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Original poster

Exhausted by clothes sizes

9 replies

2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps · 14/09/2023 19:16

Im a plus size woman and I'm utterly worn out with the sizing of clothes. I know it's a global issue but do people think its worse in the plus size ranges? Is it a case of companies pandering to pressure to offer these ranges but not actually making any effort or attention to make it actually wearable?

For context, my everyday coat is a size 16. Much of my wardrobe staples are size 16 but currently, Im usually wearing a size 18 in dresses and jeans, as I'm bottom heavy (in the midst of losing some additional holiday weight)

This week, I've been shopping for an event....
I've had a pair of 18 jeans that wouldn't go over my calves.
A size 20 jeans that wouldn't go over my thighs.
A size 20 jeans that are so big on that they gape at the front and back.
I also ordered the same pair of jeans, in different colours (Levis, so not tat). Black pair fits OK and the Blue pair must be at least a size bigger than the label says as they're so baggy.
I've had a size 20 top that gapes everywhere except the sleeves where it was tight enough to cause loss of limb.
A size 16 jacket that was so feckin huge I could have fit an extra person in there.
Every 2nd top I try on/order turns out to be cropped even though its not mentioned in the description. I want a WHOLE top, please!

I'm exhausted by it. I never know what sizes to order and spend my life returning and re-ordering items. Even when I shop in person, I inevitability have to go in and out of changing rooms multiple times, gathering half the shop.

Why is it so hard to standardise women's fashion sizing?

OP posts:
anunlikelyseahorse · 14/09/2023 20:37

I'm a size 20 bottoms and 18 top. I find supermarket jeans in a 20 are fine, some might need a belt after I've worn them few hours and tumble dryer effect has worn off.
Tops, I really like the 'Amazon essentials' range and find xl fits perfectly, But I don't have to be smartly dressed for work (which go by the rule of clean, comfortable and covered).
I find sportswear like trespass, mountain warehouse, regatta etc to be on the small size and I have to go up at least one size and sometimes two, depending on the cut of the garment. (Interestingly I still have an xl Peter storm coat which I purchased over twenty years ago, and it still has plenty of room for layering up underneath, where as now if I got an xl coat, I'd only be able to wear a t.shirt!

redalex261 · 13/12/2023 12:48

Infuriating. I am very short with a big bust and small frame, not fat. Have to try on everything. Manufacturers clearly don’t think women ever move their arms from their sides when wearing a coat! Even non busty skinny tall people can’t lift their arms even slightly without the entire thing riding up.

Bigger sizes - they are just wider but arm width the same on a size 8 and size 18!

As OP said, same item same size label different colour can all be hugely different in the body.

oh, and long boots - the boot stock is the same length and width from 3 to 8 sizing! A moron could tell you a person with size 8 feet is certain to have a much longer lower leg than the size 3. So the size three calf sits much lower down the boot stock. And often this means it is too tight as the calf on the three person is just above the upper ankle on the size 8 person.

Feckers.

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 13/12/2023 12:50

Black jeans are always tighter. It’s something to do with dyeing process.

But yes, I’ve tried the same size dress in different styles in the same shop and widely different sizes fit.

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GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 13/12/2023 12:51

We should have it like mens, all labelled in inches.

Changingplace · 13/12/2023 12:52

I think this is the same across all sizes, I’ve got clothes from a size 12 to a 16, I find buying clothes utterly infuriating.

purplemunkey · 13/12/2023 13:23

Yes, I was going to say black jeans are always smaller/tighter as the fabric has far less give due to the dye. Generally the lighter the colour of the jeans the looser they are IME.

But yes, I find sizing very annoying in general. S/M/L means different things depending on the brand which is annoying enough, but then a size 12 in one brand will be huge and tiny in another. I'd have thought when it's an actual numbered size (12/14/16 etc) that should actually have some universal meaning.

Sleeplessinseattle234 · 13/12/2023 14:21

I have taken to buying the same clothes. If I find something that fits I buy three of them. I don’t order online as that would cost me a fortune to buy different sizes. I hate buying clothes. I’m currently loosing weight. And I have to get smaller stuff soon. Not looking forward to it.

why can we never have pockets! And why do my pjs look like toddler pjs with bears or clouds on it. I’m 48 I don’t want bears on my pjs.

slowwalkofshame · 13/12/2023 14:22

2PintsOfCidernaBagofCrisps · 14/09/2023 19:16

Im a plus size woman and I'm utterly worn out with the sizing of clothes. I know it's a global issue but do people think its worse in the plus size ranges? Is it a case of companies pandering to pressure to offer these ranges but not actually making any effort or attention to make it actually wearable?

For context, my everyday coat is a size 16. Much of my wardrobe staples are size 16 but currently, Im usually wearing a size 18 in dresses and jeans, as I'm bottom heavy (in the midst of losing some additional holiday weight)

This week, I've been shopping for an event....
I've had a pair of 18 jeans that wouldn't go over my calves.
A size 20 jeans that wouldn't go over my thighs.
A size 20 jeans that are so big on that they gape at the front and back.
I also ordered the same pair of jeans, in different colours (Levis, so not tat). Black pair fits OK and the Blue pair must be at least a size bigger than the label says as they're so baggy.
I've had a size 20 top that gapes everywhere except the sleeves where it was tight enough to cause loss of limb.
A size 16 jacket that was so feckin huge I could have fit an extra person in there.
Every 2nd top I try on/order turns out to be cropped even though its not mentioned in the description. I want a WHOLE top, please!

I'm exhausted by it. I never know what sizes to order and spend my life returning and re-ordering items. Even when I shop in person, I inevitability have to go in and out of changing rooms multiple times, gathering half the shop.

Why is it so hard to standardise women's fashion sizing?

For jeans that actually fit the body of an average british woman you have to go to M&S.

user1471517095 · 13/12/2023 14:46

I'm a 16, but have a smallish waist. All my jeans and trousers have to be gathered in with a belt so I have to get longer tops to cover this up. It's like the manufacturer has a size 8 standard pattern and just scales it up. They don't change the cut or Shape at all so clothes end up hanging funny on me.

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