Clothes must be made bigger now?

Vanity sizing. Depending on the brand, they may be a labeled a few sizes smaller than other brands, or a whole lot. And as companies try to out compete each other for customers, they vanity size more and more, so yes, its a fair bet that clothes are made bigger than 10 years ago. How much smaller, I can't really tell you, I don't think there's a schedule for that....

Fun fact, when she was alive, Marilyn Monroe was a size 16, in the 90's, her measurements would have equaled a 12, and now, depending on the brand, someone with her measurements would fit between a 6 and a 10.

I was trying to find the news our local newspaper ran about how designers are now starting to change clothing sizes to keep up with society. Size 10s are now 12s, 12s are now 14s. They claim that it's to keep up with obese Americans. I'll keep trying to find the story and post it here if I do.

On a lighter note, I would love to be your size. Congrats on the super shrinkage!

Clothes sizes drive me nuts! Around 20 years ago when I was a student I had a pair of jeans that were labelled up as a UK14, but they fit the same as a current UK 12. I own UK 8s and 10s that fit although according to the tape measure my jeans size should definitely still be a 12. I for one would like to see these stupid size labels abolished and all clothes labelled up with the bust, waist and hip measurements in inches or centimetres that they will ACTUALLY fit, I would love to be able to buy something without trying it on and know that the label isn't going to mislead me about the dimensions!

I really wish it was as easy as walking into a shop, picking up something in my size and knowing it's going to fit! At the minute I'm wearing anything from a UK size 10 to a UK 14! And sometimes the 14 is still tight on me!

I recently got measured for a bridesmaids dress, and my measurements had me placed as a perfect size 12, but when I tried the 12 on I couldn't move in it, but the 14 was perfect... that could have been a slight disaster, and even the most amazing pair of sucky-in-pants would have got the zip up on that dress!

It's always really annoying but sizes are not consistent, even within the same store! My advice, don't pay any attention to the sizes. If have to buy a bigger size but it fits then great. If you have to buy a smaller size then be happy about it but don't take it to heart too much either way. The best way to see progress is to see how your old clothes fit you, not necesssarily what size they are!

Sizing is insane now. I needed new workout shorts so we went to a sports store, I grabbed my usual medium and my husband said that they were way too big for me. I checked to see if it was an XL on a M hanger, but the tag inside said M. He grabbed an XS and held them up and said that was my size. Sure enough, they fit. At 144, I'm not an XS.

I wonder what people who are 100 lbs soaking wet wear for yoga shorts because the XS would fall off of them!

My mother always jokes that she can tell the sizes have changed because she's still a size eight when that's the size she was 20+ ago.

Although it looks to me like you've lost a nice amount of weight to be plunging down the sizes so fast. Enjoy that

Congratulations, on your amazing weight loss!

OK.. So as everyone said.. sizes in clothes has changed some.. but honey you did ALOT of that and you should be super proud that your hard work is paying off. CONGRATS!!!!

I think you're just a skinny minnie now. ENJOY IT!!!! WOOOOO HOOOO!

I know what you mean. I have pants anywhere from 6 to 10 that all fit about the same. Shirts I can wear small to large depending on the shirt. Very frustrating to shop.

Sizes are larger now, AND stores don't carry the smaller sizes at all!

I'm having serious, serious problems buying clothes these days. Most of the stores around where I live do not carry anything smaller than a size four. Which of course, isn't really a size four, because it is vanity sized. So someone who is a size two? Sorry, no pants for you. >.<

I never realized this would end up being such a big issue. I've decided to try ordering online-- I found a site that actually provides measurements for their clothing, so I'm hoping I'll be able to get things that actually fit me. It is going to cost more than Target, Kohl's or Fred Meyer's would have, but I don't have much choice.

I think they are bigger. I wear a size 2. When I was in high school I wore a size 4, and I'm slightly heavier than I was then...not to mention that a high school girl should be naturally slimmer than a 35 year old woman due to muscle mass differences and expanding hips! Yeah...I definitely think clothes have gotten bigger.

