Where do you buy your clothes,,,,, 30 somethings....

[BikeRunSki]

I need some new work clothes. Most of mine are black, and I am not that keen on the funeral look every day! I am a civil engineer, and work 3 days a week in an office for a Quango. We have no dress code as such, but there is an unwritten understanding that we are tidy and presentable. I have recently come back from mat leave and I am a fairly new team leader, and want to be taken seriously.

OK, I am nearer 40 than 30.
I am no longer (never was really) young, skinny and trendy.
Nor am I quite ready for Country Casuals.

I like A line skirts or wide leg trousers, with a jersey top or shirt. A suit would be OTT in our office. Into skirts at the mo though. Used to get a lot of work stuff from Boden, but it seems to now be too fun and seems to be aimed at ladies who don't work!

Can't find anything promising on Boden, Joules, White Stuff, Next, Fat Face, Monsoon, M&S or Great Plains.

Where can I look? Smart, but not over smartly formal.

Help!

Try Zara. Great for basics and very good value.

Have a look also at Oasis for skirts and tops.

toast?

Gap for nice basics - their trousers fit me really well and I'm loving their knitwear at the mo.

Topshop for more interesting stuff.

My office is only semi-smart, so I can get away with dresses or skirts, or 7/8 trousers and tunics. Am nearly 34 BTW.

Have a look at getmyfashion. Lots of really good brands here, even if you don't want to shop online it might give you some ideas

I like Mango and Zara.

French Connection, Zara, Oasis or LK Bennett (but only in the sale). I tend to shy away from 'fashion' when buying the basics, trousers, dresses, skirts in plain colours and wear them up with cardis, shirts or knitwear in bright colours. Change my bag or shoes every few months too which helps.

Benetton or Sisley can have nice things too.

ASOS sells Oasis, Gap and FC on the one site which is handy!

i know it is cheap but matalan actually sell some great shirts and trousers. i have 2 wardrobes - work and play ones, and my work one is quite pared down. i have 2-3 pairs trousers, 2 skirts, and 5 tops all in the same colour sopectrum. prob very dull but a lot easier in the morning!

I love Gap in fact I reckon that about 90% of my clothes are from there!
Dorothy perkins is good for "underlayers" eg long sleeved tops to go under other tops, cardies, dresses, I find that the gap tops are too small and too expensive.

I like zara but can;t get over the fact that as I size 12 in most places I require an extra large in there. Upsets me.

Love jigsaw but cannot afford it plus rude sizing.

Find next good for trousers.

I love supermarket clothes too.

Banana Republic. Beautiful! Destroys all competitors (Jigsaw, etc).

www.bananarepublic.com

But only available in London here. Sigh. I miss being able to go to Banana easily. You will not find nicer work clothes. Like Zara, but much, much better quality and in many cases more stylish. I also find that Zara can be occasionally trampy and therefore not really work appropriate ;)

Don't get me started about J.Crew. How I wish we had J.Crew.

Gap is good, also Warehouse, Zara.
For the smarter look I like M and S's Autograph and Limited Collection.

Thank you ladies, I fear I am becoming a frump in my old age. Get my fashion looks good, and I have just remebered Oli.

Dear BikeRunSki,

What about the classic civil engineering uniform of jeans and a check shirt.

When accessorizing remember

No hat, no boots, no vest - no work

Sounds like you get to wear the big white hat

Hi BobDog -
Hah! Office based designed, project manager and things. Don't actually go out and get mucky anymore.

I bought a purple moleskin skirt and long sleeved v neck tee from here when one opened up near me recently. They've washed well so far.

I'm 32 and for smart casual (I guess suitable for your work) I love Reiss, Bananna Republic and Ted Baker. Also Next and Oasis for bits and pieces although I rarely love the clothes as much as in the other three places and you often have to trawl through a lot of crap.