Clothing sizes then and now

[MomNeedsVacay]

I was really dissapointed the last time I went shopping I went to NY & Co. -- I am an athletic Size 2/4 in most clothing (I say athletic b/c I would in no way call myself skinny --but I work hard at staying fit and toned and I watch my diet...etc...) I tried on 5 different dresses and tops in the smallest sizes they had (which were either small or x-small) and they were all baggy on me and I asked the sales girl if the sizes had changed and she said "Our sizes run big." What does that even mean? A size is a size...and they've sized me out by "running big" .. I used to really like that store ...

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I was thinking about this the other day, I also wonder if the size changes have resulted not so much from "vanity" sizes but more from people just being bigger/taller now. If a 10 or whatever is "average" size, that 10 has to match what would be average for women today. Back when I was in high school the average woman was 5'4" tall--again AVERAGE. Now that average is closer to 5'7".

I don't think the average height for women is 5'7"...that seems too tall for an average

 

[golfgal]

I was really dissapointed the last time I went shopping I went to NY & Co. -- I am an athletic Size 2/4 in most clothing (I say athletic b/c I would in no way call myself skinny --but I work hard at staying fit and toned and I watch my diet...etc...) I tried on 5 different dresses and tops in the smallest sizes they had (which were either small or x-small) and they were all baggy on me and I asked the sales girl if the sizes had changed and she said "Our sizes run big." What does that even mean? A size is a size...and they've sized me out by "running big" .. I used to really like that store ...

That has been the problem with women's clothing for ages, a size ISN'T a size. There are no standards for what a size should be. For men, at least you know the waist is going to be 34" and the length of the pants are going to be 34". The fit will be different depending on regular, relaxed, etc. but if you normally buy a 505 34x34 Levi Jean, you can buy that at any store and they will fit the same. For women, you can get a pair of pants in a 10 at one store and the same "size" will be a 8 at another store or a 12 at the third store.

 

[marcyinPA]

One pricier brand (at least pricier to me) that doesn't fit that explanation is L.L. Bean. I normally wear a 10/12 in pants...Gloria Vanderbuilt and Dockers, size 10. (I'm a Kohl's shopper ). I tried on pants in L.L. Bean, and the 14 was too small! I refuse to buy pants there...I will not put on a size 16.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I hate sizes. I always have. Even when I was really little I had anything between a 3 to a size 9 depending on where I was shopping. That's a pretty big difference.

Don't even get me started on short/petite sizes and finding a pair of pants that isn't dragging the floor!!!

Anyone else have trouble with tops and being in between sizes?? I just need basic tee's and it seems I'm a bit too top heavy for a medium but the larges are bulky!

 

[punkin]

One pricier brand (at least pricier to me) that doesn't fit that explanation is L.L. Bean. I normally wear a 10/12 in pants...Gloria Vanderbuilt and Dockers, size 10. (I'm a Kohl's shopper ). I tried on pants in L.L. Bean, and the 14 was too small! I refuse to buy pants there...I will not put on a size 16.

You know the butt's the same size no matter what the pants say.

I have no idea right now what size I am. I fluctuate anywhere from an 8 to a 14. It depends on the store, the style, the cut. Boy, it's hard.

 

[marcyinPA]

You know the butt's the same size no matter what the pants say.

I have no idea right now what size I am. I fluctuate anywhere from an 8 to a 14. It depends on the store, the style, the cut. Boy, it's hard.

I know...it's a mental thing...

 

[MoonFaerie]

I'm 5'7 and some inches.

I've been wearing Size 16 for a really long time (probably 20 years). Recently the last few pants I've bought are size 14!! But guess what? I haven't lost a pound!!!

I've gone down 2 pants since this year, and I've only lost about 7 lbs. But I've lost several inches.

Old Navy, IMO, runs big. I just had to buy some size mediums in the yoga pants. In what world is a size 14 a medium? (That's the size jeans I have from ON.) It was nice to be buying mediums, but also so weird. Sizing should just be standard. It's not fair that DH never tries on shorts or jeans or t-shirts and they always fit.

 

[tlbwriter]

I really don't understand the appeal of vanity sizing. Telling someone who should be a size 20 that they are a size 12 doesn't make them smaller so why do it? If all of a sudden they tell me that pants I wear have a 12" longer inseam I'm not going to be stupid enough to think I managed to grow a foot through the power of magic.

