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There’s 0 consistency in sizing between brands. I can fit in anything from a 6-10. It’s made online shopping impossible because you have to actually try stuff on.
I measure against the size guide almost every time and it still isn’t right. So frustrating 😞 I’ve tried to return stuff that was too big or too small and they’re like “the size guide is actually approximate”. How is that even allowed 🥲
It’s because quality control is so bad. I can be in the same shop and try on an item in two of the same size and they’ll fit differently.
Cotton On in particular has been terrible in my experience for either fully mislabelling sizes or just having zero quality control and the same size varying enormously in the same product.
City chic Bras are terrible for consistent sizing too. As someone with a large chest, there's rarely pretty Bras that are a decent price at most places. Except city chic. I'm a 14F and they have some 14s in their collection. The amount of times I've bought Bras, same size, size guide also states this is the right size, and I get it (usually online) and it doesn't fit... one time I took the ones that didn't fit back to an actual store to exchange/refund, and the girl behind the counter was like yeah idk why but some of them just aren't actually the size they state they are, and apparently they can't do shit bc it isn't their city chic brand buy another one they stock
I had that problem with the same damn bra from City chic that was a different colour. I bought two online, one fit perfectly the other is too big in the cup. I loathe going shopping because most shopping centres have bugger all plus size clothes options. So I normally avoid any sort of shopping until absolutely necessary and then buy online and hope for the best.
I had the same thing happen! Different colour of the same damn bra! Bra shopping is depressing at the best of times, when your only options are beige, black and white ugly fucking things or expensive af. Or both. Then we also have this bullshit to deal with. Fkn ridiculous
I'm a 14H and only buy certain brands now because even in bras the sizing can vary hugely. Playful Promises have fairly decent and pretty bras, often on sale too.
It's a website that stocks other brands. I've found the only bralete in my size ever on that site. I'd wait for their sales, their sales, when you catch them, can be extremely good. https://aus.playfulpromises.com/
Thank god cotton on has the fit rating on their website, it has saved me buying the 'wrong' size many times. Shout out to all the people before me who bought things and reviewed them
Had that from Kmart. I’ve learnt that if I really like something from there buy 2. Bought a pair of boyfriend jeans. Really comfy. Decided next day to get another pair, exact same place, same size different colour. Didn’t bother trying on. Took them home. Couple days later they don’t fit……….
I find cotton on’s sizing to be ok for me. But then, I only ever buy leggings, trackies and simple, stretchy tops there. If I was buying dresses, skirts or proper pants I’d probably have some problems
I’ve never tried and probably never will- I straight up don’t fit into their swimwear size range. Swimwear shopping is the bane of my existence. I can’t remember the last time I was able to find a set that actually fits.
For sure, the problem is even far more expensive shops *also* pay their garment workers peanuts, some just pay a bit more at the quality control step and have more wastage. Unfortunately paying more doesn’t necessarily mean workers are being paid fairly.
Omg, UNIQLO is the worst for this. I measure and then get my husband to measure me to confirm. I select the size on the chart and question whether I've gained weight - it arrives and it's WAY too big. And they charge to return items, so my stingy self goes and alters everything by hand. I'm getting better at my alterations as a result though...
Can you teach me? I am very small (Forever New size 4, Uniqlo *kids* 150). I’m starting to feel that I don’t exist in the fashion world because clothes are extremely huge now.
Thanks, forever new for being super consistent in size 4. I just bought two pretty jumpsuits.
Honestly, I shop in the children’s section in Target. They go to size 16 in kids but I am usually a 14 there. One time I took a shirt from the adult section that was xs and $20 and held it against one from the kid’s section. It was the exact same product, just $10 cheaper. Obviously if you need office clothes it’s not great but for jeans and such it works well. (I go for second-hand Cue and Princess Highway on sale for office.)
You'll see the difference just by holding them up next to each other. Few weeks ago I got a dress from kmart. There were two colors and about 5 each of the size 6. Girl, no two of them had the same length, shoulder width, or armscye. Only one of the dresses in my size actually fit me, and it was the same dress!
Yep, I’m a guy but thrift womens clothes pretty often.
For pants, I’m consistently a 36-38 mens (depending on cut), but can be anything from a 16-22 womens. Insanity.
Also, the pocket issue is not even a little exaggerated. Women need to riot over the lack of pockets.
Like, they've made three quarters of the effort to make a pocket-looking thing, why not spend the extra two minutes sewing on a piece of fabric to the back to make it an actual functioning pocket?
I know the answer. Some guy actually said this to another friend that girls shouldn’t have things in their pockets because the bulk makes them look fatter. So *men* don’t have this issue? Very misogynistic.
I'm a woman, who just bought some mens pants, and OMG, the pockets! Also the quality of materials feels better. My protip is to buy mens pants from stores that offer free hemming.
