Where to shop in London, For lady's/girl's suit Options

[Susie]

We had this situation with my daughter who is not pencil thin and also not tall. We visited Next and were successful there.

You might think about going to Westfield shopping centre near the BBC (Wood Lane area?). There are lots of fashion shops in there. Similarly there's the new centre at Stratford. Then you could "do" quite a few shops in one hit without having long walks in between.

[corenfa]

Here is a totally off the wall suggestion. Go to Marylebone and look in the charity shops. A couple of friends (male) said they found great designer stuff going at knockdown prices. They said this only works in the Marylebone charity shops and not in charity shops in other parts of London that they knew of.

[Maizie]

It always used to be the case for the charity shops in Knightsbridge too.
Actually, I think Oxfam has a designer outlet on Bond Street...

[corenfa]

Makes sense! Those are the posher bits of London

[Halka]

Many thanks to all! I think I'm going to be worn out...

I'm about to leave home, and am not sure I'll have access to a computer again before the "great shop". I'll let you know if I pull through...

[katyjay]

Best of luck, Halka....

[Ayshah]

Here is a totally off the wall suggestion. Go to Marylebone and look in the charity shops. A couple of friends (male) said they found great designer stuff going at knockdown prices. They said this only works in the Marylebone charity shops and not in charity shops in other parts of London that they knew of.

Hampstead, Kensington and one right next to Harrods, Charity Shops with very good quality stuff.

Have to say very glad my girls went to a 6th form comp where dressing as Goths, Punks, Emos etc was acceptable! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Anything rather than looking like your mum! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Halka]

Best of luck, Halka....

Thank you!

Have to say very glad my girls went to a 6th form comp where dressing as Goths, Punks, Emos etc was acceptable! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Anything rather than looking like your mum! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Very, very little chance of her looking like me if she wears a suit and an above knee skirt. I am one of these people that can do nothing unless I am comfortable (ie scruffy) and I've always kept my legs very well covered!

We ended up with a very sober grey suit from Hobbs in Covent Garden, with which we were both reasonably happy. I would have preferred to pay less but was delighted I did not have to spend hours trudging up and down Oxford Street. Of course, we still ended up window shopping in Oxford Street but the pressure was off by then so I could just about tolerate it!

[sbhoa]

Here is a totally off the wall suggestion. Go to Marylebone and look in the charity shops. A couple of friends (male) said they found great designer stuff going at knockdown prices. They said this only works in the Marylebone charity shops and not in charity shops in other parts of London that they knew of.

Hampstead, Kensington and one right next to Harrods, Charity Shops with very good quality stuff.

Have to say very glad my girls went to a 6th form comp where dressing as Goths, Punks, Emos etc was acceptable! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Anything rather than looking like your mum! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

One of the 6th form comps near us has a 'business wear' dress code.

[Susie]

Best of luck, Halka....

Thank you!

Have to say very glad my girls went to a 6th form comp where dressing as Goths, Punks, Emos etc was acceptable! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Anything rather than looking like your mum! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Very, very little chance of her looking like me if she wears a suit and an above knee skirt. I am one of these people that can do nothing unless I am comfortable (ie scruffy) and I've always kept my legs very well covered!

We ended up with a very sober grey suit from Hobbs in Covent Garden, with which we were both reasonably happy. I would have preferred to pay less but was delighted I did not have to spend hours trudging up and down Oxford Street. Of course, we still ended up window shopping in Oxford Street but the pressure was off by then so I could just about tolerate it!

It's funny how achieving something like this seems to be a major victory. At least it did in our house.

I have to say my son was a lot easier - basically if something fitted and didn't look too fuddy duddy he was done!

Anyway glad you were successful Halka! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tenor Viol]

It can be a skirt suit or trouser suit - ie something you can wear with a blouse - but daughter doesn't want a trouser suit. Colour-wise, the current head girl has got away with cream, but it's meant to be dark - black, blue, dark grey, that kind of thing.

Daughter requires the skirt to be above the knee - the further the better - and pencil style, probably.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Could only be the mind of a 16 year old girl (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) !

