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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to get annoyed about clothing sizes in the UK?

47 replies

alphabite · 06/05/2012 15:12

A weekend of shopping for holiday clothes has left me more than a little pissed off. AIBU to think that clothes should be relatively standard sizes from shop to shop and even within shops themselves? It has taken me twice as long to shop as I am having to try on several different sizes of the same top or the same trousers.

From this weekend I have had all of these things happen (let's say I am a size 8 - I wish!).

In Debenams I tried on a size 8 dress. It was way too small. I fit about 1 boob in it! They didn't have the next size up or the one after that! I tried on a different style dress in a size 8 and it was huge...go figure. Tried the size 6 - perfect and bought it.

In Next I tried on 3 pair of leggins - all size 8. One was a foot too long (no exaggeration and they weren't a long size). 2 fit and I bought them. I tried on 3 pairs of combat trousers. All the same make and style but just different colours as I wanted too which colour looked the best. The white ones were a little tight in size 8 but I bought them as they made my bum look smaller! The black ones were perfect. The red ones were way too tight and I wouldn't even get one bum cheek in! They were definitely a size 8 and not on the wrong hanger because I checked. They were the same trousers as the other ones , just a different colour. Madness.

In Monsoon I tried on a gorgeous dress in a size 8. I was about a foot off being able to zip it up across my back. Tried a different dress and it fit fine. Both monsoon dresses - both size 8.

Clothing needs to be standardised sizes in my opinion. It was infruiating.

OP posts:

allthequeensmen · 06/05/2012 15:14

I have Topshop's 'leigh' ankle grazers in blue, 25w.. fit like a glove so went back to buy the exact same pair in black, couldn't get them over my thighs!

Aribura · 06/05/2012 15:24

I'm a size 8 and 99% of the time I fit into and buy size 8 clothes, apart from in Primark, I have a size 10 dress from there and I believe I have something in size 6. But I'm nothing so fancy as to be able to shop from Monsoon etc so maybe the cheapo stores are more consistent?

Original poster

alphabite · 06/05/2012 15:27

but that is still 3 dress sizes Aribura. I just find it crazy.

OP posts:

kellestar · 06/05/2012 15:36

It drives me loopy, jeans shopping lately and I can fit in 18's in Sainsbury's, 20's in DP/Next/South, Evans 24/26 and I cam't believe how thigh measurements change. Exactly the same jeans in same colour, couldn't get one pair passed my knees , yet the others fitted well but were not a 29 inch leg.

Also, wasn't sure if I have missed something, have leg lengths changed recently, 29 leg used to be Reg, 31 long and 27 short. Found this shopping trip most reg jeans are now 31 and shorts 29.

Nancy66 · 06/05/2012 15:38

what's even more depressing is that you can add about two to three dress sizes to what you would have been 40 years ago.

Today I wear a size 10 - my mum has an original Biba dress from the 60s - size 10 - i can barely get it past my thighs....would be a size 6 by today's standards.

Original poster

alphabite · 06/05/2012 15:39

I agree about leg lengths kellestar. I need short leg lengths but now I end up having to get them taken up too!

OP posts:

catgirl1976 · 06/05/2012 15:41

YANB - its annoying - I now have no idea what size I am (other than it is bigger than I would like)

WhataMistakeaToMakea · 06/05/2012 15:41

H and M are the worst culprits. I think they just throw all the tags in the air, and whatever it sticks to they pin on. Can be anywhere from a 12 - 20 in there!

redexpat · 06/05/2012 15:46

I always take in the size 8,10 and 12. One of them usually fits. Top tip: the more expensive the shop, the smaller the size nuber that you need and they are a bit more standard. Size 10 in Hobbs every time. Not that I can ever afford whatever it is I'm trying on!

exoticfruits · 06/05/2012 15:47

I agree with Nancy- they are much bigger than they used to be. I fit size 10 trousers- I didn't fit them as a teenager when I was much slimmer.

KateSpade · 06/05/2012 15:48

Someone has created a website, if you input your measurements, it will tell you what size you are in each of the high street shops.

I will be back when i can remember the name...

catgirl1976 · 06/05/2012 15:54

How helpful is that! What a great website :)

Do let us know if you remember the name kate

Original poster

alphabite · 06/05/2012 15:58

That does sound like a helpful website but even within shops I still find sizes change so it wouldn't change things for me.

