General Chat

And dont get me started on shoes/socks. Shoes used to come in different widths, usually A, B, C, D with B and C being the most common. One shop/manufacturer used to make wider fittings. I found at that time about 25 yrs ago that I was a 4G. But 5 yrs ago I tried on some pretty summer shoes. Well I would have but couldnt get my toes into them. Asked for a wider fitting and the girl looked at me as if I was from Mars. 'They only come in one width' she told me. I tried the next size up but they still pinched my toes and were miles too long. These days if I am asked what size I am I say anything from a 4 to a 12, or even a 39, or is it a 41? Recently wanted slippers, tried womens, size 9 I couldnt get in to, size 10 still too tight, didnt like the 11s they had. Went to the mens section. Similar slippers to the 9s and 10s, the size 9 was miles too big. Size 8 slightly loose but I bought them as I usually wear socks in them in winter. Only trouble is they look like my OHs slippers and he tries to put them on. Talk about the ugly sister!

Same for men. Trousers in sales usally 32' waist!!

No M&S here in NZ. I sew my own clothes anyway as I am such a weird shape. Make skirts and blouses, same pattern each time and know the alterations to make to the pattern. Had a pair of trousers in a good fit so when they wore out I used them as a pattern for more. Swimsuits? ...... I am a real saggy aggy so the straps were never long enough for me. I do have a couple of swimsuits which are not too bad a fit. Dont go swimming much these days so they should last me for the rest of my life if my size doesnt change too much. Bras are never a good fit. If I tighten the straps to get uplift as soon as I let go of the straps I drop down at the front and the back of the bra hits me in the back of the head. Have given up trying to be uplifted. This is why I never wear blouses/tshirts tucked into my skirt/trousers. My boobs are down at waist level. I prefer to say I am high waisted. Short from shoulder to waist, long from waist to crotch. Well, the bought trousers dont always come up to my waist, I am forever trying to hitch them up and finish up unpicking the waist band and lengthening the body part. Which is why I dont often buy trousers.

Whilst back in the UK recently, my sister had the opposite gripe. She could find plenty of clothes in 12, 14 and 16 but none in 8 or 10. My gripe is that trouser lengths seem to stop at 31' and I am 32'. Rosalind

Have discovered Bon Marche recently - trouser lengths 27, 29 and 31'.

If I look in the mail catalogues we get here then I think the bras, pants etc. are getting prettier. I have a big size and have bought pretty underwear this year in black, blue, ruby red and brown. For the summer they have other colours. Also I like to pop over the border into Germany where they cater for the larger (normal size these days) woman. They are also cheaper. I buy M&S here too. Sylvia xxx

The small ones are left because the bigger ones are normal.... yes you are right, they should learn.. Mind you, I could not get ANYTHING in M&S to fit me, bed socks perhaps....do they sell them? Deanna X

Many years ago, when I was a teenager, M&S did stock 'in-between' sizes. I remember buying a pair of size 13 jeans (those were the days!) :-))

Trust a man to think about his dividends David......

sheila, don't say that, i put on weight gradually starting with a siz 12 and am now a 16 ----- Are you telling me I am really an 18???? Ann Glos

Re size 14s being two different sizes...I used to be a standard M & S 12. I have put on nearly two stone from what I used to weigh and now I take a size 10 skirt! This is a con. Sizes are getting bigger. That I suppose is why they can put size 8 in, cos a 10 now is more like a 12 from 20 years ago, so an 8 now is an old 10. Well I know what I mean! Also Next sizes are really weird. Tried to buy a suit in there and needed a 10 skirt and 14 jacket... Over and out Sheila

Dont talk about bra sizes That brings me back to the swimming cozzie row, and those stupid foam cups which you fall out of (& under pmsl) you can never get an exact or near enough size to support properly.. Elaine x

Ann you are so right, I am not a G cup either but everytime I need a new bra the local lingerie shop has to order them in. Try finding shoes when you are a size 10-11, all I ever get is 'you will have to try the mens section), whenever I have been in America in the past I have stocked up there as they seemed to realised their are ladies with big feet - Michelle

And WHEN will manufacturers/retailers realise that we do not all have arms the length of gorillas'?? And I have given up wasting so much time looking for the M & S cotton bras amongst the racks they now use for display in our two big stores. It drives me mad! So now I get onto their website and order my bra in my size and in cotton without losing my temper. Joanna

Not that I am a G cup, but why can't they make a good supporting larger cup size bra that is also pretty? And not expensive. Ann Glos

think you have troubles if your boobs are bigger than a g cup its so hard to find a bra that you would like to wear

Jill - I have exactly the same problem with the 'doubled up' sizes :O( And on leg lengths - I am a 29 inside leg - so what can I find - only 27's (too short) or 31's (too long) *tuts lol*

Another gripe, Things are sold 12-14 then next size is 16-18. I need the middle size in some things ,can not buy 16-18 as far too big and 12-14 a bit tight. x Jill

Ann, I have actually written a letter to our local M & Sp along those lines......all the larger sizes go, and all the smaller ones are left.....and go into the sales.... surely it is not rocket science to realise that the buyers should be ordering more of the larger sizes and fewer of the small..... I have noticed recently that they are now doing sizes 20 and 22 and I think that is down to the fact that Bonne Marche is doing a roaring trade in catering for the larger sizes..... btw did anyone hear of the huge pay increase given to the chap who has turned around the profits of M & Sp....it is in the millions...

It always seems to me that the SMALL sizes are few and far between! If I see anything I like in M&S I usually buy it there and then as I can guarantee that my size will be sold out next time I look. I find M&S sizing and lengths less reliable than they used to be - probably because the clothes are all made in different factories from Romania to Taiwan and anywhere in between!