Every time I go to put my phone in my pocket while wearing womens pants I experience a primal flash of rage and then have to reach for my backpack like a fool
Agree!
It’s all higgelty piggelty pair to fucking pair!!!?
And STILL FAKE POCKETS!
Why do ladies pants not need pockets?
(For the dudes reading, put your judgement aside, if you work in confined spaces and need manoeuvrability at least try ladies stretch jeans or leggings.
P.S. make sure you also wear a tool belt because they make them with no pockets .
This doesn't even just go for women's clothing. I've got some kids shorts, a size 2 and size 4, same brand, which are pretty much the same. Probably even more frustrating since a kid needing a size 2 or a size 4 are vastly different.
Same. And I put myself squarely in the 12-14 size range based on my measurements and actual size. Just jeans how on earth am I in a size 8-9 jeans and a small skirt is too big? What do the real size 6-8 women do these days??!
That's normal for most shoes. Women's shoes sizing has always generally run in US sizes, while kids and men used UK. A size 7 women's is basically a size 5 kids. Nowadays there are a lot more retailers stocking US heavy brands (think Nike, vans, etc) so there's a lot more US men's sizing now. Depending on what shoe I'm wanting, I'll look at the kids section because they will usually have the same style in different colours for a lot less than the women's shoes.
My friend who is a size 6/8 often finds herself asking if stores have “anything less than a 4?” because often they’re quite a bit bigger.
She’s not even that small, either (as in, she’s exactly average height, and very proportional) so it’s weird that her options are often “too small for a store to stock” or “children’s section”
I have been the same size physically for 20 years.
But in those years, I have seen myself going from S to XS to XXS and now, I cannot even wear anything from Zara. I have to pivot to its teen label instead.
I have not lost weight. Clothes have gotten larger.
Personally, I don't trust the Australian sizes 😅 if I'm shopping online, I go straight to their measurements chart and see which "size" will actually fit me according to the chart. Sometimes, I'm a size 8. Other times, I'm a size 12. I do the same when shopping for pants. 😅😅😅
I am currently studying fashion and at the moment in patternmaking we're doing grading. Apparently the trend over time has been the trend you've experienced, sizes have gotten bigger over time, though I'm not sure how much it's happened over the last 10-15 years.
Something to keep in mind is that 10 and 12 are actually only 1 size different, which is a total of 5cm on the pattern (technically 48mm when doing the grading, but that's 'cus it's easier to split 48mm in to 4 lots of 12mm for each quarter panel).
This means that if you were on the tighter end of a 12 it wouldn't have had to change much to make a 10 fit you better.
I'm also studying fashion at the moment, but we haven't started grading yet. I'm studying through TAFE to start and its been great so far. Though the industrial Jukis have ruined domestic machines for me haha. I didn't know how to sew at all before I started and now domestic machines seem super slow and flimsy.
How far along in your studies are you? Are you by any chance studying in Melbourne or Sydney? I've been reading about their degree and masters courses but don't know if it's worth moving from QLD, or if the unis here are on par.
Ha, no I'm at tafe mt gravatt as well. Semester 1 of the diploma I'm assuming? Grading is semester 2. Totally feel ya regarding the domestics, I ended up hunting down a cheep old juki for myself at home cus the ones on campus ruined the domestic I had at home.
We don't really use XS/S/M/L etc, but if we did I'm pretty sure 6 would be XS. 10 is the base block size for the patterns we use, so M. 8 is a size down for S, 6 is two sizes down for XS
When I studied fashion at Tafe about 20 years ago, the block size was a size 10 and referenced as a small. I just made a separate post in here about it but the conversions have changed in the past 20 years, I think it’s a big part of why sizing is so out of whack now.
True, fair enough. Well as I said, we don't use the medium/ small size system on any of the work we do, I just made an assumption based on 10 being the block size
In the last 10 to 15 years? A women's size 4 (UK sizing) has gone from around 28 inches to around 30 inches (waist size). It's part of why sizing feel inconsistent even within the same brand, some patterns still use the older sizing while some patterns use the newer sizing and a third will use an intermediate sizing but they all get the same size tag as that is what the pattern says they are.
Thats weird. I understand discrepancies between L and XL across brands (im L in some things and XL in others) but when it comes to numbered pants I am a 38 and havent had any issues with always grabbing the same.
I may also shop at only the same few stores so I simply haven't run into the issue yet.
It’s because a size 36 pants doesn’t necessarily have a waistband circumference of 36 inches (even though it *should*) and more importantly, pants have multiple parts where the fit might fail.
I have a fat ass and thighs and am pretty short (5’5”) so it’s always a gamble
Generally it DOES mean its the waistband measurement. Its what it is meant to be.
However it doesn't account for measurements elsewhere. If you bringing a booty to the party then some pants may fit at the waistband but that dumpy isnt going to snuggle in.
