My measurements, and the clothes that fit me, don't match what size guides say I should wear

[dudsville]

I've always been curious about this and whether anyone else has noticed this about themselves. I have been a 12/14 for the last decade, sometimes smaller depending on the shop and the cut of the item, never bigger. HOWEVER, size guides suggest I should be wearing a size 20. My hips are 44 inches. I have at times followed their guidance and bought the recommended size and it is far too big. Anyone else find that their measurements and clothes that fit don't match with size guides from that same shop??

Yep me.

I'm a size 10 on the shoulders and upper bust, 12 around the ribcage and 14/16 at the hips.

It's label roulette every, single time.

Maybe you’re measuring at the wrong part?

I am 36", 30", 37". In the 80s, with more or less the same proportions (smaller waist), I was a 12 or a medium. Now I'm a 10 or a small in most shops. I bought some clothes from Hush recently, according to their size guide I should be a 12 or medium but last year I sent back several S items because they were so big they were falling off me. So, the jacket I just bought is a size 8 and I'm wearing XS trousers and they fit perfectly. It is ridiculous.

Women's clothes sizes are not standardised any more and vary from brand to brand and within brands. Plus vanity sizing as the population has got bigger.
In the 80s I worked in M&S, these were the sizes, I was a slender 12 then.

10: 32 26 34
12: 34 28 36
14: 36 30 38
16: 38 32 40

Etc. Now I measure 38 30 41 and wear a 12 in many ranges!

Yes this happened to me a few weeks ago, I followed the size guides when ordering things from two different shops and had to send everything back and reorder in a size down.

I mean more along the lines of what silverpenguin is saying, that the shop's own size guides say I should be wearing a 20. According to them I shouldn't come near fitting into a 14, but sometimes a 14 is loose. I know that shops and sizes across the generations vary, but their own posted guides?

Don't know how accurate this is but it may be useful?

sizes.darkgreener.com

Some people seem to be missing your point, but I understand what you mean. I generally find I need to buy one size smaller than the shop measurements suggest I need. Although this doesn't always work and can lead to disappointment! I guess it depends on your exact shape, clothes will sit differently on people who have the same basic measurements.

Yes, this has always happened to me. I just think I must have the most out of portion body. My measurements are 36-23.5-33.5. I look at myself in a full length mirror and my measurements aren't that extreme. Yet I find it impossible to buy a dress, unless I belt it, or have it taken in, I buy to fit my shoulders and while I admire the oversized look, can not wear it. A lot of clothes just drown me when they should fit.
I have learned the shops I can buy from with minimum alterations: Whistles seems to cater for broad shoulders, but is sometimes too neat on the bust, same with Allsaints, but these are the two shops I have the most success with. Often the smallest size in most shops doesn't fit me at all. Getting things tailored is the way to go, clothes with lycra and some stretch, belted things, I've built up a large collection of belts.
In the 80's, when I first started wearing adult sizes I wore a size 10 and had more or less the same measurements apart from smaller bust. It was much easier to just walk into Chealsea Girl in those days and buy things that fit. In the 90's I was a size 6 or 8, but now a size 4, I just hope no more vanity sizing happens. It's ridiculous.

And that Darkgreen websites is all wrong

That's it trenter, like the link you've suggested Itsallgoingtobefine, I should be wearing things in shops at a much higher size than I actually buy from those exact shops. It's no big deal, but the variation is 6 sizes. I guess I'm the only one with this mammoth variation?

It's helpful to take a tape measure out with me when buying and also to phone up retailers and ask them to take specific measurements

And all the waistlines are in the wrong place. Separates work much better for me. I must have tried on every skirt in every High Street shape this past month

High Street shop
I won't even talk about my arms and laughable bracelet sleeves. I have to roll up shirt sleeves to make them look decent

And and and, why are sleeves so tight. My arms are not big, what is that all about?

I've rediscovered jersey blazers due to the wear all the clothes in my wardrobe thread. Absolutely bloody amazing. Have bought two more this week

Yes, I've noticed this as well. It's no use looking at size guide measurements because they rarely match the actual garments. I'm on the smaller side, but curvy, so my measurements come up as if I should be a 14 - 16 on some websites (boobs!). I actually have to buy 8 - 10 in most places to fit properly.

Yes, I've noticed exactly the same thing. I'm a similar size to you, and my actual measurements always suggest I should be wearing two or three sizes bigger than the size that actually fits. It's bizarre.

@rightknockered where has good jersey blazers? I think I could do with a couple.

Sizing is bonkers 25 years ago
I was 7 1/2 stone at 5 ft 7
My wedding dress was a size 12
Today I am 8 1/2 stone. Size 8 is often too big??? Madness!

@George I like the ones in Whistles, they have some structure and are a good fit for my broad shoulders. They have quite a few this year in a few different colours. They have sent me a 20% preview, so will probably be a general 20% off code tomorrow

The navy is a very good dark navy, almost black and the red is vey bright.

My favourite Chelsea Girl skirt was a 28" waist, label also said 16.
I can sometimes squeeze into a 16 now, at about 3-4 stones heavier.

sweatylemon ...wedding dress sizes are a law unto themselves though! I was in 14-16 when I got married and my wedding dress was a size 20! I lost weight but they also took it out before it fit me comfortably.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever really looked at shops own sizing now. Now wondering if I should. I stick to the same shops most of the times and know ish what size fits. Some shops vary massively in themselves though. I remember trying some trousers on in Gap and the sales assistant said to take a selection of the same size because the staff in the factories didn’t all work to the same measurements so their sizing varies hugely!

Sizing is nuts.
I tried on a pair of size 6 jeans in French Connection last week, they literally fell down. Yet a pair of size 12 jeans in H&M I couldn't pull up.