Slap-up dinner on you, then??

Depends on what you buy for lunch....

My flatmates are heart-breakingly skinny, and all shop at ASOS. They're all into designer-y stuff, but I don't think ASOS is too bad with prices. Might be worth a look.

Out of about 500 dresses there were approximately two that were below knee-length and not ankle length.

Thanks anyway though

Its lucky your not a lady sarah!

*ducks from slap*

*slaps HC when he gets back up*

There's always the chance their size 0 (UK 4) is the equivalent of another shops size 2 (UK 6) - see below about difference in fit. A UK size 0 would be a US -4 and for that you'd need to have the build of a child around about aged 7, so I would say the sizes your quoting are the American system and the clothing itself perhaps a little more generous in cut. I've never shopped at either place because of cost and GAP is a bit, well errr, common (ie. every Tom, #### and Harry wears it) but I might just go and try some clothing on for size. Does the size 0 stuff you wear contain lycra, or have a general 'give' in it?

No two clothing companies use the same models on which to base their clothing sizes. They all have sample people who willingly have their body measured and clothing sizes based on an average of those sample measurements. This is the reason there is so much variety in fit and what one shop calls a size 10 for example, will be what another calls a size 8.

Generally speaking I find Italian made clothing fits me best, because the Italians (on average) tend not to be as tall as people from a lot of the other European countries. For my favourite label, when I can afford it, I'll buy D&G.

Hats: I was amazed at the number of girls wearing tiny cocktail hats at Viohazard's school's graduation last year. The hats were more tasteful than the pheasant-run-over-by-Trockadero-dancer type of fascinator - no huge clumps of ribbon and netting with feathers at all angles.

If you think pinning on a mini hat is too much, try a cocktail hat on headband

And I noticed several mini top hats

That cocktail hat/headband is very cute. I would totally get it, if I would ever have the opportunity to wear it - it's kind of Blair Waldorf-y. Though I bet I'm the only person here who watches Gossip Girl.

I remember - I lived in Cambridge for about 4 years.

Have you tried Phase Eight? They're probably a bit more expensive than you were aiming for but they quite often have sales on so you might get lucky. Their dresses and skirts tend to be either on or just below the knee for me and I'm 5'8" so they should be about the right length. Or possibly East, actually, skip that, seems the smallest size they do is a 10.

I guess the problem is that the "below the knee, but not long" criteria means that most things that fit with it are designed for older women and tend to be a bit more expensive. I read an article about revamping your wardrobe yesterday with the advice "get rid of, or shorten, any skirts that are longer than knee-length and aren't maxi", presumably because they're just not fashionable enough.

I realise that, but I'm comparing clothes from M&S c.1994 with clothes from M&S c.2007. Size 8 trousers and skirts used to have a 23" waist; now it's more like 25" or even 26".


Cheese and pickle sandwich?

Then you're going to be very disappointed with dinner!

I know - Next sizes are bigger than they used to be too. If you're desperate it seems to be easier to get a skirt that fits... I had a voucher for M&S last week from someone and couldn't get a dress to fit, but I got a size 8 skirt instead. It's still a bit big for me but the waist band is elasticated and if you wear a long top over it no one can see. It just sort of sits on my hips. It's a shortish skirt technically - if measured from the waist - but ends up sitting below knee length

I've found GAP size 2 fits but I think it's a bit expensive (unless you go on Ebay)

Also it depends where the dress is too big... I have one that's a bit baggy on the waist but if you stick a couple of belt loops on the side and tie it round the back it works OK.

deleted my very unconstructive comment

That's because in the last 15 years people have got fatter! Not all of us of course, but in general the population has grown around the midrift. Clothing sizes have increased to compensate, which seems a rather daft thing to do I know, but that's how the shops work.

On the whole, people eat too much these days even though many will tell you they only eat 2000 calories a day, you can bet their real intake is more like 3000...... and probably not getting that much exercise to boot.

Well then they need to go up a size! Otherwise people like me drop off the bottom of the scale!

Or the clothes drop off you....

Tell the shops that. You are not alone, I've always had problems finding clothes small enough to fit me. At 15 I was still able to get into school clothes from Mothercare!!

The biggest problem will be when I get a lot older and all the really tiny sized clothes are only suitable for teens/20s/30s. Mutton dressed as lamb comes to mind. Do they assume we will all get fat and saggy by the time we are old?

I see no point in increasing clothing sizes when the health service and doctors in general are telling us to keep our weight down. Increasing the dimensions of clothing sizes just encourages people to keep increasing their body dimensions too!

I spent this afternoon trecking up and down oxford street etc and am still dressless.

Unluckily I didn't have time to go over to see the Kensington charity shops (I spent quite a long time walking the opposite way up Regent Street to the one I thought I was and only realised when I got to Piccadilly Circus - I'm not the best at navigating )

I went to big Debenhams and big John Lewis and there were loads of nice dresses (and a 20% off absolutely everything 'competitors' sale) but sadly the couple that did fit were too short and the ones that weren't too short were too big. I managed to find a grand total of one size 8 in Oxford circus Coast. The only size 6 dress I saw all day was in Next and although it had the 'right look', it was about a foot too short.

I was tempted to buy this dress and attempt to take it in, but decided that was probably not a good idea.

Nice dress. I'm always wary of large floral print dresses on a small body though. They can look a bit overwhelming.

I'd never attempt any type of alterations - wouldn't have a clue where to start!

Try TKMax for small sizes. They are an outlet store and dont have every style in a range of sizes, but you can get some absolute bargins if you are prepared to go through practically everything on the rails.

I have a size 6 daughter and we always find some thing in there. Yesterday we found a designer Dolce Gabanna Jacket originally £349 reduced to £40! The 'cut' and finish of it made her finally realise what I had been talking about when I said I wasnt buying any Primark 'tat'. It will be a stable in her wardrobe for performing for years to come.

I know its not the season, but they are also excellent for Ski wear and outdoor waterproof Jackets that cost nearly £200 in outdoor shops, in TKmax for £20/£40

Blimey, I'm half-expecting Gok Wan to turn up and post some advice for you lot

Can I join in?

Exam - smart white crisp shirt, grey trousers or skirt, nice shoes with a not too high heel.

Interview - depends what for!!

Ball - buy a cheap dress and get customising Everyone thinks you've spent a dreadfully expensive amount of money and you've spent like £30

I love Gok, he's the only chap I'd allow in the changing room with me. He's always so respectful of the ladies, and doesn't do all that boob wobbling those 2 women used to do in their programme.
OP. you may have to have a dress taken in. Or can you sew?
Bev

Just watch Pretty in Pink for inspiration!!

Oh my gosh that dress! What were they thinking?! Most hideous thing I've seen in my life.

It was the 80s! It made sense then.

Hah - leg warmers and perms, when do they come back into fashion then? What were women thinking back then?

Saying that, it wasn't just women with dodgy perms by the looks of it...