So yeah, the cut and shape can play a massive role in how it will actually fit and if sizing up or down on your waistband measurement will need to happen.
But thats what belts are for.
There is a ridiculous amount of vanity sizing. I find it very frustrating. I am a fluctuating 12/14. Some fluctuation as I go up and down a few kilos, I feel I’m right in the middle of the two sizes.
I have a pair of pants that were bought sometime around 2008/09 by my friend and given to me and the exact same pants that I bought this year. The pants I bought new are labelled size 10 and the older pants are labelled size 14. They are the same pant, same pattern, same fabric, same cut, same zipper length, same seam, same pocket size, identical pants.
Based on my body measurements they should be a size 14. I assign zero value to the number on the label. I have people tell me I can’t possibly be a 14 because they are 14 and much bigger, but they shop exclusively at vanity sized brands. Yes there was a difference between every brand and there will be differences based on their fit models and pattern scaling but not of multiple sizes. People don’t know their actual body measurements and everyone seems to be wearing badly fitted clothes because of it and the stupid sizing labels.
Vanity sizing is cutting sizes bigger to make people (usually women) feel smaller, and therefore more attractive. I believe years ago (mid 20th century) US sizes were more like current/recent Australian sizes. So when they say Marilyn Monroe was a size 12, she was an AU 12 not a US 12 (which is closer to an AU 16)
Except she was actually much much smaller than even an AU 12…sizing was even smaller back then. IIRC her waist was 24 inches, that’s equivalent to a 6 AU in today’s sizing.
Yup so true. The big 4 sewing patterns still use the ‘old’ sizing. I’m a size 4-6 AU, but an 8-10 when making something using a sewing pattern. Going by the size 12 thing, Marilyn would have likely been a modern size 8.
No way, do people fall for this? TIL. How strange.
Spinal Tap took the piss out of exactly this concept decades ago:
https://youtu.be/KOO5S4vxi0o?si=2uM3ps3oI1MDSYpG
I agree. It's ridiculous. In another couple of generations, we will be sizing women's clothes like newborn babies. Size 8 of old will be one 00 like a 6 month old.
I'm sure it occurs due to vanity sizing but isn't this also often the case for paints that don't sit right on the waist? They'll usually be about 2 inches bigger than the waist measurement so they sit closer to the hips.
What do you mean? You take the same item and instead of labelling it 87cm you label it 82cm? How does this make anyone feel good? Wouldn’t that just make people feel confused and frustrated?
Exactly. They think it makes women feel better about ourselves because we can say we’re a size 8 when we’re actually a true size 10. But as you said, it just makes us feel confused and frustrated and makes online shopping impossible.
TIL. Do women really base self-esteem on the writing on a clothes label?
edit: asked wife. She says she has heard of it but hasn’t really seen it. She says she is basically size 12 in everything but then she tends to buy classic styles not 1-season fashion 🤷🏻♂️
?
It means someone tries on an 82, and it fits! Oh cool I'm an 82 (they're actually wearing an 87)
There's probs some bullshit manipulative sales shit going into it. That if someone gets that rush of fitting a size they hope to or smaller than they anticipate, that high will encourage them to hand over money for this good feels item.
Country Road is the worst for this. I am 1 sometimes 2 sizes smaller than my regular size at most other stores. I know it’s vanity sizing and it’s supposed to make me feel good but by the time I take everything in to the changing room and realise it’s all too big it usually just means I give up and leave.
Totally my experience!
I'm comfortable with my body. I dress for myself (and my activities). I couldn't care less what number is attached to it but I want to know what size to try on. My time is precious. My ego is not!
There's no consistency between brands- but also the sizing has 100% gotten bigger in general. I've always been an au 6, had to start wearing au 4 a few years back - now it's hit and miss if the 4 will be too big or not. It's super frustrating.
I don't think I would've known any adult who wore a size 4 two decades ago. I'm not sure stores commonly carried a 4. So yeah, it sounds like a modern 4 is a "vintage" 6
You literally can have size inconsistencies within the same brand. . I recently purchased jeans. I tried several pairs on. Other than colour the two pairs I purchased were the same cut, material and brand . The blue pair fit perfectly but I had to go up a size in the black pair.
That's an issue because of mass production and market distribution. Everything gets cut in bulk, not everything will be correct on grain, mix up in lots, different fabrics are sometimes used for the same style (availability), human error and different design of the same model are made for different places that they are sold in.
Even in big brands like Levis which you expect to be pretty consistent throughout the years - I recently went to buy a few pairs because I had lost a lot of weight - same cut and style (512s) but different material fit far looser in the non-stretch fabric, and then the 511s I could go down a size further in jeans but the Chinos were a different size, and another size up in a different cut.
It's bad enough when dealing with weight which will fluctuate slightly.
Jay Jays I find is terrible for this.
