Where do you buy your clothes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ann Taylor Loft is matronly? That's news to me. Lots of my friends, who are slender and not at all matronly, shop there and their clothes are adorable.

While BR and J.Crew are great, I find that many of their clothes are not cut for realistic shapes. If you have any hips or boobs, forget it. I'm not large but I have a hard time finding their clothes.

But, you know what, OP, you have to look around and find the types of clothes that look best on your frame. Clothes are cut and sized differently at different stores. Maybe the personal shopper idea would be a good one for you?

I agree! I am a size 8, 5'7, and most of what I try on at J.Crew just doesn't fit me well at all! I love the stuff, but it just doesn't look that great on me. Ann Taylor loft fits me really well, and as long as I don't do the matchy-matchy thing, I don't think it looks dowdy. I love Anthropologie and Nordstroms, but the price point at Ann Taylor loft works better for my budget. Nordstrom rack has some fabulous deals on shoes. Cute Tory Burch flats for $100.

[annakarenina]

I didn't know that I was matronly with my talbots clothes!!!!! Geez, I wear their clothes to work and I thought I was looking classic. Where can I get more up to date work clothes? Like skirts and slacks and blazers, blouses, and twin sets (I'm 39).

[Anonymous]

To the PP: If you are slim, I would try Jcrew suits and Banana Republic for suits and tops. Wear great shoes and you are good to go.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you're definitly matronly if you shop at Talbots. Sorry to break it to you.

[Anonymous]

I checked the Lucy website and it looks like it is overpriced workout clothing. Am I looking at the right website?

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen much in the way of twin sets since 1999. Maybe 2000. That said, your office culture may encourage very conservative dressing. If not, I'll suggest that you're not too old to sneak in a little bit of an edge.

[Anonymous]

I think a twin set for work is fine. Get a great pencil skirt and cool shoes, i.e. not matchy matchy and it's a good work look. A twin set is not edgy but it is classic. Pair with capris and ballet flats for spring and it's a classic albeit not fashion forward look.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I am 33 and I love Talbots. Similar-aged colleagues of mine also love it--in fact, one day I arrived wearing the same Talbots skirt as a co-worker (who is two years younger than me). I consider it classic, not matronly.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Ann Taylor Loft here! Last year I bought a long sleeve shirt for $5.00 in the sale section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a twin set for work is fine. Get a great pencil skirt and cool shoes, i.e. not matchy matchy and it's a good work look. A twin set is not edgy but it is classic. Pair with capris and ballet flats for spring and it's a classic albeit not fashion forward look.

Twin sets are, by definition, matchy-matchy. Still, that might actually be an asset in some offices.

[Anonymous]

okay..this year I want to be fashion forward at work. So JCrew and Banana Republic...and what about sweaters for work? Cashmere with a pencil skirt and heelsl? is that okay? or what? Help. Any other stores that I should check out? I work for the Government and I'm a high grade and I want to be the Branch Chief so I don't want to look to casual...right? And what do you mean by Matchy Matchy? Lol....are we still matching our shoes and bag? or Top and shoes? or pants and shoes?

[Anonymous]

Jcrew, BR and yes pencil skirt with cashmere sweater is a great look. Cashmere short sleeve is nice in the spring too. I would not match my shoes to my skirt. I.e. grey skirt, nice dark tan shoes or even red in the spring. Black skirt, tan shoes and white top is a good look. Brown skirt, dark red shoes, etc. I still tend to like black with black much of the time. But also look at patterned pumps and have some fun! When I worked, a high profile, conservative job, I wore conservative suits with fun tops and great shoes.

[Anonymous]

9:45-- I'm in the same place professionally (upwardly mobile gov't). Yes, cashmere/pencil skirt great option. Also, a different option for pants suits is a jacket in a great fabric/cut that doesn't necessarily match the pants (this works for skirt suits, too). I picked up a pale pink jacket in a beautiful cut that I wear with black pants-- I get complements on it all the time from women of a variety of ages.

[Anonymous]

Now that I am no longer pregnant I can return to my favorite brands: DVF, GoldSign (great pants for tall women), and Whistle & Flute -- all purchased from either Saks or NM.