Is Zara sizing really small, or am I fatter than I thought?

[pleasechange]

I'm a 12 on top and 10 bottom half. BUT in Zara, the Medium is really tight and the large just about fits

i'm thinking it's not just me, because they've always run out of Large, with just mediums and small sizes left

Why on earth do they do this? Maybe it doesn't help that I'm big-chested?

[BunnyLebowski]

Oh you're not abnormal. I've had a few experiences where I've ventured into Zara a small 14 and left red faced after failing to squeeze into their large dresses.

Dodgy sizing if you ask me.

[Meglet]

I think they cut small. I used to be dead skinny size 8 and even then I often had to go a size bigger in there. While I'm slim I have broad shoulders and, ahem, athletic thighs .

[pleasechange]

and now I think about it, the Medium jumper I bought for my fairly skinny DH was quite tight on him

[traceybath]

Zara notoriously small sizing.

[traceybath]

Zara notoriously small sizing.

[pleasechange]

I tried on a medium today - just about got the zip closed with a squeeze and held my tummy in. I ended up buying it in the hope that it will make me lose weight for xmas

[SCARYspicemonster]

It's bloody tiny - I am a 12 but with a big bum and boobs and I can't buy anything except for skirts in there. It is designed for the boyish of figure

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Zara comes up incredible small.

Go to M&S or French Connection for a vanity shopping experience. I fit into 8 (M&S) and small (FC) in these shops even though I am 10-12.

[francaghostohollywood]

Zara is on the small side, it's Spanish so smaller sizes. Or so I've been told

[MORgueOSKY]

It is small, I can remember sobbing in there post dd

[GladysFox]

I'm a 12 in most shops but a large in Zara

I find H&M the same - I'm a 14 in there

We british must be chubsters compared to the rest of Europe.

[Pinkjenny]

Agree with GladysFox - I've always (pre-pg) been a size 12 and a L in Zara. The generic sizing, i.e. S, M, L is cut much smaller than the clothes that are sized 10,12 etc.

[pleasechange]

glad it's not just me then!

[Buntytea]

Same over here, am a 10-12 but need a medium in Zara. Although, sometimes I wonder if their clothes are meant to be worn super tight? I once tried a dress on in Zara and thought yuck far too small for me, but then saw a girl wearing it about (in Italy, incidentally) and it also look very tight on her...

[kingbeat23]

Absolutly right Franc - Ive worked in "fashion" retail for years and years and every store is different, basing it on where you get your clothes made in.

I work for a notorious "bargain" fashion store now - and even there, we have size issues. Some size 12 will be a size 12 on everyone and some size 12 will be smaller on others, on account on them being made in India and Bangladesh.....sizes differ all over the world...very odd and very very annoying if you are someone like me, who hates clothes shopping (its something akin to a busmans holiday) and I would rather internet shop any day.

Having said that, I have been looking for a capsule working wardrobe for when I finish my ML. I have looked at what I want and am now preparing to go into a few stores and try on the size 12s and the size 14s (wish I was back into size 10, but hey ho!!!) and see what size i am in each store....pain in the posterior, but then at least i know what size to order from internet sites.

Am glad that I am not the only person to feel like this btw, I felt like an enormous freak when I came out of there!!!

[browntrout]

a member of staff in Zara told me that even their baby clothes are cut very small -I asked her whether that was to make women feel fat right from being 6 months old.... it really is very silly. Can't they just standardise at least a bit.

[kingbeat23]

yes baby clothes included...had a 6 - 9 month dress for my 3 - 6 month baby!!! what a way to get eating disorders started huh???

[tulpe]

Very odd sizing in Zara. I have items from there in XS, S, M & L!! I am a size 8 . Depends largely on cut, I think. Trousers are definitely cut small and always need at least a size if not 2 sizes larger.

[VerityBrulee]

Whenever I buy something from zara, I cut off the size label so it won't depress me

Their trousers are great for ds2 though as he's soooo skinny.

[fluffles]

zara is cut for no boobs ime. medium fits fine in the waist for me but large is too small in the bust (and i'm only a 34DD).

[steaknifethroughtheheart]

I used to live in Spain - there are plenty of ample ladies there too, but they do seem to like their clothes tight.

French and Spanish baby clothes are tiny, but then I found British, especially Tesco and Mothercare, sizes huge on DD.

Interesting about where the clothes are made up affecting the sizing. I would have thought the shops designers would use a standard sizing so it wouldn't matter where things were made.

But yes, Zara tiny with stupidly long leg lengths. Kookai and Mango also tiny.

[poshsinglemum]

Spanish ladies are very slim. grrrr. Hence the small sizing. Lovely shop Zara though.