Where to buy proper size 8 clothes?

[MrsRandom123]

I’m a size 8 but have noticed clothes getting bigger and last year had to buy tshirts, jumpsuits & midi / maxi dresses (basically looser fit things) in size 6. I’ve always shopped in new look & next mainly but this year all the size 6s are too big. I’ve tried 6s on in asda, tesco & m&s & have found the same. Even in jeans / shorts i’m finding 8s hit or miss with some being too big but the 6s in those are either tiny or still big it’s frustrating!

i’m not bothered by the size on the label i just want to be able to buy clothes that fit & i’m going to try taking my waist measuremenrs etc to see if that helps but can anywhere recommend any shops where a size 8 is an actual size 8 & not a vanity sizing size 6 or 8 as the shops mentioned above are in no way actual size 6s which were teeny tiny when i was growing up but sizes in general are ridiculous just now. Picked up an age 8 “baggy fit” tshirt the other day and not only was in top big for my 9 year old but i think it would have been too big for my 12 year old too! i’m not really into fashion more comfort i live in skinny jeans (i know i know) converse or boots and tshirt or jumper and in few warmer weeks we get its the crop jumpsuits or trousers, midi or maxi dresses & converse again with the no no denim jacket as well. I have boobs & hips & i’m not super skinny, i hate my arms being on show & i’m 5”4 & i just want to be able to get clothes that fit rather than look more stylish so any ideas where i can try? Thanks

Quite a few typos sorry but think it makes enough sense lol

Omg I was wondering why my t shirts from Next were so big!! I am consistently a size 8.

I had to return size 8 t shirts and try on a size 6 which were miles too big. We're talking about those basic t shirts - not supposed to be oversized at all!

I'm 5ft 3.

I thought it was just me being a bit dim and gave up! 😂

Have you tried shopping in kids sections? I’m a size 8, 5 foot 2, and usually have luck with an age 12-13 or 13-14!

Zara usually comes up quite small. Also Uniqlo for basics which also has a teeny size XXS but I can’t imagine you’d need that at a size 8 (same size as me and I find an XS is fine).

The sizing can be ridiculous. I was a size 8 as a teenager and that was often the smallest size available. I'm heavier now but a size 6-8? I even bought a 4 from Hush around a year ago.

Vintage is not a helpful answer, but I'm size 10-12 in old St Michael or Jaeger and other vintage. Anything higher end, or designer, tends to be smaller also.

Thats what i do for tshirts now but the size 13-14 jeans in new look are too big but age 12 don’t fit as my hips are wider than most 12 year olds. I’ve got the odd dress from kids as well but find the kids styles are often too young unless thats me missing somewhere that has a decent kids section?

Giraffe next are the worse especially for getting bigger year on there - they were the ones with the massive kids tshirt my 9 year old can wear age 7 from there & its baggy & my nearly teen age 10 etc - the size 6 this year i also had to return but fit last year albeit some a bit baggier than others but barely anything in a 4 (same everywhere) & 4 sounds ridiculous as i’m not teeny tiny just average size 8 i think. Even being a 6 would be fine if they fit its just the sizes seem to be no way reflective of the ones on the label & its across the board. Size 8s now are a lot bigger than they used to be but then i see some really tiny women and girls who i would say are size 4, size 6 from days gone by so where the hell do they shop?! I just want to buy an 8 that fits or 6s which aren’t like tents or 10s i don’t care the size i just can’t find decent fitting stuff anywhere & this year its worse as at least last year i got some size 6 stuff but i need more than what i’m rewearing constantly for this year!

haven’t seen much in zara i like but its not a store i go in much to be honest as i never have but i’ll take a look and maybe try some bits as at the moment if i can find somewhere that fits i’ll be happy. Not actually heard of uniqlo (thats how u fashionable i am) but i’ll take a look and try they’re xs then as next, new look, m&s etc are ruled out

It's the type of shops you are looking in. Typically 'older' woman shops like Next and M&S and supermarkets tend to have more vanity sizing so clothes come up really big. If you shop at more European shops like Zara, Bershka or online places like ASOS I find they are smaller sizes

Places like Hollister or super dry have the tiny sizes but they're where my teen shops, but not my style anyway.

I can't even shop at petite ranges as I'm over 5ft 5.