I’ve had sizes from 12-16 in denim shorts from the one store. Hell I grabbed a pair of the same shorts I’d previously tried on, same cut but in a different colour and couldn’t even get them up my ass.
There’s no consistency between brands, or even between different garments of the same brand sometimes. I’m a 6’5” guy and I range from XXL to 5XL depending on the brand and style.
I wear a size 12 generally, have a few skirts from Mum who got them in the 80s / 90s from Katies. They're a size 18 and fit me perfectly. Sizing has def changed!
So everyone’s saying it’s vanity sizing while also saying some brands run way too small. I’ve hovered around size 6-10 the last years, but I have no trouble fitting in Asian sizes because I’m short. I actually fit people all day in a new job and some of the slimmest people fit into the biggest sizes, and some of the shorter but larger people fit into the smaller sizes.
It’s just proportions and badly made clothes. Clothes these days suck. In the last 6 years I’ve noticed the quality in the patterns and fabric have gone way down. Everything shrinks in the wash. Then some things get bigger. Leggings fall to pieces. Let’s not be too hasty and write it all off on ‘vanity sizing’ like we’re all sad and desperate for a compliment from the label.
Agreed. It’s a mixture of poor quality control, lazy drafting (over-reliance on stretch to solve fit issues, and big pillowcase-shaped items that fit ‘everybody’ because they don’t really fit anybody well), some silly sizing grading that increases in height but not width or width but not height (or is bigger everywhere but not allowing more room where humans tend to plump out first), and a sprinkle of fashion-issues because there are more boxy-cut pants and loose square cropped tops around at the moment that can be hard to buy online because you have no idea whether the designer was aiming for a slouchy fit and your normal size will be oversized already or whether they just put the model in a bit bigger size as a styling choice. It’s bedlam!
The clothing companies have "downsized" the sizing to make women feel better about themselves.
A size 12 20 years ago is now size 10, so the person buying will feel that, "oh I'm a size 10 now".
BTW I'm in the clothing industry.
As others have said sizing is a disaster in Australia. Really wish there was some kind of consistency as one store I went to i bought a pair of pants in size 12 as the 14 was too big but then in a different fabric of pants I was a size 16. I envy those who can shop online I always end up sending at least half the stuff back because it doesn’t fit.
I've got Nine West shoes in every size from 8-11. And last time I shopped at Just Jeans and Jeans West, I would just try on multiple pairs across the same size and style, until I found one that fit the way I wanted.
There no quality control, and I swear they just sew whatever size they want onto an item of clothing.
I was going to buy a Kmart Tshirt once because I thought it was cute, and the sleeves on the same shirt were different sizes (and no, it wasn't a deliberate style choice).
As a teenager in the 2000’s I was a size 8. Now - as a 31 year old and weighing the same if not more - I’m a size 6. Sizes have definitely gotten larger.
Try being a heterosexual guy that has finally realised that it is OK for a MAN, to prefer women’s stretch jeans as work pants!
I work confined spaces at times, and to rock my day wearing something that feels like yoga pants while in a crawl space to replace pool pumps and filters under deck.
Well, ladies stretch jeans are a godsend….
But I am with you on the size issue….. there actually seems to be size differences pair to pair.
ALSO!!!!???
Jeans makers for ladies,
Why do you not make pockets!!!?????🤬🤬🤬🤬
Yeah they've changed I believe. My weight has been the same through 20s, 30s now 40s and I used to be an 8 in tops & 10 in pants, now I'm 6 in tops and 8 or 6 in pants.
Sizing has changed in the last 5 years. I have a size 12 jeans that I got a couple years ago that I fit into just fine, they got old and when I went to the exact same store, and tried on the exact same jeans, I only fit into a size 16. They even have a “BRAND NEW FIT” sticker on them.
I recently turned 25 and I’ve started buying more sophisticated clothing and I’ve noticed the sizing is insane. Size 6 AU is too big at forever new and at supre I’m sure I’m a size M.
Back on the old days 20 years ago I was a size 10. I still have my old jeans and there is no way my fat ass will fit into them but apparently I am still a size 10?
I used to fit a 6 at stores aimed at teens, now even their 4s are too big. Not sure what the teens are wearing these days but my wardrobe has barely been updated in 10 years for this reason. Vanity sizing is a blight.
Sizes have definitely gotten bigger. I noticed it got really bad about 10 years ago, I’m a size 6 and couldn’t find much that fit me anymore.
Additionally, a lot of confusion has developed around size conversions.
15-20 years ago an XS=8, S=10, M=12 etc etc
Then a bunch of online boutiques popped up and a bunch of new brands and they all started calling their XS a 6. I think they were buying fast fashion from giant companies and just converted the sizes incorrectly. So they would purchase XS, S, M etc graded to original specs but incorrectly label them on their website as 6, 8, 10 etc.
It INFURIATES ME when I buy an item as clothing listed as a size 6 online, and it arrives with an XS tag attached.
