What the hell is the deal with sizes these days?

MistressPandora

It's all messed up, you have to be careful and try on every bit of clothing you buy, whereas before I could just easily pick something up, buy it and know that'd fit when I tried it on at home (yes, I am one of those shoppers). But nowadays, it's eay to be fooled.
So, once again, what's going on? A size 10 might randomly fit me, in certain stores, but sometimes a size 8 is a little big. Or a size 12 doesn't fit at all.

Gah, what happened?

ionapaul

Some girls I know have said that the sizes have been changing in recent years to reflect the larger size of modern people (McDonalds effect) and a need to make consumers feel good. A former girlfriend in the States wore size 0 (yes, that's zero) in some shops - she said she had always been a size 2 (size 4 in Ireland I think?) until later in college, when they started to increase the sizes and thus force people to look for lower numbers!!! Pretty sneaky trick

Hagar

You guys are lucky! My clothes shrink in the wardrobe. A pair of jeans I bought 2 weeks ago and never wore now mysteriously don't fit any more

Danni

I find the same thing but i know which stores have smaller fittings & larger fittings now. I'm a size 12/14 and wouldn't dare buy a pants, skirt in RIVER ISLAND or OASIS coz they're sizes are tiny. I love Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, Topshop (all owned by the same company!).. They're sizes fit me perfectly. Tops are ok to buy in A-Wear but again like River Island & Oasis i couldn't buy a pants there..

*Sassy*

Its so annoying!! Some shops the 8 is huuuuge (like Penney's for example, who do they think they are fooling lol), and others I'm squeezing into a 10. The same thing is happening with shoe sizes. I've always been a size 4, but lately I've been having to go for the size 3! Mini feet or what?

climaxer

Its really annoying isn't it - you really need to fit everything on now. I have clothes ranging from 8 to 14 at home. I have a size 10 jeans that fit me and even a bit loose and size 14 that is tight! Penney's has the biggest fitting clothes. A-Wear is inbetween. I love Top Shop and River Island too and find their clothes to be ok for sizes. The likes of No Name and Japan I am beginning to think they are just guessing the sizes. I fitted on a three quarter length jeans there in size 8 and they were swimming on me and a size twelve in another sytle were really tight. Another thing that annoys me is fitted tops - I know they are supposed to be tight but some girls do have breasts. I often fit on a really nice top and it fits me perfectly except for its bet into my chest.

eth0_

You'd think the beurocrats in the EU would be cracking down on this, sizing should translate into measurements in inches/centimetres, it should all be uniform.

dudara

have to agree with everyone on this topic. There are too many fluctuations in clothes sizes across the board. I've always found Dunnes to be generous fitting.

Anything from the Arcadia group (Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop) is good and constant across the shops. I also like oasis, they fit very well in general.

I'm a size 12, but I find it really hard to get clothes to fit my chest. I'm onot the smallest and Ijust can't wear those camisole tops etc because they just don't have enough material in them to cover me up!!

Hello Kitty

That always happens to me, im either a size 6 or 8... it depends on the clothes.

Im petite, so when i go and try on petite clothes that are a size 6 they are always too big on me and so are size 8's.

It so annoying, everything seems to be made for big people....... :rolleyes:

Karl Hungus

I know the feeling, I generally take a size 34 in pants, but I got a pair once and I needed to get it in size 36.

rainbow kirby

This wrecks my head when I'm clothes shopping! I'm a size 12/14, with quite an hourglass shape. I was wearing a skirt last weekend that was a size 10 and a perfect fit, and there's some places where a 14 is tiny. I hate that, cos I refuse to buy a size 16. I really hate as well when places do tiny t-shirts. Dammit, some of us are curvy! On the other hand though, my work uniform just adds pounds. I've to wear a guy-sized polo shirt. Why can't a game shop accept that they have female employees? *shakes fist*
I'm not a big fan of shops like River Island and Oasis though. I just hate the thought of looking like all the clones I see in college.

simu

The trendier the shop, the smaller the clothes for each size, I find.

Bateman

Yeah, it really is difficult to judge, unless you've already got gear with the same label, and you know the score. I have several pairs of Armani Jeans ranging from 30 to 34 waist, so last Christmas I too a chance on picking up a pair of Paul Smith soft black jeans in a 34, because they were going cheap, and the ****in things are like tents on me, worn less than 5 times. :mad:

grimloch

i have 3 pairs of black jeans with a ''32 inch'' waist and each one has a different definition of that 32 inches, you actually have to try everything on these days

Bateman

It's a bit of a joke alright, some people just don't like trying stuff on though. 9 times of 10 I would try something on, unless I had similar stuff.
I went to buy a Lacoste polo yesterday, and it was "size 6". WTF is that all about?

sceptre

eth0_ wrote:

You'd think the beurocrats in the EU would be cracking down on this, sizing should translate into measurements in inches/centimetres, it should all be uniform.

