Is it the shorts or me?

[Eerilyquiettodayontheculdesac]

Went to put my denim shorts on this weekend, they are size 14 and were uncomfortably tight 😔
went to pick up a cheap pair from Primark. Upon trying on the 16 & 18, they are both way too tight, more so than my original size 14. My size 14 fit in October.

What is happening? Do I need a size 20?! Have I gone from a size 14 to 20 in that time.
I don’t understand because aren’t Primarks clothes usually larger?

Feel really down

When I was a teenager I used to wear Lois jeans, I loved them because a size 12 was too tight and a 14 too big but they did a size 13!

Denim shorts or something else? So shocked as things are usually big on me in there

Weigh yourself love! What a stupid question

heaven forfend that anyone could be a size 20!! OMG.

Kill me now, I am not worthy.

C'mon people 🤣

Don't think that's what anyone's saying. But OP doesn't want to be that size. When I was a larger size I felt unhealthy and didn't feel confident. That's not a slight on anyone of a large size, just how I felt personally. I don't pay attention to the sizes of other people, I focus on myself only.

Pretty much everyone underestimates what size they are

If you have a size 14 which fits better than the 18 then that would suggest there is a sizing issue

@Eerilyquiettodayontheculdesac the sizing of the clothes doesn’t really matter. Just weigh yourself and take measurements and see if you’ve gained weight/girth. If you have, decide what you want to do about it.

If you’re happy with how you look, that’s fine. If you’re not, do something about it. Forget the shorts!

Are they designed to sit around your waist or around your hips?
Anything cut to sit on my waist I can buy in a 10/12 but things sitting on my waist need to be a 14.

When I was a size 14 everywhere else I needed an 18 shorts from Primark.

Now I’m a 16 there’s No way I’d look at anything with fitted waist from there!

I get their leggings and cycle shorts and a L is very comfortable and a little loser than well fitted.

I find Primark sizing really random. Last year I bought the same dress in two different colours and had to buy a different size in each one. I bought them at the same time and they both fit quite nicely. I always try clothes on before I buy anything there.

It’s not always.
I have the same 4 pairs of cheap trousers from there same colour but the same size and all fit differently.

Shops are so inconsistent with their sizing - I have a pair of size 14 denim shorts from next that do not fit (too small) yet my size 14 jeans from M&S (2 different pairs) are a perfect fit. Maybe you have put on a bit of weight if they fit in ict but don’t now but I def wouldn’t go by primark sizing.

I’m always bigger in shorts. I’m a pear shape though so carry most of my weight on my bum and thighs!

I don't think Primark sizing is massive. I think like many shops it varies so much item by item depending upon who made the item. I tend to have to take a range of sizes in most stores to see what fits on that particular day!

This is my experience too. i always have to go up two sizes in Primark!!

Primark shorts are very small this year.

I recently bought quite a lot of clothes in New Look, H&M, John Lewis and Primark - all a size 10/12 or “S” except Primark shorts when I needed a 14. The rest of Primark doesn’t seem so affected!

Sizings are all off in shops OP. Don't feel disheartened, I find primark kids/baby/women's clothing either extremely generous or the complete opposite. Never had an issue buying DH clothes though he always stays around the same size in every shop which is frustrating.

Yeah, like a 15?
what’s this obsession with even numbers?!

Sizing is random in Primark. Try next or new look

I’m a 12 but have to get a 14 in primark; their sizing is NOT massive.

There are two things going on, I think.
1: Primark sources clothes from lots of different suppliers and switches suppliers frequently to get the cheapest prices, so they are not as consistent as more expensive shops who stick with the same set of suppliers.
And 2: it can be the increments between sizes which vary across suppliers. So @Eerilyquiettodayontheculdesac knows she has put on weight, but not as much as 3 dress sizes worth. But if the increments between sizes in this range of shorts is very small, then a 16 might not be that much bigger than a 14, and an 18 not much bigger than a 16. Imagine a 14 is their sample size and they set all the other sizes based on that. Anyone smaller than a 14 is going to think the sizing is massive (because a 12 is not much smaller than a 14, so bigger than a normal 12) and anyone bigger is going to think it's tiny. But actually it's that all the sizes are bunched up around the middle, and it's a bit discouraging when people make blanket statements about a particular shop having huge sizes because it's not usually true for all sizes.

I’m a size 12-14 and I couldn’t fit into a pair of primark denim shorts under a 16. There’s no stretch in the denim, I have just brought some really nice denim shorts in M&S and Bershka at Tkmaxx, both in a 12 so the problem was definitely Primarks sizing.

Elastic waist denim, cotton or linen shorts in Summer for me! Knee length and wide of thigh. So forgiving and no bloody zips either. Perfect, one size (M or L) will usually do me. Amazon is my friend for these.

@GroovyChick87 I do agree with you actually wrt not worrying about others'

@Eerilyquiettodayontheculdesac though stated, it seems, in a horrified way?
"I can accept being a 16, but going to a 20 or more has shocked me, never been that in my life"