See if she likes the '50's-'60's style stuff - will not have a pencil skirt but does look very feminine. I do find the 'corporate' style suits look very masculine and in my opinion often look a bit odd with a skirt!

Mind you not sure I'm a girl to be taking fashion advice off - I like old stuff be that cars or furniture or fashion so am really not in touch with the latest in Cosmopolitan or Glamour magazine ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Don't envy you trying to help her look - suits for women are so hard to find as SO many styles to choose from. Boys have it so much easier - choice of about 3 acceptable colours (black, grey, navy blue), all going to be fairly similar style. About the most exciting thing they get to choose is the cufflinks and tie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

....warning topic diversion
Please! Should one use a tailor, one can have fun chooosing the cloth for one's suit or jacket, the lining, the buttons, etc. I have a nice antique gold coloured Donegal tweed jacket with a multi-coloured fleck. Tailoring is cheaper in the sticks than London (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) For a selection of bow-ties one needs to go to somewhere like Burlington Arcade or Jermyn St.

From my mum's constant lament (she is a qualified fashion fitter), it is easier for men to get decently outfitted than for ladies. I gave up on most hight street outlets about 15 years ago - they think men are all 5 ft 11in plus and built like a match-stick, or aged 19.

A decent suit from a proper tailor outside London is about twice the price of an "expensive" suit from M&S.

...back to topic.....

[Violin Hero]

It can be a skirt suit or trouser suit - ie something you can wear with a blouse - but daughter doesn't want a trouser suit. Colour-wise, the current head girl has got away with cream, but it's meant to be dark - black, blue, dark grey, that kind of thing.

Daughter requires the skirt to be above the knee - the further the better - and pencil style, probably.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Could only be the mind of a 16 year old girl (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) !

See if she likes the '50's-'60's style stuff - will not have a pencil skirt but does look very feminine. I do find the 'corporate' style suits look very masculine and in my opinion often look a bit odd with a skirt!

Mind you not sure I'm a girl to be taking fashion advice off - I like old stuff be that cars or furniture or fashion so am really not in touch with the latest in Cosmopolitan or Glamour magazine ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Don't envy you trying to help her look - suits for women are so hard to find as SO many styles to choose from. Boys have it so much easier - choice of about 3 acceptable colours (black, grey, navy blue), all going to be fairly similar style. About the most exciting thing they get to choose is the cufflinks and tie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

....warning topic diversion
Please! Should one use a tailor, one can have fun chooosing the cloth for one's suit or jacket, the lining, the buttons, etc. I have a nice antique gold coloured Donegal tweed jacket with a multi-coloured fleck. Tailoring is cheaper in the sticks than London (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) For a selection of bow-ties one needs to go to somewhere like Burlington Arcade or Jermyn St.

From my mum's constant lament (she is a qualified fashion fitter), it is easier for men to get decently outfitted than for ladies. I gave up on most hight street outlets about 15 years ago - they think men are all 5 ft 11in plus and built like a match-stick, or aged 19.

A decent suit from a proper tailor outside London is about twice the price of an "expensive" suit from M&S.

...back to topic.....

Not everyone can afford to spend many hundreds on a suit. My suits tend to cost ariund 200-250 GBP, can't justify spending more on my salary.

I do have trouble finding something in my size as I am slim and and not particuarly tall at all. However it is possible to find something at a decent price and quality that will fit.

[Tenor Viol]

It can be a skirt suit or trouser suit - ie something you can wear with a blouse - but daughter doesn't want a trouser suit. Colour-wise, the current head girl has got away with cream, but it's meant to be dark - black, blue, dark grey, that kind of thing.

Daughter requires the skirt to be above the knee - the further the better - and pencil style, probably.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Could only be the mind of a 16 year old girl (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) !

See if she likes the '50's-'60's style stuff - will not have a pencil skirt but does look very feminine. I do find the 'corporate' style suits look very masculine and in my opinion often look a bit odd with a skirt!

