Is 'vanity sizing' getting worse?

[LaburnumGrove]

Years ago I was a 10 and my wedding dress was a 10 (very fitted waist) and my waist was 24 inches.

We all know that has changed and some 10s now are 28 inch waist.

But what about tops too?

I've noticed that more and more tops (T shirts etc) are available in a size 6 which was very unusual before.

I'm usually an 8 now in many clothes but some tops I'm verging on needing a 6. I'm petite and 32D bust but size 6 hardly ever existed in most brands years ago.

Yes but ten years ago was 2015!

Size 10 years ago used to be a 24 inch waist

What is often overlooked in these discussions is that clothing shapes and fabrics have changed enormously over the decades.
Many contemporary brands are very shapeless and stretchy. For example, Fat face (seems to be loved by lots of mumsnetters) their clothes are really shapeless and designed to be pulled over the head. Toast is another on

If you look back through the decades, vintage clothing tends to fit more exacting to the body, requires zips/hooks and eyes to get in and out of and has absolutely no stretch!

The other matter is that some clothing shops are targeted at the more mature lady. Shops cater to their target market and their body.

I find more success by checking size guides on the websites and actually measuring my own body.

Popsy is ridiculous for this. It shouldn’t be allowed really. Sizes should be a set standard.

I'm 5ft 3.5in, weigh 9st 10lb and wear a size 12. My bmi is 23.5

Honestly, I felt like a freak.

I remember Mum trying to get me a pair of school shoes. I was a size 6, 6.5. Shop assistant: "Well, if these don't fit, we only have the boxes."

I have some size 10 jeans. No way am I a size 10, never have been. Even 40 years ago at 8 stone 10 I was a 12.

of course it doesn't matter what the label says - except when I need to return 9 garments out of the 10 ordered, as the sizing is just all over the place. And that I need to order 10 items in the first place to maybe get one that fits. Annoying, waste of time, terrible for the planet as well.

It would be useful to be able to rely on consistent sizing conventions, especially when ordering online.

I always read the description of the garment measurements because they are often different to the expected size.
I think this is not a problem caused by vanity sizing, but the lack of standard sizing between companies. I know a company that has different garment measurements for size with different styles of t shirts. Nobody does standard sizes.

Originally I thought it didn’t matter, but I think it was a barrier to me needing to lose weight. I used to be a size 10 , 30 years and 2 stone ago. I’m still a 10 … except I’m not and I’ve been kidding myself.

Yeah massively. I’ve lost weight in the past couple of years- I’m now about half a stone heavier than I was at my lightest 20 years ago, but I’m now generally an 8 whereas then I was a 10/12. I always go off waist measurement now rather than size.

Going back further in time, as a child, I watched beauty contests on the TV (yes sexist and I'm glad they're not shown now). They always used to give out the contestants' "vital" statistsics - which were invariably 36" 24" 36". If I remember rightly, that was a size 12.

Ah fair enough. I just don’t ever remember having a problem, despite being a very slim teen. I went from buying in the children’s section, to wearing a size 8 in Topshop. The only issue was that size 8 was regularly out of stock!

I imagine that sizes have changed since the 60s or 70s, as people have generally got bigger (in height and foot size as well as weight!). However, presumably you’ve had 50 odd years to get used to this! I think the issue that you’re experiencing is more related to size inconsistency between brands - this is why you’re constantly having to send things back, and this is the case whatever size you are. I’m trying to buy jeans at the moment and it’s a total nightmare, because even the same waist size is a completely different size depending on the brand. Sometimes a 28 will be too big, other times I can’t even get them over my hips!

@Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself Oliver Bonas is amongst the worst I think for not having inclusive sizing. I am fit and a healthy BMI, 163 cm. I can't shop in OB at all as the size 6 is too big on me. Hush is similar but are now creating more things in size 4.

I too live a good hour from a city with shops and buy everything thing on line because even going in to shops there is rarely anything in my size anywhere. Pretty frustrating. Keeping up with the admin of buying things in multiple sizes and arranging returns is quite an inconvenience.

I inadvertently tested this today. In 2007 I bought a pair of size 10 cargo trousers from M&S for a trip to Australia. Cargo trousers then went out of fashion so I didn't really wear them much after that. Searching my wardrobe for some spring-like trousers today I came across them and thought I'd try them on. I've put on a few pounds since then and still shop in M&S. I buy a size 10 or more often a 12 now. To my surprise, the 19 year old trousers still do up and fit comfortably. So in my sample of M&S at least, there doesn't seem to have been much of a change in trouser sizing in the last two decades.

Weren't the twins in sweet valley high perfect size 6? So 10 in UK sizes. 10 always seemed synonymous with tiny to me.

Seems to be quite a few people on this thread upset that they are teeny and cant shop anywhere ('Im a size 2, with a 20 in waist!'). Surely if you arent an average size then obviously you will have trouble getting clothes in an average shop?
Also does it really help to say 'back in my day I was a 14, now Im a 8!'. I mean things change, life moves on....just buy the size that fits!
I came out of Primark the other day with everything from an XS to an XL, it just depended on how I wanted things to fit.

I don't particularly care what size label a brand attaches to my measurements (except that when I'm shopping on a multi-brand site it's annoying to have to select multiple size options and then get shown sale items that aren't available in the relevant size for that brand).

What I do object to is inaccurate size guides.

I find it helpful when sites quote actual garment measurements as well, or at least tell you the height and size of the model and the size she's wearing.

All clothing seems to be made to completely different guidelines depending on the brand and even within the brand, so best just go by measurements, it makes life a lot simpler.

Size 10 years ago used to be a 24 inch waist

But this ignores the fact that clothing styles have changed. Most clothes today don’t sit on the actual waist. Size 10 has always been 28 inch waist in my lifetime.

If you’re a 32D then you’re not a UK size 6. I’m a size 6 (24 inch waist) but in a lot of shops, size 6 is more like a size 12. Other shops (known for being ‘small’ fit) a size 6 fits me. I often have to buy age 11 clothing.

You must be very young.

I did dressmaking in the 1970s and patterns for a size 10 were waist 24, hips 34-36.

It's a bit of both.
Inconsistency and change in sizes.

I buy some clothes online where the actual body measurements are given and I can assure you that a size 10 is often shown as a 28-29 inch waist.

Personally I'm delighted. I'm a fatso and it means I can fit in normal high street clothes if I choose carefully.

I don’t really care what size I buy but I have given up online shopping as there is no consistency. I keep ordering wrong and I can’t be always buying three sizes and sending back. Sizes in measurements like in France would help but it won’t happen.

Also most things shrink when you wash them making even buying in person hard. I have given up and just buy things on Vinted now. I wasted so much money in M&S alone last year and my enthusiasm for shopping has gone.