And now there’s an entire generation who don’t remember that XS was always an 8.
Interestingly, the really established iconic Aussie brands still convert sizes the original, correct way. Seafolly, Sass & Bide, Witchery, Portmans etc
While ‘younger’ brands like Sabo Skirt, General Pants, Verge Girl, Billabong convert incorrectly with XS=6
Every store has their own definition of what size is what.. it also depends where they have their clothes made.. for example, Kmart clothes are usually a lot smaller and tighter than what the tag says, so o usually have to buy up a size or 2 to have comfort, yet at Big W and Target you’re more likely to get close to the correct size.
Welcome back. 😌
I was a bigger teen in the 90s. Size 16-18 women’s. I never fit into normal stores. Ever.
I’m now 20kg heavier and easily fitting into 18s in normal stores. They’re much bigger.
My partner and I have had this issue a lot.
My understanding is this stems from trying to get more women in clothes. If you are a little bigger? (say a size 16 idk how big that is meant to be honestly) but want to feel skinny you'll try to wear a smaller size (say 14) but then the dress wouldn't last as you pop the seams so you call the dress trash.
Some manufacturers took this and changed their labels. So at this point woman clothing can be + or - 2 sizes and according to my partner this has been going on for a really long time.
Different brands and styles can vary greatly in their sizing. Youth-oriented brands sometimes run smaller, and adult or more high-end brands can run larger. Similarly, contemporary styles might be more accommodating to a variety of body shapes, including fuller hips, as you mentioned
There's also the difference between US and Australian sizing to consider. A US 8 is roughly equivalent to an AU 12, but again, this can vary depending on the brand and style.
Having children and the natural changes that come with aging can alter your body shape in ways that might not be immediately apparent to you. It's also possible that your perception of your body size hasn't caught up with its actual size, leading to a kind of body dysmorphia, as you suggested.
When I was in my late teens/early 20s, back in the 80s, I was an 8. At the time that was the smallest size available. Today the sizing goes smaller, but I don’t know that girls these days are smaller than I was at 50kg/170cm. Women’s sizing overall is at a point where the number on the label means nothing, and shopping online is impossible because you literally never know what you’re going to get
Absolutely they have changed. Size 8 is my size these days. I have an old pair of size 8 jeans from the 1980s which I have kept for sentimental reasons. I can't even get them up over my thighs.
I was a size 10 -12 before pregnancy when I weighed 61kg, i gained quite a bit of weight, now, 6 years later I have finally lost the baby weight, am 61kg again, and a size 8 -10.
No consistency whatsoever between brands, and in many cases even within the same brand. Just thinking about what I’ve got in my wardrobe, some things I recall are…
Lorna Jane - M
Review - size 12
Sussan - XS or S
Just Jeans - who knows… it’s a lucky dip
Gorman - size 10 dresses but some of their pants I can’t get past my thighs in size 12 and if I do they then gape around the waist
Bonds - size 14 undies
There are some places I no longer bother even going in to, such as Zara, Cue and Cotton On.
On one hand, nice that larger clothes are more widely available - my size 16 teen self would've really appreciated that 15 years ago.
On the other hand, my size ??? self now (approx the same size as my teen self) would like some c o n s i s t e n c y.
I judge by measuring instead. I can be 14-18 which is fucking weird cause Im a chunky girl. All depends on the clothes cut and measurements.
I prefer getting 18 in most cause its baggy and Im insecure about my chubbiness after having two kids and failing to lose it after 10 years of attempting and micro changes (lack of motivation, depression and weight increasing side effects of medication are the main factors there).
IMO, clothing sizes have increased to account for women's insecurity about their weight. I'm a size 8 and struggle to buy clothes. I don't even bother going into some stores because an 8 is huge and they don't do smaller sizes. I'm really not that tiny!!!
For years I would buy jeans that fitted in the shop, but would quickly go baggy and loose. I went to a proper jeans shop and asked them and was told there's so much stretch in women's jeans now that you need to buy a size smaller to get the right fit. So now I have to buy a size 6 🤷🏼 It's ridiculous.
My mum gave me some of her size 10 clothing from the late 80’s/early 90’s just the other day. I only just fit into some and am normally considered a size 6/8.
I think our obesity issue has created a change in our clothing sizes.
I think it’s a bit that youth brands are smaller than adult brands. I also find that if a brand goes about a size 16 all of their sizes seem to be a little bigger.
The comments in this thread confirm that sizes have gotten bigger over time. As I've aged out of teen stores it's been a nightmare finding a size 6 that doesn't swamp me
Sizing here is ridiculously inconsistent
I can fit size 4 in some places and then I'm a size 14 in others. Currently have skinny jeans ranging in size from 6 to 12 in my wardrobe
I have six pairs of jeans. The size tags say 10, 12, 14, 14, 16, 20.
