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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to try on clothes at the supermarket?

114 replies

PanicOnTheStreets85 · 27/04/2020 12:10

Hoping for quick responses as I'm planning to go out to the supermarket in an hour.

I have had a baby a year and a half ago. Gained about 4st during the pregnancy and have lost just over half of that. I am still way too big for my pre-pregnancy clothes. I am, however, also way too small for the maternity dresses I wore last summer and have just given them away to a pregnant friend recently.

I have no suitable clothes for the hot weather. I hated the weather last week because I was stuck in my winter warm clothes as they were the only things that fit me.

I was thinking of getting a dress or two whilst I am in the supermarket buying food. I am mainly going for food and will pack my granny trolley with food until it is full. I am not making an unnecessary trip.

So here's the AIBU: I think that the fitting rooms will be closed, but it be unreasonable to try and pop the dress on over my current clothes to see if it it fits?

I would have thought that would be better than buying the wrong size and having to return it as the return would involve having to be in close proximity with a staff member.

I would of course wash hands etc. when I get home, and was looking at dresses with buttons down the front (still breastfeeding) so could step into them and pull them up onto me without needing to put them on over my head if that makes sense.

I think I am a 14 in most shops but supermarkets always seem to have ridiculously bigger clothing sizes so suspect I might be able to fit into a 12. I hate bloody inconsistent clothes sizes!

OP posts:

Tootletum · 27/04/2020 19:20

Well it makes no difference m you'll be trying it on at some point and returning it if it doesn't fit. But I wouldn't give anyone the opportunity to start shouting at you in the shop.

Sceptre86 · 27/04/2020 19:24

It is all the touching. People are moaning(rightly ) that you should be only picking up items from the supermarket that you intend to buy eg. not touch loose veg and then put it back. Take a good luck at the item, if it looks like a loose fit go for a 12. If you are taking a tape measure you will still be touching clothes that you may not buy so I dont think that helps. Just order online.

skybluee · 27/04/2020 19:36

The difference is obvious.

The virus survives for a set amount of time on fabric. We don't know precisely how long that is, but it's very unlikely that it's longer than 72 hours.

If OP buys the clothes, takes them home, just sets them aside in the carrier bag for a few days, tries them on, and then the ones she doesn't want - she returns them in a week's time when she returns to do her shopping - there is practically zero risk to herself - or to anyone else - in terms of virus transmission. She also gets clothes that fit, that she likes.

If OP tries them on in the shop, she doesn't know who has touched them directly before she has - whether a child has messed about with them, staff have handled them etc - and she doesn't know if anyone is going to touch or try them on after, or buy them directly after, or whether that person is vulnerable or not or going to a home where there is someone vulnerable. Yes, it may be a small risk but the problem is we don't really know (reliably) what proportion of cases are airborne and which proportion are from touching surfaces. We just know that it can be transmitted via both methods.

So, there's a very big difference between trying on in the shop vs trying on at home. With one, you can pretty much eradicate any risk to yourself or anyone else. With another, you can't. There's a reason they're asking people not to try on clothes. And if everyone did it, there certainly would be cases transmitted.

OP - I wouldn't, personally. Just take them home, wait, and then get the clothes you like. I wouldn't imagine trying them on over your clothes is going to provide that accurate a fit and you're likely to get an earful from someone anyway. I hope you find some clothes that you like. I'd just wait the few days and do it at home. Good luck.

Harp1977 · 27/04/2020 19:39

I do what Dontcoughnearme does I measure myself before I go and write it down then measure the clothes when I get there. I find this much easier. If you don't have a measure tape use some string.

Cherryblossomsnow · 27/04/2020 19:43

Thank you skyblue 👏

DysonFury · 27/04/2020 19:50

Good luck with that OP. Changing rooms are shut off in our larger supermarkets right now.

Original poster

PanicOnTheStreets85 · 27/04/2020 20:09

Bought a couple of size 12 dresses from Sainsbury's after work. Took them home. Tried them on. They easily fit. I am definitely not a size 12 but vanity sizing is ridiculous especially at supermarkets and M&S etc. Job done anyway. Might buy some more 12s in the near future to get me through the summer.

I wish we could have standard clothes sizes though...

OP posts:

leolion81 · 27/04/2020 20:20

Ok @Cherryblossomsnow could you please explain how trying on clothes is worse than the staff touching them to put them on sale or people touching them to look at them or pick out their size as I clearly don't have enough common sense to figure out why that may be?
The point which I made in my original post is things we buy have likely been touched whether tried on or not therefore if you have to buy clothes wash them first.

Cherryblossomsnow · 27/04/2020 20:34

Leo my point is I wouldn't actually try them on at all. I personally think it's a high risk thing to do. That's what I am getting at. You are telling people they don't have common sense and I am saying that people might think that of you as there are quite a few people that feel it is very likely the virus would be on the clothes.

hamsterchump · 27/04/2020 20:42

@daffodil55 the toilets in the supermarkets near me aren't closed, I used one on Saturday.

leolion81 · 27/04/2020 20:57

@Cherryblossomsnow right... but the point I was making was people suggesting to buy online or buy them then return to store lack common sense because trying clothes on at home then returning is the same as trying on in a shop.
So that doesn't include you does it.

Cherryblossomsnow · 27/04/2020 20:59

Leo I don't agree with your point. Read the comment by Skyblue as this outlines perfectly what I also think.

leolion81 · 27/04/2020 21:03

@Cherryblossomsnow ok so again, my original point does not include you. It was the people upthread suggesting she should order online or buy and return. None of which mentioned waiting 3 days before trying then another 3 days to return.
Those are the ones lacking common sense. Stop being offended on other people's behalf.

Cherryblossomsnow · 27/04/2020 21:10

Leo I'm not offended. I am chilled actually and just pointed something out to you.

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