to wonder why vanity sizing always comes up in a thread about clothing sizes? *lighthearted*

[CoolToned]

I mean sure, the women decades ago were tinier, but that was decades ago?

How does it matter now when I am looking for a dress or a top, surely I won't be given a choice between my current vanity size 14 over the past equivalent size 20thousand?

I was a modern size 20 - 22.

I bought a size 20 coat from the 1960s which was too small for me. Waaaaay too small.

Since last October, I have lost just over 3 stones and I am now a modern size 16. I still qualify as obese.

I can now fit into the coat and do all the buttons up.

I was a size 20, lost 3 stone and now I can fit into a size 20.

Because the thread is (often, maybe usually) asking 'is size NNN fat?'

Back when sizes were last 'industry standard' then clothes size did have some meaning in relation to the range of size/shapes within the population.

Nowadays, after 3 decades of free for all, it means nothing whatsoever.

So vanity sizing gets mentioned to point out that the original question is a bit off.