/me approves

OK it may be a small issue but it affects all of us in one way or another (obviously in the case of blokes, not the sizing->inches thing but as people have pointed out they're lying sometimes about the inches too) and they've carried the torch on much more insignificant issues.

I mean, everyone knows that a size 12 waist works out (or should work out) at 30 inches right?(I worked part-time in a jeans store for a while, mind you the people I was working with were surprised I could translate stuff easily (er, just add 18)). Now I know that the sizes haven't officially been rejigged since the fifties when women were by and large differently shaped but if you can't trust them then they might as well not bother.

Another one of those times I'm extra-glad to be male. They may occasionally lie about how long a trouser waist is but at least we're not playing pot-luck all the time in different stores.

RuggieBear

A mate of mine is quite small (usually wears medium t-shirts). We were in a Diesel Shop in London a few months back and even their x-large t-shirts didn't fit him. :rolleyes:

On another note, i used to work for a sportwear clothes manufacturer in Australia...occasionally we would change the size labels (e.g., xl->xxl )on rugby shirts or t-shirts to satisfy orders. Always felt guilty doing it but these were my supervisors instructions.....

p

Sarky

Karl Hungus wrote:

I know the feeling, I generally take a size 34 in pants, but I got a pair once and I needed to get it in size 36.

Ditto. The last pair of pants I bought were from the same shop as the ones before, the very same label, even, and they were tighter because they were a different colour.

Little Goose

*Sassy* wrote:

Its so annoying!! Some shops the 8 is huuuuge (like Penney's for example, who do they think they are fooling lol)

undefinedPenney's are terrible for sizes! I can't buy anything in there to fit me! The lowest, I believe, is a size 10, which I usually am, but when I try on size 10's in there, I get lost in them! Bummer, cuz they can have nice stuff sometimes..

azezil

what gets my goat is, when buying jeans if i get a 32R, the waste fits fine but the leg a tad short for my liking, so i go for a 32L ... the damn things are huge, they're both supposed to have 32" wastes but for some reason longer legs is reflected in the waste also :rolleyes:

shiv

bit of a sidebar, but how come you can never find *anyone* who works in a shop when shopping, when a size doesn't fit, and you need the next one up/down?

i'd be interested in knowing what exactly goes into training for people working in retail over here, as it seems the aim is to be as invisible as possible..

azezil

Went shopping a last week, found quite the opposite, they wouldn't stop hounding me, "are you sure you're ok there" "is there anyting i can do" "are the sizes ok for you" ... and so on in, in each shop i went in to!

heh maybe it was because i was wearing a suit at the time

blondie83

shiv wrote:

bit of a sidebar, but how come you can never find *anyone* who works in a shop when shopping, when a size doesn't fit, and you need the next one up/down?

i'd be interested in knowing what exactly goes into training for people working in retail over here, as it seems the aim is to be as invisible as possible..

Different shops can be bad or good for this. I've noticed that Dunnes in Grafton Street are terrible for having no staff around - especially upstairs. Then though, you can go somewhere like Coast or Next, where they never stop checking to make sure your okay and have the right sizes and all that. Coast especially are very good for this, I find they have very nice friendly staff, and lovely clothes!

Victor

azezil wrote:

Went shopping a last week, found quite the opposite, they wouldn't stop hounding me, "are you sure you're ok there" "is there anyting i can do" "are the sizes ok for you" ... and so on in, in each shop i went in to! heh maybe it was because i was wearing a suit at the time

Commission whores. That or they wanted your phone number

shiv

Victor wrote:

Commission whores. That or they wanted your phone number

not necessarily either. sometimes it's just pure, old-fashioned friendliness without a financial or personal motive..

Sarky

azezil wrote:

heh maybe it was because i was wearing a suit at the time

There goes my "Were you wearing any pants?" reply...

Carobar

does anyone else seem to notice that when trying on jeans, trousers etc. especially in places like a-wear and river island, the back part of them sticks way out. its as if the designers think there's no curve from our back to our a**! it annoyes me so much. you go to try on a pair of jeans, they look really well at the front, then you turn around and have a look at the mirorr and see this huge bit sticking out the back! even with a belt on it still doesn's seem right as it gets all puckered. I've been on the look out for a really nice pair of fitted jeans for so long and am finding it almost impossible. all that seems to be out there are those stretchy material ones which i hate - they seem to make my thighs look ten times worse. anyone any suggestions? i dont mind paying for them

snickerpuss

Yeh i cant get anything in pennys to fit me. Their sizes are little. And im a size 14 in topshop / dorothy perkins. I find it hard to get tops that fit me cos usually they mush my breasts.
So i learnt how to make my own clothes. Easy and you get what you want.

