To be annoyed with ladies clothing sizes?!

[dreamer24]

This is a first world problem, I accept.

I went shopping today for new jeans. I'm a size 10-12. Started off in New Look, took both sizes 10 & 12 into the changing rooms, couldn't even fasten the button of the 12. 😳 I absolutely refused to accept I needed a size 14 when all my other clothes are 10-12.

Gave up and went to Next - again took both sizes into the changing room - size 10 were perfect!

So how come at New Look I'd need a size 14, yet in Next a 10 fits perfectly?! That's quite a gap. I was chatting to the lady who served me in Next about it, she was saying she's a size 8 in most places but needs a 12 in New Look.

Is it just me, or is that quite a disparity? Why is there no consistency in women's clothing sizes across stores? Anyone else notice this?

I agree. It is odd.
I never buy trousers or jeans online. I really need to try them on as they are so varied. I'm a difficult shape - fairly slim but with a big bum and thighs so trousers are a nightmare.
I find sizes for tops more consistent and generally wear the same size top from all shops.

This is why is really pisses me off that places like asos are charging for returns. If I genuinely don't know if I'm going to be a 10,12 or 14, or whether I need normal length or tall, I have to try them all.

I span size 8 - a pair of trousers from Toast, luckily all the reviews advised to massively size down - to 16 - a jumper from M&S. admittedly to allow the inevitable shrinkage even after hand washing.

I’m a solid size 12.

Exactly! So annoying.

@SallyWD
I find top sizes more consistent too. It really does just tend to be jeans for me, for some reason!

OP Well you've discovered how your body has the ability to change through life. A garment with stretch (like a jumper dress) will always be more forgiving to a something with a fixed stiff waistband, as will something floaty. You keep mentioning your relatively small size and now you talk about abs so you are obviously body conscious. If the biggest problem you have is that jeans from (only) one shop don't fit you despite bigger sizes are available you are very fortunate. I also get the impression you are enjoying the debate and attention on here 😉 a stealth boast perhaps

@Moremustard

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Yeah, you got me, it's all about "attention" 🙄

Haven't you anything better to do with your day?

I'm a 12-14 in most places. In H&M I'm a 20 make that make sense.

also, a "stealth boast" about the fact my ab muscles are fucked from having a baby meaning I'm no longer the body size and shape I was for 17 years of my adult life - oh yes, that sounds like the perfect thing to show off about 🙄

@Janicchoplin
Wow that's a huge disparity isn't it! Craziness.

I think there are two problems with what you are asking for, though I completely understand where you’re coming from, since just like everyone else, I have clothes ranging from 10 to 14 in my wardrobe. Firstly, each shop uses a different body type as a standard - athletic, slim, curvy, older etc, so what fits in a 10 in one shop won’t look good in another because it’s designed for a different shape. So your New Look jeans are designed for a particular shape that happens not to be you. This is a good thing, because with the variation of stores, mostly, different body shapes are catered for - I know, for example, that Hobbs will fit like a glove, but Zara will not let me have boobs unless I buy L or XL (which will not work for the rest of me)

Following on from this, I was one (healthy) weight throughout my teenage and uni years, lost some weight starting work, gained some with age, then dieted it off to be my teenage weight - then was very dismayed to see I still looked a bit chubby, because the ratio of muscle and fat has obviously changed with age, and I am much less muscular, toned and a very different shape after having a child. Literally, your hips and ribs get wider due to the weight you have to carry. So to expect that you will always be X size in all shops throughout your life, and that neither your body nor the template size measurements will change, is perhaps a bit misguided.

It's a thing but it's just never bothered me. I do think woman see the size label as labelling themselves. Despite my best efforts I've got around 40kg to lose. The clothes in my wardrobe range from size 12 to 20! I just buy what fits. Normally pick up a 16, if it looks my size I take it into the fitting room, if it looks skimpy I take an 18 and a 20. I agree with someone earlier who said it's a millennial thing. (I'm 57 though). My 21 year old daughter is a very petite size 10. She likes everything oversized though and thinks nothing of buying a jumper in an 18.

I'm the same I've lost 50lbs in 3 months. I was size 20/22 in primark leggings and tops. I'm now in 14/16 in leggings and 18/20 in tops (vests are 16/18) but went to get jeans not even size 20 would fit went to asda size 22 don't fit either size 24 was to big.

But their jeggings and leggings the ones are £9 size 16-18 fit.

I'm 5 ft 6 and 300lbs and

Because every single person has a unique body and what fits one size 10 might not be the best fit on another size 10.

Just buy what fits your body best, who cares if the label says 10 or 14?

On the other hand , it doesn't suit me. I look really frumpy in their clother