My wife is despairing...

eviltimeban

... because she just cannot find clothes that she likes anymore. Everything is crappy material, bright 80s colours, flimsy, too short, too polyester, or far too expensive.

So my question is, where can she shop? Either online or bricks and mortar. Her style could be described as simple, classic, slightly alternative, individual (in that she hates the chance of someone else wearing what she has, hence no bold prints or designs), elegant. As a basis:

No to:
Heels
Narrow shoes
Skinny jeans
3/4 length sleeves
80s fashions
Glittery runners
Tops with big prints
Preppy or D4 fashions
Shirts
Synthetic fabrics
Things that just don't make sense - like tops with no back etc

Yes to:
Plain long sleeve tops
Wide leg, LONG jeans (she's tall)
Cool girly trainers, with foot support (ie not converse)
Ever so slightly hippy chic items (she's a rock chick!)
Loose floral print "girly" tops
Hoodies with long sleeves but plain (like Superdry)
Boots - flat heeled
Flat shoes
The old Sabotage style (before they went one size)

Your help would be mucho appreciated. Especially if I can then take her to those shops like it was my idea. Or show her the website. And yes, she's been everywhere. You name it, there's nothing there for her. Forget H&M, Topshop, BT2, Oasis, Zara, Monsoon, etc etc etc. I don't think the High Street is gonna cut it anymore. She's also done the Coggles / online thing as well.

She needs your help. Too long I've watched her stare at her wardrobe hoping there'll be something in there she can wear. I know she would love to have a range of things she can just throw on, be comfortable, and look cool. Help!

idunnoutellme

I think you're describing ZARA here - get your woman down there - all their trousers dont fit me cos they're for the tall ladies plenty of what you just described there classic elegant stuff and rock chick stuff too

eviltimeban

No, Zara doesn't cut it - too flimsy and never ever has her size. I think she wants to avoid the high street and try to be a little more original. Zara really wouldn't be that.

Rayne

eviltimeban wrote: »

So my question is, where can she shop? Either online or bricks and mortar. Her style could be described as simple, classic, slightly alternative, individual, elegant.

Yes to:
Plain long sleeve tops
Wide leg, LONG jeans (she's tall)
Cool girly trainers, with foot support (ie not converse)
Ever so slightly hippy chic items (she's a rock chick!)
Loose floral print "girly" tops
Hoodies with long sleeves but plain (like Superdry)
Boots - flat heeled
Flat shoes
The old Sabotage style (before they went one size)

I think See by Chloe have some of the wide leg jeans and loose floral tops you are looking for, in Brown Thomas, can be a bit pricy, but some have 40% off at moment!

If in Galway, Born, a new concept store, has opened stocking Superdry and other bits she might like.

Maybe she'd like brands like S'nob or St. Martins, Pagan (once again in Galway) stock some of these brands.

Have you tried Mango?


I'll keep thinking...

partyguinness

Girlie trainers and hoodies???

What age is she? Sounds like she is refusing to grow up...IMO

eviltimeban

By girly trainers I mean cool retro trainers, that are not manly. Like the New Balance style, but most of the those colours are too manly. She likes the Tiger trainers but they don't give much support.

As for hoodies, I just mean long sleeve tops that happen to have hoods. And anyway, what's age got to do with it? Its not like she's gonna be hanging on street corners with her hood up. You don't have to stop wearing certain clothes just because you are a certain age. And I didn't ask for you opinion about whether MY WIFE is refusing to grow up. So unless you've something to contribute to the thread, then don't bother posting.

kizzyr

eviltimeban wrote: »

... because she just cannot find clothes that she likes anymore. Everything is crappy material, bright 80s colours, flimsy, too short, too polyester, or far too expensive.

