Don't trust clothes sizes!

Lozze
Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
I just went to buy a new crop top as mine has had it. The first one I tried on was a size 18 (just getting into 18 and it was the largest they had!) Didnt fit.

Went to Addias. Tried their highest on and it fits perfectly. The size? 14! I am not a size 14 by any stretch. It's laughable.

They were down from $50 to $15 so I bought two!
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Replies

  • Umeboshi
    Umeboshi Posts: 1,637 Member
    Amen. I have several size XL shirts that fit me perfectly, and some at home that I won't fit into until I lose about 70 more pounds.
  • alisha17m
    alisha17m Posts: 73 Member
    Couldn't agree more! Tried on a size 14 dress in target and it looked awesome *major happy dance* yet I still squeeze into size 20 pants. I have clothes in my wardrobe ranging from 22 to 16 and they all get worn!
  • pumpkinmoccasins
    pumpkinmoccasins Posts: 24
    This is SO true. I normally go for a large top, but sometimes the L is wayyy too tight and I have to bump up to an xl. I have a policy of not shopping at places where their size 16 pants are too tight for my tush, though, because that's just bull.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    This is so true. And I think some stores are making their sizes even SMALLER than before...like the opposite of vanity sizing...simply to annoy me:

    I needed to replace a pair of jeans because they were getting old and torn in the knees. Not because they didn't fit, mind you. I wore them into the store and tried on the exact same size in the exact same brand that I was wearing. Did NOT fit. In fact, even though I had the same measurements and weighed about the same, according to Aeropostale I was no longer a size 6...but rather my @$$ inflated to a size 12 without me even knowing it. My other clothes at home still fit fine and I *know* I couldn't have possibly just stretched everything out that much since some of the clothes I hardly ever wear. I left without buying anything from this particular store and bought from a different store where the sizes were more "normal."
  • kittytrix
    kittytrix Posts: 557 Member
    I have clothesin my closet ranging from 8 up to 16 but I'd say I fall somewhere in the 14-12 range. I stopped paying attention to sizes after a friend of mine who is tiny, had to buy an XL from Forever 21. Forget that!
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    TRUTH.

    Lucky for me, I pretty much buy my shirts exclusively from Woot.

    Pants, on the other hand...
  • Htay88
    Htay88 Posts: 16 Member
    I worked many years in retail and my parents owned a clothing boutique. It was so sad when i couldn't fit into the largest size we had. Then i realized that the vendors we bought our clothing from were asian made. Sure a large to somone who is asian is a lot smaller than your average american large. So i was selling clothes i couldn't even fit into.

    The sucky part is even knowing how different sizes can range (I have anywhere from a medium shirt to a 2x in my closet and they all fit) It still gets you down when you go to try on clothes and the largest size doesn't fit.

    But, I try to remind myself that everyone's body is different. Every brand every style is made different. I like to think of sizes as someone standing there going "hmm that looks like a size 13 slap that on there".
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    I have clothesin my closet ranging from 8 up to 16 but I'd say I fall somewhere in the 14-12 range. I stopped paying attention to sizes after a friend of mine who is tiny, had to buy an XL from Forever 21. Forget that!

    Yeah, I know that feeling. My 35" chest has to buy large and XL shirts from that store too. BUT...if I go to Target, I can get a small.

    And why are my Victoria's Secret undies a small, but my Victoria's Secret jeans are in the medium category, and both fit the same way?
  • redheadlynn
    redheadlynn Posts: 28 Member
    This isn't just at the larger end..it also works at the smaller end, too. Women's clothing should really be standardized by the actual garment measurements or something. At least on sewing patterns, there is some consensus! :/
  • flyawaybyebye
    flyawaybyebye Posts: 250
    If you stick to one brand and one cut of jeans, you can measure your progress with that, but yeah, if you aren't consistent with the style/cut and the brand, there is no way to know what is going on. When I was losing sizes, I stuck to the same brand and style of jeans (Gap Long & Lean) and watched myself shrink down through their sizes. It was helpful to know the changes were at least somewhat more consistent that way.
  • Clarecbear82
    Clarecbear82 Posts: 369 Member
    It's the same here in the UK I tend to be a UK 12 or 14 (think that's 10-12 in the us) but I went into a shop the otherday and even the 10 was too big and there is no way I'm an 8 then in the next shop an size 16 looked so small it would just about fit my 6 yr old its ridiculous
  • andreacord
    andreacord Posts: 928
    I definitely have to agree. I have 6 pairs of jeans from bluenotes, three 27s, two 28s and a 29 .. and two sixes and an eight from american eagle
  • tattooedtwiin
    tattooedtwiin Posts: 246
    I worked many years in retail and my parents owned a clothing boutique. It was so sad when i couldn't fit into the largest size we had. Then i realized that the vendors we bought our clothing from were asian made. Sure a large to somone who is asian is a lot smaller than your average american large. So i was selling clothes i couldn't even fit into.

