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?

It matters not if it is numbered 10, 20, or 'Gerald' if it fits, it fits.

And your OP did come across as a stealth boast.

Yanbu. It's going to wreck the nations health.

What was a 14 is now a 10 in some shops. Next and M&S I'm looking at you. I'm only slim, not skinny but some of their clothes swamp me.

Vanity sizing would be if you were a size 10 yet fitted into a 6/8 not the other way round!!!!!

I don't think the OP is boasting. I have a pair of size 10 trousers I bought from topshop 10 years ago. I now wear their size 8. I haven't shrunk.

Keep it up, Portia. Take care of yourself and stay strong

I'm so bored of having to explain on these stupid threads that clothing sizes change over time because people do. Would you rather we still used clothing patterns from the 16th century?

Everything gets resized as time goes on, including clothing, beds, houses and furniture. It would be insane not to.

If clothing manufacturers were trying to flatter you into thinking you're thinner and sexier than you are, they wouldn't be swamping us with stupid bell sleeves, cold shoulder tops, skinny jeans and all the other uglifying monstrosities we get.

People get bigger, averages get bigger, sizes get bigger. That's all it is.

(And you're a different size in every store because they're all profiling their customers and basing their average size around that. So stores for slim teenage girls come up smaller and stores for middle aged women come up bigger.)

How short are you OP? Clothes in the 80s were generally cut for an elegant shaped 5 ft 6 size 10, which might explain why it was nearly too tight on you. A size 10 at 5ft 6 is slim, at 5 ft not necessarily the case.

Oh, and if it was a stealth boast, you blew it by purchasing an 80s dress. No matter how thin you are, you're going to look like an electrocuted Christmas tree. The decade of stylish elegance, that was not.

Missing the point a bit Peece

As you say - men (in general) don't talk about clothes sizing, aren't interested in it, don't feel affronted by it.

The term vanity sizing was sparked by women's obsession with size. Which is a symptom of sexism.

Some women on this thread are using the whole issue to undermine other women (whether they admit this to themselves or not). The existence of the very term 'vanity sizing' helps them along.

Why is it seen as a boast to say you're a size 6, 8, 10? For a lot of women that's the size they are, and there is nothing wrong with that.

For those complaining are you also those that say women of these smaller sizes are not 'real women'. This sort of rubbish winds me up.

I don't think it was a stealth boast. Nobody who wants to imply how sexy and good looking they are would admit to buying a dress from the 80s. The sleeves alone will add three stone to any silhouette. There's probably a door in the back to get into the fucker.

Oh, ye old boring stealth boast. You people are giving me nightmares remembering 80s clothes. Gah, I blocked all that out.

Not this subject again.

"I'm so tiny and dainty and cute and anybody wearing more than a current size 6 is FAT, DELUDED and GARGANTUAN, unlike tiny slim me! You're welcome! Byeeeee!"

I Used to buy 12 or 14 in Chelsea Girl in the 80s. Am sure that would be around a 10 in today’s sizes?

I'm amazed how many people bleet on about 'fatty bashing' yet seem to think it's ok to suggest women below a certain size 'aren't real'

I find UK sizing so frustrating. I have every size of trousers from a 16 down to a 10 in my current wardrobe and they all fit. I also have tops from an 18 down to an 8, ditto. I never buy anything online as I wouldn't have a clue what size to order!

Oh and in the 80s I was considered I was fat wearing a size 12. I'm pretty sure this would be a modern size 8. Different times!

Things have to be different sizes- I’m a size 13 so 12 to small 14 to big. Not my fault shops choose odd numbers not evens. So if a size 12 is to big in one shop it may just fit all of us size 13. And not doomed to spend lives in clothes to big or small

I bought a pair of trousers from Benetton the other day. The label, and I shit you not, said IT 40, ES 38, FR 36, DE 34, UK 8. I presume the changes are due to vanity sizing/different average sizes in the respective countries?

I find it so frustrating when the labels are basically just made up numbers that vary wildly from shop to shop. Such a shame that sizing has become so unpredictable just as online shopping is booming! Shops would save a fortune in online returns if they just said how big everything is in actual cm/inches.

Whether or not "vanity" sizing is a thing or not in clothes fro the 80s or before, it certainly hasn't happened in the last 10 years.

Clothes sizes changed after the 1960s because the Pill made a, ahem, big difference to women's shapes. If you look at vintage dressmaking patterns from the 1940s women were practically flat chested.

My mum always boasted that she was a size 12. I tried on one of her dresses last year and almost got broken ribs.

Her dress was from 47 years ago I think.

Ta1kinPeece Tue 03-Oct-17 21:39:30
"Anyhow, what are you suggesting that women who dare to be a size 16 or above wear?
I do not give a stuff what they wear.
So long as they eat less and move more"

And as a teetotal who has never been drunk id quite like drinkers to drink less.

I take a size 16 trouser a Because im carrying excess skin on my stomach from a 10 stone weight loss. im a 14 top 18 if its a blouse (32HH) But i havent got Lisa Rileys money so cant do anything about the loose skin on my tummy.

But as a came down from a size 28 does that mean i actually came down from a size 30 - 32 Because vanity sizing right?

Portia im glad you are better now. These threads piss me off too. Its so lovely being told that i must be bigger than i am despite losing a shedload of weight .....because vanity sizing.

TOTALLY agree with the PPs who say its down to sexism.

I hope none of the eating disorder charities ever want to do a joint campaign with MN One glance at some of these threads and they would soon change their minds.

I only have anecdata to the actual question, that I have some clothes that I have hoardes since the late 90s/early 00s and they still fit me, I haven't dramatically changed shape

But for the conscientious health objector to 'vanity sizing', your argument only works if you genuinely think people are only wobbling around in obese ignorance because they've managed to find clothes in a size they think deems them thin. As if, if you could lower all dress sizes by 4 they'd immediately be shamed into thinness.