Clothes sizing

Parchment

Ladies - what are your opinions on the sizing of clothes these days?

I just bought a pair of trousers from Benetton - i always find their sizing a little small as its an Italian company. Anyway i got the UK 12 - an Italian 44 according to the label. Fine.

I went home and wanted to look for another pair of trousers on their site - turns out the 44 is the second largest size they carry in those trousers. Wow.

I am tall 5'10 and very fit and would be considered slim by most. I cant believe i just bought their second largest size! Its not about my size - im just wondering whats going on with sizing these days!?

I find Zara crazy with size variations, H&M the same. I find Dunnes generous with sizing.

Any opinions?!

Mars Bar

Sizings are completely arbitrary and absolute pain in the arse! I have clothes that are a size 6 from petite clothing ranges but would have to get an 8 or a 10 in the normal range. I can't buy anything without having tried it on first.

My mother would be between a 12 and 14 but recently got a lovely blouse in a size 8!!!

Sunny Dayz

I think there's a similar thread in the Fashion forum.
I agree that sizing is just way out. I'm 8-10 on top and 10-12 on the bottom and my wardrobe goes from 6 to 14. I bought a top in Penneys recently size 6 and was big enough on me. But bought a pair of size 12 jeans in there the same day and they are a bit too snug!


I find that Spanish & Italian labels are small enough sizing - Mango, Berska. I was in Span last summer and bought a pair of trousers in Berska, had to get the largest size and felt like such a lump!
Scandinavian labels are more true to size - Vero Moda, Only.


I find that the sizing in Zara and H&M vary greatly.

Neyite

It's even worse in dressmaking.

I'd be a standard 8-10 in most shops like Pennys or Dunnes but when I'm cutting out a pattern to fit me it can be all the sizes between 8-16 on the pattern lines that I need to cut. And it varies between the pattern manufacturers too. I got a bit glum the first time I measured and had to cut on the 16 line, but now I've learned to ignore the sizing!

robyntmorton

I'm anywhere from a 16 to a 20 depending on where I buy. It doesn't help that I'm an awkward shape too. It has become almost a necessity to try everything on, in many sizes.

tinyk68

Sizing is crazy. I went shopping for a dress for a confirmation lately and came home empty handed and feeling that they just don't make clothes for women like me! In each shop I brought sizes 10 and 12 into the changing room and all the 10s were too small and the 12s were way too big! There was a huge difference between the two. Even within shops there is no consistency. I eventually got a dress in Dorothy Perkins. It was a size 10 and was plenty big. However I tried on another size 10 in a different style (in the same shop) and that was too small! I don't know how anyone buys clothes online. It's just pure guesswork.

Parchment

Glad to know im not the only one. I find that ladies sizes are wildly different but when i go shopping with my boyfriend he can just pick up a size eg. jeans or a tshirt and not even try them on and they fit!

I find that the spanish/italian sizes are smaller as i guess Spanish/Italian women are smaller than us. I find Scandinavian/German clothing brands work better for me. I see someone else mentioned that here.

I find the cheaper the brand the smaller the sizes (with penneys being the exception) as they use less material -so its cheaper to make. I have some items by Isabel Marant and her clothes are generally to be worn slightly oversized but her sizes seem to be a little more generous again tying in with the theory that they dont scrimp on material as cost isnt as much of an issue. I also find GAP generous with their sizes.

Jeans are the killer for me - i cant get jeans that fit well. I find the measurements of my waist dont mean a thing - a 30 in topshop could be a 27 in GAP.

sullivlo

There's very few places I trust as being correctly sized. I tend to have to try everything on (except the likes of tshirts that don't really matter if they're baggy).

Shirts are a nightmare. I am broad and have a massive set of shoulders. Most shirts are tight across my arms. I have bought a size 22 in a shirt and it's still not right on my shoulders, yet in the same shop I have a size 14 top that's perfect.

Jeans... nightmare. I've cyclists calves and thunder thighs. And I've a long body. I tend to find a pair that suits and then buy every colour. But even then, different materials are different fits!

