Where to find pretty dresses and skirts?
 

I need some fresh inspiration. Where do you find pretty dresses and skirts for summer? And I'm talking for women who are over 40, don't wear a size 4, and want to keep it in the Land's End/LL Bean price range (or less). I'm interested in anything - casual for home, out and about, church dresses, etc.

It's getting harder and harder to find pretty things that fit regular women and don't cost a bundle.

Anyone have some suggestions? TIA! :)

Kohl's and Dress Barn are two places where I have found many cute, flattering outfits for work or social events. Also, Macy's Style & Co., line has many attractive options. The Inc. line at Macy's is more fashion forward, but geared to women who are well out of their teens and twenties.

I've been shopping at Coldwater Creek in recent years and I'm among the over 40 set. They have some really nice skirts and dresses. Their sale prices are really good too. I'd say it's definitely worth at least a look online. http://coldwatercreek.com

I like Boden, J. Crew, and Ann Taylor usually have nice summer dresses and skirts for work or going out. Boden uses European sizing and it's hit or miss sometimes depending on style, but the clothes are fashionable without being too short or too young looking.

I'll add my vote for Coldwater Creek with a caveat: their sizes are not consistent so I would be careful about ordering online. The good news is you could end up in something 2 sizes smaller. The bad news is you could end up in something 2 sizes bigger.

Another caveat: they can veer toward old lady/frumpy. They definitely have very cute stuff so don't freak out and leave if you see polyester pant suits when you walk in the door.

I shop Kohl's, the sale racks at Macy's, Ross Dress for Less, sales/clearance at Travelsmith.com, J. Crew, Eddie Bauer, etc.

I think I do best at Macy's and Ross. I found a really cute Ralph Lauren dress at Macy's for under $20 last week. It was marked down from $140.

Kohl's and Ross are definitely the best places to go. Also depending on your local store - Sears and Penneys can have nice things too. (This varies GREATLY from store to store though.)

I like TJMaxx, myself, but they vary a ton from one location to the next.

Thanks for all the replies...

Coldwater Creek used to be a favorite, but can't find anything in there now. I don't know who their size models are, but my body is completely different. And our store rarely carries dresses so unless I order them I'm out of luck. I got the catalog with the letter from the founder who went back to the company to try to basically save it. I don't know who was running it the past five year or so but they took a great catalog and completely destroyed it. Ten years ago I could drool through their catalog and theoretically drop $1k in five minutes. The past few years I junk it.

I don't have much luck in Kohl's, Penny's, TJ Maxx, Sears, etc.

I don't think we have Ross around here.

I do look at Macy's from time to time, but what they have that I like is usually more than I want to spend.

I have had some success at Younkers, but that's kind of hit and miss.

I was a big Talbot's fan until they went off the deep end. IMHO they are a shadow of what they used to be. I don't even look at the catalog when it comes. I feel the same way about Eddie Bauer and LL Bean. Both used to be great and now they are just trendy, slim cut stuff that doesn't work for a lot of women as we get older.

Part of the issue is that everyone dresses so casually now that there just aren't a lot of options. I'm old school and like to look nice in a classic sense. I'm really hoping that the Duchess of Cambridge brings about a bit of a change over the next few years. She knows how to look classy and smart at the same time.

Where I currently live we get around that by visiting the tailor. That wouldn't be cost effective for you, but for me I can get a custom made dress that fits me perfectly for usually less than $100. I've even paid around that for ball gowns!

I really like Liz Claiborne for classic look and fit. If there's an outlet near you, I'd check it out regularly. Outlets can be so hit and miss that if you like the brand you just have to keep going back. And retail stores never seem to carry enough of it at a time, or maybe it's that it's all spread out through juniors, women's, sportswear, etc.

Oh, TriDeltaSallie, you must be my sister. Everything you say is dead-on.
I'm so mad at Talbot's....I'm wearing 3- and 4- and 5-year-old clothing because their selection and quality is so poor now.
I did just purchase a top for, with delivery, almost $60. I'm keeping it (because there's nothing else), but the material is very, very thin polyester (not silk, which it would have been a few years ago)...the cap sleeves aren't even cut and sewn in separately...it's made so cheaply it should only cost about $15.
Never mind why designers think ruffles down your bosom and stomach are slimming.:mad:

I really like Ann Taylor Loft. Their prices aren't too bad, and if you sign up for their email list you can get stuff on sale. There are several dresses they have right now that I'm waiting to go on sale. I love their dresses...they are always the appropriate length for my height (I'm 5'8"), my age (late 30s), and for work, etc.

agree on talbots!

I am just about to that point. I would rather have a couple of things that I truly love tailor made for me than continue to pick up random pieces of whatever I can find.

You know that Talbot's got bought out by a Japanese group a number of years ago, right? It isn't even the same company. We had a huge Talbots store where I grew up and I felt like I was in heaven every time I walked in there. It's really sad what has happened to such an iconic retailer.

I also like Pendleton, but they are pretty much out of my price range now. I could justify it more when I was working away from home, but working from home I can't justify it at all. I do have a lot of pieces that I've had for years and am still wearing.