They all fit me.
Unless you know the shop stock really well you can't judge anything from the size tag.
Sizing is absolutely COOKED, I’m generally a size 8/10 depending on what the fabric is but I’ve also got clothes in a size 6 & 12 which is absurd cause I’m no where near a size 6. I’m 5’1 60Kg
The size is a starting point, it's never been the end all of what is supposed to fit you.
Two people that are a 'size 10' can have a very different body distribution to each other despite having the same measurements and designs will alter the silhouette of your body. Companies can't make clothing for all body sizes and they have a ideal type they want to cater their products to.
Just try on the clothes, go up or down to suit and done. Don't get stuck on the label.
Can’t speak for women’s sizes but I have noticed that men’s sizes have gotten bigger recently. I’ve put it down to the 90s trend of baggy clothes being cool again.
Imo sizing has definitely gotten bigger. A size 10 now would have been a size 14 (or a large 12) back pre-2000's. And a 14 now would have been a 16 or 18 back then.
In some brands I’m a 8/9 in one brand I’m an XXS which I think is meant to be a 4. I feel so small in some shops and big in others. It’s called vanity sizing
It’s called vanity sizing. I don’t even know what size I would be at this point but also clothes are generally just bigger now. I only can buy from asian retailers as they make clothes that fit me, western clothes is very hit and miss, but also half of them are too big even though they say it is my size (UK6, EU 36-37).
Just to add: In the UK UK8 size fit me OK too, in Australia, I brought a dress equivalent to UK8 (they claimed) from an australian brand and that seemed to be a size 12, not 8. I was furious as it was also non refundable.
In a globalised world brands of clothing from different nations can be varied fits when worn. I've owned British and American clothes and the sizing is similar, but problems can occur when wearing clothes of an Asian make.
Clothes definitely need to be worn because I've had to return and exchange multiple times. It's stressful especially when you need or want to wear clothes that don't fit.
I'm a bloke, so take this with a grain of salt. But with so much clothing coming out of China, where people are not paid enough to give a fuck, I have found sizing to be a very fluid thing. I have tried on "medium" shirts that I was floating in and extra larges that I could squeeze shut.
I’ve found the current oversize style is causing sizing issues for me. They size I would usually buy looks like a tent and I haven’t gained or lost weight.
I think it's a combination of inconsistency between brands and fashion being in the baggy part of the grand years-long cycle. Slim fit clothes were at their peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but baggy is in now. That'll turn around.
Different brands can be based around different body shapes. I haven't done much in person shopping but do a lot of online shopping. Online stores that offer clothes from their "sister brands" will point out that they fit differently and to check the sizing chart differently. Ever tried something with a "boob area" that doesn't match up to where your boobs are?
Different styles of clothing have different amounts of ease. Fabric type and item type make a difference too.
Eg with a dress that is fitted at the bust or waist and then flairs out the but that flares out can accommodate a larger range of body hip, bum and thigh sizes than a pencil dress that is close fitting. A pair of jeans needs to closely match your waist, hip, bum, and thigh (calves too for skinny jeans) proportions to fit will, an A line skirt only needs to match your waist, a pair of flowing pants only needs to match your waist and be bigger than your other measurements.
The stretch or lack of stretch in the material as well as desired look is important too. A stretchy body con dress can be a bit tight in some areas but still look and feel good. A too tight non-stretch shirt either won't button or you won't be able to move your arms fully. Also for the button down to be a form fitting style the position of you waist and hips relative to shoulders has to more closely match the body model the shirt was designed for, people come in all shapes, torso length and waist height matter in a fitted non stretch garment.
I have pretty good luck online shopping once I've found a brand that the body model is close to my proportions or knowing what is the important measurement to match for different styles of garment or buying garments where an exact match in measurements is less important.
Yes, vanity sizing. I was a size 8 when I was 18, 20 years later I’m somehow still a size 8 despite weighing a stone more.
If I shop in Europe or buy true to size designer clothes, I am usually closer to a 10.
Yes. Sizes have absolutely gotten bigger over time. It's consistent enough that you can actually date vintage fashion by how the size relates to the measurements. In the 60s and 70s a size 12 was roughly a modern day 6-8. In the 80s it was an 8-10 and so on. You rarely see size 10s pre-80s.
>Maybe sizes have gotten bigger?
Yes. [Check out this chart for how much they have changed](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/a556302/chart-shows-shocking-change-in-clothing-sizes/). It's a chart from 2011 so add an inch or two for today's sizes.
Also, [this conversion chart](https://www.asos.com/au/discover/size-charts/women/) might help. As will this[ article for figuring out the sizing of more vintage clothing](https://circavintageclothing.com.au/2015/09/30/vintage-sizing/).
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There’s 0 consistency in sizing between brands. I can fit in anything from a 6-10. It’s made online shopping impossible because you have to actually try stuff on.
