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Original poster

To think clothes sizes have got bigger? And if they have, its doing no one any favours?

124 replies

WhiteTrash · 10/12/2011 19:50

I swear clothes sizes have got bigger. For example a size 14 today was a 16 10-15 years ago?

Ive had to change my diet dramatically recently which has resulted in weight loss. Im the same weight I was 10 years ago but Im buying a size that no way was I buying 10 years ago. A sizd I wore when I was 13-14 and no way on earth am I that skinny. Literally no possible way.

Its not the first time this theory has come up.

I know a lot of women dont have scales and just go by the way their clothes fit which is great, unless they're making sizes bigger!

And if they make them bigger in 10 more years where does it end?

Of course all clothes shop differ (some a lot!) but generally speaking.

OP posts:
drcrab · 10/12/2011 23:15

Absolutely. I was always a size 8, sometimes 10 on the bottom. Have plenty of size 8-10 from m&s. Recently went back to m&s after having had 2 kids and their size 8s were falling off me. The short length (I'm 5ft 3) would need at least 2inch taking up and at least 2 inches in the waist. I tried on a top and it looked like I needed 3 cup size bigger and a bigger waist, longer arms etc. I've given up on m&s.

I ended up getting my trousers from new look - a shop I'd not been in for over 10 years. And their size 8 is still slightly loose. Argh!

Xmasbaby11 · 10/12/2011 23:16

ReallY? Gutted!

lubeybaublely · 10/12/2011 23:16

Yep they have.

When I was a teen 15/16 years ago, to be size ten was THE thing, and an 8 was impossibly tiny.

Topshop brought out a size 6 to gasps that no one could possibly be that small.

Now to be a size 6-8 is THE thing, and sizing goes down to a 4.

I have a pair of my old size 10 jeans from Snob, and they are the same as todays 6 (dorothy perkins anyway)

LetmethinkNO · 10/12/2011 23:17

I can trump you all.
I have a new pair of trousers. Size 2- they fit beautifully.
I have 38 inch hips and weigh 10 stone!

TheSecondComing · 10/12/2011 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

learningtofly · 10/12/2011 23:20

I have three skirts in my wardrobe of a similar style in three different sizes from three different shops, bought over some years - sizes 12, 14 and 16.

The actual waist measurements on all three skirts are pretty identical. Go figure!

deepandcrispandsevenfold · 10/12/2011 23:21

BUT.....
if you put on a skirt/trousers that fitted you last winter, and It still fits you, you know you are ok as you havn't put on weight, well ok that is my test anyway

pinkmagic1 · 10/12/2011 23:21

I always used to buy a size 12-14 in my late teens and early 20's. I have recently lost 3 stones and gone back down to the weight I was back then and in most shops I need a size 10, so yes I would definitely say clothes sizes have got bigger.

TiaMariaandDietCoke · 10/12/2011 23:22

Definately agree - I have noticed this even over the past 5 - 10 years. I was a size 8/10 10 years ago, have put on weight since and am now a small size 8, I even go down to a 6 every now and again.

I really don't like the vanity sizing - I'm a size 10 as far as I'm concerned -and that's just fine - manufacturers pretending that i'm a 6 is utterly pointless!!!

BabyGiraffes · 10/12/2011 23:24

Also agree. I used to be a size 12 and now find size 8 is often too baggy. I haven't changed at all. Just makes it more difficult to shop for me because I have no idea what I should be in different shops...

SherbetDibDab · 10/12/2011 23:26

I'm 5'7", nine stone and wear size 10.

I tried on my mum's size 12 wedding dress, from 1972, doesn't fit me. It's tiny.

Letchlady · 10/12/2011 23:34

Yes, they have and I have proof Grin I have hangers from donkeys years ago which state euro 40 is a size 10 (or whatever as I'm not at home right now so can't check) whereas these days my hanger from the same shop (Dorothy Perkins) says euro 40 size 12.

sprinkles77 · 10/12/2011 23:34

I have 2 m&s jumpers. One is 30+ years old and labeled 14. The other is 5 years old and an 8. The newer one is a little larger. I remember bring 15 and straining to get into a size 12. Now an 8 is fine. I am about a stone lighter now, but that should only be one size.

Haziedoll · 10/12/2011 23:46

Sherbet, 5.7 and 9 stone would mean that you are very slim. If you can't fit into a size 12 dress that would suggest to me that the sizing was a bit out all those years ago.

