Do you have this in a S-medium please?

It’s official! I am going to have to come to terms with the fact that I may no longer be a small size in clothing. I’ve not done that bad I guess, I’m 24 (going on 25) and I’ve been wearing the same size since college...well except a very short phase back in the day when I thought I was a medium (think I was in denial and trying to butch up...hmmm).

Anyway...the discovery dawned on me in the last couple of days. Last week I bought a shirt from one of my favourite brands, (Full circle if you’re interested) when I tried it on I looked like I had eaten all the pies and then some more and then squeezed into a wet suit that belonged to a younger sibling! Not hot! The panic started to kick in a little.

I went back yesterday to buy a shirt, I took 2 shirts from another brand in to the changing room, and I had the same issue! The small was just that and the medium hung off me and was proving difficult to tuck the excess into my trousers - not the look I was going for at all…it was a little bit like those kids you see on the tube, clearly on their way to work experience (God I’ve been there as well) wearing either one of their dads shirts or one of those shirts bought to last..."you’ll grow into it" haha - I put both of the shirts back.

I can tell you as someone who works in the industry that sizes are not universal and they differ from brand to brand so you have to shop around – Trousers tend to be a little easier to buy, after all 32 inches is 32 inches where ever you are right? (not really but this confuses me so I’m glossing over). Letter sizing is a very different thing...what is a small? It can in essence be anything that the brand want’s it to be! You have brands for the larger gentleman that might reduce their size scaling as it’s more favourable with their customer (sir, it appears that you are actually thinner than you thought, you should buy this, it looks great on you!) and then others that might increase theirs, Its more manly to be of larger build right? Don’t get me started on the gays – they are something different altogether! You get the idea; it’s a free for all.

All this said and done I managed to find a Kenneth Cole shirt that I loved and it fit (this time in a collar size) Hurrah…unfortunately I am also taking it back today, it was an impulse purchase and we’re in a recession (so I hear) - I've got Christmas presents to buy!!