True story

Our work dress code is 'smart but casual' so, each day, unfailingly, I turn up in a fairly smart, conservative shirt, dark chinos and 10-hole black DM boots (I know. I'm a right fashionista). As I've not varied this combo in over five years (except v. hot weather: short sleeved shirt, pale chinos, deck shoes), clothes shopping is simple. So, around 9 months ago, I needed a new pair of dark chinos - off I went to Gap, found a pair in black, 32" waist, 30" leg, paid, went home.

Mrs G said, "Look, why don't you get two pairs? Then, when you dribble your lunch over one pair, you'll have a spare?"

Seemed logical. Off I went the next day: 32" waist, 30" leg, black, flat-front chinos. Thank you very much.

The following Monday, thought I'd wear my new pair. Shit! I'd only got a pair of 30" waist, 32" leg by mistake. Had also binned the receipt as I knew they would be OK.

So...what does tightwad Grimsdale do? That's right, I'm determined to lose 2" off my waist or die trying. Only an inch or so to go and they'll fit like a glove. Tried them on this morning and could get them up fine - apart from the unsightly muffin top - but the obvious outline of 'Little Che' might not have gone down too well in the office.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 15:12, 10 replies)

If it's just an exchange
you might find they let you do that without a receipt. Or you could show them your bank card statement (assuming your bought them on card).
(Bazongaloid, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 15:15, closed)

I get the losing weight
but how are you going to gain two inches in length (as it were)?
( Olembe Refuses to write in this space, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 15:21, closed)

^If they're looser on the waist
then they can sit slightly further down the body, thus lowering the hemline.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 15:23, closed)

If I manage to fit into them
I won't give a monkey's about them being too long! Current ones are a little short anyway - should be 31" long ideally, but they don't do them.

But thanks for asking.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 15:30, closed)

You're probably right Al,

But I've convinced myself that I'll fit into them comfortably before Christmas. I'm also so lazy, that I can't be bothered to bring them in and then hassle the shop people.

From past experience, I'll probably wear them for a week before Xmas excess leads to another 6 months worth of hard dieting to get into them again.

Hello middle age.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 15:22, closed)

Have a click.
Not only for having a frighteningly similar approach to work clothing (they are a very comfortable trouser), but mostly for the 'Little Che' comment, which made me snort my cup of tea on my keyboard a bit.
( Moey, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 16:14, closed)

I did this.
Stupid Newlook stupid labelled their stupid jeans wrong - I wanted 2 pairs of 32", size 12 jeans. Easy. I tried one on and assumed the other would also fit, glove-like. Couldn't even get the bastards past mid-thigh, despite the tags attached to the jeans proclaiming "12" at me and making me feel obese.

Checked the tag inside, bastards were an 8.

This was two weeks ago, and I haven't gone back to exchange them yet as I am too tight to waste the time and the 80p bus fare.
(Holloway_Girl To err is to be human, to be a fool is to believe, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 16:16, closed)

80p?
I thought you were a student in Manchester? Don't you get a weekly pass, or do you live too close to campus to make it worthwile?
(Bazongaloid, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 16:38, closed)

Newlook
are notorious for this. I double check everything in there after buying what was labelled on the hanger as a size 10 top - but when I tried it on at home it turned out to be a 14. For £3.99 I didn't even bother going back to be honest - I gave it to my friend.

Ask around, see if anyone will buy the 8 off you!
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Mon 27 Oct 2008, 17:15, closed)

Wont
the other ones then be too big?
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 20:12, closed)