Hi

I would highly recommend the personal stylist at elys in Wimbledon. It's a free service and not pressurised at all. Helen helped me get some brilliant things for our summer holiday.
It is a very relaxed and friendly department store and so easy to drive to and parking right opposite.
You can book online too!
My recommendations for shops would be joules, Zara, boden, hush
Pinterest can be good for ideas and also if you google a website called classy yet trendy you can download a shopping list for capsule wardrobes in each season. It's an American site, but you can easily get the clothes on uk sites. But she does give great ideas for putting things together.
Good luck!

I have to put in a good word for Wallis.

I find that even after a few years, their stuff still looks great and washes well.

Their sizing is quite generous (think shirts that actually go beyond belly button) and styles are smart however a bit casual.

For me, 80% of their stuff is a bit too frilly however, like a good result from TK Maxx, what I consider their normal stuff is worth the time finding. If you are online shopping, you may find something you like.

I also recommend House of Fraser in general. I find their search quite useful and they have a generous returns policy. I often buy a few different sizes and return what I do not like / doesn't fit. If I haven't returned in time (I think this may be 2 weeks), they allow up to , I'm guess 3 months? for a store credit.

Hi. A friend of mine with a similar profile tried the John Lewis personal shopping service and loved it. It's free, they run around the store to find suitable clothes )at the budget you indicate) and they got it mostly right, with some new ideas thrown in. She was wearing a smart looking draped cardi that was very flattering. I'd give it a try!

You might find it useful to follow a few fashion bloggers?

Chloe loves to shop
Does my bum look 40 in this
The fashion lift
My fashionable 40s

Etc etc.

They will give you an idea of what is in the shops and they tend to do a mix of high street and high end.

Hi there!
The most important thing is to find the right cut for your shape so you feel great in whatever you wear. Don't worry about being 40+, the lines are so blurred these days and you probably don't look your age anyway! As already mentioned here try Next for trousers as they cut well with decent fabrics, Other Stories for pretty silk blouses and lightweight jumpers and Cos for slightly more formal - although Cos tends not to favour the more curvaceous. If you need a dress which shows off your shape then try Reiss and Whistles but keep in mind that both have slightly more generous sizing (you might need to go down a size when ordering online). Also, there are some interesting new online only brands such as uterque.com and kitristudio.com where you'll find more unusual jumpsuits and skirts you won't find anywhere else. Good luck and don't forget (I always stress to my clients) to start with the best most comfortable underwear you can find! Emily xx

And Cos clothes are amazing for hiding post children bellies yet still flattering...

All those previously mentioned and I would also add COS and Anthropology to the list.

I recently discovered COS and my 20 something yo colleagues told me I look 'quite trendy for a 40 something yo mum' - I work in graphic design (client management) so very much in the smart casual style bracket

Agree with above post re Mint Velvet, one of my favourites.
Next is great for convenience and now they've started doing labels it's even better. Just got to filter out the rubbish.

Mummymummymummy wrote:Please help me! I really need some suggestions as to where to shop for new clothes. I'm 40 SAHM, so casual but I do like to look casual in a smart sort of way. I'm not one of those people who looks good in whatever they throw on. If it's not fitting in the right places, I look like a troll

So I'm 5'7, size 12, curvy, not as toned as I could be but ok. I need clothes that are fitted enough to show that I have a shape, but not really clingy (baukjen is the kind of style I like but just unflatteringly clingy) I don't have loads of money to spend on clothes but don't mind buying a few of the right pieces. Oh and it has to be wash and wear, and it really has to be online I guess I just don't know where 40 somethings should go. Help please

Zara,Mango and Gap.Plenty of affordable but good quality clothes.If you can spend more have a look at Boden,J.Crew,Jigsaw,Kin by John Lewis and Mint Velvet.

Please help me! I really need some suggestions as to where to shop for new clothes. I'm 40 SAHM, so casual but I do like to look casual in a smart sort of way. I'm not one of those people who looks good in whatever they throw on. If it's not fitting in the right places, I look like a troll

So I'm 5'7, size 12, curvy, not as toned as I could be but ok. I need clothes that are fitted enough to show that I have a shape, but not really clingy (baukjen is the kind of style I like but just unflatteringly clingy) I don't have loads of money to spend on clothes but don't mind buying a few of the right pieces. Oh and it has to be wash and wear, and it really has to be online I guess I just don't know where 40 somethings should go. Help please