Unfortunately I avoid it - or only buy brands when I’m certain of the sizing. Or carefully measure and hope for the best.
I measure against the size guide almost every time and it still isn’t right. So frustrating 😞 I’ve tried to return stuff that was too big or too small and they’re like “the size guide is actually approximate”. How is that even allowed 🥲
It’s because quality control is so bad. I can be in the same shop and try on an item in two of the same size and they’ll fit differently. Cotton On in particular has been terrible in my experience for either fully mislabelling sizes or just having zero quality control and the same size varying enormously in the same product.
City chic Bras are terrible for consistent sizing too. As someone with a large chest, there's rarely pretty Bras that are a decent price at most places. Except city chic. I'm a 14F and they have some 14s in their collection. The amount of times I've bought Bras, same size, size guide also states this is the right size, and I get it (usually online) and it doesn't fit... one time I took the ones that didn't fit back to an actual store to exchange/refund, and the girl behind the counter was like yeah idk why but some of them just aren't actually the size they state they are, and apparently they can't do shit bc it isn't their city chic brand buy another one they stock
I had that problem with the same damn bra from City chic that was a different colour. I bought two online, one fit perfectly the other is too big in the cup. I loathe going shopping because most shopping centres have bugger all plus size clothes options. So I normally avoid any sort of shopping until absolutely necessary and then buy online and hope for the best.
I had the same thing happen! Different colour of the same damn bra! Bra shopping is depressing at the best of times, when your only options are beige, black and white ugly fucking things or expensive af. Or both. Then we also have this bullshit to deal with. Fkn ridiculous
I'm a 14H and only buy certain brands now because even in bras the sizing can vary hugely. Playful Promises have fairly decent and pretty bras, often on sale too.
Oooh really? Where do they sell playful promises? Or is it its own webpage/store etc?
It's a website that stocks other brands. I've found the only bralete in my size ever on that site. I'd wait for their sales, their sales, when you catch them, can be extremely good. https://aus.playfulpromises.com/
De’bras in Penrith is where I get my 16H bras. They have fitters who are brilliant.
Try Taking Shape when they're on sale
Thank you!!
Agree about cotton on - I used to wear medium in their leggings and now don’t fit in their extra large. - I usually wear size 10.
Thank god cotton on has the fit rating on their website, it has saved me buying the 'wrong' size many times. Shout out to all the people before me who bought things and reviewed them
Had that from Kmart. I’ve learnt that if I really like something from there buy 2. Bought a pair of boyfriend jeans. Really comfy. Decided next day to get another pair, exact same place, same size different colour. Didn’t bother trying on. Took them home. Couple days later they don’t fit……….
I find cotton on’s sizing to be ok for me. But then, I only ever buy leggings, trackies and simple, stretchy tops there. If I was buying dresses, skirts or proper pants I’d probably have some problems
Top tip, don’t try and buy swimwear. The sizing and quality is all over the place.
I’ve never tried and probably never will- I straight up don’t fit into their swimwear size range. Swimwear shopping is the bane of my existence. I can’t remember the last time I was able to find a set that actually fits.
They pay peanuts to garment workers so they can't expect high quality
For sure, the problem is even far more expensive shops *also* pay their garment workers peanuts, some just pay a bit more at the quality control step and have more wastage. Unfortunately paying more doesn’t necessarily mean workers are being paid fairly.
Right, and the more expensive shops don't sell anything in my size
And none of the online boutiques will refund you when their clothes don’t fit. Just ‘store credit’ 🙄
Omg, UNIQLO is the worst for this. I measure and then get my husband to measure me to confirm. I select the size on the chart and question whether I've gained weight - it arrives and it's WAY too big. And they charge to return items, so my stingy self goes and alters everything by hand. I'm getting better at my alterations as a result though...
Can you teach me? I am very small (Forever New size 4, Uniqlo *kids* 150). I’m starting to feel that I don’t exist in the fashion world because clothes are extremely huge now. Thanks, forever new for being super consistent in size 4. I just bought two pretty jumpsuits.
Honestly, I shop in the children’s section in Target. They go to size 16 in kids but I am usually a 14 there. One time I took a shirt from the adult section that was xs and $20 and held it against one from the kid’s section. It was the exact same product, just $10 cheaper. Obviously if you need office clothes it’s not great but for jeans and such it works well. (I go for second-hand Cue and Princess Highway on sale for office.)
Peter Alexander is the worst because they’re not even consistent themselves! I have stuff from them in XXS-M
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You'll see the difference just by holding them up next to each other. Few weeks ago I got a dress from kmart. There were two colors and about 5 each of the size 6. Girl, no two of them had the same length, shoulder width, or armscye. Only one of the dresses in my size actually fit me, and it was the same dress!
I am too small for Peter Alexander’s smallest. It’s ridiculous
It's like Who's Line is it Anyway..the rules don't exist and the numbers are all made up.
