Astounded by trip to shopping centre today

Harrietta82 · 2025-10-04T19:52:27+00:00

I usually do my shopping online these days, but went shopping with a friend today to a big centre about 30 minutes away from us (I won’t name it incase outing). Is it me, or has the minimum size stocked by the majority of shops gradually increased in recent times? I was asking shop assistants whether they had any size 6 stock and received blank stares half the time! No wonder physical shops seem to be on the way out. Needless to say, I’ll be sticking to online. A pleasant experience aside from that though and lovely to see my friend so it wasn’t a wasted day.

Cherrytree86 · 08/10/2025 12:38

hidinginthebathroomagain · 06/10/2025 16:31

Size 6 and 4 is a child’s body size. Try the kids section.

@hidinginthebathroomagain

no. You are wrong. Size 6 and 4 are both adult
sizes, the smallest adult sizes but adult nonetheless.

MalkinCat · 07/10/2025 21:05

Harrietta82 · 04/10/2025 21:46

Apologies for anyone I’ve offended…I wasn’t expecting to read the digs and I appreciate MN deleting one of the worst comments.

If you are insecure about your weight, then rather than take it out on people online, you could always try to do something about it. Diet, exercise and discipline. Heck, there are even jabs available now!

Hello OP this is where you told people to exercise!! Just incase you forgot

hidinginthebathroomagain · 06/10/2025 16:31

Size 6 and 4 is a child’s body size. Try the kids section.

MJMaude · 06/10/2025 12:00

SpaceRaccoon · 04/10/2025 22:25

In a previous post you were all "oh shucks, genetics" though.

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Quite. The OP is slim because of genetics. Overweight people are not because they lack self discipline. Nice.

Balloonhearts · 06/10/2025 11:39

Purplebunnie · 06/10/2025 10:20

@Balloonhearts we don't have a Yours in fact I've never heard of them. I'll check out the bigger Asda, Sainsburys etc as our locals are small and don't have a big selection

Yours are great. Stock only size 14 and up. Their stuff is also a bit longer than usual which I like as I'm long in the torso.

Purplebunnie · 06/10/2025 10:20

@Balloonhearts we don't have a Yours in fact I've never heard of them. I'll check out the bigger Asda, Sainsburys etc as our locals are small and don't have a big selection

Balloonhearts · 06/10/2025 10:17

Purplebunnie · 06/10/2025 10:14

Where are you finding plenty of 20s 22s please as most of our local shops don't even stock an 18 let alone anything bigger and I need some new tops - thank you

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Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Yours, Choice/Next. Always have lots of bigger sizes in.

Purplebunnie · 06/10/2025 10:14

JohnTheRevelator · 05/10/2025 18:07

Incidentally, has anyone had the problem of having lost a substantial amount of weight,suddenly finding that there is frequently a shortage of their new size? I was a size 24 for years and OMG the problems I had trying to find (nice!) clothes in that size. I was always told the same thing - the large sizes sell out really quickly. All I could find were rail after rail of 14s,16s and 18s. Now, having lost 7.5 stone over the last couple of years,I'm a size 16,occasionally I'm an 18,or even a 14,depending on the brand. And guess what? Size 16s have suddenly become a rarity. Rails of 8s,10s and 12s, and plenty of 20s,22s and 24s. But those 'middle sizes,I am told,'sell out really quickly'. I think we'll,why don't they stock more of these sizes if they KNOW that they go really quickly?!

Where are you finding plenty of 20s 22s please as most of our local shops don't even stock an 18 let alone anything bigger and I need some new tops - thank you

Daftypants · 06/10/2025 09:31

notwavingbutdrowning1 · 04/10/2025 22:33

I’m a size 6 too but I’ve got to say, OP, your post does come across as a bit of a humble brag. I’m not saying you meant it to - although your later post suggesting people lose weight if they have issues is pretty appalling.

I have never had problems finding my size. I shop mainly in Cos, Jigsaw, M&S, AllSaints, Uniqlo, Massimo Dutti. Maybe try those?

I am small only 5’2” so while that’s small it’s hardly out of the ordinary.
I was a smaller dress size about 20- 25 years ago , I was living overseas and when I returned to the UK I found clothes easily enough.
i was probably a UK size 6 and found things in NEXT and in M&S in sizes 6 and 8 were fine on me .

SteakBakesAndHotTakes · 06/10/2025 06:43

This has been the case for over 10 years and yes, it's why I usually stick to online. I don't even try buying bras in store as A-cup is apparently unheard of

Sidebeforeself · 06/10/2025 04:53

How lovely.

DreamTheMoors · 06/10/2025 03:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Sidebeforeself · 06/10/2025 01:30

@DreamTheMoors I wont be apologising .My comment still stands

DreamTheMoors · 05/10/2025 20:21

Sidebeforeself · 04/10/2025 23:25

I suppose all comments on MN are unnecessary. I’ve explained the context of my comment. I think it’s flippant rather than rude but hey ho you can’t please everyone

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If all comments on Mumsnet were “unnecessary,” there wouldn’t be a Mumsnet.
Unless you apologised to @Harrietta82 my comment stands.

