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.
Ted Baker London and Karl Lagerfeld Paris are both euro brands that fit that mold. They have stores in the US, as well as outlet stores. I also find their stuff at Nordstrom Rack for cheap. :)