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.

You gave up after visiting just 2 shops? And wot... 3 prs of trousers?
Wow, someone who hates shopping more than me.

Sizing just means absolutely nothing these days.

It genuinely isn't possible to say 'I'm a size 10' or whatever, any more.

I don't really even look at the size something claims to be - it tells me zilch - I hold up the clothes and judge, and take two or three consecutive sizes in to try.

Just the way it is!

I currently own clothes ranging from a size 6 and an 'xs' to a size 16.

No rhyme nor reason at all.

Tops marked as a 10 being genuinely smaller than others marked as a 14.

Nuts.

A good few years back I did seasonal work at M & S, on the Per Una section. In my induction I was told that for each garment to pass quality control it could be it within half an inch on each seam of the original measurements. So for example a garment half an inch under on each seam and a garment half an inch over on each seam could have a 2-4 inch difference even though classed as the same size.
Am I as clear as mud 😳

I'm generally a 10 but my last visit to primark I bought a couple of tops in size 16. It's a pain when shops all come up different but just take in a couple of sizes if you're not sure of that particular shop.

I don't think this is a new problem. No strict laws about sizing will ever be brought in. People in denial about their real size will not encourage retailers/clothing manufacturers to be honest or consistent.