MyChildDoesntNeedSleepAtXmas · 10/12/2011 23:54

Believe it or not there is actually a British Standard for dress sizes.

Check what size you would have been in 1982 HERE

Nevertooearlyforcake · 11/12/2011 00:04

When I was at school (80s) all my school skirts were second hand and they were all size 12, generally fitted or were a bit tight.

I'm about the same size now as i was there and last week I sent two size 8 Gap skirts (UK 8, US 4) I bought online back as they were too loose. WTF?

I think it's not across the board - the shops that have teenagers as their primary market seem to be smaller but brands like Boden,M&S,Next I'm finding just enormous. OK I'm quite slim (in places) but by no means tiny and to find a size 8 big then you should be.

I've often thought about the Marilyn = size 16 comments. So, now she'd probably be a UK 12 then - as she looks!

A1980 · 11/12/2011 00:14

I haven't actaully noticed this.

When I was 16-22 and about 8.5 stone, I could wear sizes 8-10. That seems right.

When I went up to over 9 stone, a size 10 was snug. That seems right.

When I went up to 9.5 stone I went up to a 12. That seems right.

Now that I am over 10 stone, a size 12 is snug and sometimes i have to take a size 14. That seems right.

I'm 5ft 4ins tall. I've not noticed sizes getting smaller. I'm not overly fat at all and a size 12 is too tight sometimes.

A1980 · 11/12/2011 00:18

Believe it or not there is actually a British Standard for dress sizes. Check what size you would have been in 1982 HERE

In 1982 I would have been a 12 on the top and a 14 on the bottom. That is what I am now.

MyChildDoesntNeedSleepAtXmas · 11/12/2011 00:23

I wish the chart had waist sizes. That would be quite eye-opening IMO.

Waist sizes have BALLOONED.

LittleJennyRobyn · 11/12/2011 01:51

Yes totally agree that clothes are bigger. I am finding it harder to find stuff to fit as i have to keep going down sizes.
A perfect example i bought a pair of next jeans in a charity shop, the label said size six so assumed that they would be ok (have always had trouble finding jeans and trousers to fit)
Only when i wore them were hanging off me and i couldnt figure out why. I knew i hadnt lost weight. So checked out an original sizing chart and a size 6 should be approx 24 inch waist (if i remember correctly), got tape measure out to measure the jeans and they were actually 30 inches!!!

Also have a jacket from Gap...label (US) size 0 so UK size 4 ....that too is about 2 sizes too big.

I dont buy anything now without trying it on as i am no longer sure what size i actually am.

sleepywombat · 11/12/2011 03:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sleepywombat · 11/12/2011 03:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShengdanRoad · 11/12/2011 04:27

How come we don't just start using centimetres, like for men's measurements? Then there'd be none of this confusion.

FellatioNelson · 11/12/2011 05:03

Yes I think you are right to an extent, but it is not all about vanity sizing or being in denial about fatness you know - we have got bigger and taller generally - our frames are broader, our feet are bigger too. But no-one says 'it's a disgrace that so many women wear a 7 shoe these days! ' And how dare they flatter tall people by making trousers longer and hoping the rest of us won't notice!

Doors on very old houses are only about 5' 3" high, and have you ever tried to slip on a pair of Victorian ladies gloves or shoes? They are teeny-tiny! Only a very narrow-footed child could wear them!

The modern sizes currently in use have been around for a very long time, and we would feel very pissed off if every generation or so we were told that we all had to wear a size bigger, when we as individuals hadn't actually got any bigger. That only reflects fatness, not overall bigger proportion and frame.

The main available commercial sizes stocked by most shops (so 8 to 16 or perhaps 18) get adjusted to reflect the average range of requirement, rather than a rigid number of inches. If they didn't do this then all shops would end up being the equivalent of Evans but for tiny, slim, petite people! Needless to say they would not have many customers.

The other factor that will probably affect the OPs experience of shopping is that you probably find you shop differently now than you did ten years ago, and possibly have more money. Typically, high-fashion shops that produce 'throw-away' cheap and cheerful stuff that appeals to the young will skimp on their pattern cutting to get as much out of the cloth as possible, whereas better quality, classic (more expensive) clothes with be more generous with their pattern cutting.

FellatioNelson · 11/12/2011 05:05

(studied fashion design at art college so I knwo this.)