Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theory, Vince, (brands) some gap jeans, AE jeans, premium jeans, cashmere, some BR and JCrew, NO to Lands End, J Jill, Eileen Fisher and Chicos. Just don't go there!

I'm the one above who admits to buying some things at Lands End. Thing is, some of their clothes are surprisingly good. I have three dresses from there that get more compliments than just about anything else. They are really well cut to flatter my shape (broad shoulders, 32G, narrow hips). Several fashion blogs I follow have also extolled the virtues of their dresses. And I have some knit tops from there that are great casual wear. You do have to be careful, as some of the items are horribly boxy and frumpy and I wouldn't even suggest that my 71 year old, overweight mother wear them. But with a good eye for cut, you can get some winners. And their no-iron button front shirts are the only ones I've found that don't gape on me.

I have your body type. Which dresses at Lands End work for you?

TIA!

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-34-sleeve-ponte-half-band-wrap-dress/id_257604
A tad too low cut for work, but great for dinner out, theater, etc. Contemplating wearing it for dinner out with in-laws next week. If I didn't already have two black jersey dresses in my closet, I would get it in black. I still might, because it fits better than the Boden one that stretched out and is more forgiving than the Gap wrap dress.
The other two are from last year. A ponte with a scoop neck and a soft wool v-neck sweater dress. The key for me is that it needs something that visually creates a smaller waist.

JCrew, Madewell, Gap, Anthropologie. I'd say 70% of my wardrobe is from JCrew, and the rest is from the other three. I'm 39.

I don't think you should have to worry about changing wear you shop just because your 35th is coming up. Not a whole lot changes in a day.

I've changed my shopping places according to the difference in income coming in. I like to buy nicer pieces now that I can afford them and thus shop at stores that cost a bit more. I still get some parts of my wardrobe from places like Target and H&M, but I have a pretty decent eye for finding the jewel amongst the junk.

I would suggest ordering some catalogs from different places and going "window" shopping for a day or two and try to find some places that resonate with your style. And then slowly add new pieces to your closet and keep a bin in nearby for donating some of your older things.

JCrew for really nice statement pieces, like a velvet jacket or a cashmere sweater
BR for office tops
AT for office pants
Express for some very stylish pieces
White House Black Market, Boden - for an occasional item that caught my eye
Zappos for shoes
Kate Spade if I'm getting a gift

Nordstrom's, especially the house brands
J.Crew
Banana Republic
Loft for basics
A little at Eddie Bauer and L.L. Bean Signature for casual clothes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theory, Vince, (brands) some gap jeans, AE jeans, premium jeans, cashmere, some BR and JCrew, NO to Lands End, J Jill, Eileen Fisher and Chicos. Just don't go there!

I'm the one above who admits to buying some things at Lands End. Thing is, some of their clothes are surprisingly good. I have three dresses from there that get more compliments than just about anything else. They are really well cut to flatter my shape (broad shoulders, 32G, narrow hips). Several fashion blogs I follow have also extolled the virtues of their dresses. And I have some knit tops from there that are great casual wear. You do have to be careful, as some of the items are horribly boxy and frumpy and I wouldn't even suggest that my 71 year old, overweight mother wear them. But with a good eye for cut, you can get some winners. And their no-iron button front shirts are the only ones I've found that don't gape on me.

I have your body type. Which dresses at Lands End work for you?

TIA!

Clothes: Madewell, J Crew, Anthropology, H&M, Jones NY, Modcloth, Zara
Lounging: American Apparel, Old Navy, Target
Shoes: Nordstrom, Zappos, Amazon, 6PM
Jeans: Nordstrom, Marshalls, Tjmaxx, Ebay

Gap, BR, Lands End, LLbean don't agree with my figure and their style always seemed kinda old lady to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 36, and I recently went through a fashion "transition." For what it is worth, I'm 5'4" and a size 8. I was getting carded regularly, and had a lot of people commenting that I looked like a college student. Looking back on it, I blame my clothes - I was still shopping at all the places I shopped at when I was a teenager!

The first thing I will say is to ditch Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, and Old Navy. Those stores are not aiming for your demographic. At best, you will look like a 30 something year old woman who is trying to dress like a professional 20 year old. Not a good look.

Then, depending on your budget, try some of these stores:

Nordstroms (Theory is a great line)
White House Black Market (amazingly nice quality and fit)
Lands End (for certain basics only - 12:54 is SPOT ON)
Next Direct
Macy's INC line often has some good pieces
Ann Taylor
LOFT



What distinguishes BR and J Crew from AT or INC? Just curious. All seems similar to me.

I think it is the number of pant options that don't come in "skinny fit" and/or "cropped."

Don't get me wrong - nothing wrong with a skinny fit pant suit. But if you are 35 + . . . . just not a good look.

