What the "hecks" up with with clothing sizes these days?

C

claridge

Cathlete
I know we are ment to be getting "bigger" than say 10 plus years ago, but those clothing manafactures have confused the heck out of me.

I can no longer say Im a size 10 (Aus sizing) because I fit anything from a size 8 - 14 depending on brand. I find this frustrating.

I know its "just" a number and what fits......fits..........but I dont feel confortable anymore shopping on line or from a catalog.

What the heck is size zero (o) ment to be?

Am I the only one confused about what the standard size "means" these days?

:)
 
RE: What the

Hi Claridge,

Sizes definitely have changed. If you wear a size 6 today that may have been an 8 or 10 twenty years ago. I would love to get into a size 6, no matter what "size" it really is. Maybe my 12's are really 14's or 16's!

Like you said clothing company's have different size standards to sell more clothing. If their size 6 fits, you will probably purchase it.

:) Lori
 
RE: What the

Aren't men's sizes more logical (based on actual body measurements, like neck or waist?)

I think there is a gradual creeping up of sizes. What used to be a size 10, for instance, is often a size 8 now. Manufacturers must think that women are more likely to buy clothing that has a smaller size on it (vanity, thy name is woman?).
 
RE: What the

I know what you mean. I have a pair of jeans left over from the 80s just for comparison purposes. I want to know just how far I am away from what I was when I was in my 20s. Well, I'm wearing a 12 now, and I was wearing a 12 then, but they're two completely different animals. I weigh a lot more now and would expect to wear a bigger size. Those old 12s gap by a good 8-10 inches around the waist and hips even though today's 12s fit perfectly.

Shari
 
RE: What the

Clothing sizes have dropped an average of two sizes over the last 15 years. What was once a 12 is now an 8. I read a similar thread on another forum that had a post from someone working in the garment industry. She said it is a vanity issue and manufacturer's changed size specifications. She also said that pattern sizing hadn't changed ...so if you sew you won't see a difference in your size.With that being said there is still alot of variation in size specs from one manufacturer to another. I wish women's clothing could be sized similar to men's...inseam, waist...add in hips and voila...no guess work.
 
RE: What the

Actually, in the 80's in Europe we had women's jeans that were sized like that, I forgot the brand though. But it didn't seem to catch on. I liked it because it was really easy to find pants for a pear.

I still have a pair of junior chic jeans size 9 slim I bought 10 years ago. They are still tight but I get them over my hips. A size junior 9 today even in Walmart sizing is too big for me now.

One time I went to a department store to try on expensive brand name pants. I started out at a size 10 and had to go all the way down to a size 6 - funny thing is since I am making my own clothes, my measurements haven't really changed for the past 5 years and I would be still a 16/18 in Simplicity size.

Size doesn't matter - whatever you see in the mirror does.;-)
 
RE: What the

I heard about this months ago or possibly a year ago. They started doing this with the clothes sizes to make women feel better about the size they wear. Basically lying to make some women feel better and not feel like they are a little heavy or heavy..... its definately not a good thing............ Rhonda
 
RE: What the

My problem is the same but reversed. I have a pair of Levis Strauss in a size 6 and also in a size 4. My 6's fit me snugger than the 4's do. The 4's fall off of me. What is up with that?
Debbie in OH
 
RE: What the

Oh boy do I have issues w/this--the zero thing really kills me. I wear a zero in Gap & J Crew, & frankly I'd rather a size 14 in Gap Kids than a zero at the Gap, there are just too many strange psychological implications that go along w/that.

I've found that higher end clothes (with a few exceptions) tend to run larger. But it seems there really is no standard sizing.
 
RE: What the

I wasnt going to reply to this, but I DO WEAR a 14 Slim girls pants! I also have shorter legs, so it's very difficult for me to find pants that dont need a lot of alterations. Sometimes a size 0 fits though.
Susan C.M.
 
