Clothing sizing madness

Stheno

I was out with the OH today in Dublin city centre, and we said "feck it, lets check out the sale in BTs"

I saw a nice pair of jeans that were allegedly a 26 waist, and as I'm usually a 27/28 waist with a 34 leg, I decided to chance my arm and try them on.

Turns out they were full of elastane, so they more than fit, they were jbrand jeans, and reduced by 75%

When I went to pay for them the very chatty sales assistant mentioned about how they were full of elastane and very comfy, so always being on the hunt for a bargain I revisited the sales rack and checked out smaller sizes.

I tried on a pair of Victoria Beckham jeans that are allegedly a size 24 and they fit like a glove, my OH thought they were gorgeous.

Now I've no idea what a size 24 is, but it must be a size zero? I'm skinny but not what I'd consider a size zero, and have previously read that VB clothing was very skimpy on sizing so I was a bit shocked to fit into them. They look and feel great, but I find when I'm shopping for clothes these days that I have to try clothes on as I just cant trust traditional sizing.

Airyfairy12

Ive noticed this too, especially with jeans/pants but sometimes with tops/jackets ect too. Im fairly small, id be a size 8 and can easily squeeze into a 6 but lately these sizes dont fit me anymore as theyre all too big and the shops dont stock anything smaller.

Im finding it so hard to find jeans that fit my waist, the leg and bum fit but the waist/tummy part is huge.
Ive noticed it with dresses too, the sizes are all over the place size 8 dress I tried on recently was too tight around my boobs which are a small b cup, the hips of the dress were size 12/14 another size 8 pencil dress I tried had huge hips, extra material at the back and ruffles sewn in around the tummy area, on me this looked like a pocket hanging off the dress as I dont have the belly to fill it with, a dress from the same shop had no shape so the boob area was the same width as the tummy and hips yet the dress was too tight. Theyre so inconsistent lately and it seems like sizes are gradually getting bigger, theyre not catering for smaller women like they used to. Its really frustrating.

hurleronditch

The companies do it on purpose, makes you feel great allegedly fitting into something smaller, makes you more likely to buy. I'm male and what a tailor measures my actual waist size for a suit is about 2 inches bigger than the Irish jeans I buy, and 4 inches bigger than US sizings.

Sunny Dayz

This inconsistency in sizing makes it very difficult to buy online or to even chance buying something instore without trying on. Sizing from brand to brand and store to store vary so wildly. It makes it hard to even say what clothes size you are anymore. I would consider myself 10 on top and 12 on the bottom and my wardrobe goes from sizes 6 to 14 with all of them fitting me.


I'll be honest vanity sizing works on me! I've gone from a slim size 8-10 in my teens and twenties to nudging into the size 12's as I approached my 30's. So to fit into a pair of size 10 trousers and have a bit of room in them makes me feel good. I have noticed tops moreso getting bigger in sizing, especially from Penneys and River Island. Maybe it's the style of the tops I've picked but I've bought a few especially in Penneys in a size 6 and they have fitted me fine or in one or two I could have sized down further. Madness!

meeeeh

A bit is sizes getting bigger and a bit is just different sizing depending on the brand. Scandinavian and North European brands that are currently in vogue are all about a size bigger than Italian or Spanish brands. Then it's also the tailoring that is adapted to target customer. Brands for older women will be usually more generous in waist area. British brands tend to have more comfortable chest sizing than South European brands or brands aimed at young women/girls where bra sizes tend to be smaller.

Sizing is getting a bit bigger but it's also up to individual to figure out which brands suit them and for what.

CathyMoran

It is strange, I would have worn a size 8-10 in may late teens, now I would be a size 6-8 (children's size 13-14 in some clothes) in my early 40's and my weight had never changed except for when I was pregnant with my children.

bee06

I've noticed it as well. I would have always been a size 8 but around Christmas I was trying to find a dress and all the size 6 were too big. It's so frustrating because there is no smaller size then.

Tayla

That's vanity sizing for you!
It's very frustrating,
I was always an 8 up until the shops all started selling size 6 clothes and then magically I was a 6, when Bershka brought out a size 4 I got a few pair of trousers and Jeans in that size and i'm certainly not even close to what people think when they think of 'size zero'.

The thing that really bugs me about it is when people complain about shops selling size 4 clothes or smaller sizes because apparently it's encouraging eating disorders, they're ignoring vanity sizing and the knock on effect it has on every size.

bee06

This thread has reminded me that I have a pair of skinny jeans I got in American eagle years ago that are size 00!

Sunny Dayz

Ran around Penneys yesterday and grabbed a few bits on my lunch break. I'm normally an 8-10 in tops, depending on the style of them, I've a small chest but conscience of my tummy. And 10-12 on the bottom, again depending on the style and the tummy area I veer towards a 12 for comfort.
I grabbed two lovely tops in size 8, thought they would be spot on - but there's so much room in them especially under the arms.
Seriously are the clothes in there getting bigger? Is it vanity sizing? I would never really consider a size 6 in clothes, even when I was a skinny teenager I would have been a size 8-10. Now in my 30's with one child and more meat on my bones I'm apparently a 6! I don't get it!

I also got a coat in Penneys about 2 months ago, some else picked it up for me. I thought I was being brave asking for a size 10, I tend to size up for overcoats to give a bit more room for clothes underneath in the winter. And the 10 is massive on me, it fits more like a 14, I could nearly make it double breasted instead of single!

cee_jay

I got 2 tops (same top, same size, different colour) online from Dorothy Perkins last week. I tried on the black version, and it was lovely. Hung nicely, flattering, etc. Pulled out the grey version this morning to wear, and it is stuck to every lump and bump possible!