So my question is, where can she shop? Either online or bricks and mortar. Her style could be described as simple, classic, slightly alternative, individual (in that she hates the chance of someone else wearing what she has, hence no bold prints or designs), elegant. As a basis:

No to:
Heels
Narrow shoes
Skinny jeans
3/4 length sleeves
80s fashions
Glittery runners
Tops with big prints
Preppy or D4 fashions
Shirts
Synthetic fabrics
Things that just don't make sense - like tops with no back etc

Yes to:
Plain long sleeve tops
Wide leg, LONG jeans (she's tall)
Cool girly trainers, with foot support (ie not converse)
Ever so slightly hippy chic items (she's a rock chick!)
Loose floral print "girly" tops
Hoodies with long sleeves but plain (like Superdry)
Boots - flat heeled
Flat shoes
The old Sabotage style (before they went one size)

Your help would be mucho appreciated. Especially if I can then take her to those shops like it was my idea. Or show her the website. And yes, she's been everywhere. You name it, there's nothing there for her. Forget H&M, Topshop, BT2, Oasis, Zara, Monsoon, etc etc etc. I don't think the High Street is gonna cut it anymore. She's also done the Coggles / online thing as well.

She needs your help. Too long I've watched her stare at her wardrobe hoping there'll be something in there she can wear. I know she would love to have a range of things she can just throw on, be comfortable, and look cool. Help!

I wouldn't be too quick to cross off the High Street totally. If your wife gets her basics right, as in a few great pairs of jeans some for casual some more dressy, trousers and skirts (if she wears them) then she can mix in stuff from the High Street and make it look great. She can layer the string tops over each other in different colours which I like with jeans and great runners. A Wear are good about rotating their stock and so can some other shops.
To stand out and be different (if this is what she wants) its all about how you wear things more so than what you wear e.g accessories, hair style, handbags.
How would she feel about a personal shopper? Not necessarily one for any particular store, maybe for a shopping centre e.g. Blanchardstown, Dundrum or even the city centre itself. If your wife meets with them the day before the actual shopping expedition it will allow the shopper to have a look around before hand and have a hit list of places to try out. It is money well spent for a lot of people who really feel that they don't know where to get what they want.

partyguinness

eviltimeban wrote: »

By girly trainers I mean cool retro trainers, that are not manly. Like the New Balance style, but most of the those colours are too manly. She likes the Tiger trainers but they don't give much support.

As for hoodies, I just mean long sleeve tops that happen to have hoods. And anyway, what's age got to do with it? Its not like she's gonna be hanging on street corners with her hood up. You don't have to stop wearing certain clothes just because you are a certain age. And I didn't ask for you opinion about whether MY WIFE is refusing to grow up. So unless you've something to contribute to the thread, PFO.

Surely age is important so that posters can advise re age appropriate clothes for you wife. Is she 20 or 35 or 50?

We will just have disgree that one should cease wearing certain clothes at a certain age or wear clothes are age appropriate.

jbl123

Check out:
Brooklynindustries.com
Some very cool, unique stuff. I just can't remember if they ship to here.
I completely agree with her regarding the synthetic fabrics. Horrible! Has she tried Esprit? Gap is good for basics, especially pants since they come in tall sizes. For the shoes she should have a look at Gola.

gudbuzz

aw ur such a lovely guy! the answer to all ur questions and all her problems is asos.co.uk -its addictive!

eviltimeban

OK. She's 32. Young in attitude and taste. Into music. Tall, long dark hair, beautiful if I'm telling ya!

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Femelade

Tell her to try www.promod.com
AFAIK they have very simple understated but pretty clothes.

fits

www.toast.co.uk

Its fairly expensive but the clothes are a fantastic fit and quality and they last. The sales are very good too.

phasers

Femelade wrote: »

Tell her to try www.promod.com
AFAIK they have very simple understated but pretty clothes.

Liffey Valley has a Promod, they're quite similar to Zara imo, but their stuff seems less flimsy.

I have a lot of problems with length too as I'm quite tall. I find New Look good for casual stuff (They have lovely plain hoodies and cute tshirts, also I generally find their jeans to be nice and long, in a variety of widths). They'll definitely have flat boots and floral tops.
I know you said you tried the high street but AFAIK there's not that many New Looks in Ireland yet

Femelade

phasers wrote: »

Liffey Valley has a Promod, they're quite similar to Zara imo, but their stuff seems less flimsy.

