List of retailers/companies that do NOT vanity size...

Iwishyouwell
Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.
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Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing
  • kordell70
    kordell70 Posts: 49 Member
    Not sure if by "Vanity Sizes" you mean stores are now says a Size 12 equates to pants with a waist size of x inches and length of x inches. One of the perks of being a man when shopping is that we have the truth in advertising of size. You want pants you measure your waist and inseam. You want a shirt you measure your neck, arm length and if you are particularly big then and only then do you use the 3X, 4X, 5X and use a look up chart for body circumference. In fact the old joke for big men was your waist sizes are 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and then ELASTIC. However, even if you are at some "trendy" store who now does size 1, 2, 3, etc I would just find the chart and match up what it means.

    However, try Casual Male and its other partner stores. They all use the direct measure method. Or if you are already down to size 36 then any regular outlet clothing store will do. Macys, Sears, Kmart, etc
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Are men's clothes sold in sizes? Whenever I buy clothes for my husband the pants are by waist / inseam lenght and most shirts are S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X ...

    I am a woman but I would never boycott a store or manufacturer because of what size the wrote on the tag. If I look good in it and it's reasonably priced, I couldn't care less if it said size 8 or 18 or 58. I can rip that tag out when I get home if I want.
  • sweetpea129
    sweetpea129 Posts: 755 Member
    Well it sure as heck isn't Old Navy. Thats all i can add to the topic LOL.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing

    My thoughts exactly. Only the people you live with (besides yourself) will ever know what size you wear, and they shouldn't care what that number is anyway.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing

    Indeed. For me it's not about whether or not a store vanity sizes, it's about the fact that I can't just go onto any retailer website/ebay/in store rack and pull off "my size" without trying it on. I inevitably have to drag 3 pairs of pants into the dressing room because I don't know if the clothing line runs smallish, mediumish, or largeish. There's such a disparity from one retailer to another that if it wasn't tremendously frustrating it would be laughable. Really, I haven't figured out why they put sizes on anything, at this rate they might as well just throw them haphazardly on a rack and label each one "size: happy hunting."
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    This thread was created in an attempt to get a list going for those of us who like to shop at retailers that have true clothing sizing. Some of us don't enjoy running all over kingdom come, looking through mountains of false clothing sizes trying to find clothes that fit.

    Places that true-size simply give you a more accurate, and far more efficient, shopping experience. Frankly I am surprised anybody would even debate this.

    So moving back to topic, those with experience please do share...
  • ksy1969
    ksy1969 Posts: 700 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing

    Indeed. For me it's not about whether or not a store vanity sizes, it's about the fact that I can't just go onto any retailer website/ebay/in store rack and pull off "my size" without trying it on. I inevitably have to drag 3 pairs of pants into the dressing room because I don't know if the clothing line runs smallish, mediumish, or largeish. There's such a disparity from one retailer to another that if it wasn't tremendously frustrating it would be laughable. Really, I haven't figured out why they put sizes on anything, at this rate they might as well just throw them haphazardly on a rack and label each one "size: happy hunting."

    ^^^^ This ^^^^ I hate the fact I cannot go into a store and just grab a size and know it fits. It drives me "bonkers". Heck, you can't even do it in the same brand and model of pants. It used to be Levi's were pretty reliable but not anymore.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    One of the perks of being a man when shopping is that we have the truth in advertising of size.

    No, actually this is no longer true. For example Old Navy's mens 36 jean routinely measures now at 40-41. There is no "truth in advertising" with menswear anymore, not on any universal scale. We're being lied to right along with the women. Do a google search if you don't believe me.
  • jjohns52
    jjohns52 Posts: 4
    This can be important...and it's not really about "size". I am a woman who has lost 95 pounds and shopping for clothes is a nightmare. There are some stores that do not carry clothes small enough to fit me in anything other than GIRLS and BOYS sizes.

    In most stores, I am anywhere from a 000 to a 2, but some stores don't carry smaller than a 2 and others do, but the because of "vanity sizing" they don't fit.

    I'm not trying to say "see how small I am"...it is truly frustrating.
  • endoftheside
    endoftheside Posts: 568 Member
    For those who think men have it easier because of the inch X inch sizing, those are no longer true numbers either. Have you measured the waist on a pair of men's pants recently? I was puzzled because the pants size that equaled DH's waist were huge on him. Yep, vanity sizing in men's clothing now as well (2+ inches). Target, Kohl's, Walmart, Old Navy all do it to some extent. Unfortunately, he now has to try things on and the lower end stores' sizing sometimes varies in the same style but a different color (though that is likely due to crappy quality control).
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    This thread was created in an attempt to get a list going for those of us who like to shop at retailers that have true clothing sizing. Some of us don't enjoy running all over kingdom come, looking through mountains of false clothing sizes trying to find clothes that fit.

