I'm going clothes-shopping in Reading tomorrow...

[PrettyCandles]

...where shall I shop?

I only ever seem to shop in John Lewis, M&S, H&M and Monsoon (in the sales!). Places like House of Fraser and Debenhams are just too overwhelming and I can never find my way around the clothes. Besides, I don't have the time or emotional energy to trawl through everything only to learn that they don't have stuff in my size and price-range.

I'm size 20-22, fairly tall, and need basic everyday stuff, mostly trousers and tops. Also some pjs/nighties and a lightweight dressing gown. I'm quite fussy about fabrics: I like natural fabrics but minimum ironing (so obviously have to compromise). I'll be going in on the park-and-ride.

So, where should I shop?

How about La Senza (upstairs in the Oracle) for PJs?
I like Zara, but it can be difficult to find larger sizes there.

In Debenhams I find you have to get to know which sections suit you -for tops and trousers, try the Maine section; I think it's over at the back behind the escalator.

I have found some surprisingly good stuff in Republic (the surprise is that it suits me, at 53, when I've always thought of it as a younger person's shop; DD practically writes her entire Christmas/birthday lists from their website)

There's always Next and Gap, but I always tend to go in there with high hopes & come out disappointed, never sure why, but they never seem to have the styles that suit me.

I hate to say, but Evans are quite good for clothes, although you do have to search for the natural fabrics. BHS have also had some nice pjs.
Dorothy Perkins isn't too bad (or didn't used to be) and is also upstairs in the Oracle.
It is worth going to Debenhams, and perhaps just looking at a couple of their clothes sections. Red Herring does some nice clothes and I agree that Maine isn't too bad.
Wallis I think is good for fairly tall people but I am only guessing as I am fairly short! it is also upstairs in the oracle.

Good luck.

Mango and Zara in the oracle are nice, I second Republic, I am a fan of New Look (oracle) too and a little tip is that if you go in and get the free magazine in the shop, there's a 20% off voucher in the back. Not sure about larger sizes there but the New Look in broad st mall has larger sizes and there is quite a range there. Have a nice day

Thanks for these suggestions.

Bumping for more!

BTW "tomorrow" is now today.

too late for you but the good old faves like m&s, new look (bs mall), monsoon and debenhams are all goodies, i like the casual collection for basic t-shirts in debenhams and the john rocha for more dressy bits.
evans is now called daisy and eve but is still evans inside. i find most stuff in evans too short though (i'm 5'9) but some lovely shoes, new look is a shoe addict shop as well. and also there is tk maxx in the bs mall if you fancy a rummage.

hope you had a good time. are you from reading?

Thank you, Mainegirl! I had no idea that Evans had changed their name. I went past it several times, even asked in both Malls but nobody mentioned the new name when they gave me directions. Only found it once I checked my phone and saw your post.

Anyway, I hate clothes-shopping. Only one thing for it: I have to lose weight.

i'm same size as you pc, maybe we should do a joint slimming venture.
i'm in woodley.

I'm in Wokingham.

How would you want to lose? I've got the Paul McKenna CD, haven't listened to it yet, but what he says in the book seems to make a lot more sense to me than calorie-counting.

I also need to find a different way of thinking about it - 5stone is a terrifyingly large amount.

not too far then, i work in hurst as well so right in between.
i've used slimming world and weightwatcvhers before i alwasy lose loads and then put it all back on again. grrr

Hello fellow Reading folks.

Not sure how big they go, but I like Fat Face by the entrance to the Oracle, certainly the size 16 is good. I'm also starting to like Phase eight in John lewis.

i saw them changing the sign on Evans, i did wonder what was going on, they seemed to have most of the staff there watching