Vanity Sizing - Friend or foe?

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Replies

  • gr8pillock
    gr8pillock Posts: 374 Member
    I once heard Trinny and Susannah say that the best possible thing a woman could do for her wardrobe is the cut the sizes out of all her clothes. We all fixate on the size and some will wear a tight, ill fitting size over the flattering size up because of the number mentality. I completely agree with that notion. I'm wearing size ten jeggings right now because the size 8 jeggings were too tight around my dancers calves. Waist is looser, but the jeans look and feel amazing... not bothering me in the slightest.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Agreed, ladies! I'm surprised this antiquated system wasn't amended when women got the vote ;)

    Truly, women's clothing sizing is the most sexist thing I encounter on a daily basis.

    Wel, you can't really have the same sizing for women as for men. Men generally -- probably 99% of them -- are straight up and down. Women are sometimes straight up and down, sometimes curved. And even the women with the curves curve differently. We're all over the place in terms of body shape.

    Why can't men's sizing work for women? 40-inch hips are 40-inch hips, why must women's clothing invent their own sizes?

    One woman with 40-inch hips might also have a 40-inch waist, while another woman with 40-inch hips might have a 30-inch waist (or smaller). So where does that leave us?

    And dresses? The woman with the 40-inch hips and 30-inch waist might wear a 32A bra or a 32DD or a 38DDD.

    So, dear, with all your wisdom, what standard size do these four different women with 40-inch hips wear?
  • punkinkat
    punkinkat Posts: 85 Member
    Agreed, ladies! I'm surprised this antiquated system wasn't amended when women got the vote ;)

    Truly, women's clothing sizing is the most sexist thing I encounter on a daily basis.

    Wel, you can't really have the same sizing for women as for men. Men generally -- probably 99% of them -- are straight up and down. Women are sometimes straight up and down, sometimes curved. And even the women with the curves curve differently. We're all over the place in terms of body shape.

    Why can't men's sizing work for women? 40-inch hips are 40-inch hips, why must women's clothing invent their own sizes?

    One woman with 40-inch hips might also have a 40-inch waist, while another woman with 40-inch hips might have a 30-inch waist (or smaller). So where does that leave us?

    And dresses? The woman with the 40-inch hips and 30-inch waist might wear a 32A bra or a 32DD or a 38DDD.

    So, dear, with all your wisdom, what standard size do these four different women with 40-inch hips wear?

    I'd rather you told me, with all your wisdom, how calling a pair of pants a Size 16 instead of Size 40 makes any difference at all with respect to how the garment fits?
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I love when people answer a question with a question.
  • punkinkat
    punkinkat Posts: 85 Member
    *yawn*
  • sillygoosie
    sillygoosie Posts: 1,109 Member
    I have to try it on anyway so it doesn't really bother me. Sizing is just as inconsistent as anything else from brand to brand.
  • buzzcogs
    buzzcogs Posts: 296 Member
    Vanity sizing also confuses me. What about people who really are a size 0 or 2? Does their size go into the negatives now? Like size -2?

    Because if I can fit into a size 8 somewhere (and I'm really a 10+) then I'm assuming the size 2 person would become a size zero and the size 0 would be come a what?
  • sdurrahMpls
    sdurrahMpls Posts: 75 Member
    I was looking at workout pants the other day and they were labelled at size M. The tag also had sizing in other countries and most read a L or XL. That blew my mind. We are getting ridiculous with vanity sizing here in the US. Don't quote me on this, but I believe the tag even said XXL for Japan. When an M here is equivalent to an XXL in another country, we know there's a problem!
  • phillips0911
    phillips0911 Posts: 41
    FOE!

    I cannot stand buying jeans at one store in say a size 4, then ordering online at another and it either being a size too big or small. I would like to see a standard size. I'm tired of guessing if I am a 2,4, or 6 when buying clothes.
    It either makes me so happy to know I gained 5 pounds yet fit in a 2, or lost 10 and barely fit in a 6... lol total mind games!
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Vanity sizing also confuses me. What about people who really are a size 0 or 2? Does their size go into the negatives now? Like size -2?

    Because if I can fit into a size 8 somewhere (and I'm really a 10+) then I'm assuming the size 2 person would become a size zero and the size 0 would be come a what?

