I HATE shops who pander to vanity sizing.

[SmugColditz]

It makes me really really angry that people are being lied to about their size. I wouldn't weigh myself from one year to the next, would continue thinking, I'm a size X, I'm fine, step on the scales - TWO STONE HEAVIER! How does this happen without me realising?

Vanity sizing in shops. A size 16 now is an 18 of 5 years ago, I'm convinced of it!

And, and I think the sizes should be standardised and labeled "Pear", "Apple" and "Pillarbox" and it should be the FUCKING LAW.

Tops should be cut to size AND shape. Large, medium and small should only be on the label in relation to the size of the tits compared to the size of the top.

Yes, I am sick of everything I try on dangling from my pendulous norks, sick of having a baggy arse and squeezed waist, and sick of having to try EVERYTHING on because I am a 14 in some shops and would be a 22 in others if they went that big - and yes, Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, I'm looking at you. A size 10 in DP is about a 14 - 16 in Topshop! But they all swear they use a standard sizing chart. The liars.

I have a green velvet jacket - my mum's, bought from M&S in the '70s. It's sized at 14. I reckon it's about an 8 in current sizing (it fits roughly one of my arms at the moment). My poor mum has believed she is fat all her life - and she's certainly never been skinny. But in modern terms she was a waif back then.

I've been saying this for ages.

Similar to CaptainKarvol's example, I have a skirt from Next which is size 8 and at least 10 years old - it still fits me but Next's current size 8 is too big for me.

Also someone did a link to Great Plains the other day. I had a quick look and saw that their size 6 had a 35.5 hip measurement.

I will end up wearing size 0 at this rate.

I agree that sizing is all over the place nowadays. I am also constantly amazed how many women squeeze themselves into clothing that is obviously too tight. I think that may be a result of some women being
determined to stick to a particular size in all shops.

I collect vintage clothing and 90% of the items I have from the seventies are at least one size out by today's standards.

70s waists were tiny! for instance, I have a skirt with a waist that measures 24 inches and this is a size 10. This is the fabric, remember, so it would realisticaly fit someone with a 23 inch waist as you would not want it skin tight.

Looking at current Boden catalogue measurements, a size 10 is 26 inches (and that's a body measurement) so a size 10 boden skirt would have at least a 27 inch waist.

this whole thing completely does my head in

I was a teenager in the 70s and think of those sizes as the "right" ones. When people say they are a size 10 I think "no you're not, you're a 12" etc etc.

Especially annoying when seeing obviously overweight celebrities saying they are a 14 when they are clearly more overweight than me (I am a 14/16)

yes, I am amazed that size 10 waist these day is 27", I'd think that's more like a 12 min

god it worries me that you all say Next and DP sizes are bigger...
I couldn't fit into size 14 in either of those shops but could in BHS...

like when the likes of Vanessa Feltz/Coleen Nolan say they are a size 10

er, no, you're not

im the olden days starlight, a 38" bust and 40" hips would be a size 16 - your waist would be a 10/12 though

I've posted this before, but here it is again:

By iota on Mon 23-Apr-07 10:57:56
so I have just dug out an old pattern that I used to make a school tennis dress in the 70's and the sizes in inches are as follows:

8 = 31.5/24/33.5

10 = 32.5/25/34.5

12 = 34/26.5/36

14 = 36/28/38

16 = 38/30/40

I was a 12 in those days BTW

Size 8 in the 70s was Super Skinny, and now it's simply nicely slim.

One of my friends is 5'2, and wears size 8 (not squeezed either) and she is nearly 10 stone. Now, that's NOT overweight, but it's certainly not thin! She looks healthily, nay slighly chunkily built. How is she a size 8?

I am clinically obese. How am I comfortably wearing 14-16 trousers, which is supposed to be average?

The clothing sizing does not inspire British womanhood to face up to their problems, really. God knows we all want to hide from the fact we are getting heavier, but todays teenagers can be a size 12, which is "Not Fat" in my head (is, in fact, what I have always wanted to be) and if they are short they can be fairly overweight.

I measured some of my 'size 16' jeans earlier. They have a 36 inch waist, despite most shops declaring they cut for 31 - 34 inches (LaRedoute cutting smaller, and Evans and New Look cutting the largest).

The most shocking thing is that these are the smallest size 16 jeans I have tried on in a long time, and are 4 years old.

I went shopping today and tried on a skirt in new look size 10.It was bloody huge!!! Ok I am an hourglass and have a 25 inch waist but I reckon the waist must have measured at least 3 inches bigger than mine maybe 4 or 5. That makes it about a 28- 30 inch waist...what is going on??!!!??

size 8 american is 12 in uk

fatface are guilty of it

their skirts are ridiculous i fit an 8 and am 12

I dont really like fat face or rather their prices but I guessed they were big as my sis who is a little round gets into an 18 in there and it isnt helping her to lose weight. she is size 20 plus in other shops.Guess the prices reflect how mcuh material they use!!!!!

oh please stop it
I am so PLEASED that i am a 14 in fatface (they have a sale on atm)

yeah next do indeed! Got size 8 skinnies which fall down
hahahajahah yeah right I'm a size 8

it pisses me off......i am a size 8....i can't get clothes anywhere that actually fit me properly. it's all too big......

my wardrobe is looking very sorry for itself, and i look a terrible frumpy old mess in the few clothes i've been wearing for years.