fluctuating sizes between shops

xzanti

What is it with clothes sizes in womens shops?? If I go into the likes of Dorothy Perkins or Next and try on a top or pair of jeans in a size 8-10 they fit me perfectly... But if I go into Miss Selfridge, Top Shop or any of the boutiques along Grafton or Henry Street and put on a garment in the same size :eek: Im bursting out of it

Can they not just use the same standard size template for ALL clothes shops regardless if they are the same company or not.. Its annoying and depressing..

Is it just because the likes of Miss Selfridge are marketed towards younger and supposedly skinnier women???

It makes it hard to know what size you actually ARE..

dudara

This is also a problem for me. Topshop and Miss Selfridges are the worst culprits, their clothes make you feel like a big fat fattie

Nightwish

I find that the sizes, even with clothing of the same brand. I have LOADS of Nope flares and they are all size 10 however, some are perfect and some hang off me.
I find the same with t-shirts-sometimes small, sometimes medium.
Oh yeah does anyone else find that the bra sizes between different retailers also fluctuate?

Nala

Magic in Blanch are the worst. You will always leave that shop feeling like a heifer.

dundalk cailin

yes @ nightwish, clothes of the same brand can vary. i bought a pair of USCO trousers, fitted me perfectly, i went in and bought another pair and i needed a belt with them
yes bra sizes vary also, the ones i buy in penneys fit me perfectly, but its not the same in dunnes if i try the same size, and its so important to have a well fitting bra

iguana

xzanti wrote:

Is it just because the likes of Miss Selfridge are marketed towards younger and supposedly skinnier women???

That is pretty much it. Topshop and Miss Selfridge mostly target the teen and very slightly post-teen market. Therefore they make their clothes, with little consideration for hips, breasts and bums. As the theory is that these become more pronounced later in life.

Stores such as Monsoon, Wallis and Principles are aimed largely at the 25+ market and make their clothes for the more "womanly" hourglass shape.

Stores like Dorothy Perkins and Oasis tend to fall in the middle.

For the most part a 10 means 28" at the narrowest part of the waist. The pattern the clothes are made off work from the 28"=10, (30"=12, 32"=14 etc) model. This means that if a Topshop 10 is too small a 12 may not fit either as the waist may be too big. However as the fashion is not for high waisted skirts/trousers this may not matter, but it is still likely that a size which is bigger than you're normal size may be ill-fitting.

The reason that there is no regulation sizing, is because they are all right. Someone with a 28" waist can have 32" hips or 42"hips, so how do you choose which is a size 10. Some specialist stores have sizes such as 10-curvy or 10-super curvy. But I don't think we will be seeing this on the high st anytime soon as the current system is far more profitable. Some stores are still loathe to make different size pant legs, although thankfully that at least is more common.

xzanti wrote:

It makes it hard to know what size you actually ARE..

The best thing to do is to measure yourself. At the narrowest part of your waist, to determine your size. Your inner leg for trouser lenght. And at the widest point in your hips and breasts. Then you will have an idea as to what size you are.

There will of course be variations from store to store, as different things are made in different places but it will give you a pretty good rough guide.

Nightwish

dundalk cailin wrote:

yes @ nightwish, clothes of the same brand can vary. i bought a pair of USCO trousers, fitted me perfectly, i went in and bought another pair and i needed a belt with them
yes bra sizes vary also, the ones i buy in penneys fit me perfectly, but its not the same in dunnes if i try the same size, and its so important to have a well fitting bra

I find the exact same thing with Dunnes bra's, they just dont fit, while Penney's do.

dundalk cailin

say what they want bout penneys, but at least i always know i can walk in, pick out a bra in my size, and pay for it (without breaking the bank)

Guv

Vanity Sizing is becoming more common. You ladies also have the issue of a 10 being too small and a 12 being too big but odd numbered sizes have yet to appear. If it fits and looks good then does the size really matter? You can always cut the label off when you get home!:)

rainbow kirby

Guv wrote:

If it fits and looks good then does the size really matter? You can always cut the label off when you get home!

Quoted for truth.

Attol

I have found my saviour in jeans! Pepe jeans do a size 31 jean which is fantastic as it translates to a UK size 13. My hips don't usually fit in size 12s and size 14s hang off me. I'm so happy!

dudara

Penneys bras are terrible-fitting! They seem to think that every bra needs to have padding. It's so hard to find a non-padded bra in there.

xzanti

dudara wrote:

Penneys bras are terrible-fitting! They seem to think that every bra needs to have padding. It's so hard to find a non-padded bra in there.