    This is correct. The size 0 has become a 00 (double zero). And they might have to start making negative sizes, which is just crazy so I don't think they will actually do that. For the smaller people, we just can't even shop in a lot of stores now.
  • sobriquet84
    sobriquet84 Posts: 607 Member
    It is ridiculous!!! In high school I wore size 9-12 pants. Now I wear 2-3, and it ISN'T because I have lost that much weight. The other day I went shopping with my mom and she was astonished that I bought a size 1 at Old Navy. It is embarassing to say, I did feel a sense of pride, even though deep down inside, I know that is not true sizing.

    Old Navy is the WORST.
  • sobriquet84
    sobriquet84 Posts: 607 Member
    I would also like to point out that i see and hear so often "Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 and she was gorgeous and beautiful and curvy and society is effed up with regard to expectations of women today" bla bla bla.

    Uh, yeah, a size 14 when in her day is a standard size 6-8 now.
  • hairsprayhon
    hairsprayhon Posts: 334 Member
    Count me for the hate it column. Since I am now the leanest I have been in 25 years, I went deep in the depths of my closet and clothes that fit, were all at least one size bigger than the size I am wearing in newer clothes, I get so envious about men's sizes. They are what they are. At least bra sizes haven't changed. I have heard that it is a real problem in bridal salons, even though the brides know their regular size is one size larger in bridal, they just hate the idea that their wedding dress is a size bigger, especially if they needed to work at getting fit. The sizes are also the old fashioned larger sizes in patterns for sewers.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    I find it frustrating. I dont think it should be allowed until they allow vanity sized food measuring cups.

    Like - this is actually 2 cups of pasta, but the measuring cup says 1 cup, so its cool- now 1 = 2 cups... OMFG MY SCIENCE GLAND JUST SHUT DOWN IN REBELLION
  • Rum_Runner
    Rum_Runner Posts: 617 Member
    Guess I might be the odd ball in this thread, but I still pay very close attention to the number on the tag. If its not a number I want...I wont buy it. Stupid - yes I know.... but its my psycho brain and its one thing I can't really let go of right now. Granted I don't pay *as* much attention b/c here lately I fall into a 4 or 6 regardless. This past weekend actually fit into a 2 - so I will fully admit....it made me happy b/c at that store I used to be a solid 6!! So I know I've made progress.

    I do find it frustrating and will admit that, but I still pay too much attention to it. :grumble:
  • treyedwin
    treyedwin Posts: 2
    I really have no say on vanity sizing, being a guy that also has no idea the difference between a 0 and a 0 with a 1 in front of it. ( Not to mention i think everyone else has said their bit on it.) I just wanted to suggest for anyone who is trying to judge their weight loss by sizes, don't. If you're female for sure.

    I've never been really considered overweight but i'm in a leaning phase of my workout regiment and i lost a couple of inches off my waist just by leaning down a bit, but the weight really comes off all over your body, even though you have specific areas where you ahve more. Do your periodic pictures, use the measuring tape on all the main sections of the body and just pick the size of clothing that you used to be closest too untill you narrow it down to what you wanted :P Belt notches are more accurate than clothing size when tracking goals.

    Sorry ladies that you all have to deal with "vanity sizing". Maybe you should start working on that vote to get women's clothing sizing changed :)
  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    OK, I agree it is frustrating as heck unless you always shop at the same 1 store, but even their suppliers change.

    But, even though I know they all fit the same way, I love it when I can buy a pair of 10s and feel like a 10 out of 10 because somedays I need that kind of morale boost. I'm only human.
  • CaptChad75
    CaptChad75 Posts: 115
    I just rip the tag off of my smaller sized levi jeans and sew it onto my bigger pair :-) so according to my jeans I'm a 6'2" 225lb dude in a 34 x 32 relaxed.
  • fcp1234
    fcp1234 Posts: 1,098 Member
    I dont care..

    Clothe sizes mean nothing to me, they dont make sad and they dont make me happy. I can not even tell you what size I am right now
  • punkinkat
    punkinkat Posts: 85 Member
    I find it frustrating. I dont think it should be allowed until they allow vanity sized food measuring cups.

    Like - this is actually 2 cups of pasta, but the measuring cup says 1 cup, so its cool- now 1 = 2 cups... OMFG MY SCIENCE GLAND JUST SHUT DOWN IN REBELLION

    LMAO!! Hear, here!! :laugh:

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