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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that deeming a size 12 to be "LARGE" is rather insulting?

93 replies

ShirakawaKaede · 11/12/2013 17:12

Was looking at dresses for DH to buy me for xmas. Found one I liked, chose my size: "UK Size 12 - LARGE". And just thought, 'Well, fuck you, then!'

Size 12 is not large, fashion-twats. Could they not just have put 'size 12'? Did they HAVE to add the extra shame?

Perhaps I am more sensitive about this than most as I was anorexic. I finally started eating normally & put on more weight than I had lost. I completely lost my confidence even to go out, see friends, attend college etc. It took YEARS to rebuild it.

And then you see this bullshit.

OP posts:

LambinsideaDuckinsideaTrout · 11/12/2013 17:15

I wouldn't think a 12 is large (i'm a 12)

6-8 small
10-12 medium
14-16 large

That's how I see them anyway.

LambinsideaDuckinsideaTrout · 11/12/2013 17:16

I missed out larger sizes, but generally for small medium and large this is how I imagine them to be sized or have experienced them to be sized when shopping.

CoffeeTea103 · 11/12/2013 17:19

I agree with lamb. That's usually what I see when shopping.

MamaBear17 · 11/12/2013 17:20

It is complete bullshit though. A size 8 is considered small. Therefore there isn't actually that much difference between a small and a large! My waist is a size 8 and my hips a 12. Im slim, healthy and happy as I am. I can only wear a-line dresses and look daft in fashion clothes but I won't let stupid clothes shops make me feel bad about myself. It is the clothes that are stupid, not me! This has become my mantra after struggling with ed for ten years. Then I had a daughter, and there is no way I am going to ever let her hear me say anything negative about my weight or body ever. Spend your money somewhere that deserves your custom.

MyMILisfromHELL · 11/12/2013 17:20

Yanbu. Size 12 is medium, not large. Although, I'm a size 12, 6ft & feeling like a hippo at the mo

tracypenisbeaker · 11/12/2013 17:21

I'd say 12 is a medium.

Mim78 · 11/12/2013 17:23

I think zara large equates to a 12. Don't think it's good though

CooEeeEldridge · 11/12/2013 17:26

Sometimes shops do a 8-10 is small 12-14 is large and no other sizes, could it have been that.

I also ordered tshirts for a hen do recently and they were those brackets with 16-18 then being XL.

Chattymummyhere · 11/12/2013 17:27

12 is a medium so they have it wrong, 14+ is considered large/xlarge etc

Bigbrassband · 11/12/2013 17:28

Try buying Korean clothing from Ebay if you want a demoralising experience!

12 is XL usually! The clothes are quite nice though, just cut the label out

Original poster

ShirakawaKaede · 11/12/2013 17:33

Thing is, it's not a case of them making a mistake, you look at some labels (as opposed to most highstreet shops)and apart from being disgustingly overpriced, they all do this. Most do not go over size 14, some don't go beyond 12.

In other words, size 8 = what you should be, size 10 = acceptable, size 12 = you need to lose weight, size 14 = you're lucky we even make your size size 16 & over = piss off, fat bird.

I hate the fashion industry.

OP posts:

FitzgeraldProtagonist · 11/12/2013 17:34

Depends where you shop. Paris/Milan (as if, those days are gone) 12 is large. M&S, 12 is micro being.

Anyhow. Am happy enough being 'thin for M&S' and don't beat self up about being 'fat for couture'.

Original poster

ShirakawaKaede · 11/12/2013 17:36

Couture? I was talking about discounted asos!

OP posts:

FitzgeraldProtagonist · 11/12/2013 17:37

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/12/2013 17:51

Large isn't, or shouldn't be, a heinous insult

GobblersKnob · 11/12/2013 17:55

I can't see that it matters, I don't understand the obsession with what the label says, even if it is a 12 it could be a 10 or an 8 or a 14 or a 16, depending on where you are shopping.

I am a 12 and happily buy things from H&M etc in a 20 or a 22, because I like the fit.

The size given in a label does not define you.

ProfondoRosso · 11/12/2013 18:06

I hate the blinking fashion industry too. I had an eating disorder when I was in my teens and, as you'll know OP, it takes a lot of work and time for those niggling feelings of not-thin-enough to ease off. All the bloody women in my family have had eating disorders. I'm a 14 these days and happy with that, but I know my mum still has her demons and balks at the idea of me in size 14 clothes.

And sadly, I'm waiting for the usual arguments to start on this thread about whether or not it's OK to be happy being a bit overweight or whether you MUST get down to a certain ideal weight to be healthy and responsible. I don't know - when intense focus on weight and food fucked with your mental health for a long time, it's difficult not to feel grateful for not having to think about them in terms of inadequacy and guilt. And you do feel you have to think about them that way, because it's an illness, an addiction, something which becomes more powerful than you.

Just to add to the fun, I read on the Grazia website yesterday that Mango is bringing out a plus size range and it starts at SIZE 12. FFS.

As Fanjo says, 'large' shouldn't be an insult. I have rather large boobs and they are really quite nice!

Moreisnnogedag · 11/12/2013 18:12

I can't remember which store it was now and asked if they had a size 12 trousers. The woman looked me up and down and informed me they didn't do plus sizes. Size 12!

Having said that, the label they give is arbitrary. Each dept store labels identical dimensions differently. I sew clothes and am an 14/16 usually whereas in stores an 8 or 10.

3asAbird · 11/12/2013 18:13

asos is blooming weird.brought size 10dress ould not even get it on its more like a size 6.

Primarks odd sizig too as no 2of same size is actually the same.

i can fit into a next 8 but not a topshop/miss selfridge 8 so every brands different.

average size in uk is 16 so 12 not large.

AmberLeaf · 11/12/2013 18:15

Bigbrassband, I was going to mention chinese ebayers!

Original poster

ShirakawaKaede · 11/12/2013 18:15

It was actually a Mango dress, as well. I'm a 34E. Good sometimes, but sportsbras & the inevitable "what big 'lungs' you've got" are a pita. And stuff doesn't fit properly. Ugh.

I don't think labelling 12 as large encourages responsible or healthy dieting, only the despair that leads to starving yourself/eating everything in sight.

OP posts:

samandi · 11/12/2013 18:15

I agree that 12 is a medium, but I don't think large = insult, as other posters have pointed out, either.

I just wish shops would be consistent with their sizing. Well, that's not all I wish but it would be a start.

Pinupgirl · 11/12/2013 18:18

This is why I do the vast majority of my shopping online and from vintage/repo companies as they will usually give exact bust/waist/hip measurements.

I have a few dresses from Vivien of Holloway-she cuts to vintage measurements so I am a size 20 in her dresses but a 16 on the high street. Does'nt bother me one jot but then I don't buy into the having to be a certain size to be attractive.

ServicePlease · 11/12/2013 18:19

I am 'overweight' bmi if I am wearing an m&s 12.

I don't think it is huge but for a higher end fashion label I can imagine it would be large on their spectrum.

ErrolTheDragon · 11/12/2013 18:22

If I had to label clothes as 'large' etc I'd say:

6-8 XS
10-12 S
14-16 M

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