Oh crap. MIL gave me a very expensive dress, I gave it to charity shop, she wants it back......

[DrNortherner]

She put on weight and it no lobger fitted her. Was a very expensive long burgundy evening frock with bolero jacket. She said it was too expensive to give away, but she wanted me to have use of it.

It was too old fashioned for me, and she often dumps her cleared out stuff to me.

Anyway, she is off on a cruise next month, has lost weight and now thinks she'll fit into it. I did not have the heart to say I donated it to a charity shop.

She's coming round on WEdnesday to collect it.

Should I tel the truth, or say I can't find it, or I lent it to someone else.....?

HELP me.

[thighsmadeofcheddar]

Oh god, no idea.
Have you been back to the shop to check if they've still got it? How long ago did you dump it?

[LadyoftheBathtub]

Erm, I would probably fudge it and say you can't find it and you are afraid it might have gone off to the charity shop in your last clearout, but you will keep looking...

But she hasn't got a leg to stand on - she gave it to you. And somebody somewhere is probably getting more out of it than either of you. If she's annoyed just say sorry but you never realised she might want it back.

[DrNortherner]

Oh it was months ago.....

[LadyoftheBathtub]

It sounds vile btw

[Emprexia]

ccan you tell her you lent it to someone and it got ruined so you had to throw it away?

[diddl]

If you can´t buy it back, you´ll have to ´fess up!

But I think the fact that she said it was too expensive to give away would have warned me off dumping it!

[thelunar66]

I'd say I lent it to a friend who has moved and not left a forwarding address, or something

[DrNortherner]

It was her mother of teh groom outfit for her eldest sons wedding.

[LadyoftheBathtub]

Ooh I like Wasabi's. Foolproof!

[mazzystartled]

lie

you gave it to your second cousin because it suited her so much

[DrNortherner]

Oh no.

[PurlyQueen]

Could you say that you lent it to a friend, but you have just found out that she passed it on to another friend who just happens to live at the other end of the country?

[sowhatis]

I'd say i found it in the bottom of wardrobe or something and it has been damaged? or went out with other 'stuff' that needed storing when you were having a clear out and you think DH mhas dumped the whole bag.....act angry that other wonderful items have also gone.......if DH agrees to go along with it!!! I would not tell her what actually happened!!!!!

[LadyoftheBathtub]

Ooh blame her son. Like it.

[DrNortherner]

Does anyone actually have moths?

Anyway, it was in a very expensive dress cover, zip up type bag thing....

[Ewe]

Lost in a house move if you've had one?

[forehead]

I think you should lie and tell her that her son gave it to the charity shop. The dress sounds bloody awful btw.

[GordonBrownsTeaLady]

Tell her she's still too fat for it, and she shouldn't try it on yet, in case it demotivates her. snort.

Or tell her you wore it recently and you and DH got a bit carried away in the taxi on the way home, what with the dress being so beautiful. There's now a stain you can't remove . Surely she wouldn't want it then, but she may respect you more for banging her son in a taxi than how she's going to feel when she realises you gave it to charity.

[TheHerbs]

Whatever you say oyu're going to have to make it very convincing.

The given away by mistake one is the best imo. It happens such a lot. Also the lent it to a friend (but make it a specific friend, one you've mentioned before) and say you're trying to get hold of her but her husband doesn't know where to look ans thinks she may have taken it with her on her business trip abroad...offer to get her another...just convince yourself you are telling the truth and she will have no chocie but to believe you!