    The sucky part is even knowing how different sizes can range (I have anywhere from a medium shirt to a 2x in my closet and they all fit) It still gets you down when you go to try on clothes and the largest size doesn't fit.

    But, I try to remind myself that everyone's body is different. Every brand every style is made different. I like to think of sizes as someone standing there going "hmm that looks like a size 13 slap that on there".
    Well said!
  • LoveLiftedMe
    LoveLiftedMe Posts: 23
    Up until a year ago, I had a horrible time finding clothes for work that fit correctly, even from plus-size stores. I'm 5'1" and currently a size 22/24--3X. A friend recommended a 'mainstream' store (rather than plus-size specialty stores), and I now buy their clothes exclusively, via the internet. The store? Macy's. Regardless of the label, the fit of their their clothes have been been true-to-size. Plus, they have decent sales - I've bought dresses ranging from $20 (sale) to $150+, and they all fit the same. Last week, I had to buy three winter coats (London Fog) to replace the crappy ones I bought just the year before at a plus-size store, and they fit perfectly, with plenty of room in the upper arms (I have huge fat biceps that are hard to fit).

    I say all of this to say please don't stop looking for clothing that fits, and don't restrict yourself to just plus-size stores. You'll be surprised! If you have to spend more money on clothes (I do because of my job), Macy's is a good store to buy from via the internet.
  • Kate_UK
    Kate_UK Posts: 1,299 Member
    It's the same here in the UK I tend to be a UK 12 or 14 (think that's 10-12 in the us) but I went into a shop the otherday and even the 10 was too big and there is no way I'm an 8 then in the next shop an size 16 looked so small it would just about fit my 6 yr old its ridiculous

    I'm in the UK too. Last week I went into m&s and tried on a pair of size 14 jeans , they were such a lovely fit I ordered them in the black as well as they didn't have that colour in store. When they came I couldn't do them up! The store assistant said that even though they were the same jean the different colours were made in different countries so the sizing wasn't the same. WTF???
  • gem975
    gem975 Posts: 29
    Hi guys,
    Having just finished a class on this (WOO passed)
    Just thought I'd let you all know that the sizing issue is due to a few different historical events. the first would have to be after the civil war when a company did a survey of a large amount of women and body shapes and came up with a size range that would suit most.. the only problem is that that was back in the 50's..
    obviously women were alot more um.. petite? back then..
    Since then brands have had a go at modifying the sizes to suit their particular 'target' customer. Obviously different brands have different visions on what their ideal customer is which is why there is so much of a fluctuation between one store to the next.
    Hopefully the industry gets its butt into gear and does a new survey, however for now at least you know the WHY's..

    :)
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    the first would have to be after the civil war when a company did a survey of a large amount of women and body shapes and came up with a size range that would suit most.. the only problem is that that was back in the 50's..

    Please tell me you meant to type World War II? :)

