The Expat Shopping Dilemma

Shopping, something I somewhat enjoyed in the US has become a stressful and often disappointing experience with the occasional bizarre incident that makes it entertaining.  I’d have to say homesickness kicks in most at the grocery store, mostly because I’m often trying to find things (macaroni, ricotta cheese, etc) that just can’t be found, or I have a hard time locating things like Worcestershire sauce (is it in the condiments section or the sauces section, or with the meat helpers??)  The local shops in town have limited selection but are still good, and the massive two story Tesco Extra is just overwhelming.  I’ve found that Booths, a semi local chain, though pricey seems to be the best bet.  They have a good selection of beer, produce and meat and aren’t large enough that you spend hours meandering aisles.

Clothing shopping is a whole other ballgame.  While I’ve been lucky in finding clothing that fits (by depressingly adding 4 to my American clothing size), I’m still not sure which stores are appropriate for me to shop at.  Next seems to be the UK version of Express, which is my favorite store, so that works, but then for casual clothes I’m at a loss.  I often see people in their teens buying the same clothing as people older than my parents, so it is confusing.

Help! Any thoughts on what stores are best for a professional mid 20s person not trying to look too young or too frumpy?