'Vintage' H&M, vanity sizing or has their sizing always been off?

[LivingDeadGirlUK]

I've got some stuff to sell that I found in the loft, clothes from the early 2000's which are apparently vintage now! The first bag I've opened is H&M, workwear type stuff, its good condition and made of cotton rather than plastic. However the labels all say equivalent to size 14-16, which is the size I am now (swear I was a 12-14 back then...) and its TINY. What are the standard dress size measurements as they seem to differ wherever I look on the internet :/

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/jun/05/h-and-m-change-uk-womenswear-sizes-customer-frustration

H&M did change their sizing.

@LivingDeadGirlUK

There are things from Pilot in this bag! I'd totally forgotten about them.

I used to love pilot!!

Sizes have changed imho.

I was a 12 in the early 2000s. If l was that size now l would be an 8. I never shopped in H&M though, Next, River Island. I do remember Pilot! And Bay Trading, loved it in there.

It was pot luck. I was an 8 -10 with an 18" inch waist when I was 15 and could never get anything in there under an 18 to even go up past my knees but could wear tops in the correct size - I drew the line at going into their plus size range for jeans.

H&M’s appears to work on the system that they just throw the sizing labels into the air and stick them on the item they land on.

I'm 5 for 3 and find h&m proportions usually very good for me, but sizing very random.

I'm not in UK but they are the only store that has closed their changing room for customers to try on clothes. Through all lockdown levels.

It seems to depend on the area. Their changing rooms were closed in Preston a couple of weeks ago (we took stuff into Primark to try!), but open in Liverpool.
H&M sizes used to be tiny, but we've found them really consistent lately, consistent enough to buy online, haven't sent anything back from the last couple of orders. Most of DD's sixth form wear is from H&M.