MOST women buy from the same stores for a very good reason: they understand the sizes there.

This was emphasised this week in a rarish foray into buying clothes online. I’d sent off for a smart dress advertised by a national company and for two T-shirts for my husband and I that I’d seen advertised on Facebook.

Now I’m a well-covered size 12-14 so I sent for a 14 to hedge my bets. The resulting dress, while lovely, didn’t come anywhere near my ample shape, and the tape measure showed it was only 34in bust. In my book that’s not a size 14 so I had to post it back with a request for the next size up.

While my husband’s T-shirt was an excellent fit, mine, medium women’s, was tiny – 32in across the chest. So this, too, has to go back.

Think I’ll just stick to M & S.