    Places that true-size simply give you a more accurate, and far more efficient, shopping experience. Frankly I am surprised anybody would even debate this.

    So moving back to topic, those with experience please do share...

    Who decides what sizes should be?
  • niricava
    niricava Posts: 89 Member
    Does anyone know which women's stores sell by exact measurements instead of the standard 2,4,6,8...?
    I would much rather buy clothes that way to grab it and know it fits as opposed to finding something that's a small 14 or a large 10... Like someone else said, it doesn't really matter about the size but how it makes you feel; however there's nothing more annoying than trying on tons of clothes and them not fitting because of this irregular sizing.

    I thought all men's stores carried clothes sized by measurements... what a surprise!
  • carlapendergrass
    carlapendergrass Posts: 42 Member
    I am a woman but I would never boycott a store or manufacturer because of what size the wrote on the tag. If I look good in it and it's reasonably priced, I couldn't care less if it said size 8 or 18 or 58. I can rip that tag out when I get home if I want.

    this
  • sheleen302
    sheleen302 Posts: 266 Member
    Did not realize men's clothing was affected by this, too. It has always puzzled me that the only place that vanity sizing is NOT done is in the wedding dress market--which seems counter-intuitive, to me.
  • laylaness
    laylaness Posts: 262 Member
    Does anyone know which women's stores sell by exact measurements instead of the standard 2,4,6,8...?
    I would much rather buy clothes that way to grab it and know it fits as opposed to finding something that's a small 14 or a large 10... Like someone else said, it doesn't really matter about the size but how it makes you feel; however there's nothing more annoying than trying on tons of clothes and them not fitting because of this irregular sizing.

    I thought all men's stores carried clothes sized by measurements... what a surprise!

    SUPPOSEDLY, there is a waist and inseam measurement that correlates to womens sizes.
    12 = 32" waist; 10 = 31" waist, etc. A standard inseam for women is 31"-32", with petite being shorter and tall being longer.

    But the boy and I have found the same issues with mens clothes that I have with womens: the cut and style drastically change the way a size fits your body. He can wear, for example, 34" Levi's 501s, but the 511s force him into a 36".

    ETA: Sorry, OP, it looks like you're stuck trying stuff on. I hate it too.
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    This thread was created in an attempt to get a list going for those of us who like to shop at retailers that have true clothing sizing. Some of us don't enjoy running all over kingdom come, looking through mountains of false clothing sizes trying to find clothes that fit.

    Places that true-size simply give you a more accurate, and far more efficient, shopping experience. Frankly I am surprised anybody would even debate this.

    So moving back to topic, those with experience please do share...

    Who decides what sizes should be?

    I don't think he is talking about small, medium, or large. More as in 31, 32, 33 pants.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing

    ^This
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing

    I care about what size I wear and them being true sizes for the simple fact that I don't enjoy shopping. I don't want to have to try on every pair pf pants from every different store bc I have to worry about a size 31 actually being a size 34 somewhere else, I just want to pop in and get a size 31 waist and leave. Why do we have to make things complicated with vanity sized crap? I noticed this happening last year and was pissed I had to turn around, go back to the store, return, and hit the dressing room to figure out what size I was for their specific store. ****....I hate clothes shopping.
  • BL_Mark
    BL_Mark Posts: 183 Member
    Everything varies... not just pants and shirts. Even my shoe size will vary from brand to brand. I'd say if you have an idea of what you are then start there. I don't think you're going to get a list of places where their sizes are all equal. Too many variables.
  • Brige2269
    Brige2269 Posts: 354 Member
    The sizes are up because so many guys want to wear their pants so damn loose. So guy with a 36 waist can feel like they are wearing a 40. I miss seeing guys in 501s! :flowerforyou:
  • marianb2001
    marianb2001 Posts: 43 Member
    If stores stuck to true sizes I would be able to shop on the internet. That would be awesome.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Yeah, it's incredibly annoying and I really don't care whether my size sounds big. I just want to know what I wear without trying on everything! I don't even care if that's a vanity size, as long as the manufacturer stays consistent.

    I haven't had much luck. With women it seems that the waist-to-hip ratio of pants can just vary too much. I wish their own size charts would work, at least. Apparently they don't always care to make their manufacturing meet their own size charts. It's ridiculous.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    For those who understood the point of the thread, and sympathize with the frustration, I thank you.

    Does anybody have any experience with the more high end stories, like Prada or D&G?

    I know that H&M actually is pretty true to size, but I've never shopped there before and not sure if I want to. Anyone with any experience?

