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

No i’m going to take my measurements today never really had to bother before and even last year 6 being baggy was wearable but its bigger again (in those shops) this year.

I wish sportswear suited me lol. Don’t even get to the gym much now so no excuse to wear it

OP, it might be worth posting your waist/hip size as it sounds like you’re smaller than me (or maybe there was none of the smaller sizes in Hollister), and then other posters of a similar size might be able to help more accurately :)

I do need to take the measurements but i’m honestly not that “small” hollister didn’t have size 4 in the ones my daughter looked and i only tried the 6 & 8 on for an idea of sizing - she didn’t want to look for anything else so i didn’t bother. I think the 4 would fit her and maybe a 6 in a different style would be ok for me - i’ll look next time we are in or maybe order a few bits as she can try them too. Not saying i need the 4 or even the 6 but the one pair we tried didn’t fit and didn’t look for other 4s or 6s when we were in as i feel a bit odd looking in shops my daughter is. She doesn’t wear new look or m&s so they’ve always been safe for me to wear lol & i feel more suited to me

My wasit is just about 25” but wouldn’t have expected it to be lower than that & 8s have been fine for years. Hollister should have fitted so maybe it was just because it was a particularly baggy pair of trousers and fit? Not bothered whether i measure as a 6, 8 or 10 as long as i knew the “correct” size would fit

I used to wear Hollister in my 30's but now I'm in my 50's not many styles would look right.

I've come to terms that I just have to pay a premium. Don't know where you are based but I go to Contemporary Women's fashion in Harrods ( think it's floor 4) and they have a lot of European brands which do come up true to size.

Fat face is hit and miss for me. I find their shirts and dresses are true to size, but their skirts, trousers and shorts are large fitting.

H&M tend to be more true to size in my experience and more outdoor brands seem to cut for more slimmer, athletic figures (eg Patagonia, prAna and some yoga brands)

You see this is why I shop mainly from China - not as much vanity sizing (although it is creeping in a little).

Zara is annoying as the waist etc is good fit but at 5 3”, the lengths and general shoulder fit etc just swamp me. I wish Zara would do a petite.

I’ve given up on most UK clothing stores - outrageous sizing - genuine size 6/8’s are sized out of the market.

Have you tried somewhere like Redoute? French sizing tends to be smaller/slimmer, used to buy lots from there, haven't recently due to putting in weight!

To be fair the T shirt issue is partly because oversized and boxy cuts are in right now. Very few fitted Ts around.

H&M comes up small. I am the smallest size in most shops, but not always in H&M. Same for And Other Stories (sister brand to H&M). La Redoute also comes up small. Zara and Mango do if they are not being “oversized”. Some of the stuff in these shops is quite teenage but not all.

If you have a particularly small waist you might find that vintage/retro brands work well for you

I don’t understand why you particularly want size 8 though, if a 6 is available and it fits why wouldn’t you be happy with that? I don’t care what the label says I just want clothes that fit!

25 inch waist is a 6 no?

I don’t understand why you particularly want size 8 though, if a 6 is available and it fits why wouldn’t you be happy with that? I don’t care what the label says I just want clothes that fit!*
its just that without actual proper sizes used across multiple brands and stores, you have to try everything on or keep returning. it should not be a guess, it should be based on proper measurements and followed by all brands instead of pretending people are smaller than they are

Next/M&S have always run big.

Try H&M, Bershka, Stradivarius.

I think you need to buy from more French or European brands. I have the same problem as you and it's irritating having to make multiple trips to the fitting room because the size doesn't fit. Zara, Mango, Maje, Sandro, APC, Isabel Marant, etc all still fit well.

Benetton is good for true small bottom sizes. Online in the UK or high street shops on the mainland.

Yes fair enough. I think sizing has got bigger pretty much across the board. It’s still impossible to know what will fit when ordering though!!

Because 6s don’t fit.

i’ve been size 8 for years & years but now can’t shop where i normally would so if find a new shop / brand that has genuine sizes & not vanity sizing but also fits my height then i’ll shop there & not care what size is on the label if i know it’ll fit thats what i mean by not being bothered about the actual size whether smaller or bigger than an 8 as i need to find new places to shop and wanted recommendations to not waste time

Don’t know i’m usually an 8 but had to buy 6 last year & 6 too big now but i think in more european stores i would be a bigger size but thats fine if they fit. I’m not the most stylish which doesn’t help

Thanks. Actually looked in mango today for first time. Will check the others out

Thanks. Few mentions of bershka which i hadn’t heard of

exactly! Couldn’t see much in zara today i liked but i’m usually ok in non petite even if a big longer than meant to be

Depends on the styles you’re looking at too. Baggy is quite in this year and waists lower slung so if you don’t like that look you’d need to size down. Eg some of the Uniqlo t shirts this year are baggy fit. For jeans I’d go to a proper jeans shop Like Levi. Lots of different styles for different shapes and their 23 is teeny!

I hate baggy fit as it makes me look like a tent & prefer high rise trousers but i’m not particularly stylish which doesn’t help!

Have to say I’m quite surprised at your assumption that all but the cheapest, least contemporary shops must only cater to teenagers - and that at ‘nearly 40’ you’re beyond wearing anything remotely stylish. I know you’ve said this may stem from your upbringing - but it would be a shame if you don’t grab the forced opportunity to venture outside your comfort zones.

Can’t recall if & Other Stories has been mentioned above - their XS size ought to be worth looking at. How about this t shirt?

Community Clothing starts at a size 6. I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the sizing but they produce the dirt of good plain (and ethically exemplary) clothing that might appeal to you.

And I second the suggestions of Uniqlo and Zara - you should easily be able to find suitable sizing between them, and the clothes are not all crop tops. (You harbour dreadfully old fashioned ideas for one so young!)

Sort. Sort. Not dirt.