I have a lot of problems with length too as I'm quite tall. I find New Look good for casual stuff (They have lovely plain hoodies and cute tshirts, also I generally find their jeans to be nice and long, in a variety of widths). They'll definitely have flat boots and floral tops.
I know you said you tried the high street but AFAIK there's not that many New Looks in Ireland yet

i'd say there are quite a few new looks in ireland at the moment.
I have a choice of 4 in cork.

CathyMoran

For shoes how about Ecco - they have great shoes with good foot support.

nesbitt

Just a note on converse or trainers in general.

Why not buy separate in soles with arch support. Bring them with you when buying new trainers, and try them on with your insoles before purchase.

I love converse and that is what I do because I really need good arch support.

phasers

Femelade wrote: »

i'd say there are quite a few new looks in ireland at the moment.
I have a choice of 4 in cork.

There's maybe 8 AFAIK, which in fairness is not that many compared to other shops

gogo

I think there's a lot more new looks than that phasers, its nearly in every shopping centre now, was at a weding last week and three guest wearing the same new look shoes and they werent all from the one place. Either way if she's after quality new look isnt the place to go - most of the stuff is a one wash wonder lately.
Would definatly agree with the asos recemmondation, she has a choice of high street and designers, can see it being worn on catwalk as well.
And can easily return it if shes not happy. personally i think she'd a bit too picky, she can't find clothes anywhere she likes? Its all about the mix and match, shes need to pick up pieces in different places and make them work together, theres not going to be one shop that will provide everything she wants. anyway try asos and good luck.

rantyface

I have the same taste as your wife. I'm sick of all this tack at the moment. Sicily are nice for formal and for casual wear I LOVE Pull and Bear. They're Spanish I think, just lovely simple clothes, straight cut jeans, nice patterns. The sizes are a bit small there though, mostly 6 and 8s.

The old sabotage style can be found in most hippy shops anyway, and for less money. I like the one, katastrophe I think, in temple bar.

Camper do the nicest shoes. They're on Wicklow st. Slightly hippy but very sensible. The women's flat shoes are lovely and the walking shoes are very high standard. All the european geologists in college wear them

Stheno

I take a 34 inch leg in jeans in flats, (36 in heels) and buy jeans either in Long Tall Sally, TopShop, Dorothy Perkins or Gap in Banbridge (not Gap down here the jeans seem shorter for some reason)

I've got mainly bootcut and boyfit jeans, the boyfit are quite wide.

Long Tall Sally (online and in Clearys) do a fairly ok range of plain tops. They also do flat shoes and boots.

I wear Vans when I want to wear trainers, but with insoles as someone else suggested.

insert-gear

skunkfunk in the italian quarter (around where the buddah bag shop is). They sound exactly like what your wife is looking for

I think Next is a good option. Also A-Wear are great for Jeans and they do long leg.

http://www.nextdirectory.ie/

January

Femelade wrote: »

i'd say there are quite a few new looks in ireland at the moment.
I have a choice of 4 in cork.

Think there are only three in Dublin..

miss no stars

esprit
Tommy Hilfiger
Juicy Couture (oh yes, they're actually quite nice apart from those nasty tracksuits. Best to actually go to one of their shops as their website doesn't seem to have the full range).
Abercrombie & Fitch
American Eagle

(believe it or not, they have some nice stuff you don't normally see/recognise on people here...)

It might be worth going away as places like H&M are completely different on the continent as we are grouped with the UK market and so get the godawful stuff.

adrieanne__x

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Think there are only three in Dublin..

there are 6 in dublin

MonicaBing

Kudos to you for helping herself out! She and i have kinda similar taste barring the leg length, i buy a lot from asos and boohoo.com, great sites for individual pieces, am a bit of a rock chick meself and have picked up great long sleeve t's and tops from both of these. The dresses are great too but i'd bet my dog she'd find THAT dress on one of these sites.