To give M&S the award for the worst case of vanity sizing on the highstreet?!

[ChocolateSantaisthebestkind]

Ordered some clothes for DH's GM, who is in her 90's and slim, but does not like to feel waistbands etc. so DH's Mum (GM lives with DH's parents) asked me to order her size 14 in everything (nightwear, elasticated trousers, cardigans). Anyway, they arrive and DMIL calls me to say can I reorder it all again in a size 10, as what has arrived in size 14, comfortably fits DMIL, who is definitely an 18 in M&S and has 'got a bit spare from Christmas' (her words not mine, and haven't we all!) GMIL usually takes a 14 in other shops and previously in M&S and is not overly skinny, but slim, with an 'overhang' from abdo surgery in her 30's.

AIBU to think that this is ridiculous?

@VinylDetective I was just about to write that your age is now pretty identifying being more than century old😂😂😂

[quote SchrodingersImmigrant]@VinylDetective I was just about to write that your age is now pretty identifying being more than century old😂😂😂[/quote]
I know. My iPad hates me!

@NoOneOwnsTheRainbow

Yeah it's been an issue for a while for those of us who are an 8 because when they make the 8's a size 12, well, there's no size 4 for us to buy. I wish shops would stop pandering to people who are an unhealthy weight.

My sister was a size 10 when she was hospitalised with anorexia. HTH

It must depend on the range, I think the sizing comes up small in jumpers. Namely sleeves too short, body too short

It’s also interesting that half of MN claims to be those sizes yet they’re always the ones left at the end of the sales

I’m in my 20s and shop at retailers targeted towards my demographic, size 6 & size 8 always sell out first. Also if you’re shopping at a retailer that doesn’t accommodate smaller sizes well, it’s no wonder that those sizes aren’t selling through.

My sister was a size 10 when she was hospitalised with anorexia. HTH*

I'm not sure how that's relevant?

Some responses on this thread are weird. Many people are slim. For whatever reason. Many of them are healthy.

Slim people want to wear and discuss clothes that fit them.

But doing so brings out monumental defensiveness.

I'm a size 8 in most shops (I dont shop in M and S) but next clothes can be very random and a size 6 can be too big.
I'm not saying this to say look how tiny I am (I'm bmi 21 but very short so I'm not particularly slim) I was making the point that for people who are that size there isnt anything available in some shops. (When we would have been a size 10 , 30 years ago!)

This thread has depressed me as I'm wearing their jeans in a size 18.

I wear size 12 jeggings from m&s, and size 12 from everywhere else too!

Don't let it worry you tinkywinky, M&S jeans are good.

It's just the usual let's slag off M&S thread.

I love M&S.

@tinkywinkyshandbag

This thread has depressed me as I'm wearing their jeans in a size 18.

In the kindest way possible, this isn’t about you personally so there’s no need to seek offence or feel down about your size. You can easily find jeans that fit you, you’re catered for. However the people on the smaller end of the size range are no longer catered for if the smallest size isn’t true to size, they’re just straight up excluded

"I'm not sure how that's relevant?"

It's relevant because many people on MN will swear over a stack of Bibles that a size 10 is "fat" unless the person is 12 feet tall.

Yep, I'm not skinny but I am short. In most stores I'm a 10 or 12, in M&S I'm an 8 if I'm lucky, XS or 6 . It's a PITA because soon I'll be sized out of their clothes entirely.

I find most brands have a shape or size they design from as much as this is about in inconsistent sizing between brands. Irrespective of size Ive never changed my build and know some brands suit me and some don’t just like some cuts look better than others. It doesn’t bother me.

@ZadieZadie

* My sister was a size 10 when she was hospitalised with anorexia. HTH*

I'm not sure how that's relevant?

Some responses on this thread are weird. Many people are slim. For whatever reason. Many of them are healthy.

Slim people want to wear and discuss clothes that fit them.

But doing so brings out monumental defensiveness.

It's relevant because of the post I quoted. I'll quote it again for you:

"when they make the 8's a size 12, well, there's no size 4 for us to buy. I wish shops would stop pandering to people who are an unhealthy weight"

There's a clear implication there that a size 12 is an unhealthy weight as in unhealthily fat. Many people who are teeny tiny are unhealthy.

The correlation between dress size and health on MN Is repellant and I will call it out whenever I see it.

Agreed. I've just had a right click and collect kerfuffle over some pyjamas that were no way on this earth an actual size 12.

There's a clear implication there that a size 12 is an unhealthy weight as in unhealthily fat. Many people who are teeny tiny are unhealthy.

I might be having some dumb day, but i didn't read it as size 12 is unhealthy. It was justa size the person gave as an example.

There's a clear implication there that a size 12 is an unhealthy weight as in unhealthily fat. Many people who are teeny tiny are unhealthy.

My posts were about people using dress sizes to determine a healthy weight, which I think is foolish.

I’m in my 20s and shop at retailers targeted towards my demographic, size 6 & size 8 always sell out first.

News flash - most MN posters aren’t in their 20s.

@Mousehole10

Yes! They even do it to baby clothes. Why do babies need vanity sizing? Just give us the correct size M&S.

@Mousehole10 but what is the correct sizing?

I work in retail, specifically labelling for clothing - there is no set criteria that all retailers use, it varies wildly, there are at least 4 different sizing ratios that are used, and don’t even get me started on non-European sizing

Baby sizes is something else. One of mine was over 10lbs and gained weight fast, I know someone whose baby was 2 lb. New born stuff was too big for her's too small for mine but they were both actually new born.

I don’t remember it being possible to buy size 6 or 8 years ago. In the 1980s l wore size 12 dresses and skirts with a 25” waist. Sometimes I had size 10 tops/jumpers/cardigans; always size 12 blouses. I had 38” hips which meant l needed size 14 jeans. Always pear shaped. Sizing has changed but body shapes have too. Pear shapes and hour glass figures seemed to be much more common years ago but apple shapes seem to prevail now, even with slim ladies. Waists are generally not as clearly defined these days l find.

Absolutely agree! M&S sizes are

ASDA used to be awful for this..was a 14 everywhere else, and their 10 was baggy..

I find their scarves fit quite well.