AIBU to be completely bewildered by women’s clothing sizes these days?

[Highlandschmiland]

May be I’m just overthinking it all but how on earth do they size clothes these days? I’m 5’9 and around 12 and a half stone. Perpetually a size 16, forever, doesn’t matter if I’m much heavier or lighter that’s my size. How then, do I see people who clearly have a bigger waist or bust that are size 12s? This confuses me so much. I’ve just seen an ad model was 5’7 and 215lb wearing a size 14- this model is 2 inches shorter and just shy of 3 stone heavier than me, yet a dress size smaller. It does not make sense.
AIBU to be completely bewildered by sizing when it comes to height and weight?

I don't understand it at all. It seems different shops have different sizings, too. Much like you, no matter how much weight I gain or lose throughout my life, I have remained a size 6. 4 is too small, 8 is too big, everytime.

I ordered a skirt from UO (brand being Silence + Noise), and it was so big it slid down to my hips. I ordered a similar skirt from Zara, and couldn't get it on.

The model on the Zara website for the skirt was taller than me and bigger than me, wearing a 6 and it fit her fine. Happens all the time, why can there not be one universal measurement for these sizes, that brands actually stick to. I'm sick of returning stuff 🙄

They don’t. I can pick up the same sized same item in a shop and one will be bigger than the other. Everything is made in fast speed factories and sweat shops so they don’t actually come out consistent in sizing and there is no overall sizing chart.

However generally they are based on just 3 measurements (loosely) waist, bust, hips. That’s it. So if they carry more on their legs or arms then they could fit smaller.

I always find it interesting on the threads where people post their height and weight with dress size - there is such a wild array of differences in the same size.

Partly, I suspect, for the same reason you are "always a 16". You always wear a 16. But probably, you would sometime look fine in a 14, or an 18. There is not that much difference, and styles can be skin tight or oversized. There is so much variation between shops also. It's a pretty meaningless label.

It’s because dress sizes are not standard. Never have been. Clothes shops will have their own internal inconsistencies too. Then there’s the “oversized” concept which adds to the complexity as people may wear something intended to be oversized in a more fitted way.

If you got the dress in the size the model you saw was wearing and tried it on yourself you may find that it’s far too big for you. I’d want to see the actual measurements of the garment and then compare to my actual body measurements. I’m sure you’d see that the model you saw is not actually a size smaller than you when looking at body measurements.

There's no consistency in women's sizes. In my view manufacturers should drop the numbers, and the psychological baggage that comes with them, and size by measurement. "28 inch waist skirt" - a tape measure will tell you whether it will fit, no guessing whether your 28 inch waist is a size 8 or 10 or 12 or 14 in this or that label.

This is why many women (myself included) buy most of their stuff from the same few brands.

We know what size we are in that store.

I have just returned a cardigan and a jumper to M&S both bought in medium. One was ridiculously large and the other too tight.

The measurement guides are also inaccurate. According to Nobody’s Child the size 6 waist is smaller than my waist. But when I try them on they fit with room. So it’s just lies.

Massively massively varies by shop.

i know what size I am in shops I routinely shop at. Wouldn’t risk it in others

I’m an inch taller, 5 stone heavier and an 18

Im always having to buy several sizes of something and send the others back. Huge inconvenience. And you go into stores these days and half of them havent got a functioning changing room to try stuff on. Or nothing is in stock anyway

I've stopped buying online if at all possible, it's just too risky.

I recently bought a skirt, it came from overseas so the shipping was quite pricey and it was going to be a pain to return. There was a size guide so I got the tape measure out and as luck would have it size 14 matched my measurements exactly, right down to the last cm for both waist and hips. (And yes, the sizing guide was for bodies not the garment itself.)

It arrived and was at least a size, probably 2 sizes too big.

FWIW OP, I am roughly your weight (sometimes a kg or 2 less) and a bit taller at 5'10.5 and am never in a 16 unless I am deliberately going for oversized. For properly fitted clothes - usually 14, sometimes 12, a 10 in tops that are ridiculously boxy.

They need to drop the pretend sizes that can be different even in the same size in the same shop for the same garment (that’s you M&S), and just do measurements. I’m so fed up with it.

If you’re perpetually a size 16 how is this bewildering for you? Just buy a size 16.

Vanity sizing seems to be a thing with a lot of high street stores - the sizes just get bigger and bigger.
When I was 19 and skinny I couldn't fit into size 10 jeans - thinking Levi 501s - I was always a 12. I put on a fair bit of weight (several stones) when I was having DC and never went above a size 14. I've lost it now, but I'm not as skinny as I was at 19, and now I fit size 10 jeans.
I ordered a Boden dress and carefully measured my waist and compared it to their size chart. I should have been a 12 according to that - but it was way too big.
It's v annoying!

It's ridiculous. Last year I ordered 2 different pairs of wide leg trousers from Fatface in the same size. One pair fitted perfectly, the other was way too big and too long. So, same store, same style, same size, but completely different!

Surely all you need to do is measure yourself and then apply those measurements across brands ? I know that I buy different sizes in different labels. After that it’s looking at the cut and length of a style.

I think you are unusual if you are always a 16.
Sizes in each shop vary so much and they vary so much between brands. Even same item in 2 colours can be a different size.
I have a variety of sizes in my wardrobe. Often order 2 and send one back.
It also depends how you carry weight too.

There’s no rhyme or reason to it!

I’m 5’11, weigh 11 stone and I’m a size 10, 12 or 14 depending on the shop.

Even within the same brand, I can be wildly different sizes. It has put he off buying from some shops (Zara springs to mind), because I just can’t be arsed trying on every size to find the right one. Havent got time for these stupid guessing games when I just want a new top!

It’s not so much my size, I buy what fits. It’s more the idea that someone 3 stone heavier, and 2 inches shorter would be a smaller size. That’s what I find confusing. It’s all curiosity rather than judgement or insecurity.

I absolutely agree it’s got to be how you carry weight, I suppose it’s a millennial obsession with body size that has me wondering.

Sizes are ridiculous. I've got a pair of 20 year old M&S trousers which are size 12 and fit me perfectly. But when I buy new clothes I'm a large size 8 or a small size 10 nowadays, apparently (I'm 5'6 and just under 9 stone).

Ugh Zara! Never has a shop depleted women’s self confidence more!

I do wonder if sizing trousers in waist inches and length like men’s would be better. It seems illogical that men buy 30w,32l and we have a series of generalised numbers.

It's changed so much over the years. I've lost a load of weight (thanks to WLI) but am still heavier (not by much) than I was say 30 years ago when I was a constant size 12. I'm now fitting a 10 - I was never a 10 ever.