    My mum has theorized that it's actully American size 14 (which is Australia size 18) That is a possibly.
  • richx83
    richx83 Posts: 334 Member
    I have this issue too but more worryingly mens clothes are measured in inches. My smallest are a 38 inch waist yet when I was trying some new ones the other day a pair of 42 inch was smaller than them, makes it a real chore buying clothes.
  • darkenedfalling
    darkenedfalling Posts: 26 Member
    God I agree! MOST shops I'm okay in, just a standard 8, although Primark seem to all be tiny and my size 4 friend had to get a 12 once :L Mostly here (UK) there's also the EU sizes in inches? like 32 34 36 attached to each size 8 10 12 here. Some are a size out but some are ridiculous! I'm most definitely an 8 but in one shop a 4 leggings were still miles too big :S sort it out! Also I bought an 8 skirt and measured it (supposedly 34 inches) and it was 39! Lies!
  • kimtpa1417
    kimtpa1417 Posts: 461 Member
    I have this same problem and I think it is worst in jr clothes. I have no jeans that fit really good (inbetween sizes) so I went to 5 stores and everything I tried on ranged from a 16 to a 12. either to big in the butt and legs or way to small in the waist. It is so frustrating. So I went into Walmart for some other things and just happened to try on their most cheapest jeans and they fit nice. Size 13..... Although they are cheap nobody knows but me......:tongue:
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    Different Brands Fit Different. I never go by size. I always try it on. THat is the reason I wear alot of nike cloths because they fit my body great.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    Different Brands Fit Different. I never go by size. I always try it on. THat is the reason I wear alot of nike cloths because they fit my body great.
  • Rjdj3530
    Rjdj3530 Posts: 154
    I wonder sometimes if we are buyng junior sizes and don't realize it. I have this issue as well.
  • janehen12
    janehen12 Posts: 162 Member
    UK here,. The other day I was wearing a size 24 shirt, and size 14 skirt. Cant make sense of that. Thing is the 24 was from a plus sized shop(Evans), and the 14 was from a standard (New Look)
  • thecrossfitter
    thecrossfitter Posts: 424 Member
    I have everything from an x-small to an x-large in my closet and they all fit. Bottoms? I have sizes 4-8 (I'm a leggings kind of girl so I don't have a lot of pants to pull this info from. Oh - my leggings/tights range from small-large).
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    wow i hear ya all, it's so frustrating !!! You don't even know what size to take off the rack to try on in the room anymore. I have been a solid size 9 since i had my son 5 years ago ( before a solid 7/8) last month i went to the states for shopping as i buy all my jeans from gordmans and i always buy a 9. I couldn't even get them up past my hips! I am all the same weight and measurements for the last 5 years, so why now 2 months( from my last shopping spree for jeans) i can't get them up past my hips? sp strange.. then they make you feel so much fatter then you really are :*( I ended up buying a 11 to get them past my hips but now 2 hrs after i wear them they stretch and they are too big around my waist... UGGG!
  • thecrossfitter
    thecrossfitter Posts: 424 Member
    Oh - and when I went to try on wedding dresses, I was in a 10 to 12. That one sort of threw me off. I think it's because I was born with football player shoulders/broad back haha
  • gem975
    gem975 Posts: 29
    the first would have to be after the civil war when a company did a survey of a large amount of women and body shapes and came up with a size range that would suit most.. the only problem is that that was back in the 50's..

    Please tell me you meant to type World War II? :)

    My mum has theorized that it's actully American size 14 (which is Australia size 18) That is a possibly.

    No... I mean the American Civil war.. the government took measurements down for all of its soldiers and created a database to make the contracting of uniforms to factories easier (before this it was all made to measure by tailors)

    After the war another company thought "hey what a great idea! now we can mass produce clothing at a cheaper price, lower labor costs and high turn around due to the machinery being developed.." And did their own database/survey this time on american women..
  • gem975
    gem975 Posts: 29
    the first would have to be after the civil war when a company did a survey of a large amount of women and body shapes and came up with a size range that would suit most.. the only problem is that that was back in the 50's..

    Please tell me you meant to type World War II? :)

    My mum has theorized that it's actully American size 14 (which is Australia size 18) That is a possibly.

    No... I mean the American Civil war.. the government took measurements down for all of its soldiers and created a database to make the contracting of uniforms to factories easier (before this it was all made to measure by tailors)

    After the war another company thought "hey what a great idea! now we can mass produce clothing at a cheaper price, lower labor costs and high turn around due to the machinery being developed.." And did their own database/survey this time on american women..
  • IvoryParchment
    IvoryParchment Posts: 651 Member
    There was an initiative to standardize US women's clothing sizes. It was shot down by retailers. If clothing sizes were standard, online retailers(or discount stores like Filene's basement that avoided "shrinkage" by not providing dressing rooms) would have a much easier time competing with traditional stores. They want you to be forced to try on every damn item before you buy.

    They know men want to come into the store, pick up a plastic bag with a shirt in it, and walk out. They wouldn't dare make them try on clothes.
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