What's going on with H&M sizing?

[MrsClusterfuck]

I was in our local store at the weekend looking for jeans. I'm a size 8-10 in most shops and don't usually have a problem with H&M clothes size-wise but their jeans were tiny! The size 10s I found were more like size 4s - in the end the smallest pair I could fit into was a size 14. I bought them anyway as they still fit nicely but I'm most definitely not a size 14 anywhere else.

What have they done with their sizing? Is this a recent thing?

Its always been indecipherable to me along with GAP. You have to ignore the size on the label, go by looking and try everything on. Or do what I do and not shop there anymore

Not new. Many years ago I tried on an outfit, I was a 12 on top 14 on bottom in most shops. A size 10 top fitted nicely, I thought the trousers looked small on the hanger so I lifted a 16 - couldn't get them close to zipping up, I would have needed a size 20 for them to have fitted. I was not then and never have been even close to a size 20.

I had a H&M voucher hence the need to buy from them. But I won't be rushing back, I found it too confusing and I get enough of that during my everyday life as it is.

Even the staff admit the sizing is ridiculous. I struggle as I like the clothes in h and m and think a lot of it is really good value so I end up trying things on in every size!

It's a pain in the arse as have to do most of my h&m shopping online.

I'm a big H&M fan but I agree the sizing is bizarre. I'm normally 8-10 but can be anything up to a 14 there. I think they just change their suppliers so often that there's no consistency.

It doesn't put me off shopping there - I just make sure I always try on at least 3 sizes - but I'd never order online

Their trousers seem relatively true to size for me, unless you go for skinny cut.

I have no idea what the fuck changes between their straight leg and skinny cuts, but woah.

Kids sizes in H&M are the worst. Why do they span two years? 7-9. I'm sorry but a 7 year old is very different in size to a 9 year old. Really annoys me. Although tbf the quality of the kids clothes is so naff that I rarely buy from there any more.

I find H&M clothes that come in sizes like 12, 14 etc are normally 2 sizes too small (which means I can't get a true fit for my current size in there at all), but the t-shirts and tube skirts that just come in S M L are much bigger than you'd expect! So at size 18 I would need size 22 in their trousers etc, but can comfortably fit into a size M tube skirt. What's that all about?

I don't think there's any point in trying to make sense of it. I just ignore the size labels and keep trying on until I find one that's right. It's a faff but at the moment, I find a lot of their basic stuff is very wearable and, for the price, suprisingly good quality. So I think it's worth the effort. As soon they stop doing stuff I like, I'll be off.

I think it's been noted here before. I'm 10 pretty much everywhere (or even an 8 in some places) but usually at least a 12 in H&M. Can be a 14 even.

OTOH, I've bought their leggings in an XS as the Small were too big!

I am a standard size 14 but bought a top there at the weekend which is a size 12 and fits really well! Usually though it's the opposite.

I tried on two pairs of shorts in H&M this summer - the simple denim shorts fitted perfectly in a size 10, usual size for me, but I could only just squeeze into size 12 "mom" denim shorts and clearly needed a 14. Totally bizarre - I asked the assistant who said some H&M clothes are marketed at teenagers so are much smaller?

Thank goodness for this thread! I'm usually a 10-12 and the size 12 dress would barely fit over my hips, I was beginning to think that I'd put on huge amounts of weight!