Clothing Sizes

Didn't seem like there was a good place to put this, but it follows up on a discussion that I remember being a part of a while ago so I wanted to do so anyways.

So there was a discussion (somewhere, at some point, lol) about our sizes in the US, and how everything is becoming bigger. People will say "well, Marilyn Monroe was a size 14, and she was a real woman!" but in today's sizing she'd be more like a 6 or 8, not what we call a 14.

I've had a few experiences that illuminated just how drastically off our sizing is and I wanted to share it with all of you because I think it is important to realize.

I still have my junior prom dress. I loved that dress; it is a vintage dress and is sophisticated very class, so I've always wanted to wear it again. That's one of my goals. So when I went home to visit family back in August, I went to look at the dress. To my complete and total surprise, it was a size 14! I had no recollection of it being that big. And I thought, well, since I'm a 14 now, why not try it on, see how it goes. And I did. And oh man, that dress did NOT fit me. Could barely get it over my thighs/hips, let alone zipper it! Instead of being disappointed or upset, I was just shocked. How can it be that I wear a size 14 today but can't fit into a size 14 dress that was made 20+ years ago?! (I'm not sure of the time frame). I thought that was just crazy.

Another thing that happened was that I had a friend come visit and stay with me from Australia. We were in the store, in the junior's section, and she wanted to try on some clothes (she's tiny- could probably fit into the children's sizes LOL). But since the sizing is so different, she wasn't sure what to try on. She said she wears a 6/8 in Australia. So I thought, ok, something on the smaller end, try a 5. The 5 was HUGE on her. Her size her is more like a 1/3. Isn't that insane?! :explode:

So I guess I partially wanted to rant about it, partially wanted to illuminate others, and partially wanted to get your opinions. I've always wished that women's sizing was more like men's- you buy pants that are width x length instead of arbitrary numbers that vary from store to store. Even at my largest I was always jealous that my husband could pick up a pair of pants, any brand, any store, even order online, and they would definitely fit, he didn't even have to try them on. Whereas for me, buying a pair of pants takes hours and practically hundreds of pairs. But the industry doesn't seem to think that woman can handle this, or that they can face their honest size. :grumble: So I guess I'm looking for your response- what do you prefer? Could you handle walking into a store and being able to pick up that 50 x 30 pair of pants?

And if anybody has any similar stories, please, feel free to share!