I can’t even find any size 4s lol but i doubt an actual 4 from years gone by would go over my leg. It just seems to have gone mental over recent years but when you have size 6s that don’t fit (and seems its not just me) something has gone wrong.

i’ve never worn anything designer it’s me - no idea why maybe as my mum always refused to buy us lables? That i’ve never bothered even when i could afford to? bar nikes / converse on my feet i don’t tend to buy anything that isn’t standard high street but maybe that could also be where i’m going wrong?!

mine is size 6 (supposedly) just started this year getting into shops like that so i tried some of the smaller stuff on in Hollister with her & they were too big for both of us - even their smallest trousers didn’t fit her on the waist (too long for me) i nearly bought a hoodie for throwing on but its more summer stuff i want & tbh at nearly 40 i think i’m too old got it so left it. Same with superdry i got a couple of their tshirts in tkmaxx last year. I just want to build up a few bits i know will fit. Regardless of shop or size - i just feel i’m stuck somewhere in the middle now and it’s frustrating as it’s clearly the shops being too big as opposed to me being too small.

I am “older” i’m nearly 40 lol so happy to drews “older” as i’m more about comfort than style - i’m not into low rise trousers or crop tops etc. i understand what you are saying but these are places i’ve always shopped in & despite previously fitting 8s fine i now find size 6 far too big so thats them changing & not me which is what is annoying me.

asos i returned quite a few bits too as well same as boohoo which put me off online. i haven’t heard of Berksha either so will have a look there. Zara i’ll go in later and have a look and see if anything i like but haven’t previous (i hate linen styles etc) Oasis are also too big as are river island so i do need to move away from more high street i think which is all i really know

They have size 4s and 22 inch waists in those teen shops! What size is your waist in inches that those are too big 😀

Don’t know i just asked the girl what ones where equivelant to an 8 as they were numbered in holister and she gave us them i had picked up the one below for equivelant to 6 for my daughter and they were too big for her but too long on me. They had none in a 4 for her to try but would have been too long for me - they weren’t my style anyway so even if they had fit me i wouldn’t have bought them (she was trying baggy cargo pants on & the jeans were baggier than i like as i only wear skinny) don’t really want to dress like a teen as i’m too old & my daughter would be embarrassed so thats not really what i’m looking for. I’m going to measure my waist but i wouldn’t have thought it to be below 25” i’ve had 3 kids lol.

i’m more looking for “older” styles like i’m accustomed to but that fit me. It’s not about dressing more stylish or anything just finding somewhere that has a decent range of “middle age” appropriate basics like jeans and tshirts.

i’m not saying anyone over 40 shouldn’t shop in hollister etc either just that thats not very me

& i meant i can’t find any size 4s as in i haven’t found an actual size 4 in any shops to see how the sizing is not that i’v found none to fit me anywhere. clearly i don’t have a size 4 waist - thats my point & even if “teen” shops did fit in 4s or 8s or 10s i don’t want to wear what ny daugher does

I find Fat Face clothes are fairly true to size - I have some 6s and some 8s and they mostly fit. Don't go near M & S or Next now!

I have two Fat Face skirts with tucks (with a small waist you become adept at altering waists - easier with elasticated waists or pockets present). I've found it to be larger than other high street, personally.

Also ASOS. Not necessarily their own label stuff because they have so many brands on there now. But they have reviews which rate whether it runs small, large or TTS. Which is handy!

Never been in there either (tend to stick to certain shops) theres one in same shopping centre so i’ll have a look. Suppose shops that i think will be too “young” i’ve avoided which is why i’m asking on here as if there are shops which haven’t gone ott with the vanity sizing i’ll go have a look and see as clearly i now need to find new shops

Won’t be altering anything i’m hopeless with that & now have a load of items i could probably take in a bit like the dresses and jumpsuits but not worth even trying

Might have a look at some of the brands i did return quite a few items to them previously but maybe it was their own branded stuff & i’ve avoided it since

I remember in 2005 trying on a pair of size 8 Fat Face cord trousers. And they literally fell down 😂 I am "older" so I don't mind shopping in Next!

I used to like Asos but recently their clothes have been poor quality, neon, cropped or all 3

I just went to matalan to look for cycling shorts and left with age 14s that were VERY stretchy. More like a size 8-10 but really comfortable

If you like comfy basics, then do give UNIQLO a try. I'm an 8-10 and take a Small there, so the XS Will probably be right for you. They quite often have good bargains in their sales too.

In writing this I've realised I'm currently head to toe in UNIQLO clothes today - and I'm 44, so it's not a "young" brand as such.

They were mentioned further u the thread so i’m going to take a look & try xs maybe - are they ok for returns?

Exactly the issue i’m finding in “teen” type shops! I’ve had 3 kids i hate my stomach (c section shelf) & arms & thats why i’m frustrated as i’m quite happy to dress “older” & i know i’m not the size for those shops….it’s just finding my size in more suitable clothes i need 🙈