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.

you got the dress out ready and the cat peed on it. You've had it dry cleaned but to no avail, it still stinks, cat pee smell never goes! Alternatively go with alien abduction

'fess up, as others have said, even though she said it was too expensive to give it away she gave it to you, therefore yours to do with what you liked, if it was that sentimental she should have kept it.

Honesty is the best policy. Make a clean breast of it. If you start telling convoluted lies you will get caught out

I don't see giving stuff away to a charity shop as that awful. It means someone who wants it gets to use it. If I gave something to someone and they flogged it on EBAY and didn't tell me I'd probably think them a bit mercenary, but then if I was that bothered what they did with it I shouldn't have given them it.
I def wouldn't blame your husband, as she's his mum I think that's cowardly and unfair to muck up their relationship which is more important than the one between you and your MIL.

lol - sorry but loved JJs suggestion re moth eaten gloves for verisimilitude.
You have to come clean - at least she is never likely to dump stuff on you again.

good luck!

Has the "confrontation" happened yet, OP?

OMG, perhaps MIL has taken it rather worse than we all suspected?

perhaps OP is currently being subjected to strong lighting and fingernail pulling as we speak?

Going to have to watch this thread in case I lose it. Can't wait to find out what happens.

Note to self: must get out more.

tbf she's only just dropped off, i'm predicting the pleasantries are over with about.... .... .... now and mil has narrowed eyes and enquired as to whereabouts of dress...

she wasn't planning to update til later tonight [must also get out more face]

Reckon MIL has seen it for sale in the charity shop!

Marking my place

"it was donated to a charity ball gown sale because it didn't fit me"

If she gave it to you months ago anything could have happened to it. Say it wasn't really your style (or didn't fit) but you passed it on to a friend who really loved it & it would be embarrassing to ask for it back as you said it was yours. Don't go into further detail. She will understand it's gone to a good home- what she wanted. Don't make a big deal of this.
Just a thought- palming off unwanted stuff is a control mechanism, espacially from in laws. A gift is a gift- she could have stored it herself. She gave it to you, she didn't ask you to look after it for her.

Hi guys. Well I am back from army fitness, tired and muddy, and I'm afraid to say I chickened out - I bought myself some time.

Got to her house, in a rush, busy time, off to london tomorrow for work, loads to prepare, thought dress was in main wardrobe, checked but it wasn't. Haven't yet had time to look properly.........

Then I will tell her it must have inadvertantly gone to charity shop.

I am weak I know.

I wouldn't mention charity shop, I think I'd just be vague.

Right, tell her you wore it when you murdered someone and had to burn it to destroy the evidence.

That should shut her up!

LOL Flamingo!!! PMSL!

OP, Great move.. you'll pull this off yet!!

Is she tall? Tell her you lent it to a bloke you know who does a drag act and he's gone on tour, with the dress.

Don't say 'gave it to a charity shop'. Say 'donated it to a charity auction' and it raised impressive amounts of money for a VERY worth cause.

oh dear

Tell her you have been dreading talking about this, which is why you have been putting it off, but you came home from work early one night and DH was wearing it. He was so shocked to see you he jumped, splitting the dress irreparably. You have burnt it as you can't bear to have any reminder of that dreadful night in the house.

Failing that, you discovered FIL wearing it - ditto .

At this rate, it'll be in The Mail anyway and you won't need a story (assuming she reads the Mail of course).