Although I'm a bit taller at 5ft 5in I get really fed up with the lack of choice with smart and not frumpy clothes. I'm an 18/20 and was recently told in a Country Casual shop, "Oh you're too big for anything in here. With breasts that size we couldn't possibly find any thing for you (I'm a 36HH)" After I'd picked her off the floor and told her that I might be fat but I'm still a 'not bad looking burd' (a comment a male friend is always making to me) at 63,I took myself off to Monsoon and what a difference. The assistants there couldn't have been nicer - really went out of their way to find me several pretty, party dresses in a 20 (they do up to a 22 and petite I think). they made me feel like their only customer and reassured me that I could change my mind and they would find me something else. It wasn't too cheap but it is silk and is a party dress, also found out that my 34 year neice has the same dress which thankfully we didn't wear to the same event. At the other end of the price range I've found all the assistants in Dorothy Perkins very, very pleasant and they do some nice casual stuff at a good price, they have petites too.

All the assistants I told the CC story to were horrified that any customer would be treated like this. Even spoke to a Personal Shopper in Harvey Nicks and she told me she gets so frustrated that their buyers only buy for tiny sizes which she said even the HNs buyers can't fit and that fit only a few customers

The only thing that you can do is protest, protest and protest and never forget that the Queen Mum in direct contrast to the Duchess of Windsor stated that she'd rather have a good face than an over trim body - I know who I think was the more attractive of the two!

p.s. I didn't actually have to lift the assistant off the floor - I'm too much of a lady to resort to fisticuffs, anyway people with such narrow (forgive the pun) attitudes just aren't worth it.

Regards and as my old tutor used to say 'Don't let the b******* ground you down' Women come in all shapes and sizes - each of them unique.