to think that most shops use vanity sizing now, and a 10 is really an old 14

[GetOrfMoiiLand]

Are there any shops which use what I would call 'old' sizes.

I remember when a 10 was really small. When I was in my teens and a lot smaller than now, I was a 12 at most. I am now a 10.

My gran (on clearing out her wardrobe) was always a size 12-14 - on trying on some jackets from the 80s which were a 14 they were very tight.

Hardly any shops stocked 8s, and they were tiny. Now every shop stocks 6's, and they are not really that small. My local Asda stocks clothes in a 4.

Shops also vary hugely in their sizes; a TopShop size 14 is the same as a River Island 12 and only a smudge bigger than some 10's. I wish I could go into a shop and pick stuff off a rack

I agree with you 150%

I bought a dress from the next catalogue in 1988, in a size 8.

It needed adjusting.

Today I can still fit in a size 8.

In 1988 I was the following 33-23-33

Today I am not

I agree, Next are the worst for this

I'm not sure I agree. I bought my 10 year-old DD a shirt from H&M that is labelled UK size 8/EUR 34/US 4 and it is too small. She isn't some kind of Amazon and can wear age 11 clothes from H&M or any other shop I can think of. It was in the sale though, possibly because its proportions were off and would fit no-one but a slim orangutan.

Rather than focussing on dress size, which is frankly arbitrary (am anywhere between an 8 and a 14 depending on shop, cut and style), I think it's better to look at sizing comparatively.

That is, the average dress size in the UK, regardless of what that actually means, is a 16. But as over 50% of adult women are obese, the 'sverage' size is clearly quite porky. So I am always to be 2 to 3 dress sizes smaller than average. Whether a 12 today is the same as a 12 in 1972 is irrelevant, as long as I know I'm thinner than the (fat) average.

aim, not am

Todays sizes are up to two sizes bigger. I'm the wrong side of 50 and in my early 30s, at about 8.5 st, I wore size 10s. I am now 4.5 st heavier and a size 16! If we had correct sizing, perhaps some of us would be shamed into doing something about our weight!!

It's ok if you can go into a shop and try but where I really come unstuck is ebay - I should know better by now, but i still end up buying things that just don't fit because the description will just say size 12 and I can easily be a size up or down from that!

I remember the days when models were a size 10 and it was a very very slim size. My room mate at university was very skinny (about 5' 5" and 7 stone) and wore a size 10. This was in the late 1990s.

I had a vintage suit that belonged to my grandmother when I was in 6th form at school (at 5' 7" and weighing 9 stone) - it was a size 14 M&S from the 1970s and I could only just squeeze into it. I am now 3 stone heavier and comfortably in a size 14 most places .

YANBU.

When I was at uni (late 1980s) I weighed about 7 stone and was a size 10. (I'm 5 foot 1). It was really difficult to get size 8 clothes until M&S started doing size 8 short length trousers.

I now weigh 8.5 stone, yet wear a size 8-10 depending where I shop. My boobs are 2 cup sizes bigger and my waist is probably 4 inches bigger yet I can wear the "same" size clothes.

Hmmm.

I would imagine the thing with Marilyn Monroe was that she was an American 16 which is a UK 12 isn't it? I'm a size 10 in Gap but the equivalent US size is a 6.

Maybe we're heading for the American system.

i am not sure i have some clothes from teh 50's that fit perfectly and are a size 10 (or sold as, most are made to measure so have no label), but i am a tightish 12. i think it depends on your shape 50's jackets and coats fit me much better

No, US sizes are larger, so a US size 16 would be a UK size 20. If you look in GAP, they display US and UK sizes, I buy a US size 10 UK size 14.

Marilyn Monroe was an 'old money' size 16 (if she was a size 16 at all). I reckon this would be a modern size 10.

Marilyn Monroe was only a size 14/16 in Some Like It Hot, she was pregnant at the time. she was around a uk size 10 she had a tiny build

But weren't people a bit shorter? I'm 24 and 5ft 9; I have had a few stares from my Nan's mates and sotto voice 'Cor she's tall in' sheeee? How tall Jean? Oooooh my...' Cheers then

I'm a size 12 btw

I was 3cm shorter in the 90s but I think this might be because I was a bit on tip toes when I was measured last year, not that I have actually got taller.

mitchier I. Love. Your. Name.

i think you are wrong. only because i think i am right (even though i may be wrong)

my sentimental miniskirt barely does up around my thigh. i think it has shrunk.

:) thank you! (scared of yours)

I worked in a fashion store when I left school (Chelsea Girl - predecessor of River Island!) and remember the measurements well:

Size 10: 32" Bust, 22" Waist, 34" Hips. I've always worn a Size 14 till recently - back in the day that was a 26" Waist: 4" smaller than the measurement of many Size 10s I sell on eBay now!!

So tell me the measurements for the evil (US) Size Zero?! I think we must have all been starving to death in the 1970s

It's the other way round SusiaX . US sizes are smaller than UK.

Size Zero measurements are...

32-23-34.

So old school size 10 like my jeans would have me believe

Oh bollocks. I wish I hadn't started this thread abd have most of you agree with me. I am all depressed now.

22" waist! That is one of my fucking legs I bet.

Bah.

Yeah... I've always been a size 12, for the last 30 years. Strange that, when I'm now over a stone heavier than I used to be. I even wear some size 10 clothes, and a size 8 skirt .

My mum was always known as big, even as a teenager. Curvy I guess, rather than huge. Anyway, just before I got married, 17 years ago, I tried on her wedding dress - not to wear, just for fun. Couldn't do it up! She probably had been bigger than me on the bust but certainly not on the waist.