I also do a lot of thrift store/vintage shopping. And when I buy old clothes, I am 2 or 3 sizes larger. In a dress from the 50s or 60s I am a size 6! So, when people ask me what size I am, I look them in the eye and say, "I'm a true size 6." But I can wear anything from a 2 on up due to crazy vanity sizing!

Sizing is insane now. I needed new workout shorts so we went to a sports store, I grabbed my usual medium and my husband said that they were way too big for me. I checked to see if it was an XL on a M hanger, but the tag inside said M. He grabbed an XS and held them up and said that was my size. Sure enough, they fit. At 144, I'm not an XS.

I wonder what people who are 100 lbs soaking wet wear for yoga shorts because the XS would fall off of them!

Special Order! When I was thin, I had to order half of my clothes online because my sizes weren't carried locally.

I remember a time when really big people had to order their clothes because their sizes weren't carried. Times sure have changed!

So, I figure the only reasonable explanation is that clothes must be made bigger than they were 10 years ago. I really don't buy clothes that often, because it is usually torture. Please help me out. Anyone that has bought clothes in the last couple of years, are they bigger now? Or am I losing my mind. Is it possible that I might enjoy buying clothes now?

I am 5' 5 1/2" tall and weigh today 138 pounds. I went through the same mind game as you! Overjoyed and disbelieving! Isn't it great? = D Okay, granted, there MIGHT be some vanity sizing from 30 or more years ago and certainly from the 50's and 60's. But lets ask the question the REAL way? How many of you have actually saved your clothes from decades ago only to fit back into them? Anyone? That's the only way to really tell. Okay, I did. I actually SAVED some old clothes from 15 years ago and I have my very first pair of Levi's 501 button fly cutoffs that I wore in 8th grade and 9th grade and I am 54 now. Those actually hang on me compared to me squeezing into them back then. I'd say when I was 13 and 14 I had a much more athletic body just because of regular PE at school and riding my bike or walking a either half a mile or a mile to school every day each way not to mention riding my bike to my friends houses or to go to the store or do anything. I weigh less now, but lets face it age and gravity after weight gain and loss are not my friends. But the cutoffs swim on me.

I saved a pair of size 12 Wranglers (not stretchy) when I briefly weighed 135 (not exercising) from 15 years ago. Wranglers were always the smallest jeans for me. That and Levi's that I could never wear as an adult. Judging on how they fit my right this minute, I'd say the Wranglers were 2 sizes too big as I wore them skin tight back then. I also have a pair of size 12 baggy Lee high waisted shorts from 20 years ago that have at least 2 inches in the waist. I saved a Jessica McClintock evening dress which is form fitting around the hips size 10 from 15 years ago and it is big on me now.

I also wear a size 4 in slacks, a size 6 in Levi's 512 (I think that is the number), and just bought 3 cocktail dresses just before Christmas all on the same day in sizes 4, 6, & 8 , but I think I typically wear a 6 after all the try ons. I got a size xs in a Michael Kors bomber type jacket that has lots of tummy and boob room but the sleeves are a little short when I stretch out my arms in front of me. I have heavy legs but lost the "pear" and hips so still wearing medium stretch pants, but tops are small or medium (broad shoulders), and I'd wear a small belt. Also lost half a shoe size back to my normal 8 to 8 1/2 depending on how wide they are for my wide feet.

Whatever the answer is NOBODY can take away from you how fantastic you look, what a marvelous job you have done losing 100 pounds! I am teetering at 70 pounds lost. Just sorry I had to gain it in the first place when being accountable for food now and doing moderate exercise is NOT that much to ask.

So who cares what the numbers are, enjoy your pretty new clothes everyone! It is okay if we are secretly impressed with ourselves! = D Take us off the statistics about Americans being whatever percent obese because we are now "normal"!

Good work!