Anything looks good if you have a fit and slim body. I see MANY 35+ women with great legs, butt, and arms who are rockin' skinny pants and short skirts of all sorts. However most DC women do not quite fit that. Many women have secretary ass and this is where women need to be careful.

Depends on your frame.

I buy key items at H&M, BR, Nordstrom (usually Saavy and t.b.d.), and Nieman Marcus. Shoes I just go to DSW or other such big box stores and often online.

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 36, and I recently went through a fashion "transition." For what it is worth, I'm 5'4" and a size 8. I was getting carded regularly, and had a lot of people commenting that I looked like a college student. Looking back on it, I blame my clothes - I was still shopping at all the places I shopped at when I was a teenager!

The first thing I will say is to ditch Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, and Old Navy. Those stores are not aiming for your demographic. At best, you will look like a 30 something year old woman who is trying to dress like a professional 20 year old. Not a good look.

Then, depending on your budget, try some of these stores:

Nordstroms (Theory is a great line)
White House Black Market (amazingly nice quality and fit)
Lands End (for certain basics only - 12:54 is SPOT ON)
Next Direct
Macy's INC line often has some good pieces
Ann Taylor
LOFT



What distinguishes BR and J Crew from AT or INC? Just curious. All seems similar to me.

I think it is the number of pant options that don't come in "skinny fit" and/or "cropped."

Don't get me wrong - nothing wrong with a skinny fit pant suit. But if you are 35 + . . . . just not a good look.

Anonymous wrote: I'm 36, and I recently went through a fashion "transition." For what it is worth, I'm 5'4" and a size 8. I was getting carded regularly, and had a lot of people commenting that I looked like a college student. Looking back on it, I blame my clothes - I was still shopping at all the places I shopped at when I was a teenager!

The first thing I will say is to ditch Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, and Old Navy. Those stores are not aiming for your demographic. At best, you will look like a 30 something year old woman who is trying to dress like a professional 20 year old. Not a good look.

Then, depending on your budget, try some of these stores:

Nordstroms (Theory is a great line)
White House Black Market (amazingly nice quality and fit)
Lands End (for certain basics only - 12:54 is SPOT ON)
Next Direct
Macy's INC line often has some good pieces
Ann Taylor
LOFT

What distinguishes BR and J Crew from AT or INC? Just curious. All seems similar to me.

Bloomingdales in Friendship Heights

I'm 36, and I recently went through a fashion "transition." For what it is worth, I'm 5'4" and a size 8. I was getting carded regularly, and had a lot of people commenting that I looked like a college student. Looking back on it, I blame my clothes - I was still shopping at all the places I shopped at when I was a teenager!

The first thing I will say is to ditch Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, and Old Navy. Those stores are not aiming for your demographic. At best, you will look like a 30 something year old woman who is trying to dress like a professional 20 year old. Not a good look.

Then, depending on your budget, try some of these stores:

Nordstroms (Theory is a great line)
White House Black Market (amazingly nice quality and fit)
Lands End (for certain basics only - 12:54 is SPOT ON)
Next Direct
Macy's INC line often has some good pieces
Ann Taylor
LOFT

I am on a tight budget, and am 36, but I have a pretty good eye for cheaper clothing that is still stylish, and dare I say-- expensive looking. The key is not being head to toe (old Navy, Target, H&M) but to mix the cheaper pieces with some quality pieces. I spend more money on jeans and shoes than anything, but still won't pay full price. I buy (good) jeans at Loehmann's for the most part. Shoes online (I love zappos, but sometimes find the same shoe or very similar a bit cheaper on 6PM)....I do have a funkier sense of style and I think this helps for buying cheaper pieces. If I were a preppy person, it would be harder to buy clothing on a budget, IMHO, to me preppy is synonymous with brand name (Tory Burch, Hunter boots, Brooks Brothers, etc). A tip-- if it is a trendy piece that is probably not going to be around next year-- don't pay top $. Spend money on more classic pieces.

Other places to check out for age appropriate clothing:
-The Limited (remember them?)
-Dorothy Perkins (UK store with an online store)
-Mod Cloth
-Boden (sales are good)

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:Theory, Vince, (brands) some gap jeans, AE jeans, premium jeans, cashmere, some BR and JCrew, NO to Lands End, J Jill, Eileen Fisher and Chicos. Just don't go there!

I'm the one above who admits to buying some things at Lands End. Thing is, some of their clothes are surprisingly good. I have three dresses from there that get more compliments than just about anything else. They are really well cut to flatter my shape (broad shoulders, 32G, narrow hips). Several fashion blogs I follow have also extolled the virtues of their dresses. And I have some knit tops from there that are great casual wear. You do have to be careful, as some of the items are horribly boxy and frumpy and I wouldn't even suggest that my 71 year old, overweight mother wear them. But with a good eye for cut, you can get some winners. And their no-iron button front shirts are the only ones I've found that don't gape on me.