Owing to a "wardrobe malfunction", I need to buy some new white
trousers to play in a croquet tournament this Sunday (1st August).

I don't think there's time for mail order, so I need to find some in
the London area that I can go and buy.

Trousers should be white and made of cotton. (Cricket trousers, which
are usually cream rather than white are not suitable.)

I'll pay $10 for information leading to a purchase, $15 if you can
confirm that the store has my size in stock (38" waist, 34" leg).

I hope that someone can help but please note that you have priced your
question @ $15 and you cannot reduce this to $10 unless you vary your
question before it gets answered.

However, you can give a tip if you are pleased but that is
discretionary and not a commitment.

If you want you can ask two questions: on @ $10 and another @ $5.

Just trying to help.

Best of luck!

Thanks...you're right - it's my first question, so I've done it a bit
wrong. So what I'll do is pay $15 for info, plus extra $5 tip if
they're confirmed to be in stock.

The most famous sportswear store in London is Lillywhites on Piccadilly Circus.
Telephone +44 20 7915 4000
Open Hours: 10am-8pm Mon-Sat; midday-6pm Sun

Harrods also have a sports department on the Fifth Floor of their
Knightsbridge store. The Garden Games area caters for croquet and
boules.
Telephone: +44 20 7730 1234 	
Email: Sports@harrods.com
Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 7.00pm, closed Sunday.

(The Piccadilly underground line is probably the most convenient link
between the two shops above)

The Croquet Association is mostly mail-order, but receives callers by
appointment only, in Woking.
http://www.croquet.org.uk/shop/index.html
However their white trousers are only available in up to 33" leg.

I'll leave it to a Researcher to make the phone calls and claim the tip!

Owain

Tricky one - plenty of places can do it mail order - but as you say
this won't work within the time.

There is :

The Croquet Association Shop
112 Potters Lane,
Send,
Woking,
Surrey.
GU23 7AL

But they don't have your size in stock, and would take 2-3 days for
them to get some in.

I'll carry on looking a bit further...

Harrods don't do them - and Lillywhites phone lines are out of action!
(you can get through to a frustrated receptionist on 08703339600 - but
she can't put you through).

Harrods did however suggest that white Golf trousers are available -
but suggested they might be too tight? Personally I'm not sure how
much 'trouser slack' is required for Croquet :).

Delard.

You can get hold of these from various shops - maybe not exactly what
you want though (sorry for long url) :

http://shopping.kelkoo.co.uk/sitesearch/go.jsp?offerId=100426013134401uk100426013-DICKIES-Dickies+Painters+Trousers+Leg+32%22+White+Size+38&JServSessionIduk=5dct1a4wx1.HA2uk&orw

- Delard

This one is more realistic :

http://www.marshallward.co.uk/mward/product.asp?brand=mward&cat%5Fid=0&extra=&mscs_sid=HK165HQ0QNK68MG2P0WU6H7DG8M84RP6&prod_id=191406&offer_id=191406Z

Its mail order - but they have a priority next day delivery type service...?

- Delard

Were you permitted to play in the tournament in a state of undress, or
did you borrow a tennis skirt from your sister and tell everyone you
were a Scotsman and it was a croquet kilt?

Owain

Curiosity made me go along to the event, just to see.

Would you believe that there was only ONE player there dressed in
whites and did he look embarrassed!

It was actually a very posh do and everybody except the aforementioned
chappie was dressed in top hat, white tie and tails.

These things happen.