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After my shopping trip, it crossed my mind to shed the weight, although I’m not usually driven to do it. I wonder whether everyday occurrences like this can be a contributing factor to the development of eating disorders and negative body image. After all, what most people want – whatever their size – is to look good, feel good and fit in, and clothes go an enormous way towards helping us feel this way.

The problem could be partially solved if manufacturers and designers actually made clothes for all sizes (gasp, horror!). And, if even couture artists don’t want to go this route, why can’t the high street and department stores stock them? After all, 47% of women in this country are apparently size 16 and over – so why isn’t this reflected in any mainstream consumer clothing choices? Countries like the US and Australia now think outside the proverbial ‘size’ box, so why shouldn’t the UK follow? Great though shops such as Rogers and Rogers and Evans are, the fact that they are separate entities alone screams rejection. Shouldn’t all clothing shops provide clothes for all sizes?

Since I’m a realist I know this issue won’t be resolved overnight, so the next time I go shopping I plan to go armed with exactly what I need to get me through a long, exhausting afternoon of rack rage: a cream cake and some comfortable shoes.

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Size matters