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?

Thanks. She always gets mentioned on threads like these. Marilyn Monroe was 117Ibs when she died, and 5ft 5/6.
36 bust, 24 waist, 34 hips. Listed as an American size 12 back then but those measurements would be close to a size 6-8 now if not counting her bust.

But yes I agree OP sizing is all over the place. I always always look at size charts now before buying and even then it comes and could be too big or small. Quality control just doesn't seem to be a thing.

Shops have completely different sizes. I can be a size 10 in one then a 14 in another in jeans/trousers which clearly makes no sense. I’m 2 inches shorter and 2 stone lighter than you and a size 10 usually but can vary between an 8-14 dependent on shop. Zara clothes are particularly small imo.

I guess where a woman holds her weight matters too. I’m an hourglass so it’s all distributed evenly, I’m also a long distance runner and lift weights so have muscle.

I dint get this either. I bought some trousers a few weeks ago and measured myself in their chart as I’m not sure on this brands sizing. I bought a medium and you could get two of me in there
Vanity sizing is a thing- I’m 5ft 4 and weigh between 8.5- 9st. I’m generally a size 8-10. In the 90s I was 7-7.5 st and also a size 8-10. wtf

I’m focused on the numbers as I shop online and would like to know what size clothes to buy. I don’t care what size I am but when I measure myself according to a brands chart, I expect the corresponding size to fit.