JohnTheRevelator · 05/10/2025 18:07

Incidentally, has anyone had the problem of having lost a substantial amount of weight,suddenly finding that there is frequently a shortage of their new size? I was a size 24 for years and OMG the problems I had trying to find (nice!) clothes in that size. I was always told the same thing - the large sizes sell out really quickly. All I could find were rail after rail of 14s,16s and 18s. Now, having lost 7.5 stone over the last couple of years,I'm a size 16,occasionally I'm an 18,or even a 14,depending on the brand. And guess what? Size 16s have suddenly become a rarity. Rails of 8s,10s and 12s, and plenty of 20s,22s and 24s. But those 'middle sizes,I am told,'sell out really quickly'. I think we'll,why don't they stock more of these sizes if they KNOW that they go really quickly?!

JohnTheRevelator · 05/10/2025 17:58

frontwoman001 · 04/10/2025 21:32

You should see the trouble I have finding size minus four. It's all plus sizes these days. Disgraceful.

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😂😂😂

Ddakji · 05/10/2025 17:04

JohnTheRevelator · 05/10/2025 16:53

This would explain why I can now,at 13 stone 6 lbs (5 ft 5 in tall) easily get into a size 16. Many years ago (early 1980s) I was around 9 stone 7 lbs and could usually fit into a size 12,but about 25% of the time,I had to go for a 14. I find it hard to believe that being 4 stone heavier now,I'm only 1 or 2 sizes bigger!

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I’ve been a size 12 at around 2 stone difference in weight, and as a very petite woman that 2 stone shows. It’s madness.

JohnTheRevelator · 05/10/2025 16:53

BatchCookBabe · 05/10/2025 11:50

No no no, you're misunderstanding peoples points... You're still slim at a size 8 (in 2025) of course!!! And well done on the weight loss! But this whole narrative that a size 6 is teeny tiny is wrong. It's not. It's a 25-26" waist. It's slim. Not teeny-tiny.

And yes, vanity sizing is not something some mumsnetters are making up. It is a thing... Pre 21st century, a size 12 was a 25-26" waist, now, a size 12 is a 32-33" waist.

A size 8 was a 22-23" waist, now it's a 28-29" waist.

No-one is calling anyone a heifer. Just stating facts.

This chart illustrates it well. It's from the early-mid 2010s, but it's shows what people are talking about when they talk about vanity sizing.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/a556302/chart-shows-shocking-change-in-clothing-sizes/

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This would explain why I can now,at 13 stone 6 lbs (5 ft 5 in tall) easily get into a size 16. Many years ago (early 1980s) I was around 9 stone 7 lbs and could usually fit into a size 12,but about 25% of the time,I had to go for a 14. I find it hard to believe that being 4 stone heavier now,I'm only 1 or 2 sizes bigger!

JohnTheRevelator · 05/10/2025 16:15

I don't think I've ever seen clothes in a size 6 in a shop.

DrowningInSyrup · 05/10/2025 16:10

PaellaPan · 05/10/2025 09:02

It is the judgement of those who are naturally slim that I object to. Everyone gets up in arms over fat shaming, but it still seems ok to mock those are small. Being a size 6, when you are only 5' or thereabouts isn't skinny or scrawny or any of the other dismissive terms. It is simply in proportion.

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Yes if I was 5' size 6 would be fine, but I'm not. Similarly I wouldn't like to be a size 20. I've not really come across skinny shaming, only concern if people look unhealthily thin. I'm sure it works both ways though.

Gettingbysomehow · 05/10/2025 15:16

Come off it people size 6 is perfectly normal for some people especially if they are short. How is it a humble brag? I know several people that size including my sister and other people who take shoe size 1 and 2 and have to buy kids shoes.
Im 5 foot 5 and when Im 9 stone, a perfectly healthy size for my height I wear a size 8 skirt, my hips and bust are a size larger. It's not unusual. When I was a size 20 I looked like an elephant and had numerous health problems that I no longer have. I'd. Much rather be a size 6 than a 20 any day.

Ddakji · 05/10/2025 14:35

Bababear987 · 05/10/2025 14:26

So you think it's a good thing to be a size 4-6 as an adult woman? Unless you are very very short, I'd personally be blaming bad genetics.

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I was a 6 as an adult woman, back when a 6 meant a 6, not an 8-10 as it does now. 5’2, petite.

blinkblinkblinkblink · 05/10/2025 14:34

Bababear987 · 05/10/2025 14:26

So you think it's a good thing to be a size 4-6 as an adult woman? Unless you are very very short, I'd personally be blaming bad genetics.

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It is a healthy size for many women. Probably women on the shorter side but not very, very short.

Bababear987 · 05/10/2025 14:26

Harrietta82 · 04/10/2025 20:58

Clothing - with the right brand/style I can sometimes get away with a 4 but there was no change of finding that today! The joys of being a teeny size I guess, I’ve got genetics to thank for that!

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So you think it's a good thing to be a size 4-6 as an adult woman? Unless you are very very short, I'd personally be blaming bad genetics.

Peridoteage · 05/10/2025 14:18

And yes, vanity sizing is not something some mumsnetters are making up. It is a thing... Pre 21st century, a size 12 was a 25-26" waist, now, a size 12 is a 32-33" waist.

It's not all about obesity though.

Women are much taller and better nourished, our bones are more robust, we carry more muscle. We need to accept that its ok that we are bigger.

The women of the 50s grew up on rationed food, essentially with not enough to eat. We shouldn't aspire to that physique.