Nala

I find that for jeans, MAGIC are THE worst for tiny sizes. I'm a 10-12 and I usually have to try on a 14-16 in there, and even then it's a tight squeeze. Penney's sizes are quite big, so I sometimes get the 8-10. At least their clothes are cheap, I got a top in there for €5 that was €30 in TopShop and €45 in another shop if I recall correctly.

po0k

I went shopping for a pair of decent combats/khakis/cargo pants.

Couldn't find any, anywhere.
And what the hell is the deal with "unisex pants"?
I had a chick trying to sell me a pair of womens combats.
"But they look good one you"
"Lady, I've wiped my ass with tissue paper thicker than this - these will be torn to shreds in a week with me"
"But the fabric feels really good"
"It's plastic. With sparkles ffs. Point me to the MAN PANTS"

Ended up popping into Dunnes, no joy. No combats.
Went into penny's and evetually tracked down some cheap-ass (€13 a pair) cargo pants.
The material is thin as ****, but I got them in cmfortable (ie too big for me) sizes.
Normall for a "fitting" pair of pants, 34waist and 34 leg fits perfectly, the leg cuffs come down to the ankles nicely, there is a comfortable amount of space around the crucial areas and I can put my hand in my pocket and readjust binding underwear with ease.
In Penny's I got a dark pair of cargos, 36 waist, 36 leg.
They're very baggy and when I'm not wearing shoes the leg cuffs sometimes go under my heel, but they're very very comfy
lots and lots of space.
Needs a belt to the tightest notch to keep em up though.
The other pair are beige/pale grey, 36 waist, 34leg.
They also fit loosely.

No self-castration for me.

Still hunting for a strong pair of comfortable button-fly combats with a relaxed cut and plenty of good pockets.
Ideally with an inner layer for the winder aswell.
These i cannot find anywhere.
Had a pair from my stint in the FCA (gorgeous they were) but they're too short (30 or a 32" leg).
They come about 3/4s way down my shin when standing.
Like a pair of long shorts when I sit down.

po0k

And why can't shops stock socks in sizes greater than "9-11"??
Where do all these midget people hide during the day?

Bateman

You might get bulkier combats for the winter, in Urban Outfitters.

Corruptedmorals

It depends on the shop you're in. Its so annoying, hence me being a 6/8 depending on the shop. Sometimes Im a 10...

MistressPandora

The amount of people who replied to this post have just proved my point.
And this is why I shop in charity shops. You may not be able find what you want, but christ, it's got to be better than being very, very, very disappointed.
Is there anything we can do about this?

Guvnor

Vanity Sizing is in. Being a bloke it is easier for me to say that nobody can see the label so whether it's a size 10 or 14 does not really matter. Isn't the average size nowadays meant to be 12/14?

At 114kgs and 1m90 I buy my jeans in the US as the ones here will not get above my knees. I'm a 34in jean but have to buy 36/37's to get the leg room.

Guvnor

Some of the US mail order outfits offer good value for money and nice fashions. www.victoriasecret.com is not what you'd expect and on jeans they offer a good selection and a good price. You would have to pay import duties on the goods if ordered mind.

meepmeep

Guvnor wrote:

Isn't the average size nowadays meant to be 12/14?

The average size for women is 16 (well in britain anyway, i would imagine its pretty much the same here).

The shop that really annoys me is Pull and Bear. The one in Waterford has nothing over a size 10 for women (i'm 12-14) so while theres all these lovely clothes, curvy women can't get a thing :-( and yet they have XXL for men.

Whats that all about? :mad:

angeldelight

I agree its getting ridiculous! I was in Dunnes at the weekend and they had really nice fleeces. I tried on my size in the blue one... too big. My size in the pink one? Too small! I ended up buying 1 size down in the blue and 1 up in the pink.... Makes no sense whatsoever. Then the girl at the checkout has the cheek to say "ummm these are totally different sizes", while looking at me as if I was just plain weird. Luckily my mum was there to restrain me :mad:

Crash

The funniest is marks and spencers (i like a lot of their blue harbour range) - finding a pair of trousers that'll fit me there is hell though.

first of all 40W-30L is the most stocked size it would seem, and if i manage to come across a 30-32 or a 30-34 there odds are the waist is too big anyway, closer to a 32 waist anywhere. :rolleyes:

simu

Carobar wrote:

does anyone else seem to notice that when trying on jeans, trousers etc. especially in places like a-wear and river island, the back part of them sticks way out. its as if the designers think there's no curve from our back to our a**! it annoyes me so much. you go to try on a pair of jeans, they look really well at the front, then you turn around and have a look at the mirorr and see this huge bit sticking out the back! even with a belt on it still doesn's seem right as it gets all puckered. I've been on the look out for a really nice pair of fitted jeans for so long and am finding it almost impossible.

This is true and the reason why I have so many skirts! I'm afraid I don't know anywhere where you're guaranteed to get jeans that avoid this though. You might be lucky one time out of 100 and find jeans that don't look terrible. :-(