OP posts:

BigHairyGruffalo · 06/05/2012 16:02

Is it:

dressipi.com/ ?

brighthair · 06/05/2012 16:02

I've bought 2 pairs of leggings from Next this week. One full length, fit perfectly, nice high waist. The cropped pair (same size) insanely tight and so low rise I was sporting a builders bum

Thumbwitch · 06/05/2012 16:06

YANBU - it is maddening. I tried on some trousers in M&S last year when I was in the UK, sure that by then I was a size 14 - they fell off me. Even the size 12s were baggy but the size 10 would have been seriously taking the piss (am definitely a size 13-14 in most other shops!)

Mind you, I don't like buying stuff in some shops in Australia because they import from China with Chinese style sizes in them - hence I have to buy a top in XXL to fit ! I mean, I could probably have got away with an XL but they didn't have one and it was lycra so the XXL still fits ok; but a M or L would have been too tight. Don't know if you have any shops that stock cheap Chinese made clothes in the UK yet? Don't remember any from when I was living there though.

confusedpixie · 06/05/2012 16:09

Yanbu, I am a 8-12 depending on shop and style clothes 90% of the time but have found shops where I'm a 16! It's ridiculous.

carabos · 06/05/2012 16:16

I nipped into one of our local " boutiques" to buy a vest yesterday and walked into the middle of a passive/aggressive argument between a customer and the sales staff on this very topic.

The shop stocks sizes xs(8) s(10) m(12) and l(14). This customer's complaint was that the shop needs to tell their manufacturers that they should adjust their sizing so that she can fit into a size m, because although she could squeeze into the size l, she had no intention if buying it. She wanted to point out that they would sell a lot more clothes if the sizes were more flattering . She was doing that manically grinning but on the verge of tears thing and flounced out leaving the door open.

When I got back into the car , DH who had witnessed the flounce from the kerb asked what had happened and made this face when I told him .

Motto of the story - try on until you find the item that fits, and don't assume that will work across a range. Cheap clothes will vary more as quality control isn't so strict, so if you want consistency, true to size/ generous, then go a bit more upmarket.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 06/05/2012 16:32

YANBU. Sizing is a nonsense. I'm a 6 in French Connection, an 8 in a lot of places but quite often a 10 as well.

CharminglyOdd · 06/05/2012 16:45

YANBU. Re: different fits for the same item/size/shop I've had this in H&M (was bulk buying their sleeveless tops for £3.99 for whatever they are) and when I looked more closely I saw that they were made in different countries. IIRC one was Indonesia and the other India, so maybe they have different patterns/settings/cuts in different factories.

It's a consequence of cheap clothing although it seems insane. And I know Monsoon isn't cheap but they do pretty much the same thing with their clothes - it's why I stopped shopping there when I had the money as everything fell apart in the same time as much cheaper clothes.

Bumblefeck · 06/05/2012 16:49

I HATE clothes shopping because nothing is ever the same size. I had to buy a dress for an engagement party recently and apparently I am somewhere between a 12 and a 20!

I could maybe understand "wiggle room" of 1 size either way but 5 sizes?!

hate hate hate it

youarekidding · 06/05/2012 16:55

YANBU. I am a size 12 in what I call proper womans shops (M&S, DP, BHS etc) but will likely be a 14 in supermarkets and sometimes will need a 16 in New Look, Peacocks etc. I do find though the combats etc in supermarkets are loose at a 14 and I cannot do them up in a size 12.

I also agree with the S,M,L etc argument. When an XXL is a 14 equivelent and the average size is 16 there is absolutely no sense to it.

buggyRunner · 06/05/2012 17:37

M&s are huge- bought some trousers size 10 and they are really baggy - i am no smaller than a 10.5 on a good day I now look and try on size 10 but know in all reality that the label may say 10 but it's not a real 10 (as I am still chunky)

Supermarkets are big I'm a 10 easy in them but h&m I range 12-8

It's really not good

catgirl1976 · 06/05/2012 17:38

Oh I hate that

I think Mango have 14 as Large or Extra Large - its a joke

iphoned · 06/05/2012 18:01

I can only wear jeans from Next as they are the only ones that fit me properly. All the other shops have crappy sizes and shapes.

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