How clothes are sized has often puzzled people for many years. As a women you are usually offered clothing in sizes such as 12’s, 14’s, 16’s etc or small, medium or large. These are just a few examples of the way in which dresses are sized and even this can be confusing. Dress sizes are usually based on hip, waist and bust measurements but where as you can be a twelve in one shop you may be a 14 in another, making it very difficult to ever buy clothes without trying them on. This can sometimes be caused by clothing manufactured to American sizes for example, and then converted in to UK sizing – causing a difference. Even in some shops a small in one item can relate to different sizes to a small in another item of clothing. Sometimes shops will say a small is the equivalent to an 8 -10 and other times it’s a 10-12 or even a 6-8.

Unfortunately there is no getting round this and therefore a trip to the fitting rooms is often requires. When going to the fitting rooms, take the item in a size large or smaller as well, if you are unsure of how it will fit. This will not only save you time but can actually mean you end up getting an item that is better fitted to you. You should never worry about having to go up or down a dress size when shopping from place to place as this is often the norm for many women.

With the Christmas season upon us, many of us have been looking for the perfect item to wear. Whether it be a new little black dress, bright red festive shirt or the funny Christmas jumpers that seem to be popping up everywhere, we really are spoilt for choice.

Many items we buy at Christmas on only worn a handful of times so it is important to bear this in mind when it comes to cost. It’s not only adults that are encouraged to join in with the Christmas jumper craze, many schools now have Christmas jumper days. Again the chances are you child will have grown so much from one year to the next that they simply will not be able to wear the jumper two years in a row.

Why not consider buying an outfit that you can alter allowing you to wear it all year round, so for example, buy a plain dress and add a bit of sparkle to it. This can not only save you money but also give your outfit that unique look, knowing that no one else will turn up at the works Christmas party wearing the same outfit as you!

Why can I never find anything to fit me properly? I hear you cry. I used to be able to walk into a high-street store and pick something off the rack now I spend all day looking for a top that fits. This is all too familiar and is causing many women to wonder whether the manufacturers really understand what the modern fifty-something woman wants or how her body shape has changed.

Most women in their Fifties are still working and so they need to look smart whilst also feeling comfortable. They may need to wear layers that they can remove if they become too hot and may prefer clothes made from natural materials. On the whole, the high street only seems to cater for young women and older women are getting a raw deal.

In order for this to change, fifty-year-old women’s voices must be heard. Write to the executive of the company and ask about their sizing (how can someone be a 12 in one shop and a 16 in another),

buy online from a speciality shop that caters for real women, you could even have a go at making your own clothes. Whatever you decide, good luck you’re going to need it.

It seems that more and more children’s clothes are designed in line with the latest fashion and some of these fashions are considered not as appropriate for the younger generation. Many parents want their children to fit in and be popular but not at the expense of their comfort or safety and some fashions can tend to question this.

So is it wrong to encourage our children to buy items that not only feel good but look good and at in line with recent trends? This is often a debate that causes a split of opinions and will probably be argued for years to come. The truth is many children are becoming aware of fashion at a younger age and therefore will want to dress in a certain way. This is not necessarily a bad thing as long it is is still appropriate to their age and the place they are going.

Find clothes that fit your exact body shape can be hard enough let alone when you are pregnant. You entire body shape changes and your usual clothes very quickly become tight and uncomfortable.

Shopping for maternity clothes is made hard due to the fact that not many shops stock maternity clothes in store so you have to shop online. Often you may not know what size maternity clothes you will need until you have tried them on, so it may be a long game of ordering clothes and then having to return them for a different size.

If you are buying clothes online then try and buy from shops that offer free returns or that allow you to take them back in to store for an exchange or a refund. Mothercare, Newlook, H and M and Peacocks are some of the high street stores that offer a range of maternity can nursing clothing.