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.

i have a really old H&M suit EUR size 40 which is exactly the same size as their 36 nowadays.

Sizes have definitely changed. I have hangers of old (dorothy Perkins, C&A etc) which clearly state that European 38 was a size 10, but my Laura Ashley top (that I'm currently wearing) is a size 12 and European 38.

But my monsoon clothes are a 40 and a size 12, so that would make a 38 and a size 10. Not sure how generous the 10 is, mind.

Letchlady I became all confused recently about how the comaparison between uk/eu have gone all skewiff

I find sizing so weird but deffo agree about vanity sizing, my size 10 next jeans are mahoosive. I'm small 5'2" and just over 8 stone and in proportion so about a size 10 but M&S knickers are so tight have to buy size 12, then I try on thier size 10 trousers and they're falling off.

I also find that Zara is a good reality check, when I'm a size M or L :o(

I'm a 14 in some Zara

ivykaty44 Ha ha, no, I wish, try doubling that , joking

Didn't realise it was a myth about her size, think its that she was supposedly an american size 12 so thats (I think) a uk 16 but thats nowadays & sizes have obviously changed.

22 inch waist [dreams]

I think Topshop are probably true to size because they cater for skinny teens whereas M&S cater for overweight mums who are in denial about being overweight. (I'm an overweight mum and i shop at M&S!)

But only sometimes!

I have a size 14 Wallis skirt which I wore in the 6th form back in 1978. It measures EXACTLY 13 inches across - ie 26" waist.

1978 sizes:

14 - 36, 26, 38
12 = 34, 24, 36
10 = 32, 22, 24

M&S and Next def vanity sizes. I am an 8. In M&S an 8 is lose. And they don't do a 6.

Whistles though a 10 and its tight but 12 was too big.

More like a size and a half than 2 sizes difference but am not sure about 20 years ago!

it's not the sizings that have changed but the shops you shop in

The difference is one size not two - a current size 10 is an old size 12, no way is it an old size 14

I'm another one who has stayed approx the same weight (apart from pgs) but going down in dress size. I have a vintage size 12 jacket which has a 33 inch bust! I really, really wish that things were sold in inches like men's clothes so we could stop being all coy about dress sizes etc.

yes, I've always been a size 12 - when I was 8 stone and now I'm 9.7!

Yes this is definitely true. I find it really annoying

Agree that M&S have vanity sizing - I tried on a size 8 skirt there last week (the smallest size they had) and it was very big around the waist. My waist is about 28-29in so slim but certainly not tiny and there are lots of people thinner than me.

White Stuff skirts are also massive.

Yes. Is true. Although the breadth of sizes is ridiculous. I have got clothes from size 4 to size 12 (all bought recently). My actual measurements are 30DD, 25, 33 and I'm 5' 4". The size 12 thing I have is a dress and when I tried on the 10 I got properly stuck in it.

I have noticed that in H&M I used to be an 8 and now am a 6 despite not changing shape.

This is why I love Primani size 10 jeans no problem. Then we have oh so trendy Top Shop ha bloody ha with their jeans for people whose body doesnt know to store a cream cake.. Teenagers that have never had to push the arse the size of a small country in to them. Mad they are really not to go a long with the current truth.

Let's bash the petite women shall we? I have had 2 children amazingly enough and sorry, if I prefer to shop in Topshop because their sizes fit my frame and shape.

I don't care if they label it an 8 or an 18 - I just wish they'd bloody be consistent across all the shops. I hate, hate, hate shopping with a passion and would do it all online if I could. But because nothing's ever consistent I begrudgingly have to drag myself round the shops coming up with reasons why it's perfectly acceptable to have a coffee break after every shop. This may be why I overspend without actually purchasing anything.

It's so true, Thingumy. Why do people feel they can say horrible/rude stuff about thin people and it's ok? Implying that we have eating disorders or acting like being bigger is some badge of honour. Or my least favourite phrase of all: real woman. She's a REAL WOMAN ie she is a size 16 plus.

As if being thin means you're not real.

Completely agree sunshineandbooks.
I live abroad and when I'm back in the UK and shopping for clothes, I have no idea of what size I am. I have to collect about 3 different sizes of the same garment to try on and then the same in the next shop ...
I usually give up and end up buying something without trying it on first and turning blue in the face when I put it on at home cause it's so tight, or else it's so big, half the bloody street can get in there with me and trust me, I don't want the neighbours rubbing up against my stretchmarked-to-hell belly. Nor vice versa, I would imagine, come to think of it...

"people whose body doesnt know to store a cream cake", do you know how offensive that is? Topshop fit me fine thank you (although whether I want to wear a lot of it is a different matter) and I recently bought a nice new pair of size 8 black trousers from them a couple of weeks after giving birth. But I must have an eating disorder and not be a real woman.

Forgot to say, OP YANBU. Was too busy being angry.