You would think people get this, but they don't. I've known more than one woman to cram herself into too-small clothing, which looks horrible on her (and a larger size would look great), just so she can say "Look! I can wear a size 6!"

And here is the other side of that:

I tried on pants in L.L. Bean, and the 14 was too small! I refuse to buy pants there...I will not put on a size 16.

 

[FireDancer]

You would think people get this, but they don't. I've known more than one woman to cram herself into too-small clothing, which looks horrible on her (and a larger size would look great), just so she can say "Look! I can wear a size 6!"

That is never a good look...well...unless you are going to a Halloween party dressed like a sausage. Nothing says hottie like belly and back fat spilling over the top of pants looking like the mouth of a basset hound.

I guess for some people the biggest lies are the ones they tell themselves.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Now that we've established that women's clothing sizes vary widely by brand/store/designer's whim, I don't want to hear men complain any more about "I can buy clothes in 5 minutes but it takes her an hour"! We could buy clothes in 5 minutes, too, if we could be reasonably certain they would fit. ;-)

 

[tlbwriter]

Now that we've established that women's clothing sizes vary widely by brand/store/designer's whim, I don't want to hear men complain any more about "I can buy clothes in 5 minutes but it takes her an hour"! We could buy clothes in 5 minutes, too, if we could be reasonably certain they would fit. ;-)

Exactly. If I could get pants by waist and inseam measurements, I'd save so much time!

 

[MusiqChic99]

That is never a good look...well...unless you are going to a Halloween party dressed like a sausage. Nothing says hottie like belly and back fat spilling over the top of pants looking like the mouth of a basset hound.

I guess for some people the biggest lies are the ones they tell themselves.

I never got why people never dressed for their body type.



And it's just a size on a tag most people never see anyway. I want something to fit. I dont have to tell anyone what size of pants I'm wearing!

 

[Planogirl]

I buy mostly cheap clothes since I just wear casual stuff but even cheap clothes seem to have changed. Don't get me started on good stuff!

What can be really confusing is when items run in sizes small, medium, large and so on. Some of the smaller items are like tents while some of the larges are tight. You have to try things on even in the same brands.

 

[Momvic5]

While in high school and college, I wore a size 3 -5, and weighed about 115lbs. I am 5' 4". Now, I wear a size 2-4, and I weigh 128lbs. Jeans always depend on the brand - Levis - size 4, Lucky Jeans - size 2, Aero/American Eagle/Gap jeans - size 5 -6. My dh wears a size 34 in the waist - always has. He can go and grab a 34 by 34 in any brand, and they fit him. I am envious that it is always so easy for him.

 

[marcyinPA]

So if sizes fluctuate so much, how do you know what size you REALLY are? Who determines that? I am pretty much a 10/12...in every brand (including Levis). 10's in some, 12's in others. Never larger (except for L.L. Bean, which I've already covered in a previous post...) So, does this mean I am a 10/12, or am I really larger than that because the brands I wear vanity size?

I don't really care one way or the other, because despite being a little larger on the bottom than I'd like, I look pretty good for my age and I am healthy (read: I work out consistently). I'm just curious...does anyone really know what size they are?

 

[punkin]

So if sizes fluctuate so much, how do you know what size you REALLY are? Who determines that? I am pretty much a 10/12...in every brand (including Levis). 10's in some, 12's in others. Never larger (except for L.L. Bean, which I've already covered in a previous post...) So, does this mean I am a 10/12, or am I really larger than that because the brands I wear vanity size?

I don't really care one way or the other, because despite being a little larger on the bottom than I'd like, I look pretty good for my age and I am healthy (read: I work out consistently). I'm just curious...does anyone really know what size they are?

No! I have absolutely no clue what my "true size" is.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

One of the first things they tell new CMs at WDW is that costume sizes do NOT match clothing sizes and to focus on the fit not the size- as many a CM has burst into tears about suddenly wearing a 6 or an 8 where they usually wear a 0 or 2...

In street clothes I'm typically now a 2-4 in costume sizes I'm a 10-12.. Even between costumes it varies.. My favorite one was the Epcot "flag" shirt with white shorts... For proper fit I ended up with a XS shirt and a size 22 short... I'm not THAT disproportionate


-em