I was putting on my trousers this morning - an old and well loved pair - and it struck me just how much the fashion retail scene is changing.

My Viyella chocolate brown side zip trousers are a little more snug now than when I bought them, which must be over 10 years ago. But they are still smart enough to wear for work, and machine wash and tumble dry on a regular basis.

Looking through my wardrobe, I have similar style trousers in black, navy, charcoal, cream and dark green. They are a mix of Windsmoor and Viyella, all with extra long legs, and thinking about it, all more than 10 years old. I have bought trousers in the last year from Planet and Lakeland, but they are not side zipped, although they do have longer leg length.

There is a theme here, so bear with me. You see, like 60% of the women in this country I am pear shaped. So the best ‘look’ for me is to wear flat fronted trousers (I look pregnant in pleats) with a side zip. But it is ages since I found any, so I have resorted to buying front fly trousers. And I have only just realised how easy shopping used to be.

When I stop to think, I used to hang out at the same group of shops on a regular basis; each had its own niche, and I used to go to each depending on the occassion I was shopping for. They were all mid-range high street stores, although being a rural shopper, I frequently had to go to concessions in department stores, or shop in my lunch breaks when I was in London working.

There was Viyella (now on its umpteenth owner in recent years) which was my first choice for well-fitting good basic neutrals and work suits. But even back in the day, I used to have to go up to Regents Street to buy their cashmere - which is still the best I have ever bought anywhere - as the regional stores didn’t sell it.  Then usually round the corner was Coutry Casuals (now re-branded CC and going for a ‘younger’ look) which had nice outfits for dressed-up casual, but was to my mind a bit like M&S, in that you would go in one season and love everything, then a couple of weeks later it would have reverted to frumpy old person styling.

For concessions there was always Windsmoor, where I was always at least a size smaller than anywhere else, and although much of their output always seemed to be aimed at the ‘cruise’ market, if you chose to ignore their over co-ordinated way of putting things together, they did some great individual pieces. If you bought a full ‘look’ there you would really come across as mother-of-the-bride.

And last, but by no means least, was Jaegar. I loved that shop. Sizes were on the snug side, but they were always more fashion-forward, and great quality. I have spent a fortune in there over the years, never failing to fing things that I just had to have. Harder to find a shop, there just were fewer of them about, but I knew where my regualr haunts were.

And for independent labels, I loved Lucia (now bought out and gone oh so frumpy) and FZR. But with the problems in the market, even the stores I know that used to stock them have moved on.

My latest passion, which I had not even realised until ironing recently when I suddenly noticed all the labels, is MbyM. Great Danish knitwear, in superb styles and colours. I will now be actively seeking it out.

But back to my rant for the day. Where of where can I now source good quality long legged side zipped trousers?

I no longer take weekly or even monthly trips to London, so Regent Street is out of the question. It is 2 years since I made it into Manolo’s, and believe me, that is my first (shopping) port of call when I am in town. Ahead of that is only the V&A, and I have been there recently…..

I do shop regularly, although not often for myself. I look for outfits for my clients, and I am aware of what is out there and the changes in the retail landscape. I buy online, although I enjoy the girly occassion of a shopping trip, but much of my clothes shopping traditionally was simply a quick spin around a few cherished labels, and home laden with bags. I think those days are gone, and that is a shame.

I am writing this sitting at my studio desk in a High Street location above Superdrug. Opposite is a closed Principles, along this side one way is a closed Woolworths (been empty for 3 years) and on the opposite side is the Woolworths that closed at Christmas. Next door to me is an empty ex-Barratts, and between here and the car park I pass shop after shop that has disappeared this year.

The High Street concept was dying because of ‘out-of-town’ shopping, but now there is nobody here, you really have to ask why people will bother coming into town at all in the future. Obvioulsy there are the few remaining names, H&M, Next (is it me or are they going down market?), Primark, River Island etc. And of course Debenhams, which frankly is looking increasingly like an indoor market it is so crowded and jumbled and ‘couldnt-care-less’ feel is really off-putting. But where next?

I feel there is a huge gap opening in the market. My 40+ shoppers do not want to look old and frumpy, do not want to look like their teenage kids, and frankly have loads of money and time to spend on themselves, but nowhere to spend it. A very loyal band of shoppers is looking for a home.

Oh, and just because I have had some of my trousers for over 10 years, do not run away with the idea that I do not spend much/often. I am an impulsive shopper, I love cashmere and maxi dresses, Manolo shoes and anything bright and sparkly. I shop every month, and I clear out my wardrobe every 6 months or so. And when I say wardrobe, I have a spare bedroom that has no bed in it, just rails and shelves. I am beginning to wonder if I am going to be saving a lot of money in the future, because I just haven’t seen anything that I want to buy/must have/need………..