Actually that would sum up most of my wardrobe right now.

I will check that out! :)

Here is my style...
 

These are the kinds of things I would wear...

Black dress from Pendleton

Red dress from Coldwater Creek

Beaded dress from Coldwater Creek

B. Moss is nice.

What about Chicos, Eileen Fisher, or J.Jill? They're a little bit more resorty than what you posted earlier--but it seems to be similar in price, color, and fabric.

I've noticed the quality of clothing has declined considerably. Even places like Banana Republic, which used to be more "premium," has clothes that fall apart earlier and earlier these days. It's like Old Navy and H&M quality stuff that costs 3x as much! :( I have sweaters from BR that have worn right through after only a season's wear. I hand-wash and line-dry all my sweaters so there's no excuse other than poor workmanship. I guess they're trying to improve their profit margins but it's ridiculous.

Lately, I've been obsessed with the #2 pencil skirt from J.Crew. Seriously. I can't stop buying them.

I am a huge fan of Banana Republic.

I love Gap for sundresses. Make sure that you hit a larger Gap Lifestyle store as they will have better selection.

I also like Black Market White Barn.

Dillards is good too.

I have four of them. CAN'T STOP BUYING SKIRTS

Me neither! Which is a dumb move because my job involves hanging out with construction workers 4 days out of the week.

I knew they had changed CEOs, but nothing about the company buyout. I've been buying from them since the days they competed with Carroll Reed and were only found in a catalog outside New England. There are constant complaints on their Facebook page. Apparently no one in that company cares.

It looks like they did have substantial part Japanese ownership but maybe bought them out a few years back? This was interesting from Investor's Guide. They talk about Talbot's alienating their core customer base by trying to go after younger shoppers.

Consignment shops.

Try Ebay.

You can find your favorite classic items at reasonable prices. Know your measurements and ask questions of the sellers before you buy. I've purchased gorgeous Pendleton, Doncaster, Carlisle, etc. pieces for a fraction of the price - and most of these pieces are timeless. Many of the items are new with tags - some are not and must be washed or dry cleaned before wearing.

When purchasing on ebay, I've also made a few mistakes - for example, I did not look at (or ask for) the clothing measurements. However, for the most part, I'm happy with the items I have purchased. The things that didn't fit? I took them to the consignment shop (where I then bought something else!!!!!)

That's funny. I was looking at a NorthStyle catalog right before I read this. :)

I've tried consignment shops and ebay both. I never have any luck in consignment shops. I look on ebay, but probably not often enough to have any success. I could set up alerts, but I haven't been that ambitious yet. :)

Got my JJill catalog today. After several years of blah clothing, I see two or three things I'm willing to try.
NorthStyle, too, as well as Seregeti (both owned by the same company, I know).
Still want to kick Talbot's butt.

Most of my wardrobe is Chico's and Soma. Their clothes are not inexpensive, but they last. If Chico's clothing fits your style, go for it.

Think about cost per wearing. If you buy a $10 T-shirt and wear it to the gym a zillion times, your cost/wearing becomes a few cents. At the opposite extreme, your wedding dress may cost $1000 and you wear it only once, making it $1000 cost/wearing. So if you buy a $30 blouse and wear it 60 times, it's $0.50 cost/wearing, but if it's so fugly you only wear it once, it's $30 cost/wearing. So buy what you'll wear ... and buy what you'll wear more than once.

Soma bras are FREAKING. AWESOME.

I'm hitting 50 with a short stick and I have the hardest time finding stuff. I have almost gone to J Crew exclusively because their stuff fits and it doesn't look like I'm trying to be 25. I have been looking for some shirts recently and I'm stumped. I can not find any thing in a pattern or style that I want to wear. I think I fall into that age that retailers don't care about but they should.

Because there's only like 4 of us on the planet.

I thought I had found the perfect bra (a Soma)...fit awesome, felt good, didn't show high beams. So what that it cost $50? I'd pay double that for a bra that fit and...wait...first the cups start riding up over the girls and then...the ONE thing I WILL NOT ABIDE...straps falling off the shoulders!:mad::mad::mad:

Not to mention we have more $$$ (usually) than the 20-somethings.;)

I like Chico's, Coldwater Creek and Dress Barn... I have found some really cute dresses at Dress Barn. I like Macy's as well.

This is what I don't get. I'm a twenty something and I have no cash to spend on any kind of nice clothing. I shop at Goodwill and Target almost exclusively. I was looking around for stores to post on this thread (because I love researching things, I'm a finder by nature) and the only thing I came up with is Jones New York and Kasper, but I was shocked at how few stores there are for this demographic.

On the upside though, I know now in which business venture to invest should I ever come into money.

Have you guys checked out Cato? No, the quality isn't all that fabulous, but it's inexpensive and if you just need something for a season, rather than something you are planning to keep "long term" they have some great stuff to choose from. I find alot of my dressier looking tank tops to wear with fun summer skirts there. I just "discovered" Cato about a year or so ago, and I LOVE it.

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