To say vanity sizes should be rolled back?

[amoreoamicizia]

I bought some vintage St. Michael shorts this weekend in a size 12 which fitted me perfectly. In current sizes I'm an 8 or sometimes- incredibly- a 6 (looking at you, Boden).

As flattering as it is to think of myself as a size 8, it's simply not the truth or a reflection of reality. A small size 12 does seem about right, as that was my size as a slim-ish teenager in the 90s.

Who is this vanity sizing really helping? Who does it serve? Isn't it about time clothing manufacturers were held to account and forced to roll back sizes to what they were in the early 00s, at least?

Maybe online retailers should have to provide laid flat photos with a tape measure? The problem is not knowing when you're buying online. It could be done so simply.

My DD has a bmi of 22, she's 5' 7" and wears an M&S size 12. Are we suggesting a bmi of 22 is pretty big?
Mumsnet astounds me sometimes.

I was also a small 12 in the 90s and normally wear a size 10 now, even though I am bigger than I was then (despite my best attempts to hold back the years - but there's only so much that healthy eating and the gym can achieve against bloody menopausal changes). I think shoe sizes have changed too. I don't think it matters much in the greater scheme of things, but it does make online shopping a challenge when you've no idea if the thing you've just ordered, in a size 10 (in my case), will be a good fit, massive or will not even go over your head.

I'm not bothered whether it's vanity sizing or not. I just want every retailer to follow the same size guide. I want to be able to walk in to a shop or look online and get my size, that is actually my size, without having to try everything on. I know what suits me, know what I want, I just want to get in and out and I hate sending stuff back that I've bought online.

Sizing is ridiculous full stop. I wear 10,12 or 14 trousers. My son perfectly fits some age 10-11 clothes and is well into age 13-14 on other bits! It's mad!

I don't knbow if it's vanity sizing but it's certainly changed. I have clothes I bought as a teenager in the 1970s which were a size 10/12. I wear a size 12 now and these clothes are much too small.

Clothes are designed to fit differently. People also like to wear tight or baggy or somewhere in between. Loads are now labelled XS, S, M, L, XL. This works finefor me.

I find it annoying. I've always been a size 12-14, mainly 12, now a bit more 14.
I am a lot heavier than I used to be and there is no way I would fit into old size 12.
It means that weight has crept up on me a bit. I don't weigh myself all the time, I judge by how comfy my clothes are.
I think it makes people feel good if they can fit into a smaller size than usual, but it's cheating people if that smaller size is just a label.
Another thing that annoys me is small/medium/large - I simply haven't a clue unless I know the brand.

@amoreoamicizia why???

I've been wondering about this. I was thinking about losing weight but I'm currently a size 8 most of the time. XS bikini bottoms. I'm genuinely concerned what I'm going to fit into?? I'm not actually that slim or petite. I have a BMI of 24 and quite a bit of extra wobble post baby I'd like to get rid of! I've found some manufacturers are just enormous though.

Yes it's crap. And let's not forget how fat phobic shops used to be for quite regular sized people, you couldn't get more than a 14 in many shops up to the 1990s, which would be a 10, 12 maximum now. I was such a healthy weight at 5'7 and BMI 22 and only a 10/12 then yet made to feel I was fat.

I don't care how fat I am, I just want to know what bloody size to order and not have to remember whether M&S sizes up big or John Lewis sizes small or whatever. I shouldn't have to order loads of sizes because it's anyone's guess how big anything is.

I feel so great sat here in my size 12 m&s t-shirt. I’m so enormous and zeppelin like I should probably jump off a bridge or something to save the NHS the strain 🙄

(Never mind the 10 miles I ran this morning, hey?)

You say that, but a friend asked my waist size so he could let me some painting pants and they didn't fit my actual waist size because that doesn't account for hip size. I also took different waist-sizes in Gap and Topshop because they cut very differently.

You could use your parachute sized t shirt to save yourself if you changed your mind half way down

I'm a 6-8 in M&S and I have a BMI of 24 so someone a tiny bit heavier would be overweight and prob only be a 10 max. I'm average height too.

I think M&S sizes are known for being large.

Yep. In theory I could wear a 27 or 28 waist trouser. In reality I have to wear a 30 at least and just deal with the waist gape. No one sizing system will every cater to every body type.

We'd definitely be better with actual cm on the labels!

Some of it it that looser fits are in fashion though so you're not "meant" to buy the 8 and have it fit you but the 12 and be drowning in it. So it's been sized to be too big if you like.

I feel the pain of the poster who can't find clothes small enough I have been there. It's nothing to do with changed sizing though. If there was a law (or something? Not sure how OP is envisioning this being enforced) that we had to use closely fitted 1950s sizing then shops would just carry the 12-22s or whatever - they aren't on a secret mission to make us all fat they are just trying to maximise sales by carrying the most popular sizes.

Realistically we have become taller and fatter as a population so it makes sense that the sizing reflects this. I think the important thing is that this is communicated properly and there is some consistency across brands.

So it makes sense IMO to use modern sizing as a benchmark as realistically a very small proportion of the population would now fit into the old size 8/10. People this size are very much the minority now and can be catered for in the same way that those on the extreme end of the larger sizes are catered for.

I couldn't agree more!
My school skirt was a size 12, similar measurements nearly 40 years later and I struggle to find anything that fits, particularly as I'm also very short (4ft11).
I'm too old to wear kids clothes now and can't keep maintaining the same measurements without some seriously disordered habits.
I just want age appropriate outfits that fit!

So someone with a BMI of 24 wears a size 8? Even with todays sizing aren't they very tight?
My BMI is 21 and I wear a 12/14? Am I just a weird shape?

Pulled on some Mango jeans the other day, and they are enormous. The label said size 10. They would probably be loose on a 12.

I honestly find comments on posts like this beyond frustrating.

God forbid you’re on the smaller side, you’re accused of “showing off” - like, really? We’re all just people built in all different shapes and sizes, we all carry weight completely differently. But for some reason it’s wrong or smug to voice an opinion if you’re small?

Fuck me, your insecurities are loud.

I don't want every brand to follow the same size. Women have different body shapes. Different brands' cuts suit different women.

What I do want is for every brand to include the garment measurements when selling online. So you can simply take a tape measure to your existing tshirt/trousers/dress/whatever and have a much better idea of whether something will fit you.

It would save money and resources by minimising returns. Uniqlo is the only brand I know that does this.

I’m not sure it’s vanity sizing, more that people are getting larger so the sizing needs to reflect that.
If a size 8 used to be average then that’s medium, if 14 is now average then that’s the new medium. They have to adapt to a growing society!