what is a decent style magazine for a 30-something me?

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I bought Instyle today because I fancied some inspiration and want to expand on my wardrobe a little, with some 'on trend' stuff rather than the sensible post pg clothes I've been buying.
And it was all a bit disappointing. Nothing I could actually wear - there was a section on white, a section on festival wear, and then loads of really casual skimpy stuff. I'd love to need festival clothes, but really need clothes for work and playing with the kids... and I definitely don't have the body anymore that can take skimp..
Anyone recommend any other magazines that might suit me a bit more?

I couldn't find it in my sainsbos local today - you clearly all got there before me

But this thread has persuaded me to give it a go

once you reach your 30's you should have more sense than to think you need silly magazines to tell you what clothes to buy.

No one needs to be 'told' cereal. However, when you are short of shopping opportunities, it can be quite nice to see some examples of new stuff to narrow things down; that is unless you are proposing that by your 30s You should be fixed on the 'one style' that suits you and wear it until they put you in a box.

We all know it's a big industry designed to part us with our cash; I quite like the process if browsing through some pictures to give me ideas of different things to wear. It is very difficult to visualise how things will look on the hanger or Internet.

Also I don't have time to shop - work FT and don't take lunchbreaks really and am not dragging DC around the shops at the weekend. I don't need to be told what to wear but I do like to know what's around

I presume you're not a woman in her 30s/40s who is a WOHM with small children cereal

presume away! i still think those magazines are nonsense

I bought Easy Living tonight, in desperation for something to read. It is shite. The clothes are mostly stupid (although there is a pretty swimming costume in it, from Joules); there is NOTHING to read in it; the Editor's taste is appalling and it suggests that we pay hundereds of pounds for a vase.

Bonkers. I won't let myself fall for it again!

Ooh my friend does the fashion at W&H and bloody hard she works too.
She will be pleased that some of you like it

Cereal - you sound like my Mum when she she flicked through my first copy of Smash Hits.

Although I believe she put it slightly more politely, not being spoiling for a fight or anything......

I'm 32 and just re-discovered Elle which I had't bought for years until last month. It's really 'fashion focussed' so yes there are some really ridiculously priced things in it and some things which I think I'm a decade to old for but there are lots of good bits too and it gave me a nudge to get out of my permanent skinny jeans and long vest/top look.

I read quite a lot of other magazines (swap with colleagues rather than buy them all) Red, Easy Living (agree not so good now though), Grazia (guilty indulgence), Vogue.

I know that a lot of the clothes on the fashion spreads are ridiculously expensive but in fashion mag speak they are meant to be for 'inspiration'. Almost everything half decent which designers put out gets copied by H&M/New Look/Top Shop.

But there are too many magazines featuring expensive designer clothes as indpirationn and not enough featuring clothes that us ordinary mortals (who are past the teen stage) can afford. The newer magazines like Red and Easy Living started out with good intentions but I guess as they took off and started to attract more advertisers they caved in to the lure of featuring designer wear....

I remember feeling very cross once when I bought a magazine supposedly catering for my age group - one fashion shoot featured bikinis, the other, hopelessly impractical outfits.

Tbh I think I rarely have time to be inspired by what is on the catwalks and trying to work out how to translate that to something wearable for everyday. I want a magazine that features high street clothes but for my age group. I know what suits me but I like to read about what is fashionable too!

Does anyone read Prima? I used to get it every month, but with trying to make cutbacks I haven't got it for a while... what's it like now? It's also one of the ones you can get for Tesco vouchers so I've ben considering treating myself to it.

I picked up a copy of Red recently and was really impressed with the articles...realistic and interesting issues that don't focus on celebrity gossip.

I've always been a fan of marie claire too. nice, easy, relaxing read.

what about style blogs? I am really into a couple recently.

I read InStyle but it's not really on target for me - Grazia can be okay...

Elle and In Style are good

Elle, Vogue and Red

Urgh... I bought grazia today- and it was trash!

What are people wearing?
Seriously- I'm 36, not 16.

I sound like my mum but there was honestly not one thing I would consider buying. (except maybe a watch, and most of those were in excess of 1k)

I buy Good Housekeeping/ Woman and Home/ Red/ She

They all have enough fashion in for me

I also have Marie Claire on subscription and the 101 ideas page has some cheaper stuff on it

I'm with Decorhate & everyone else who just has no time to 'be inspired' by fashion spreads and translate them into reality. I used to do that when I had the chance to wander round shops, and when I had more disposable income so I could play around with styles more.

Nowadays I want affordable ideas for what to wear, and where to buy it, so in the 10 minutes I have between Sainsbury's and Mothercare, I can actually purchase something.

Iskra what are the blogs you've found?

I think there is a need for a magazine that is targetted at women who are 30+, high street rather than designer and just does fashion & beauty, so none of the bunting cupcake stuff. A magazine version of the MN S&B section in effect!

I like Harper's Bazaar and Vogue (for inspiration), I don't necessarily buy the items featured. But Vogue does a good 'less cash more dash' feature and usually a reasonable feature 'Vogue shops' or similar(?) which includes high street choices.

Am I the only one that thinks these magazines only contain a few pages of good info the rest is ludicous glossy advertisments? Shiney tate! I always seem to buy one on way to hairdresser and flick through and relaise it contains nothing much of interest and what a waste of money.

I was brought up on Prima and essentials and think these were packed full of great stuff.

Whenever I read these "trendy mags" I always feel I should be spending spending spending on over packaged cosmetics and then feel inferior for not being skinny, sucessful or a socialite.

If any mag - I buy Country Living or Good Housekeeping but really you only have to walk around the high street to see whats in.

I'm saving my money these days!

I agree these magazines push us towards being consumer lapdogs. Buying £200 shoes, £50 face creams and £800 handbags is not normal, it's what rich, indebted or industry people do and the rest of us shouldn't be conned into having that type of expectation.

But, I always buy Grazia (despite the almost fortnightly cover story about pitiable, lonely, childless Jennifer Aniston - yawn), Red and Easy Living. I think EL runs good features on how to actually wear trends in real life. I'm 39.

Also, I haven't bought Cosmo ever since it said in its beauty section that a face cream had guaranteed results at getting rid of your wrinkles, or words to that effect. I can't remember which cream it was but it cost about £100. If it had been an advert or advertorial I'd have reported it to the Adverstising Standards Authority for being misleading and making false claims. Because it's supposed to be journalism there's not much you can do about it. I guess the manufacturer's PR gave free product to staff in return for such dishonest coverage, it's just completely bent.

top tip - you can borrow loads of these magazines in your local library for free

easy living makes me laugh a lot - the editor's pick are always 'nautical' theme or with birds on it

the fashion is always the same as what the fashion editor is wearing in her photo - knee length tulip skirt, satin blouse with large belt. Large clunky jewelry. With legs kicked in the air hanging off a balcony.

Well I bought W&H this month due to reccys here and it is DULL. There were hardly any fashion articles (and they did not stick to high street stuff). They had "Summer Reading" FGS, short stories like in Womens Weekly!

I read Elle, Marie Claire and Red. Having read what Patsy99 said about Grazia, I think I'll try that too. I enjoy reading the odd bit of sleb trash. I'm 58.