Even shoes. I have sizes 7, 8 and 9. All fit perfectly.

robyntmorton

Ah here, let's not even get into shoes. I've 8's, 9's and 10's, in various regular and wide fits, which fit me (yes, I've got big feet)

Parchment

Really interesting to hear others views! Regarding shoes - I recently bought a pair of Clarks shoes...a 5. All my other Clarks are a 5.5! I own 5's, 5.5's and 6's. But...in Birkenstocks im a 3!

I bought a pair of Levis today - amazingly they fitted me well. the size...28 waist and 36 leg. I consider them true to size - maybe the older more "traditional" companies have correct sizing?!

rainbow kirby

Anything from a 5 to 7.5 in shoes here with a 6 being the most common size in normal shoes and a 7 in running shoes.

In clothes I'm generally a 14 at the moment (damn baby weight) but I need to try a 12, 14 and 16 a lot of the time.

RacoonQueen

I bought an 8 and a 10 in jeans recently from two different shops in debenhams, when I got home and sized the waists they were the same size...at the weekend I had to go for a 44 from a shop in kildare village which I believe is a size 12.
Problem with me is my running/cycling legs means I need to go a size bigger...what fits me on the legs is always way too large at the waist/hips...and what fits waist/hips is often too tight on the legs. Such a pain. Hard to get trousers/jeans that fit me well as they always look either baggy or bunched up somewhere.

My mum is bigger than me and would be a 12-14, she bought a top a few months ago in a shop I buy from in a size 14. I'm a size 8 with them. Top was too small on her. When I put it on, it was a perfect fit on me. 3 sizes bigger than what I would usually wear from them...

missmatty

I brought 5 items into the changing room in Dunnes on Sunday, ranging from an 8 to a 14. All fitted me in a manner of speaking. The size 8 t-shirt was bigger than the size 12 one! I'm closer to a 14 in real life so you can tell how big Dunnes size their clothes :rolleyes:

Malari

I find most of the places I shop are internally consistent, so I know what sizes I am in general. I might have to try on one or two sizes, but I'll nearly always try on before I buy so it doesn't bother me that much.

This is why I hate online shopping unless I've seen the garment first! I like to feel and try on :P

sullivlo

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I bought an 8 and a 10 in jeans recently from two different shops in debenhams, when I got home and sized the waists they were the same size...at the weekend I had to go for a 44 from a shop in kildare village which I believe is a size 12.
Problem with me is my running/cycling legs means I need to go a size bigger...what fits me on the legs is always way too large at the waist/hips...and what fits waist/hips is often too tight on the legs. Such a pain. Hard to get trousers/jeans that fit me well as they always look either baggy or bunched up somewhere.

My mum is bigger than me and would be a 12-14, she bought a top a few months ago in a shop I buy from in a size 14. I'm a size 8 with them. Top was too small on her. When I put it on, it was a perfect fit on me. 3 sizes bigger than what I would usually wear from them...

Preach. I don't have the skinniest of calves but since I lost weight they look more normal. But skinny jeans and jeggings don't fit my calves and thighs! Its super annoying. Also if I do manage to get a pair to fit, they still get stuck and I almost always fall over trying to take them off. And I get a pair to fit my legs but they slide down the waist.

Why can't grown-up trousers come with braces?!

meeeeh

Malari wrote: »

I find most of the places I shop are internally consistent, so I know what sizes I am in general. I might have to try on one or two sizes, but I'll nearly always try on before I buy so it doesn't bother me that much.

I buy majority of stuff online but I stick to certain brands and know what to expect. Italians 44, 40 for French and Mango, 38 for Scandinavian and German. I avoid buying Zara online due to rubbish tailoring and Uk brands love to use cheap materials so I usually want to see stuff in person. I am not mad about Ted Baker inspired florals so that excludes about 70% of stuff anyway.

Bambi985

I shop online too, usually find Topshop and River Island are true to size. Everything else is a shot in the dark.

sullivlo

sullivlo wrote: »

Preach. I don't have the skinniest of calves but since I lost weight they look more normal. But skinny jeans and jeggings don't fit my calves and thighs! Its super annoying. Also if I do manage to get a pair to fit, they still get stuck and I almost always fall over trying to take them off. And I get a pair to fit my legs but they slide down the waist.

Why can't grown-up trousers come with braces?!

I'm having this exact issue today. I bought new jeans (high waisted, super stretchy) and they're perfect on my calves and thighs.

