I know very little about fashion and I’m not even a huge fan of shopping, but I’m going insane looking at the same clothes every day in my closet. I would really like to revamp my style. I think I tend to enjoy more classy feminine styles that are still a little sexy. Seems to fit in more with European styles, but I can’t find many shops that have that in the US. Does anyone have any recommendations?
You should be able to find European names in at least some major department stores. I think in Canada one would be The Bay and in the US you might try Bloomingdales or similar. If you’re in America I think they have US brick and mortar stores for the below retailers.
Zara and Mango are Spanish retailers. They have some nice pieces. Generally I find their fit a bit odd but I did pick up some neon pink pants a few months ago from Zara which I love. Pull & Bear is another Spanish brand. I think they are cheaper/lower quality; I don’t shop there as I think it’s for younger people.
Karen Millen is a British retailer which has nice clothes but more on the $$$ side. I ordered some shorts recently but it seems their quality wasn’t great. It may be better for their dresses. I got a beautiful red trench coat a few years ago which was very good quality. Ted Baker has some nice pieces, good quality, but odd sizing. Reiss and Hobbs are also very good; I use them for work pieces and their quality is very good. French Connection, Topshop, Marks & Spencers, and Asos may also be worth checking out. River Island is popular but I consider them to be overpriced; they have many trendy pieces but they’re expensive and you might be spending money on something that will go out of style quickly.
Cos is a Swedish brand. Their aesthetic is not really my aesthetic (more flowy than fitted pieces) but I think their quality is good.
Maje, Sezane, and ba&sh are all French brands, more on the $$$ side.
Sounds like you already know what you like; I found Pinterest helped me with specific pieces to look for in stores - I would pin things which looked good on me and look for common trends (like belted items).
I shop most clothes for myself and my kids at the following brands which are on the expensive side with some being also green:
- Aigle, Mammut (coat and outside layers, Aigle rain boots are a killer both for adults and children). My husband is a big fan of Millet for his jackets and Decathlon own activity-specialised brands (Quechua for hiking, Tribord for sailing and Weedze for skiing).
- Geox (shoes)
- Balzac (blouses, dresses)
- My Tailor is Joh (pant suits and office wear)
- Monoprix (shirts)
Additionally, I buy basics such as T-shirts and most of my children clothes at other brands that may not be available outside of Western Europe such as Kiabi.
PS : I saw someone recommend Sezanne but honestly, it’s as expensive as Balzac, quality is quite bleh and they are green washers.