To think has vanity sizing gone mad?

[nineanimals]

I am 5'7 and weigh 12st 5.

I was in Matalan today to buy some new skinny jeans. I took a size 14 in the changing room to try on - absolutely massive! So I had to go for a size 12!

Sorry but there's no way in hell that someone of my proportions is a size 12!

Same thing happened in Asda. In fact in there even size 12 were loose!!

Madness!

YANBU. I have a lot of my grandmothers clothes. She was a size 12. I'm a 'size 10' and there's no way in hell I could ever get into any of her clothes without losing a few stone. They're all about the same size as a size 8 is today, but with a size 6 waist.

Does it matter what the label says? so long as it fits??

Same here, Tanfastic, size 14 pretty much everywhere. Occasionally 16 on bottoms. Although I never ever ever ever shop in Next. Ever.

In 2013 I lost a fair bit of weight - around 1.5 stone. It was the lightest I'd been since the year 2000 (aged 21/22). But I was still around 2 stone heavier in 2013 than I'd been in 2000.

I no longer fitted my old size 14 clothes so had to go out and buy a new wardrobe.

At my lightest, pre-2000 I was a size 10, and sometimes at a push a size 8. This time around, in 2013, I was absolutely falling out of size 8s and had to go down to size 6.

Even when I was much lighter as a teenager/young adult, I'd never been a size 6. And I was shopping in the same outlets.

How are overweight people supposed to get a true gauge of their weight when stores are pandering to consumers in such a harmful absurd way??

lem I suppose not, but it's frustrating when you go to buy clothes and either have to take 3 different sizes into the changing rooms, or if you order online you can have practically no idea what size to order! Which is a bit of a problem when maternity clothes are barely available in stores these days (thankfully the cut tends to be a bit more forgiving than regular clothes).

Vanity sizing is a thing. As someone on the small size its annoying. Now shops are bringing out 4s because people my size are wearing 6s. (And then people complain loudly that small sizes promotes anorexia... but nobody says stocking size 32 normalises obesity). The sizing debate usually only ever goes one way so thanks OP for saying what Ive long thought that some shops run massive.

I bought a pair of jeans in H&M this morning and found their sizing spot on
Me too! H&M comes up loads on thrse threads but its about the only place i can walk in, check the fabric and pick up an XS/S and know it will fit.

Sometimes i wonder if its their teen/young adukt range where people complain about sizes. I bought my work trousers from that section and had to take a 12. But i just understood that they would fit on the small size because its catering yi the transition from kids to womens

Sorry disagree as I am 5'8 and weigh just under 12 stone but definitely wear 10 in shops that come up small like Reiss and Karen Millen. Reiss is my main shop too. It depends on your build and I would say I am very toned.

As a guide, weight means less when it comes to clothes fitting than measurements and proportions do.

I never base on weight as BMI is rubbish for so many people. This is well known in fitness world too. Though yes it does depend on the shop to an extent.

Yanbu. I often have to ignore the label and simply look at the clothes instead. The one time I tried something on in Next I had to go down two sizes.

I am 5ft 5in and hovering at 11st 8lbs.

I am a size 14 generally.

20 years ago I was under 10st. And a size 12 on a very good day but generally a size 14.

I have some old diesel and firetrap jeans I refuse to throw away. 32 waists. They don't fit. I can get them on but can't fasten them.

My 32 waist jeans bought in the last few years are too big and need a belt.

@amberdilly - 60s and 70s clothing was cut narrower around the hip than 40s 50s and 80s clothing, I presume for the fashion? I wear vintage clothes and am a size 12 in 40s, 10 in 50s, and then can't fit into any standard sizes in 60s and 70s then back to a 10 in 80s clothing. It's a general trend.

That's really interesting. I am petit. Size 8 ASOS jean-25 levis skinnies. On top I am more a 10, but then I hate tight tops.

I have a dress I bought from a market when I was in my teens. It is very early 60's, boned and with a multilayered petticoat, very pretty. The label inside says 10. I can just about still get the zip up but can't breathe or move. I have no waist ( not after 6 kids )

My DP bought me a lovely 50's style skirt for my birthday asked for a 14. I tried it on no chance of doing it Up, swapped to a 16 and squeezed in (and didn't eat !) . When I put it away I held it up to a top shop 12 skirt from about 15 years ago and they were the same waist size.

I'm 5"9 and 12 in skirts and trousers but prefer a 16 in knickers. Can't bear the tiniest bulge knicker elastic.

I'm not sure it's about making the consumer feel good. I think high street stores need to be seen to cover a range of sizes up to, say, 18-20. But in reality they don't want people over a certain actual physical size wearing their clothes, so make all the sizes smaller for that reason.

I don't like these threads. There's always a whiff of stealth boasting and women beating themselves and each other up on them.

Even the name 'vanity sizing' is snidey.

Surely sizes are just averages, based on a shop's targeted demographic?

And cut and body fat distribution are going to have a part to play?

I'm 5ft 7 and a shade over 12 stone. Have been for about fifteen years, with the odd time of being a few pounds over or under.

I'm evenly proportioned, with a small waist.

I am a 14. Always have been. Size 14 clothes fit me. The ones from Topshop are a bit tighter than the ones from M and S, but that's not a surprise, is it?

Size 14 clothes I have from ten years ago fit me.

This just feels like one more stick to beat women with. Moan about variable sizing if you like, but quit with the 'vanity' bollocks. Can you imagine men having this discussion?

I've given up on sizes completely and place no credence in them. I have every size from 12-20 in my wardrobe. I I like something I just bring a few into the changing room and pick the one that looks best. But I am an odd shape - not particularly overweight as such, but I have enormous boobs.

I'm 5ft8, 10st 4lbs and am a consistent size 12. I mostly shop in Topshop and H&M.

We've just had a gorgeous new M&S open. It's HUGE! However, they are not stocking anything under a size 10.

What with high street stores appaling sizing, and others no longer stocking smaller sizes, I'm stuck like a perpetual child shopping the kids range.

I ageee OP. Primark have recently introduced a size 4 and my previously size 6/8 teen fits into the 4. To the PP who asked if it matters so Lon as things fit, yes, it does matter. These teenage girls are under so much pressure already.

Next sizes are rubbish and actually the clothes have gone rapidly downhill too. It used to be my go to especially for work stuff but now their regular length trousers only fit if you wear 6inch heels and at 5'5" I would say I am about average or regular height. Also the waistband is always gapes. Quality is also not what it used to be. No wonder their profits are down.

Farmerswifey
I also venture to the kids section, the shoes in M&S go up to a 6/7 and I have been known to buy M&S kids loafers and pumps for work to save a few pennies

I totally agree!! I'm 8.5 stone and about 5ft 3, I now mostly wear children's clothes, great for the price, not so great for a varied selection for a 45 year old woman! The exception is H&M, totally bonkers, I feel for teens, I actually gave my dd a heads up about it and at aged 14 and a size 8 she wasn't too surprised to discover she was a 14 in there!