Jeans from the 80s vs Jeans from today

GOT_Obsessed

When I was jeans shopping today the girl working asked me what size I was. Because I have been losing weight I really didn't know. So she brought out a few different sizes to try and I got a nice fitting pair on sale.

When I got home I pulled out an old pair from many moons ago which I remember wearing in high school.
I had heard of vanity sizing and wanted to see it for myself. I was pretty surprised. (See pic)

Why are the size numbers now so much lower than they used to be. Are clothing companies afraid to hurt our feelings?

GOT_Obsessed

Oh yeah, and those old jeans did not stretch lIke they do thsee days. You often layed on the bed to pull them on. Lol

SCoil123

32W is supposed to be a measurement, not like the size 6/8/4 you often see in women’s clothing that change brand to brand. Have you tried measuring the waist band to see if it is in fact 32”?

ccsernica

I can only speak about men's jeans, which have always been sold by waist and inseam. The waist measurements have always been approximate at best, since even standard fit jeans sit not at the waist but just above the hips. But yes, I'm convinced that jeans run at least 2 inches larger for the stated waist measurement than they used to. My true waist measures about 33 inches, but 32 inch Levi's are very loose on me -- that's what I'm wearing right now, and they'd fall off without a belt -- and I can comfortably fit into 30 inch. I never bothered measuring my waist when I was younger, but when I was about the same weight as I am now 30 years ago, 32 or 33 inch jeans fit me just right.

Mslmesq

I was a teen in the 80’s. Wore size 3/4. As an adult I’ve seen my ‘size’ shrink over the years, all while fitting into my old clothes and old clothes sizes. I’ve ‘shrunk’ to a 00. Sometimes not even fitting into that.

My much older sister in law gave me her aunt’s vintage skirt from the 30’s. It said size 12. I barely fit in it. I was 98 lbs when I tired it on.

My mother’s dresses from the 50’s-60’s all say size 6 or 8. They have only fit me when I’m 100 lbs or less. So only when I’m a size 00 in todays clothing size.

Why people that post here are in denial that this is a real thing is beyond me. I don’t care that I’ve seen sizes shrink per se. but it is kind of funny. No offense, but today’s size 6 means you probably are on a diet.

GOT_Obsessed

SCoil123 wrote: »

32W is supposed to be a measurement, not like the size 6/8/4 you often see in women’s clothing that change brand to brand. Have you tried measuring the waist band to see if it is in fact 32”?

Hmmm, interesting. I just measured the waistband.

It is 37 1/2"

TonyB0588

I don't wear jeans, but I fully agree that clothing sizes are inconsistent across brands and country of manufacture. It's almost impossible to buy anything without trying it first.

SCoil123

GOT_Obsessed wrote: »

SCoil123 wrote: »

32W is supposed to be a measurement, not like the size 6/8/4 you often see in women’s clothing that change brand to brand. Have you tried measuring the waist band to see if it is in fact 32”?

Hmmm, interesting. I just measured the waistband.

It is 37 1/2"

Interesting. In that case they are definitely vanity sizing. I have no come across that with measured sized myself.

middlehaitch

Do they actually sit on your waist?
In the 80's jeans were worn higher than now. Check the depth of the front and back and see if they are the same.

I always wore youth Levi's 27x27. I will have to go and check the sizing, or closest now available.

Oh, I was in the uk last year and shopped for a size6 or 8 in M&S and the clothes fitted the same as in the 70's and 80's at the same weight.


Cheers, h.

Cbean08

I think sizing has also changed due to the change in styling, especially the super- low waisted jeans. Jeans that sit on your hips vs your waist will need to be bigger because your hips are bigger simply due to human anatomy. I'm guessing that designers took that same size 4 model and measured her hips, cut the jeans, and called them a size 4 even though her hip measurement is more like a size 8 waist measurement.

However, now I think that some places do specifically cut clothes bigger in order to cater to more people because blah blah blah "fat acceptance."

GOT_Obsessed

middlehaitch wrote: »

Do they actually sit on your waist?
In the 80's jeans were worn higher than now. Check the depth of the front and back and see if they are the same.

