Can't find any clothes I like in the shops

Cotton Traders have tee shirts with elbow length sleeves. However, their sizes are larger than other companies'. I usually buys, a size 18 from other shops, to cover the 'muffin top'. The CT 18s could double as tents.

I bought a T shirt in a smart little shop in Brittany in July when it suddenly turned very warm. It is probably the most expensive T shirt I own, but it has sleeves of exactly the right length, and fits beautifully. Wish I'd bought more!

I have loads of shirts over T shirts to give me the sleeve length, and, like you, nonny despair of clothing with sleeves!

I would like a summer dress that has short sleeves. Everything I look at is sleeveless and I dont think that looks good as we get a bit older. I seem to live in jeans and T shirts.

Try looking at Yours Clothing where I have had some success this year.

I looked everywhere for a dress to wear at my daughter's wedding. I have big boobs and slim hips! Then a Julipa catalogue popped through my letterbox. I saw a dress I liked and ordered it. It fits well and I'm really pleased. My only fear is that someone else will be wearing the same dress, but that can happen no matter where you buy.

I came across an individual shop in Uppermill, near Oldham (when helping my daughter chose her wedding dress at the lovely shop on the corner of the High Street) The shop is named after it's owner (Kryshia) and sells great clothes for women of a certain age. I;d begun to despair of buying clothes, but stocked up in their sale recently, linen trousers and a summer frock at half price. Just hope the sun shines again next summer. I was rather shocked when Mary Portas said she didn't want "old ladies" to wear her clothes, she seemed to mean women over 50. Silly Mary - she'll find that one day she is also an old lady

To my amazement I'm still holding out on my New Year Resolution not to buy any new clothes this year! (Did have to buy a belt for my jeans and succumbed to a satchel bag - but NO NEW CLOTHES). I'm wearing things I really like but never got around to wearing before. I've not done anything much for the economy but I've saved enough for a good holiday.

I don't know how much longer I can hold out for though - Dresses I would never usually look twice at now look wonderful.

I bought some rather gorgeous Autograph palazzo pants for £9 in the M&S sale. Not sure when or if I shall wear them, but they're there if I want them.

Not sure how the topic of Exmouth came up - I have just dropped in on this thread. I used to live there in a big house called Isca Way on the Exeter Road. My family moved there when I was 17 and I returned from my first term at uni there - bit of a strange thing to do as all my friends were back in Essex.

But I loved it - and Lympstone nearby where we used to visit my GM every summer for our holidays.

On my trips down to Devon on the train recently to visit my dad, and subsequently for his funeral, I have so enjoyed the train ride down the Exe estuary from Exeter to Newton Abbott - you can see Lympstone and Exmouth over the water. This led me to do a bit of research on how the area has developed - I was delighted to see that Lympstone station is still there - we used to travel that route with our swimming costumes and towels and a packet of sandwiches on our way from my GM's to Exmouth for the day. And a splendid cycleway has been built along the estuary.

On the subject of clothes - I seldom buy any now. My DDs supply me with clothes as gifts sometimes; and those that I already have (and have had for decades!) are coming back into fashion!!

P.S. my nice 'Woman' T shirts from M&S that I thought were so good when I bought them, have shrunk - when are they going to crack that....I only ever wash them on a 30 short wash.

Fond memories of Exmouth, my Grandma lived there and we hand long summer and Easter breaks there....swimming in the sea no matter what the weather was like. I loved the old shanty town bit but its all posh flats now.... not quite the same.

I've bought some nice tops in M&S, mostly stripey Autograph ones which fit nicely, either with casual trousers or more formal ones for work. I also like their 'cigarette' trousers which you either dress up or down.

Don't often buy dresses, although I have a couple of 'officey' ones for work.

I can also usually find some tops or trousers in Next.

I think that the problem is that all the high street shops seem to have been stocked exclusively with what's deemed to be 'in' this year, but fashionable or not, what suits one person looks b****y awful on another. This year, I've been unfortunate enough to look b****y awful in everything they are selling!
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that there is a big change in 'fashion' by next summer.

My son works in Exmouth, and I sometimes visiit him there.What a great little town it is with it's marvellous seafront.
Clothes, - I live near a Marks and Spencer Outlet which is very handy.
I bought a couple of new tops there and they are o.k.
I long for a pretty cotton summer dress which doesn't make me look ridiculous, but can't find one ! (could be that ALL dresses make me look ridiculous!!!

Oh!, lucky you, FlicketyB. I do not quite understand why so many shops stop at 29" leg. M&S are not bad, but I am not sure I like their styles any more, think I might be one of the many, having read some of the remarks here.

One woman's meat is another woman's poison. I spend my life looking for trousers that sit on the hip. I am narrow between waist and thigh and 'sit on the hip' trousers fit me neatly around the waist!

So, it's not just me - I haven't bought anything new this year, just cannot find something I like. Drooping round necks just do not go with drooping boobs, and I having being trying to find lightweight cotton trousers 31" leg which DO NOT sit on the hips. Not a hope!

Thanks for that Galen, I shall check them out.

I spend quite a bit of time in that Exmouth shop when my menfolk are buying boat stuff [yawn], but have to say the clothes are a bit pricey for me. I have been known to wait for husband and sons in the lovely little cafe in the park just up the road from said shop - called Bumble and Bee - they serve delicious home made cakes.

I need a pair of shorts! Can't find any any where. Need a size 18/20 I think, although current m&s size 16 fit!

Jingle is that shop still there? I used to use it when we moored our boat off Starcross and used the water taxi from Exemouth to get to it!
Also used the fisher mans cooperative for lobsters, fish etc! And the pub opposite for a drink and occasional meal.

Phase eight are what I use!

I used to live in Exmouth JO8 and know just where you mean. Pity Shelley Road has been ruined though. Getting back to clothes I have to buy an outfit for my Godson's wedding in September and don't know where to look - outfits for the overweight and overhigh perhaps.

Skirts and dresses are a complete dead loss this year!

I had a job finding a summer skirt. In the end I got one from a little boat chandler shop in Exmouth. (Nothing boat-ish about the skirt!)