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Original poster

To ask do you think a pair of size 12” jeans in River Island in 1991 would be different in actual size from River Island size 12 jeans today ?

56 replies

SizingUpHappily · 22/01/2026 13:43

Nothing much to add than what’s in the title - but I’m grateful for all your responses ! 🙌

Sorry Size 12 - there was no need for the “ !!

OP posts:
TempusFuckit · 22/01/2026 15:04

Funnily enough, I still have a pair of size 12 River Island jeans from about 1995 (in purple velvet haha)

They're a little too small for me and I'm currently fitting into size 10 jeans.

But also - the label says they're a EU size 38, whereas now UK 12s are usually equated to EU size 40.

mcmuffin22 · 22/01/2026 15:01

Many clothes stocked a 10 as their smallest size though, sometimes an 8. Nothing smaller. So everything has sort of shuffled up.

Any vintage stuff I've owned has really tight arm holes. Have arms really got that much bigger or did people love to feel like their circulation was being cut off?

AuntieGrizelda · 22/01/2026 14:57

It's vanity sizing. It feels better to say I'm a size 14 when in the past you would have been a 18
An American size 14 is the equivalent to a British size 18 I believe

HarvestMouseandGoldenCups · 22/01/2026 14:56

Of course they would. I’m currently a size 6-8. I was also a 6-8 when I was 16. I am 9st right now, I was 8st then.

Catwoman8 · 22/01/2026 14:54

Sizing is so inconsistent now across all brands.and shops I have no idea what a true size 12 or 10 looks like anymore. Even at the same retailer, I can be three different clothes sizes, it is so frustrating having to order multiple sizes. I really don't care what the number is anymore, I buy what looks and feels the best.

AuntieGrizelda · 22/01/2026 14:54

Deadringer · 22/01/2026 13:52

I see this a lot on here but I was a size 12 in the 80s/90s, all of my jeans (pepe or levis if its relevant) were sold by waist size and I wore a 30" waist in them.

I wore 30" jeans but in the 70's. They were 30" waist as they were men's fit generally. You couldn't get women's fit then. I was about a size 12 then. The jeans fit my hips but were big-ish on my waist.

Mammut · 22/01/2026 14:49

I have a size 10 Warehouse skirt from the late eighties/early nineties. I can’t get it over my thighs despite being a current size 6/8!!!

Fingalscave · 22/01/2026 14:46

In my teens and 20s (70s and 80s), M&S jeans and trousers size 14 fitted me and I was around 9½ stone. I now find size 12 a bit loose and I'm a stone heavier. I'm still a 14 on top.

5128gap · 22/01/2026 14:42

I know for a fact they are. As I have a few pairs from the early 90s 10s and 12s. The 12 fit OK but the 10 ate extremely tight. My current jeans are 8s and I need a belt.

ExtraOnions · 22/01/2026 14:39

We’ve lost perspective on what a size 12 actually is. If you want real sizing, you need to look at French clothing.

Rainydayinlondon · 22/01/2026 14:29

A size 10 used to be a 34 inch bust, 24 inch waist and 36 inch hips going up two inches per size-

BillieWiper · 22/01/2026 14:29

Yes I think so. I mean jeans are weird af anyway.

I think I have some I bought last year, claiming to be a 25 waist. I measured and it's 30. 😕

I reckon the 90s ones would be like an 8 now.

Blarn · 22/01/2026 14:26

Yes. I have a pair of size 18 St Michael jeans with a 29" waist. They are from about 1990.

DustyMaiden · 22/01/2026 14:25

When I was 18 I was A size 8. When I was 50 I was a size 8 despite gaining 4 stone.

WileyCyrus · 22/01/2026 14:22

I asked ChatGPT this the other day as I have a ten-year old pair of size 12 jeans that I can’t squeeze into, even though I’m now size 12 in most shops. It confirmed there’s a difference of at least half a size between now and ten years ago

FinloCorrin · 22/01/2026 14:00

Deadringer · 22/01/2026 13:52

I see this a lot on here but I was a size 12 in the 80s/90s, all of my jeans (pepe or levis if its relevant) were sold by waist size and I wore a 30" waist in them.

The waistbands sat more on our hips though, as I recall?

I had size 10 trousers in the late 1970s, which would be an 8 now easily, but bought 31/32” inch Levi jeans.

Ghostmartin · 22/01/2026 13:59

Clothes sizes really varied in measurements across brands back then, just as they do now.

It's always been the problem with women's clothes - that the sizes are not standard.

River Island were one of the brands that cut smaller.

bigdecisionaboutwork · 22/01/2026 13:54

I still have my Laura Ashley size 10 debs dress from 1987, I tried it on a few weeks ago the back doesn't even come close to buttoning up.

I've lost a lot of weight in the last 18 months and am in size 10 jeans and skirts at present.

I'd say the dress is the equivalent of a size 8 or even 6 now.

Polyestered · 22/01/2026 13:52

I accidentally bought an old m&s size 12 from Vinted. They just listed it as a size 12, and I didn’t realise how old the item was (maybe 90s?)

it has a 26 in waist.

Deadringer · 22/01/2026 13:52

I see this a lot on here but I was a size 12 in the 80s/90s, all of my jeans (pepe or levis if its relevant) were sold by waist size and I wore a 30" waist in them.

TheToteBagLady · 22/01/2026 13:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
SizingUpHappily · 22/01/2026 13:48

EmeraldShamrock000 · 22/01/2026 13:48

Not much. I have a pair of Jane Norman denim shorts from the 90’s that are a size 8. They still fit on holiday.

I have a vintage size 10 coat from the 60’s. It doesn’t close, I’d say it’s a size 6 at best.

Wow thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
SizingUpHappily · 22/01/2026 13:48

gaggiagirl · 22/01/2026 13:47

I think the 91's would be smaller than todays. That just seems to be the way of sizing today.
However I did try on some river island size 8s that had been in a drawer neglected for 13 years and they fit as they should, they weren't smaller than recently purchased 8s.

Ah thats good

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 22/01/2026 13:48

Not much. I have a pair of Jane Norman denim shorts from the 90’s that are a size 8. They still fit on holiday.

I have a vintage size 10 coat from the 60’s. It doesn’t close, I’d say it’s a size 6 at best.

Original poster
SizingUpHappily · 22/01/2026 13:47

SorrelForbes · 22/01/2026 13:45

Yep! I have some black Miss Selfridge hot pants from 1991. They are labeled a size UK 12. They fit me perfectly now and I'm a small UK 8.

Wow thank you for this info !

I now want to put on some hot pants and make like a member of Legs & Co! I loved watching them as a kid

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