AIBU to be completely bewildered by women’s clothing sizes these days?

54 replies

Highlandschmiland · 16/08/2026 20:19

May be I’m just overthinking it all but how on earth do they size clothes these days? I’m 5’9 and around 12 and a half stone. Perpetually a size 16, forever, doesn’t matter if I’m much heavier or lighter that’s my size. How then, do I see people who clearly have a bigger waist or bust that are size 12s? This confuses me so much. I’ve just seen an ad model was 5’7 and 215lb wearing a size 14- this model is 2 inches shorter and just shy of 3 stone heavier than me, yet a dress size smaller. It does not make sense.
AIBU to be completely bewildered by sizing when it comes to height and weight?

OP posts:

SilenceInside · 16/08/2026 21:58

It’s because dress sizes are not standard. Never have been. Clothes shops will have their own internal inconsistencies too. Then there’s the “oversized” concept which adds to the complexity as people may wear something intended to be oversized in a more fitted way.

If you got the dress in the size the model you saw was wearing and tried it on yourself you may find that it’s far too big for you. I’d want to see the actual measurements of the garment and then compare to my actual body measurements. I’m sure you’d see that the model you saw is not actually a size smaller than you when looking at body measurements.

Beer3000 · 16/08/2026 21:53

I always find it interesting on the threads where people post their height and weight with dress size - there is such a wild array of differences in the same size.

Partly, I suspect, for the same reason you are "always a 16". You always wear a 16. But probably, you would sometime look fine in a 14, or an 18. There is not that much difference, and styles can be skin tight or oversized. There is so much variation between shops also. It's a pretty meaningless label.

AtlasCedar · 16/08/2026 21:36

They don’t. I can pick up the same sized same item in a shop and one will be bigger than the other. Everything is made in fast speed factories and sweat shops so they don’t actually come out consistent in sizing and there is no overall sizing chart.

However generally they are based on just 3 measurements (loosely) waist, bust, hips. That’s it. So if they carry more on their legs or arms then they could fit smaller.

worldshottestmom · 16/08/2026 21:21

I don't understand it at all. It seems different shops have different sizings, too. Much like you, no matter how much weight I gain or lose throughout my life, I have remained a size 6. 4 is too small, 8 is too big, everytime.

I ordered a skirt from UO (brand being Silence + Noise), and it was so big it slid down to my hips. I ordered a similar skirt from Zara, and couldn't get it on.

The model on the Zara website for the skirt was taller than me and bigger than me, wearing a 6 and it fit her fine. Happens all the time, why can there not be one universal measurement for these sizes, that brands actually stick to. I'm sick of returning stuff 🙄

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