Mind you not sure I'm a girl to be taking fashion advice off - I like old stuff be that cars or furniture or fashion so am really not in touch with the latest in Cosmopolitan or Glamour magazine ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Don't envy you trying to help her look - suits for women are so hard to find as SO many styles to choose from. Boys have it so much easier - choice of about 3 acceptable colours (black, grey, navy blue), all going to be fairly similar style. About the most exciting thing they get to choose is the cufflinks and tie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

....warning topic diversion
Please! Should one use a tailor, one can have fun chooosing the cloth for one's suit or jacket, the lining, the buttons, etc. I have a nice antique gold coloured Donegal tweed jacket with a multi-coloured fleck. Tailoring is cheaper in the sticks than London (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) For a selection of bow-ties one needs to go to somewhere like Burlington Arcade or Jermyn St.

From my mum's constant lament (she is a qualified fashion fitter), it is easier for men to get decently outfitted than for ladies. I gave up on most hight street outlets about 15 years ago - they think men are all 5 ft 11in plus and built like a match-stick, or aged 19.

A decent suit from a proper tailor outside London is about twice the price of an "expensive" suit from M&S.

...back to topic.....

Not everyone can afford to spend many hundreds on a suit. My suits tend to cost ariund 200-250 GBP, can't justify spending more on my salary.

I do have trouble finding something in my size as I am slim and and not particuarly tall at all. However it is possible to find something at a decent price and quality that will fit.

I was being slightly tongue in cheek (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) I'm not made of money.

I get quite cross with the standard of what passes for suits by the likes of M&S and others. They're asking for GBP200 - 250 or more for a "decent" suit. They are often badly made - sleeves are often poorly fitted and poor quality fabrics. My mum is a qualified fashion fitter which is one step down from a tailor, so I've had some training in what to look for! Have a look at whetther the jacket buttons line up properly. If there is a pattern in the fabric is it even and matched on joins? Sleeves should be smoothly inset.

A made-to-measure suit (bespoke is much more expensive) - which will fit properly and be made from a decent cloth that will drape and wear extremely well will set you back (outside London) about GBP450 upwards. Jacke tonly about GBP300. I have a suit in the wardrobe that is 10 years old, made from twisted wool worsted. It still fits well, doesn't crease, and looks good. Yes, it's twice the cost of a high street suit, but it lasts much longer and fits much better. I have another suit which is 30 years old - still looks very good - only trouble is it may have shrunk.... or perhaps I'm slightly less thin than when I was 22 when I bought it.

The alternative is an old-fashioned gents outfitter that sells classic off-the-peg styles (e.g. Brook Taverner). You can do well with these and they will do things like shorten jacket sleeves etc to make a better fit. The right size jacket with the sleeves the correct length makes a big difference.

[owainsutton]

Here is a totally off the wall suggestion. Go to Marylebone and look in the charity shops. A couple of friends (male) said they found great designer stuff going at knockdown prices. They said this only works in the Marylebone charity shops and not in charity shops in other parts of London that they knew of.

Hampstead, Kensington and one right next to Harrods, Charity Shops with very good quality stuff.

Have to say very glad my girls went to a 6th form comp where dressing as Goths, Punks, Emos etc was acceptable! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Anything rather than looking like your mum! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

One of the 6th form comps near us has a 'business wear' dress code.

I see similarly-dressed sixth-formers at the local schools. When did 'Sixth form' become equivalent to 'if you're lucky, you'll get onto the bottom rung of the People In Suits ladder", rather than the opportunity to explore subjects you liked in depth?

A made-to-measure suit (bespoke is much more expensive) - which will fit properly and be made from a decent cloth that will drape and wear extremely well will set you back (outside London) about GBP450 upwards. Jacke tonly about GBP300. I have a suit in the wardrobe that is 10 years old, made from twisted wool worsted. It still fits well, doesn't crease, and looks good. Yes, it's twice the cost of a high street suit, but it lasts much longer and fits much better. I have another suit which is 30 years old - still looks very good - only trouble is it may have shrunk.... or perhaps I'm slightly less thin than when I was 22 when I bought it.

You clearly perspire less than me....especially when wearing a suit....