Vanity Sizing

[gerbiltamer]

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with vanity sizing, especially in relation to Levi's Curve ID products. Surely if a pair of jeans states that it's a 30W/34L then the garment should actually measure the same as the label? As a UK 14/16 I am a tad surprised that I can wear anything from a 30W to a 32 without any problem, despite my waist measuring a (couple) of inches more than that. Don't get me started on different measurements for denim washes/country of origin etc, it's crazy.

My DH's 501s are a 36/32 and that's what they measure.

I certainly don't love it, as I buy most stuff online. Just bought a next top in size 12 - I could fit two size 12 people in there!

I couldn't agree more! I wish they'd standardize sizing too and seem to recall that the government were investigating this many years ago.

Back when I was a young, thin, carefree lass I was size 12 in Next. 15 years, 3 kids, 1 csection and a muffin top later I'm a 10 or occasionally even an 8. No wonder the population is getting fatter. We're bring enabled to pretend were not.

Exactly!

I was a ten. Never smaller than that, have put on a little actually and an 8 can be too baggy on me now. The problem is they also forget that if you make an 8 bigger, you must then add a 6 to your stock. Where are all my clothes dammit?! I'm not that small!

Kid's clothes are the same. Today, I sent my almost 3 year old out in 18-24 trousers that fit perfectly, a 3-4 top that fits perfectly and a 4-5 jacket that fits although the arms are slightly long (but not enough to turn them up).
I am a size 14 but have bought clothes from esprit and bought a 16 that I can't get in! I've tried on jeans from m&s in an 18 that I can't get above mid thigh and my 32x32 curvy Gap jeans are too big even though the last (identical?) pair I bought fit me perfectly!!!

I dont get it. I am a size 12 everywhere, from Topshop to M&S (so 'young' to 'old' shops). Bought a few bits from Littlewoods online last week in 12...theyre like an 8-10. Tiny. So reverse of vanity sizing. Its all confusing and annoying.

The wash and cotton mix along with the cut affects whether a size 30 waist would fit everyone who is a size 30 waist. The darker washes have less stretch so less likely to be forgiving to accomodate love handles and huge thighs etc.

Also I was told that because the fabric is cut by hand and measured by hand, it is possible that two identical 28x30 jeans would not fit identically.