RE: What the

OOOOH this is such a frustrating topic! I have clothes from size 5 to 12 that I can fit in my closet. A size 7 jeans in one brand is way too tight while the size 7 in another is just right. go figure! someone mentioned guy clothing - they never have this problem! ugh. it's almost like we need some kind of 3rd party clothing size regulations company to control our sizing! egads.
 
RE: What the

I've noticed that more expensive clothing lines tend to run bigger than the cheaper lines. For example, I have a Jones New York skirt that is huge on me...it is a size 0. Then I have some Mossimo pants from Target that are a size 4 and fit great....why the big difference?

Colleen
 
RE: What the

I'm similar to a few of you up there. I wear a 14 in boys or girls jeans and a 0 in women's jeans. The other day I bought an old skirt from a "goodwill" type thrift store that was several years old and it was an Eddie Bauer size 8 and fit great - OLD SIZES RIGHT.

So my question is what size will I be in 5 more years.....a negative 2 and a half....think about it .....there's no where else to go girls. Ridiculous!!

Briee

and what's up with the size 1/2?? I have some of these too. Okay maybe in 5 years I'll be a 3/8 ths or a .12 or .55....this could get interesting. I just keep shrinking...when actually I've grown. No wonder girls don't do well in math (stupid generalization sorry).
 
RE: What the

I don't know if this is correct or not, but I heard that more expensive clothes manufacturers make their clothes bigger because they can afford to use extra fabric. Therefore, if a piece of clothing is cheaper in price they keep the price down by using less fabric. Like I said, I don't know if this is true, but it's what I've heard.

Katie
 
RE: What the

I would just like to be able to go to the store or catalog order(which almost always ends up not fitting} the same size. I can wear 0 in one thing and 5 in another. There are some brands out there that I can usually buy and know their size will fit. Others seem to be confused as to what a size 3 is so they make some larger and some smaller. It is really annoying.
Diane Sue
 
RE: What the

Everybody who is a size zero...I hate you all!:p

Just kidding...my niece is a zero & it weirds me out.

Ruthx(
 
RE: What the

It would be a "MIRACLE" for me to see a size zero

No disrespect you all you "zeros" out there, but in Australia, a "zero" or "double zero" is only found in the babies/young toddler section of the department store - which explains me not been able to EVEN picture any of you guys a "zero"

Also, the "upper end" clothing here stops in the low numbers - so Im thinking they really DONT WANT ANYONE "considered large" wearing their clothes, but Target whoes quolity of choice and style has really gone up market in the last few years, offers fantastic choice and size. Ive bought some very beautiful pieces there that LOOK very designer, without the price attached. And there sizing is pretty consistant.

On a side note - alot of people I know would "never ever" shop Target, because its almost beneath them to do so, but would spend $$$$$$ on a "brand" name that knows one see on the inside of their clothing anyway - and they have to tell everyone what their wearing because you JUST CANT TELL
otherwise.

Marion



:)
 
RE: What the

Men's sizes used to be logical, though boys weren't.

Men sizes used to be based on chest, neck, sleeve, waist and inseam measurements.

Then vanity set in on us guys. I used to be a 32" waist, in the last 20 years it has increased to 34" ( I stopped running 70 - 100 miles per week). But thanks to the clothing industry, my ego can relax because I'm still a 32 relaxed fit.

Boy's sizes were the worst for me to figure out. Even numbers with slim, regular and husky thrown in. I was in 7th heaven when my son finally hit men's sizes. Of course I'm jealous of that 28" waist and 32" inseam (he's a lot taller than me). 5' 11'' and 125 lbs soaking wet at 16 years.

Dave
 
RE: What the

Oh I totally don't go by what size I buy and bring home. I for a couple of years have been messuring myself and using the mostly standard size guide that stores have. Here is Lands End's size chart (you can click on info for men as well, also you can choose to look up women's top sizes on here as well). I'll never forget the feeling I got realizing since my son was born I went from a size 12 to a size 4! So if your really trying to keep tabs of what your real size is here is a way to check it honestly.

http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/help/0,1452,1_36877_36880_36947___,00.html?sid=2058149521749126040
 
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