to wear, what was sartorially acceptable in your circle, what wasn't, and so on.

Now it's different - you have a changed identity (slightly) but no really large group to work that out in ... hence the "dressing like mum" default - which makes very few women happy.

So ... change your shops (and this thread will help) BUT also buy/look through some magazines and think about looks that appeal and you could carry off. Think about which women you see (out and about/in films/in picture) who appeal and why.

Hippy is a good look BUT if you are now a 16 on top, you're going to have to go for a slightly more dressy hippy look. Actually, you're going to have to go for tighter tops - just for starters - because otherwise you really will look like a tent. If you go for floaty on top - the bottom half will have to be tighter. 'Tis unfair but a change you must learn to live around. So, go google pix of sienna Miller from a few years ago and see if you can update the look for you and for now.

I keep pushing the slightly prim/vintage look - just because I think it works well for those of us with [sigh] a slightly larger bust.

And I do love Easy Living's style section.

Btw - I have the Joules dress"Maud" - and honestly, it's more popular than me! I have never, ever, ever owned a dress/item of clothing that received so many compliments - from friends AND random strangers. It's weird. It's like hanging around with the most popular girl in the school. I kind of feel I'm living in it's reflected glory.

I was going to start a separate thread on this but ... . Anyway, I saw that baiyu had mentioned Joules, so I just thought I'd tell you all.

Weird!

Uniqlo for basics and then Top Shop for additional stuff - it is all how you wear it though - and not having too 'done' hair - if you have a younger hairstyle and shoes then you can get away with most things.

Overall I think it is the very kemptness of mums at my schoolgate that makes them look older than they are iyswim.

Having the wrong jeans is really ageing as well.

Oh and you can get a wide belt to go just under your bust - thats more on trend and will make you look smaller...I do that a lot with my dresses and tunic tops.

French Connection is fab for a curvy figure, and at 5'9 I find the trousers are if anything slightly too long. They have very good sales as well.

the sizes there are also very generous, so it's worth shopping there for the self-confidence boost alone .

thanks everyone! lots more helpful advice.

Cheeryblossom you have hit the nail on the head. even when I look in different shops I'm still looking for "safe" clothes. I have no idea what my style is

I've always been a 16 top. I used to be a 10 on the bottom half so I would just wear fitted bottoms to show that I wasn't a blob but now I am a blob!!

I've started to wear more tailored clothes as baggy casual clothes make me look huge BUT this is how my mum dresses. (my mum looks nice most of the time! I just don't like dh saying I dress like her!)

I've got some skinny jeans (from next but you can't change everything all at once!) and some knee high boots. I've just got to pluck up the courage to try them on now!

I feel like I'm mutton trying to dress as lamb in one way and in another I know skinny jeans and boots has been and gone so I'm still behing the times!!