They're pointy looking as well

Shelli

I hate, hate, hate bra shopping, none of the high street or large chain shops sell bigger cup sizes. 34E is the most awkward size to find ever. I can never find a reasonably priced bra. The cheapest I've found is Debenhams and even then it's still about 6 times the price of Dunnes or Pennys and the selection isn't great.

Madge

dudara wrote:

Penneys bras are terrible-fitting! They seem to think that every bra needs to have padding. It's so hard to find a non-padded bra in there.

You obviously havent been in the Penneys in Sligo, There's bras of EVERY description there, not just padded. They have lovely lacy 2-pieces aswell.

dundalk cailin

LadyLotts wrote:

I have found my saviour in jeans! Pepe jeans do a size 31 jean which is fantastic as it translates to a UK size 13. My hips don't usually fit in size 12s and size 14s hang off me. I'm so happy!

hallelujah; sounds just like me!!

dundalk cailin

penneys in dundalk serves me grand!!

Aisling(",)

I hate the variations in sizes I've gone from 6 to 18!!in different shops

dundalk cailin

thats a bit extreme :eek:

magpie

34E

:eek: I hope Pighead is reading this.

Sorchie

Fluctuating sizes in shops is so irritating!I vary between a size 6 and 12 and it's so annoying trying to find the right fit in every shop.I've found that some shops have adjusted their sizes so that bigger clothes are marked as a smaller size than they were are.A size 10 is really a size 12 etc.Is that to try make people feel better or what?

Aisling(",)

topshop have admitted that they have made their sizes bigger so people would buy stuff off them as it makes them feel better

tinka

i went shopping on saturday and bought a skirt both in miss selfridge and in oasis and both are size 12 (although the 10 in miss selfridge fit but i prefered the length of the size 12!) and i got a size 14 skirt in a-wear... but topshop sizes are much smaller and i didn't get anything in there some american brands in urban outfitters sell odd-number sized clothes.. i like them

Sangre

If only there was some sort of allocated area in a clothes store where one could try on certain clothes away from the leering public eye BEFORE buying them. It would be some sort of room of dressing or perhaps changing...

daphne22

Nightwish wrote:

I find that the sizes, even with clothing of the same brand. I have LOADS of Nope flares and they are all size 10 however, some are perfect and some hang off me.
I find the same with t-shirts-sometimes small, sometimes medium.
Oh yeah does anyone else find that the bra sizes between different retailers also fluctuate?

Nope flares...Ewww! Who wears them past the age of 16?? Am i alone in these thoughts;)

Attol

Sangre wrote:

If only there was some sort of allocated area in a clothes store where one could try on certain clothes away from the leering public eye BEFORE buying them. It would be some sort of room of dressing or perhaps changing...

But it's annoying when you have to try on a range of sizes because nothing will fit you that is your size in another shop. Also if your in a hurry and just need to grab a tshirt then it's annoying if the size you were in H&M isn't the same as you are in Topshop.

xzanti

On the subject of trying on clothes... I was in some little boutique on Henry Street last week trying on a top, and not only was the dressing room all one room with absolutely no privacy but the girl actaully stood at the door watching while the girls tried on the garments Iv seen this in a few shops around town.. Does anyone else find it a bit intrusive??? I know they have to be security concious but thats a bit much IMO... Now Im by no means blaming the girl, Im sure she was givin her orders from the powers that be to do that but I just found it a bit much.. Is that not what those security tag things are for???

magpie

Henry Street

Try shopping somewhere with less thieves

xzanti

magpie wrote:

Try shopping somewhere with less thieves

Yeah I know what you mean but I saw the same thing in a boutique in The Stephens Green Centre as well... Its just annoying..

Love

Nightwish wrote:

Oh yeah does anyone else find that the bra sizes between different retailers also fluctuate?

Yup. I have bras from a 36A to a 34D. They all fit properly. It's bizzare. (I'm a 34B)

When I was 14 I had trousers from a 6 to a 14 that all fitted (ok, ok, the 6 was very tight. shut up you) and tops from an 8 to a 16.

Insanity.

iguana wrote:

For the most part a 10 means 28" at the narrowest part of the waist. The pattern the clothes are made off work from the 28"=10, (30"=12, 32"=14 etc) model. This means that if a Topshop 10 is too small a 12 may not fit either as the waist may be too big. However as the fashion is not for high waisted skirts/trousers this may not matter, but it is still likely that a size which is bigger than you're normal size may be ill-fitting.

Really? I find that I'm a 12 in trousers and I have a 28 inch waist (and 32 inch leg roughly..)

Love

Sangre wrote:

If only there was some sort of allocated area in a clothes store where one could try on certain clothes away from the leering public eye BEFORE buying them. It would be some sort of room of dressing or perhaps changing...

hehehehehe!:D