    Also some other countries do have standardized sizing, unlike the US, so for those who are looking to do online shopping (such as myself) keep in mind that you absolutely can research which countries manufacture according to real standards and try and shop from there.
  • laylaness
    laylaness Posts: 262 Member
    H&M is pretty good, actually, if I'm shopping in womens instead of juniors. I do have to size up from my expected size in the juniors department. The mens section might be the same.

    The boy has had good luck at Nordstrom with their store brand, especially the dress shirts. Added bonus: they have wrinkle-free dress shirts that are comfortable and breathable.
  • sunrea_
    sunrea_ Posts: 1
    For those who understood the point of the thread, and sympathize with the frustration, I thank you.

    Does anybody have any experience with the more high end stories, like Prada or D&G?

    I know that H&M actually is pretty true to size, but I've never shopped there before and not sure if I want to. Anyone with any experience?

    Also some other countries do have standardized sizing, unlike the US, so for those who are looking to do online shopping (such as myself) keep in mind that you absolutely can research which countries manufacture according to real standards and try and shop from there.

    When shopping online, UK websites usually run true to size for both men and women. If not, they are generally nice enough to mention it next to the 'size' option with a note about the fit of the clothes.

    Bras are especially horrible in the US and those are supposed to be fitted by measurements! Sizing is so ridiculous. I'm a woman but I seriously dislike shopping for this very reason. I would love to be able to purchase things online but what would be the point considering I might have to send it back because it's too big?

    And to all the guys who suffer from vanity sizes, my husband feels your pain. His size (30) is always vanity sized and a lot of stores don't seem to carry a size down from that.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    Thanks for the H&M and Nordstroms suggestions Lay. I've not been in a Nordstrom's in so long, and it looks like I need to change that very soon.

    Good info Sunrea. I've been thinking about researching a few UK brands. I'm going to be around your husband's pant size when I hit goal. I haven't been close to there in about 10 years, but in that time I am seeing more and more smaller waisted men complaining that they're having trouble finding well fitted pants at retail. That was not a problem even 10 years ago.
  • lighteningjeanne855
    lighteningjeanne855 Posts: 566 Member
    As I go down in size, I'm going to start carrying a measuring tape in my purse.
    I'll use it as I check out things from the racks.

    For online shopping, I'll be sure to measure myself, and then
    check out the sizing charts before I make my order.
  • silken555
    silken555 Posts: 478 Member
    Unfortunately there's no such thing as true size. When I was a teen a size 5 was equivalent to a size 0 today. Sizing varies from company to company and even from style to style. Especially seeing as now there's more specialized clothing types even in run of the mill stores.
  • sbrownallison
    sbrownallison Posts: 314 Member
    Alrighty, I'm at about a 100 lbs lost. I'm closing in on my college weight/size, and will surpass it in the coming months. Right now I'm slipping out of the old 38s and slipping back into the 36s. At goal I should ultimately be around 32/loose 34.

    My mind is turning toward new clothes for the winter and I'm looking to avoid companies with egregious vanity sizing. Yes, if you're not aware, more and more menswear retailers and companies are over inflating our pants sizes too. Yay gender equality. No part of me is looking for a mental fluff job by trying to make me feel thinner than I am; an actual lean body does wonders enough on it's own.

    I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a comprehensive list going for shops, both online and brick n' mortar, that do true, or damn close to true, sizing for those of us not looking to be duped by overinflated sizing.

    I personally, obviously, am looking for places that sell men's clothing. But this also could be a great thread to start documenting true-size shops for women as well.

    Frankly who cares what size waist pants you fit in? Do you like how you look in the mirror, are you healthy? Then who cares about sizing

    Indeed. For me it's not about whether or not a store vanity sizes, it's about the fact that I can't just go onto any retailer website/ebay/in store rack and pull off "my size" without trying it on. I inevitably have to drag 3 pairs of pants into the dressing room because I don't know if the clothing line runs smallish, mediumish, or largeish. There's such a disparity from one retailer to another that if it wasn't tremendously frustrating it would be laughable. Really, I haven't figured out why they put sizes on anything, at this rate they might as well just throw them haphazardly on a rack and label each one "size: happy hunting."

    This. Despite the novelty of being smaller than I've been since grammar school and enjoying being in smaller clothes, I'm really put off by the necessity of trying on three different sizes of pants/shirts to find the right fit. Right now in my closet I have pants in sizes 6, 7, 8, and 10 that I currently wear. I am fascinated, however, with the whole idea of vanity sizing, as I know it exists. My mother was of a very average normal size and she wore a size 12 back in the 50s. Today she would be in a size 6 or 8. I haven't seen many discussions of this in MFP, so perhaps we'll get some interesting replies. Thanks OP for posting this. And good luck shopping.

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