Rant

Amz · 27-07-2004 2:28am #1

Not sure if this is a common problem but it's one which has been annoying me lately.

The fact that clothes sizes are not uniform throughout the various shops is something which has boggled me for years.

In some shops a size 8 will fit me perfectly and in others I'll be lucky to fit a size 10. Then there's the shops where you wish they made a size 9 as neither an 8 or a 10 fit nicely.

Why can't they all have a standard measurement system?

It'd make buying clothes a little easier if you could be confident that you were a certain size all the time. Just to make life a little easier.

Agent Smith · 27-07-2004 2:45am

Same with men's trouser's!

altho i doubt you would have that problum amz!

Amz · 27-07-2004 2:46am

Well I assumed men would have a similar problem alright.

Agent Smith · 27-07-2004 2:51am

damm straight,
i have to buy a pair of jeans too big and wear a belt opposed to just wearing regular pants, ala no belt

FX Meister · 27-07-2004 9:39am

agent smith, is that cause you are the wrong body shape for them maybe? Or else don't like the fit? I dont like my jeans or trousers too tight and as a result have to get the waist bigger than it needs and wear a belt also.

dudara · 27-07-2004 12:49pm

It happens all over the place. Dunnes sizing is definitely more generous than other places.

Adidas runners are always on the small side. I wear a size 4 shoe in general, but it's a 5 in Adidas.

Dunno why this is the way though

Dont be at yourself · 27-07-2004 4:39pm

In fairness, it's not that common with mens trousers. I mean, a 30 inch waist is a 30 inch waist, there's not really any ambiguity there. Although, that being said, some trousers are designed to be worn lower down the hips or to be looser, so that leads to a variation.

I can't recall ever buying trousers in a size other than my norm due to size variations between stores.

PurpleFistMixer · 27-07-2004 4:44pm

It's because people want to believe they are a small size and will shop where they can say "yeah I'm a 6" or whatever.

That or some kind of clothes shop conspirational allegiance which will no doubt end us up on the side of the street wearing cardboard boxes and teacosies on our heads.

Or perhaps they do it so you're forced to try on so many pairs of trousers/whateveryou'rebuying and they just sort of grow on you while you're trying them on over and over. Like some kind of spore.

vibrant · 27-07-2004 6:23pm

I seem to remember a designer (perhaps it was CK, I can't quite remember) who had the actual size labels on the clothes reflect a smaller size (so a size 10 would be labelled a size 8, and so on). The rationale was that the person buying the garment "was paying a lot" for it and "deserved" the right to a smaller size. :rolleyes:

Oh well, it got them some free publicity!

Kolodny · 27-07-2004 6:43pm

Lately it seems there's no consistency even within the same shop. I bought 2 same size pairs of trousers in Dunnes recently, both Dunnes own label, one pair fits perfectly, the other is way too tight

Amz · 27-07-2004 6:45pm

Yeah, that's why I always try on stuff before I buy it.

27-07-2004 7:14pm

In my experience shoes woul dhave to be the biggest offender with regards varying size, my feet are anything from 11-13 depending on the brand.

Kolodny · 27-07-2004 10:21pm

Originally posted by Amz
Yeah, that's why I always try on stuff before I buy it.

Tried one on and presumed the other would fit. Won't make that mistake again!

Amz · 27-07-2004 10:52pm

Made that (expensive) mistake before...
Don't think my bank balance can afford to do it again!

ecksor · 27-07-2004 11:43pm

Originally posted by Kolodny
Tried one on and presumed the other would fit. Won't make that mistake again!

Luckily someone taught me to do that years ago, it has saved me at least once from making a big mistake. Most of my footware purchases are probably sportswear though.

Danni · 28-07-2004 3:38pm

Its actually hilarious the differences in sizes from place to place..

My sister (who's a size 8 top & bottom), tried on a hoody in some sports shop last week & the size 10 was way too tight, same with 12. She had to buy a size 14!!!

I usually wear size 12/14 but there's not a hope in hell i'd even fit a 14 in River Island (thats why i dont shop there anymore coz i know i'm NOT a 16 so i refuse to buy it!!)

Amz · 29-07-2004 2:31am

It's not really a problem for me in regard to footwear, I'm generally the same size in all shoes... maybe a size bigger for football boots due to the thicker socks and stuff. I am a narrow fitting though so certain brands are more comfortable that way.

embee · 29-07-2004 3:10am

A lot of footwear manufacturers these days refuse to accept the fact that people are getting taller. And as people are getting taller, feet are getting bigger.

Buying footwear is the absolute bane of my life. I am a size 9.5 (sometimes 10) and it is virtually impossible to find shoes that fit me. Womens shoes go to a size 8 maximum.

There are specific ranges in clothing shops that cater for tall women, but generally nothing for women with size 8+ feet.

Aurther Hugh · 29-07-2004 9:19am

Originally posted by Kolodny
Lately it seems there's no consistency even within the same shop. I bought 2 same size pairs of trousers in Dunnes recently, both Dunnes own label, one pair fits perfectly, the other is way too tight

Thats true, but a friend of mine who's well up in the rag trade said that's because in many highstreet stores esp the low-end ones, the same garments can be made in different factories, two identical pairs of trousers both the same size and one pair could have been made in Korea and one in China for example such is the nature of the reatilers outsourcing and this can account for discrepencies in sizes in the one range.

Magic Monkey · 29-07-2004 9:07pm

vibrant wrote:

I seem to remember a designer (perhaps it was CK, I can't quite remember) who had the actual size labels on the clothes reflect a smaller size (so a size 10 would be labelled a size 8, and so on). The rationale was that the person buying the garment "was paying a lot" for it and "deserved" the right to a smaller size. :rolleyes:

Oh well, it got them some free publicity!

They call it "vanity sizing".

rainbow kirby · 29-07-2004 10:57pm

I've noticed this with shoes a lot. Though my shoe size seems to be shrinking, I used to be a 7 in everything, but now a 6 fits perfectly about 90% of the time! Also with clothes, I'm usually a size 12, but I can be anything from a 10 to a 16 depending where I'm buying.

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