clothes size

[thenettyprofessor]

Why can't I go to a shop and buy clothes easily. I went into Next today and tried on two pairs of trousers both the same size, one too small and one was too big! H&M actually worse, I gave up shopping, aibu that i am sat here feeling crap. I just wanted some smart trousers for my new job.

It's easy to say forget what's on the label, wear what size looks best.

I'd love if they brought in some kind of universal sizing

I was in a Primark today and the sizing is just bonkers.
I’m usually a 16 and I picked up a dress in a size 18 and it looked about a 12! Then picked up another and I fit into a 14 with room to spare!!

Primark do a size 4ffs!!

Different items are cut differently, are made from more/less elastic material or are just designed to fit differently (tapered/skinny/wide leg etc). I don’t see why you couldn’t try different sizes? If one was too small size up etc? If they don’t have the size order it in?

No need to dwell or feel crap at all. Just try a different store or ask for the help of sales staff for different sizes, or a personal shopper to style you.

It’s dreadful. I honestly have no idea in most shops which sizes to take to the changing rooms anymore.

I used to try on one size in everything, now I usually take 3 sizes in everything I try on, and still I’m not usually satisfied. It’s pathetic joe sizes vary greatly in store too.

All companies have their own size chart too, which is why standard sizes can vary. I find H&M to be very oversized

I agree then we know what would fit nicely, they do it for men. Although in H&M changing room I heard 2 men complain whatever they were trying on didn't fit!
I am just a bit hmmm really wanted normal trousers or thick leggings something practical and they all seemed weird sized, im not small but made me feel inadequate.

DD has 2 pairs of skinny jeans, both from Sainsbury's, both age 10 - 11, 1 dark denim, the other faded denim with applique flowers, the dark pair are slightly tight, the flowery pair are perfect. I'd expect a variation from shop to shop, but not in the same shop!

Yep! It's a pain!

Take kids clothing - M&S and Next offer their sizes so one 9/10 the other 8/9 and 10/11 - makes the whole thing difficult!

Shoes are as bad - some shops I'm a 5 others a 6.5

Next I'm a 10 DP a 12 and others a 14 -

Try Matalan trousers they're a good fit with plenty of elastic in them, so feel like a great fit, wish I'd ordered more

Primark size 4 are great for my 9yo DD who is too tall for children’s clothes, but still tiny.

My 18 year old DSD is a size 4 (and 5 ft).
Why should she have to wear kids clothes?

I find H & M to be the worst. I'm a 12 and couldn't get a size 16 pair of trousers over my hips.

I find if I stick to topshop, asos own brand and primark it tends to be okay.

I'm currently wearing a size 10 skirt from Dorothy Perkins which is a little roomy, a size 14 top from river island which is a little small (and I'm not well endowed!!) and size 12 pants.

In H&M I am usually a 12 but can be anything from an XS to a size 14. Same in RI. Have got size 10, 12 and 14 clothes.

In the supermarkets and Next I'm usually a 10.

It's a minefield!

I sew. It is totally, totally possible to have standardised sizes. The shops just don't - I guess vanity sizing and a lack of care over detail in their initial pattern making is required.

There's actually two aspects to clothes sizing too, which most people do automatically but don't really think about. There's the actual measurement of the clothes, and then there's the "ease" - the space between you and the clothes.

So if you like tight jeans, you get a 12, if you like space, you get a 14. A big baggy jumper can be worn snuggly in a 14 or falling off the shoulder in a 16, depending on the look you want.

So I guess if you think about it in terms of the number on the label denoting the measurements of the clothes, not you, then you can think about ease accordingly instead of looking for the exact size the shop thinks you are?

Clothes sizing is apparently completely arbitrary, both between and within brands/shops.

I own stuff that’s a size 4 and I own stuff that’s a size 12. For any particular shop, I usually know which couple of sizes to try, but in a new shop I’d never bought from before? Who knows?

But also - as people aren't standard then different fits would be better

Not many cater to taller thin kids, same as the larger shorter kids - legs too short arms too short etc

Woman are different shapes and sizes

NExt def come up big. Their size 12 skinny jeans are quite baggy on me and I’m def a big 12 at the moment. However, my size 12 m&s skinnies are feeling tight.
H&M sizing is v random but I’ll usually be a 12 on top in most shops, if baggy I can sometimes get away with a 10. It does depend on fit sometimes too.

DD and I both have the problem of wide shoulders but small busts. Things that measure, say, 36 round the chest might technically 'fit' but have too little width to move an arm.

Short of going back to individual dressmaking by yer friendly family seamstress, I think we just have to try sizes on and ignore the labels!

I've turned round my thinking in this. It's not about the shop(s) telling me what size I am but the numbers on the labels just give me an idea of where to start and it'll be different in different shops.

I prefer things to have a bit more room so always go bigger anyway. Squeezing into a size that doesn't quite fit makes even the £££ clothes look cheap.

Primark do a size 4ffs!!

I'm not getting why that if a ffs thing?

Surely people who wear size 4 need to be able to buy it?

I hate clothes shopping. Really annoying that my partner can order online or walk into a shop and pick up a 34inch waist and it fits him perfect. I have things ranging from size 10 to 16. I have to try every single item On i buy. Wish all shops followed the same size guide.

I've given up even looking at the label nowadays, I look at the garment.

I have jeans and jeggins in mainly size 14. Tops from 12-16. Cardi's mainly in size 18. Yesterday I bought a very 'floaty' dress in unstretchy material and needed a 20 .

I look at the garment, and take 2 sizes into the fitting room. Even then, I don't expect it to neccesarily fit me, one might be too big, one too small, or just not fit in the right places.
People are shaped differently and I accepted that a long time ago. This isn't a new thing, the same thing happened way back in the 70's. OK the sizes were more standardised, but you still often had to try several garments on to find one that fit exactly right.

Maybe the shops think that women like to try on many different clothes in a shop, rather than considering that we might actually have busy lives and cannot spend more than 10 mins in a shop so are less likely to be able to buy anything with the non standard sizes.

Yes, as pp have said women are all different shapes and different shops might make things more for curvy shapes or for slim hipped people. So 'standard' sizing is probably more difficult for women than men? Breast size, hip-waist ratio etc , so much variation