To think sizing is all over the place in clothes?

[bumblebee50]

I have been looking for a new pair of jeans. I have put on some weight but thought if I got a pair with a bit of stretch they would be fine - in any event my old jeans still fit. I bought a pair of size 14 stretch skinny jeans from M and Co. I'm 5'8" so although not skinny I didn't think I was really fat. However, when they came not only was there no stretch, I couldn't get them past my thighs. Feeling really fed up - I know I need to lose weight but I'm also menopausal and finding it difficult. Has anyone else had issues with sizing or am I just kidding myself on?

I wouldn't ever buy jeans without trying them on - sizing varies so much from brand to brand or style to style. I tried jeans on in Primark a few months ago and found that the size 10 in one style felt the same as size 6 in a different style.

I have clothes that are less than a year old and cover size 6 to size 12. That number on the label a remarkably uninformative value.

Yanbu. I look at them to gauge whether they will fit me. The size means nothing these days.

Unless it's jeans with waist and length in inches which are pretty spot on.

I have clothes sized 6, 8 and 10 that all fit perfectly. The number on the label means nothing these days.

I wear anything from a 18 to 24

Unless it's jeans with waist and length in inches which are pretty spot on
I have a 24-25 inch waist and the 27 inch All Saints jeans I grabbed in a charity shop recently are a bit tight

When I looked at the jeans they looked tiny and I thought they looked like a 10 maybe but thought if they had lots of stretch I would get them on - sadly not.

I wear anything from a 10 to a 16. Even two pairs of pants in the same shop, that are supposedly the same cut, never fit the same way.

I don't know my size. 12 sometimes, 16 in other brands. Usually M in men's sizes

In jeans I can be anything from a 16 (M&S vanity sizing) to a 20 (Primark skimping on fabric!). Though I'm usually an 18 there's no guarantee, it's a massive pain in the arse and I feel your pain!

I often wonder why women's clothing sizes are in sizes and not centimetres/inches like men's clothes. I've concluded that it's due to the patriarchy. A tangible figure for us to stress about/compare each other.

I'm wearing size 10 on top and a 12 in a skirt right now, and I'm pretty top-heavy. The latest dress I actually bought was an 18. So no, YANBU.

YANBU I'm a 14 mostly but in h&m I am a size 20. I barely look at labels now, I have learnt to try stuff on in the shop rather than just hoping for the best. Annoying when one of my favourite clothing places is online exclusively but I know their sizing is pretty accurate (for me) but I do think it's stupid that there isn't a universal sizing system.

YANBU.
I find sizes in shops are more generous now than they used to be. I always used to be an 8-10, small but not especially petitie. Now i find some shops thr 6-8s are too big.

Makes me realise why some places have brough size 4 in for small petite women (personally find all the uproar about small sizes ridiculous because comments about size 32s are apparently not ok).

Now i just shop where i know the sizes are consistent and the cuts suit my frame.

I bought a pair of jeans in Sainsburys. They fitted perfectly and were really comfy so I went back a week later and bought an identical pair. I could even get them done up! So annoying!

Only took 10 posts till someone mentioned vanity sizing!! Bingo

Agree that this is a feminist issue. Men don't have the inconvenience of having to take 2 or 3 sizes into the changing room as they have no idea what fits.

What I find even worse is that the gap between sizes seems so vast. I haven't bought anything for ages and am getting desperate because I can never do a 12 up and a 14 looks like the 'after' picture in a weight loss commercial so things never fit.

It's crazy. I have jeans in sizes 8 - 14. Several for the same place, same cut different colour. Or bought in a different season.
Then tops. I am big boobed. To not risk buttons flying I have to get a 16 generally. Bit of a pain as I have to take the waist in, bought the usual size massive on the boobs and very tight everywhere else. Really annoying.

I can never do a 12 up and a 14 looks like the 'after' picture in a weight loss commercial so things never fit.

I always have this issue with pants. To get them over my thighs and hips it means they're hanging and really loose on the waist. Same with dresses. I always have loose clothing around the waist. It's so irritating.

yep. I'm currently out to buy new trousers because my size 12 ones are much too big. my other pair of jeans are size 14 and fit perfectly... twats.

Have just discoverd that in Peacocks, I fit into 9 year old girl tops....

Makes me realise why some places have brough size 4 in for small petite women (personally find all the uproar about small sizes ridiculous because comments about size 32s are apparently not ok)
I agree. My Mum was horrified to see a size 6 skirt of mine, because all she thinks is 'size 6, therefore skeletal' without 1. thinking that the size is arbitrary and 2. that a quick look at me will show different!