Need something purple please

[NorkilyChallenged]

So I bought these in purple from Clarks thanks to ja9's 25% off code. I love them.

They are for work. So now I'm obviously feeling the need for something purple to wear too

I tend to wear black trousers (not from polyester ones from Next, I hasten to add) though I do have one grey work dress and am hoping to find more work dresses eventually. My office is definitely quite casual but I try to dress quite smartly (but not suits, iykwim).

Am size 10-12, very flat chested (34A) so no deep v-necks. Have a bit of a tummy so am avoiding clingy fitted jersey tops as they show all the lumps and bumps. Shirts are good, tops in cotton or non-jersey/clingy fabrics, cardigans (smart ones), any suggestions welcome.

Thank you!

the cardigan, dahling....

I have it in black and have same figure as you (although I don't avoid v-necks, is this a mistake?)

I've just bought this cashmere cardi. Truly lovely.

have you had a look at www.purecollection.com
if you add /tt after the .com you get 20% discount- The TImes offer.

Otherwise Boden had cardis in purple- might have sold out but could be back in sale a week Friday - 11th.

www.boden.co.uk

p.s

you could also try www.kew-online.com and www.jigsaw-online.com

both have purple this year!

Tesco have some nice purple tunic tops in at the moment and slightly less pricey that the cardigan mentioned, lovely as it is

Oh thank you!

LTEC - I looked at the cardigan when you were buying it but I don't think it's for me, too much fabric that I would just manage to dunk in the toilet/trap in the car door . I got the wrap top from Isabella Oliver when pregnant and just couldn't get to grips with all the length of it.

Plus I think dizzycringles may have a point and Tesco is more realistically in my budget

Angelina - now that cardigan does look cosy but how does it look on? The Uniqlo photos are so unflattering as everything looks a bit shapeless. For work i would normally prefer something a bit more... I don't know, it's maybe just not smart enough? Not sure.

Purplepeony (what an appropriate name for my request!) - have just looked through all your links. Pure had some nice tank tops but even with 25% off, might be a bit pricey. I forgot to check if they were washable too . Kew have lovely things but all a bit too jersey/clingy unfortunately. There are a couple of cardigans though, might pop in there and have a proper look in person.

Oh yes, LTEC, I would never presume to give you fashion advice (I've seen you pictures you know!). I am definitely avoiding low/deep v-necks now.

Maybe I'm just unhappy with how I look post-babies. For 3 years pg or bf'ing, my breasts actually had a little shape and firmness, but now I just find I look so flat chested and deflated. Even with a padded bra. I'm quite broad shouldered too, so too much of a v-neck seems to emphasise how I look like a man in drag, imo, as it just shows an expanse of flat bare chest.

I used to live in v-neck jersey clingy tops. But now they just make me aware that my tummy sticks out further than my chest if you look at me in profile (despite me being relatively slim). I hate that. So trying to make myself wear different necklines and non-clingy fabrics. I think it does help.

Have you tried an uplift bra?
M&S do a great padded push up T shirt bra for £12- it's in 4 colours. I find it makes my 32B/C boobs look great!
www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Underwired-Push-Up/dp/B000WLGCEK?ie=UTF8&qid=1259828944&ca tegoryNodeID=42967030&ref=sr17&pag

There's nothing there to push up any more PP

I wear underwired, padded bras very similar to the M&S ones you linked, from John Lewis.

If truth be told, I suspect I'm actually more like a 36AA but I can't contemplate AA so I am sticking with 34A. But I certainly feel that they are quite deflated post-children. Oh well - maybe I just need to be pregnant again Though that doesn't solve the tummy-sticks-out-further-than-chest issue for long

norky are you sure you're a 34A? i'm a wide shouldered 14/16 (total bust measurement 39/40") and i'm a 32E. even then i have no cleavage. try a 32B or get fitted at john lewis.

Could you wear magic knickers?
Have you thought of pilates/exercise for tummy muscles?

Could you ever have a boob job?

oh and while we aer here, i need something purple too for my mum. i had boden in my basket but someone has bought it overnight. she does not want bluish purple.

I got fitted at JL, fishie, after reading S&B threads about getting correct fitting (not at M&S).

Am 34A according to JL woman. That was just after stopping bf'ing, maybe I could get measured again but the whole thing was such a demoralising experience for me as I just looked like an 11-year old and could easily not bother with bras at all. Felt like a fraud in the lingerie dept

I don't care enough about it to even contemplate a boob job, no. I just have felt I need to adjust what I wear to reflect the reality of what I look like. Not a bad thing, but it's hard to figure out what's right.

Fishie - for your mum, have you looked at the Kew and Jigsaw stuff? There was some nice purple there.

only some makes of bra fit me because my breasts are widely spaced (i cannot think of a way to make that sound better) so it is worth investigating different types.

balcony is a catastrophe on me for example. panache is good, they tend to cut the cups quite small.

jigsaw have just extended their already big branch by my office, it is vast like narnia so i have been avoiding it. but will go and have a look later thanks.

Norkily- I'm wearing my purple cardi now- it's hip length and cut long and lean rather than square and boxy. The sleeves are satisyfyingly long enough to cover the wrists (I can't stand sleeves that are a bit too short). The fabric is thick enough and the colour is spot on IMO. I'd defo wear it for work.

ITA re Uniqlo pictures- it took me ages to accept their rubbish presentation and minimal description, however the +J range is co-designed with Jill Sander! You can't get more understated cool design than that. It's become my favourite guilty pleasure and I haven't had a bad item from there yet. And bargain price at the mo.