Penneys sizes have changed?

pennydreadful

So I know it may seem like I am trying to make excuses for putting on a few pounds but I really don't think I am! I have always been a size 12-ish in Penney's tops/dresses but lately I feel like their sizing has gotten so much smaller. In most cases I can't get a 14 to fit comfortably and have gone up to a size 16 in almost every case. I cannot believe it as I know this is not a true reflection of my measurements as I am still buying the same size clothes in other stores.

Has anyone else noticed it or am I going mad? My mother has also commented on how she finds the shoulders have gotten tighter in some tops (we're a similar size). Interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this!

milli milli

Not so much the sizes but I find in general their clothes are ill-fitting in the last couple of years. Like very cheaply made and they used to be a much better fit. Like too loose in places and too tight in others.
I used to buy nearly all my bras there but they are such a bad fit nowadays, I wouldn't bother.

It could be that my body has changed - I put on/lose half a stone every now and again but I'm tall so I don't know if half a stone would make a massive difference?
In contrast shops like River Island usually fit perfectly.

AMKC

If you are going to buy in Penney,s maybe its best to try the clothes on first unless its underwear. I do like buying some clothes in there have not bought much in a while but have got some nice bodysuits in there and they fitted good. I think if the clothes are cheap enough especially when they are on sale just buy that item or items in two sizes and then sell or give away the one that is too big or small for you.

dee_mc

Penneys sizes can be odd and the fitting room queues long so I tend to just buy the things I like, try them on at home, and return whatever doesn't work. They have a very generous returns policy, particularly between now and early January. If I suspect I might be between sizes I'll sometimes buy the item in both sizes and decide at home - stock turnover is so fast that there are no guarantees!
I find the variation in fit depending on the item is increasingly common across the board, not just in Penneys.

Sunny Dayz

I do find Penneys clothing very hit and miss in terms of sizing. And that's across the board from clothing to footwear and even mens clothes for my husband and son. I would class myself as 8-10 on top and 10-12 on bottom - and my Penneys clothes range from 6 to 16 and my size 4 feet have sizes 3's and 5's in my collection (although I'm not mad about Penneys shoes, most of the heels are uncomfortable). I cannot pick something off the hanger in Penneys and go with it, I have to try a few sizes on. Even the fit of many things just isn't right (or maybe it's just me!!), not fitting right on the tummy (where I have one) or the bust (where I have none).


Even the hubbie tried on a hoodie recently, he's generally a medium, sometimes large for a bit more room and the large hoodie was such a bad fitting, the arms were skin tight and himself doesn't have muscles in his arms so any guys who even lift wouldn't have a hope!

Milly33

They have been like this for ages.. Used to be good fairly standard a 12 was a 12 but nowadays, you would nearly want to try everything on. Saying that I have two cardis upstairs both the same size and from Pennys just different colours and one is bigger than the other...The clothes all seem to shrunk big time

Tenigate

Years ago I had to buy "small" sized t-shirts in penneys while in designer brand I'd buy M or even L. I'm miles from "S". I always thought Penneys lied about their sizes to give shoppers a boost so they'd buy more.

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northgirl

I've noticed over the last few months, the labels on the clothing are "Primark" as opposed to "Atmosphere" which they used to be. Has it anything to do with standardising sizes across Europe?

Sunny Dayz

northgirl wrote: »

I've noticed over the last few months, the labels on the clothing are "Primark" as opposed to "Atmosphere" which they used to be. Has it anything to do with standardising sizes across Europe?

Or could it be to do with Primark moving into the US market?

dizzyn

Noticed the jumpers are mad sizes! I'd usually be a 14 (Size L in jumpers) but have now been buying S and M because the larges are swinging on me!!! It's mental

missmatty

Sizing is all over the place. I bought a coat lately and it's swinging on me, it's a size 12. I'm more of a 14-16 and in most shops a size 14 coat would be bet on to me :rolleyes:

Fogmatic

I've found their sizes are all over the place these days, too. I can usually tell if a garment will fit me just by looking at it (I've had plenty of time to learn!). And I can see even that way that some Penneys things in 'my' size won't fit me.

I learned my lesson re New Look, buying a really cosy furry jacket too hastily, in size 14 instead of 12 to make sure, and finding later I couldn't even get an arm into a sleeve (and any thinner arms would have to be a child's!). But I wouldn't have expected this sizing chaos at Penneys.

newbee22

I am a size 12 and all jumpers I've bought recently are size small and to be honest are still a bit on the bigger side! Also been buying the size 10 jeans because the 12s are too big. I feel you need to try everything on but as others have said the dressing room queues are way too long.

Fogmatic

Sorry I wasn’t.clear - I only meant the New Look jacket as an example of the more general sizing chaos (you can’t even rely on a company to deploy 'vanity sizing’, these days!). About the same time, I got a nice medium-sized jumper from Gap for my still medium-sized husband, only to find their Medium is now too small to get his arms into (think they decided to do away with labelling men’s things ‘Small’ - luckily, I was able to take it over). That was all in central London (a lot of sizing policies to keep up with).

I find the sizing within Penneys very inconsistent between their whatever sources, so I’ve given up looking at size labels there (just go straight to holding up the garments).

LadyBetty

I agree OP, I buy loungewear from Penneys and the last pair of tracksuit bottoms I bought up a size for extra comfort, well they are totally beat onto me

Also agree about ill-fitting clothes, I bought tracksuit bottoms for my child and they are like jodhpurs - mad tight at the ankles and calf and can barely put his foot through them, then all baggy around the thighs..look ridiculous!

retro:electro

I'm an 8-10 usually but in Penneys I'm a 6. Their pajama bottoms don't even fit me and the ones I'm wearing now are sized 4-6. There is no way on plant earth I'm a size 4. It's bonkers. I tried on a few coats in there recently but the smallest sizes were ill fitting and I'm finding the material really rigid and cheap feeling. There's also an odd smell of most of their coats this year.