New H&M sizing craziness

[GroundAlmonds]

Their size guide is referring to “old U.K.” sizes and “new U.K.” sizes!

What fresh hell is this? Is it something specific to them?

I wouldn’t expect a size 16 to be Medium. I’d think it was a Large. To me a Medium is 12-14. What they are calling a “New” size is just what I’d expect normal sizes to be.

I’m generally a 16, 14 if I’ve lost a bit of weight, 18 if I’ve put it on. I was in H&M in early spring this year buying a lightweight jacket, and firstly I couldn’t find any size 16s anywhere so I tried on a 14 and it was far too big so I ended up with the 12. I’ve not been a 12 since I was a student. This has happened a couple of times in there since then. It’s truly weird.

So it’s to do with the H&M sizes changing (again?) to line up more intuitively with the U.K. sizes?

Is that right?

I thought they already rationalised all their sizing a year or two back?

That makes sense @BluSpider

I think my experience of H&M is a bit like @Talipesmum ‘s so I’m always waiting to be confused by them again.

Uk new is accurate

Eh?

Basically it’s more vanity sizing. Previously if you were a EU38 you were a H&M size 16. Now you are a H&M size 14. So big people feel happier because they think they’re smaller, even though they’re not.

Sorry, a EU42 was a 16 and now is a 14. An EU38 was a 12 and now is a 10.

But the new sizes are more in line with how sizes should be? 12 years ago I lived in France and was a EUR36, size 8 in the UK in general. Their new system is what I'd expect, I think the old one was different to most other places.

But the new sizes are more in line with how sizes should be?

Yes I think so. I couldn’t wrap my head around it at first.

Not like Mango where it doesn't matter what size you try on, you need to have cocktail sticks for arms and legs!

It's just from when they changed them all a few years back, so U.K. old is what you previously would have worn, U.K. new is the new size that corresponds to. If you didn't previously buy from H&M then ignore.

The sizing is totally bonkers. The medium cotton t shirt I've just ordered is too tight on the arms for my size 14 body. But my size 8 daughters lilac wrap cardigan was absolutely enormous.

I only buy from H&M if I’ve got time to send stuff back (or for the kids as their kids sizes seem ok) because it’s mental. I once bought two pairs of jeans- same jeans just different sizes as I wasn’t 100% sure which size would feel best. Tried one on, too small. Fair enough I’ve got the next size up so will try that. Next size up goes on and they’re absolutely massive. Like way too big to even think a belt would save them. Drives me crackers. I wouldn’t mind if they were all running small or big as I’d know where I stood, but for their sizes to be so ridiculously inconsistent it just puts me off. I don’t understand their size chart either (hence the order of two sizes)- if I’m a size 16 do I go across to “U.K. New” size 16 and then work from there? Or do I go to old 16 and work from there? I hate clothes shopping