I always wore youth Levi's 27x27. I will have to go and check the sizing, or closest now available.

Oh, I was in the uk last year and shopped for a size6 or 8 in M&S and the clothes fitted the same as in the 70's and 80's at the same weight.


Cheers, h.

Oh yeah. That is very true, we wore our jeans way higher up in the 80s. What would now be considered high waisted Mommy jeans.

krael65

This is something that perplexes me. I'm 5'2, 115#. I wear size 6 or 8 jeans. When I was this weight in the early eighties, I wore size 3/5.

I wear XS, sometimes XXS in tops & Tshirt type dresses.

I'm always amazed when I hear of women who are 5'2, 150# wearing smaller jeans than I do. I just don't get it! I guess vanity sizing doesn't apply to me. It's not like my body is oddly disproportionate...

GOT_Obsessed

rkmomm wrote: »

This is something that perplexes me. I'm 5'2, 115#. I wear size 6 or 8 jeans. When I was this weight in the early eighties, I wore size 3/5.

I wear XS, sometimes XXS in tops & Tshirt type dresses.

I'm always amazed when I hear of women who are 5'2, 150# wearing smaller jeans than I do. I just don't get it! I guess vanity sizing doesn't apply to me. It's not like my body is oddly disproportionate...

Yeah you seem opposite to everyone else. And congrats for being the same low weight as years ago!

krael65

GOT_Obsessed wrote: »

rkmomm wrote: »

This is something that perplexes me. I'm 5'2, 115#. I wear size 6 or 8 jeans. When I was this weight in the early eighties, I wore size 3/5.

I wear XS, sometimes XXS in tops & Tshirt type dresses.

I'm always amazed when I hear of women who are 5'2, 150# wearing smaller jeans than I do. I just don't get it! I guess vanity sizing doesn't apply to me. It's not like my body is oddly disproportionate...

Yeah you seem opposite to everyone else. And congrats for being the same low weight as years ago!

Thank you!!

lois1231

they were a lot smaller.

WillingtoLose1001984

TonyB0588 wrote: »

I don't wear jeans, but I fully agree that clothing sizes are inconsistent across brands and country of manufacture. It's almost impossible to buy anything without trying it first.

Yeah, I can't go by my measurements when I buy things or they won't fit. You pretty much have to try things on if it is fitted. I really don't see much of a difference in those jeans.

GOT_Obsessed

WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »

TonyB0588 wrote: »

I don't wear jeans, but I fully agree that clothing sizes are inconsistent across brands and country of manufacture. It's almost impossible to buy anything without trying it first.

Yeah, I can't go by my measurements when I buy things or they won't fit. You pretty much have to try things on if it is fitted. I really don't see much of a difference in those jeans.

You would if you saw me trying to squeeze my *kitten* into the old ones. Lol

Lounmoun

I'm surprised you have pants from the 1980's still. I think my oldest clothing item is a sweatshirt from 1996ish.

Size numbers have always been kind of useless. I do think jeans from back then were higher up on the waist and not stretchy so that may make the sizes different not just vanity.
I don't remember what size pants I wore in the 1980's. I was really thin and had trouble getting things that fit well I remember. Boy's pants seemed to fit my body shape better. Maybe I had narrow hips?

A previous thread on vanity sizing with waist measurements being off looked like it depended on brand how badly off they are-
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/992561/i-hate-vanity-sizing

Does the stated waist measurement of the pants that fit you match your current waist measurement?

lorrpb

You can pull 3 pairs of jeans from different brands off the rack today and they'll all fit differently. For women. My husband can wear any pants marked with his waist, never tries on anything!
A waist number like 32 refers to the size of waist tbey are designed to fit, not the fabric measurement. There is a difference. Anyone who sews will understand!

__TMac__

I’m in the Target at this very moment, shopping for jeans for my 12-year-old son. It’s somewhat easier than buying jeans for me. I’m standing here in jeans that are too big and I won’t even try buying some for myself until I have to.