To think that vanity sizing has gotten ridiculous?

[Namila]

I recently bought a beautiful, vintage, evening gown for a formal event. The dress is from the '80s. When I saw the dress on the rack (a unique piece since it was second hand) and the label read "size 10", I was disappointed as usually size 10 is way too big for me.

I thought I would still try it on, thinking that perhaps a tailor could work on it and make it fit properly. Imagine my surprise when I realized that not only it was not too big, it was nearly too tight!!

When I shop in "modern" stores I need to buy an 8, and sometimes even a 6. I'd normally swim in a 10! I am short and petite, but definitely not extremely skinny.

AIBU to think that this vanity sizing thing has gotten a bit crazy and the current sizes have nothing to do with the way sizes were even just a couple of decades ago?

There is tons of research around eg parents being unable to accurately perceive that their overweight children are overweight. I would not be surprised if the same thing is at work in adults (yes, I'm a bit fatter than I'd like, but not that fat, I'm still average size).

"not taking on board that they are much larger than their mum thirty years ago"

My mum was born in 1936 is 4 foot 10 and was brought up in poverty in post war Italy.

Cant really use her as a benchmark considering im 5 foot 5 and was brought up in the UK.

So you're rational and able to correctly judge that you're 'a bit tubby', but all the other slightly tubby people aren't clever like you and can't tell that they aren't 'slim and healthy', is that right?

Nettle
You can tell by looking in a mirror that you have developed a bit of a tum or that your arse has got bigger.
If that was the case, how has the obesity epidemic happened ????

I do still have a Principles skirt from 1995 that I wore for my graduation. It says size 10 on the label.

It is definitely more like a 6-8 in today's sizing.

For me though, thank the lord! I'm a 12 but definitely would be a 14/16 in old sizes!!!

Nettle it reminds me a bit of an old Harry Enfield sketch "I am considerably cleverer than you"

Sigh. You really think that people noticing that they have got a bit fatter will immediately cause them to diet and exercise until they reach a healthy weight?

You must know that people overeat for all kinds of reasons. Weight Watchers and Slimming World would quickly be out of business if everybody thought, 'right, my arse has expanded, I'm going to run 5k three times a week and start eating 1500 calories a day' or whatever.

Some people do that, but some people get depressed and eat more. It's not as if this subject hasn't been discussed endlessly.

Yes, Helena, and in this case it's "I am considerably cleverer and slimmer note that I am still average size hence my opinion counts for more than you".

I don't think anyone who is a size 16, the average size in the UK for women, is 'slightly tubby'. I think that person is fat. And if they don't think they are fat, they are deluding themselves. As the NHS says in the stuff I copied and pasted upthread. I would probably take the NHS view over the view that says if you are a 16 you're average and obviously average must be OK. Average isn't OK any more. We are, as a nation, fat. Our average size is fat.

Nettle / Helena
I did weightwatchers - I understand over eating and under eating
but it really comes down to personal responsibility

if people choose not to take it, so be it
but there will be a time when the health system will no longer be able to clean up behind them

Yes, I get that obesity is a bad thing. What I still don't get is why you and some other posters think that 'vanity sizing' is the cause of it!

And no, I don't think that people are going to suddenly run 5K or whatever. I can't run 5K. I am unfit. I'm not approaching this from a point of being perfect. I have my flaws too. But claiming that vanity sizing hasn't really happened and it doesn't matter doesn't help anyone (not you particularly, that was going on upthread).

Nor do I think I am especially clever. Unless that includes being able to read a page of advice on the NHS website and take it in.

Hebenon you are aware it takes two to make a baby so ppl have their fathers genes too.

And, Hebenon, it was you who self-reported as 'slightly tubby'. I don't really care what size you consider tips somebody I to 'slight tubbiness'. What I do care about is that you think that you're one of the elite few with the self-knowledge and rational ability to realise that you are 'slightly tubby', whereas everybody else is just a deluded fat fool.

I don't think vanity sizing is the cause of obesity. But I do think that vanity sizing allows some people to relax into the 'well, I'm average, that's OK' mindset. I do not think this is helpful on a wider level.

"A" not "the"
I'm an average - healthy - size 14
which for any of the 50% of women under 60 inches is untrue

there are multiple factors
Snack foods are the worst
but each needs to be tackled

It's not about size, that's the point! I am slightly fatter than I should be at a size fucking 8 and I don't care if you believe me or not but it is bonkers that me, as a person who is a bit fatter than ideal, can be in a size 8 and even occasionally find them too large!

And I have literally no idea what the father's genes business is about. It makes no sense.

but im a size 14 who has already tackled it Ive come down from a size 28 (30 -32 if vanity sizing is still to be believed)

How would you know that the size 14 woman you see in the street hasnt ALREADY lost loads of weight like i have.

Are the derogatory comments really about "helping" or is there a more insidious reason for them.

OK, well, good for you, Helena. Well done. I really mean that.

Oh God give me strength Heb you were the one posting that women are deluded because they are comparing todays dress size with what their mother used to be .
CHILDREN GET THEIR GENES FROM MORE THAN ONE PARENT. My boobs are a 32HH They were a DD when i was a teenager PRE weight gain. I get them from my DADS mum. My DM is an A cup so they are not from her.

Well done Helena good for you!

And I would not presume to make any comment or really think anything about someone I saw in the street, of whatever size. However, you have a thread like this with people saying vanity sizing hasn't happened etc and I know it has. So I commented. And then it all gets a bit bonkers. I have many friends who are fat. I have literally never commented on their weight or particularly noticed it. It's up to them. I did get sucked into this when I saw people claiming that vanity sizing hadn't really happened and it was all a load of nonsense. It's not. It has happened. I don't think it is a good thing on a wider level than just this thread. That's all.

Thanks. I am convinced that my mum who is 81 is small due to growing up in poverty and having to work the fields at 8 years old.

My godmother who is now 91 was/is even smaller.

Helena
How would you know that the size 14 woman you see in the street hasnt ALREADY lost loads of weight like i have.
But its entirely irrelevant
they are the size they are at that instance
where they came from is neither here nor there
an observer cannot guess
nor should they conflate

BUT
if that size 14 woman is under 5 foot 4 inches
she is likely over weight
so should do something about it

why is that such a shocking concept ?

The mother's dress size thing is nothing to do with genes. It is to do with people comparing themselves to a standard that doesn't exist any more.