However they're sliding off my waist big time. Spent half my day so far hooshing up my trousers!!!

Malari

sullivlo wrote: »

I'm having this exact issue today. I bought new jeans (high waisted, super stretchy) and they're perfect on my calves and thighs.

However they're sliding off my waist big time. Spent half my day so far hooshing up my trousers!!!

You don't wear a belt?

robyntmorton

Oh God I know that feeling. Being a weird shape is a pain!

sullivlo

Malari wrote: »

You don't wear a belt?

I've never found a belt that suits me or fits around me properly.

Malari

sullivlo wrote: »

I've never found a belt that suits me or fits around me properly.

Really? I assumed they would be the one piece of clothing that would be easiest to fit! I always wear one - hate the feeling of not being belted with jeans on

RhubarbCrumble

I'm generally a size 8 (top and bottom) sometimes a 6, but sizes seem to be getting more and more confusing.

Somebody mentioned about Dunnes being 'generous' when it comes to sizes. They're huge! An 8 in Dunnes is massive on me. I actually can't buy clothes there anymore. They're taking 'vanity sizing' to the extreme.

H&M though have to be the worst offender. I've often had to take a 6/8/10 or xs/s/m into the changing rooms with me and it often turns out that none of them might still fit.

I find Zara pretty okay size wise, but not length wise. I'm 5 3" and all their trousers are SO long on me.

River Island I think are pretty true to size. I'd pretty much always be an 8 there.

I'm okay with Penneys too. Generally an 8, but I could be a 6 in somethings. I usually take both sizes to the fitting room.

Shoes everywhere are a bit of a disaster for me. I'm either a 3 or a 4 and always have to try on both. I have really narrow feet so a lot of 4's can be too wide on me, but then my toes can be squashed in 3's. Realistically I suppose I'm a 3.5, but not too many places do half sizes.

My partner is generally a medium on his top half and 34 waist and can pretty much just walk into any shop and take those sizes off the rail. I wish women's sizes were as straightforward!

I'd love smaller sizes to have more variety in lengths. People aren't always average to tall, and having things taken up too much ruins the proportions.

RacoonQueen

So many posts saying ''true to size'' but what is a size 8 meant to be? Is it 30'' waist? I've no idea what they are meant to actually be? Seems everyone just tries on sizes and buys whatever seems to fit best rather than actually knowing their size...they know they an 8ish or 14ish so buy sizes around that. No wonder everyone hates trying things on.

Vela

RacoonQueen wrote: »

So many posts saying ''true to size'' but what is a size 8 meant to be? Is it 30'' waist? I've no idea what they are meant to actually be? Seems everyone just tries on sizes and buys whatever seems to fit best rather than actually knowing their size...they know they an 8ish or 14ish so buy sizes around that. No wonder everyone hates trying things on.

I've always thought 30" was a size 12 (in standard UK sizing).

bee06

Vela wrote: »

I've always thought 30" was a size 12 (in standard UK sizing).

Yeah, size 8 is supposed to be a 26" waist.

I used always be a size 8 but a few years ago I had to drop to a 6 even thought I was still the same size and always and now I find even a 6 is loose on me. I find it impossible to buy tops anymore because they are too big and baggy. All the "tight" tops are made from teenagers and show off half my midriff!

Malari

bee06 wrote: »

All the "tight" tops are made from teenagers and show off half my midriff!

Finally someone found a use for teenagers, then. :P

I agree, though, the clothes at the smaller end of the scale are often designed for young girls in the high street shops.

bee06

Malari wrote: »

Finally someone found a use for teenagers, then. :P

I agree, though, the clothes at the smaller end of the scale are often designed for young girls in the high street shops.

Ha! It's the next big thing

meeeeh

Well you can thank Vetements for oversized trend. The brands I stick to are relatively consistent in their sizing but I am buying very little of UK brands lately.

amtc

I have everything from an American size 2 to a UK 16 in the wardrobe. I have not changed weight in years.
I recently bought a suit In M and S and the size 14 dress is snug but the matching jacket (which is full length to end of dress) fitted in a 10.
Btw I am sorry for person who is 3 1/2 in shoes. Every shoe shop only gets one a year and I'm number 1 on the reservation list!