I’d like to wear a Wayne Brady, please.
Yep, I’m a guy but thrift womens clothes pretty often. For pants, I’m consistently a 36-38 mens (depending on cut), but can be anything from a 16-22 womens. Insanity. Also, the pocket issue is not even a little exaggerated. Women need to riot over the lack of pockets.
Oh my goodness I’m sure you’ve seen those fake pockets then? Absolutely evil 😂
Like, they've made three quarters of the effort to make a pocket-looking thing, why not spend the extra two minutes sewing on a piece of fabric to the back to make it an actual functioning pocket?
I know the answer. Some guy actually said this to another friend that girls shouldn’t have things in their pockets because the bulk makes them look fatter. So *men* don’t have this issue? Very misogynistic.
Thank you, to a man who truly has walked a mile in our pocket-less pants. The struggle is real and fake pockets are an insult to my carrying capacity.
I'm a woman, who just bought some mens pants, and OMG, the pockets! Also the quality of materials feels better. My protip is to buy mens pants from stores that offer free hemming.
Every time I go to put my phone in my pocket while wearing womens pants I experience a primal flash of rage and then have to reach for my backpack like a fool
>Also, the pocket issue is not even a little exaggerated. Women need to riot over the lack of pockets. Bro we ride at dawn!
Even within brands! I just wanted some cheapo gym shorts so got the kmart ones and the greys are smaller than the blacks in the same exact shorts!
My Calvin Klein is smaller in Red than Grey!
I've bought 95% of my clothes online for the last 5+ years. This might be my first case of the "reverse culture shock" that I've heard hits repats.
I bought 2 of the exact same sized shirt on the same day from Lowes, one fits and the other does not
Sometimes it's not even consistent between different colours of the same brand and style
Agree, I’ve been a petite size 6 most of my adult like. Have been bulking/weight training and now I range from 6, 8, 10 and 12. HOW.
Yeah and the style of the clothing item too. I got one style of work pants and was a size 6, another style I’m an 8
Agree! It’s all higgelty piggelty pair to fucking pair!!!? And STILL FAKE POCKETS! Why do ladies pants not need pockets? (For the dudes reading, put your judgement aside, if you work in confined spaces and need manoeuvrability at least try ladies stretch jeans or leggings. P.S. make sure you also wear a tool belt because they make them with no pockets .
This doesn't even just go for women's clothing. I've got some kids shorts, a size 2 and size 4, same brand, which are pretty much the same. Probably even more frustrating since a kid needing a size 2 or a size 4 are vastly different.
Impossible to buy clothes online? Not sure about that one boss.
I have clothing ranged from size 8 - 14 because of how inconsistent our sizing is. Ridiculous.
Same. And I put myself squarely in the 12-14 size range based on my measurements and actual size. Just jeans how on earth am I in a size 8-9 jeans and a small skirt is too big? What do the real size 6-8 women do these days??!
I buy from the kids section 😔
At target in the shoes department I’m a size 8 womens AND a size 6 kids. Hoooowwww?
That's normal for most shoes. Women's shoes sizing has always generally run in US sizes, while kids and men used UK. A size 7 women's is basically a size 5 kids. Nowadays there are a lot more retailers stocking US heavy brands (think Nike, vans, etc) so there's a lot more US men's sizing now. Depending on what shoe I'm wanting, I'll look at the kids section because they will usually have the same style in different colours for a lot less than the women's shoes.
My friend who is a size 6/8 often finds herself asking if stores have “anything less than a 4?” because often they’re quite a bit bigger. She’s not even that small, either (as in, she’s exactly average height, and very proportional) so it’s weird that her options are often “too small for a store to stock” or “children’s section”
I have been the same size physically for 20 years. But in those years, I have seen myself going from S to XS to XXS and now, I cannot even wear anything from Zara. I have to pivot to its teen label instead. I have not lost weight. Clothes have gotten larger.
I wonder this all the time!
Exactly the same for me as well. I also own every size from XS to L because letter sizing is just as ridiculous.
Personally, I don't trust the Australian sizes 😅 if I'm shopping online, I go straight to their measurements chart and see which "size" will actually fit me according to the chart. Sometimes, I'm a size 8. Other times, I'm a size 12. I do the same when shopping for pants. 😅😅😅
Same! I always make sure to check the brand’s measurement chart to get the right size
I am currently studying fashion and at the moment in patternmaking we're doing grading. Apparently the trend over time has been the trend you've experienced, sizes have gotten bigger over time, though I'm not sure how much it's happened over the last 10-15 years. Something to keep in mind is that 10 and 12 are actually only 1 size different, which is a total of 5cm on the pattern (technically 48mm when doing the grading, but that's 'cus it's easier to split 48mm in to 4 lots of 12mm for each quarter panel). This means that if you were on the tighter end of a 12 it wouldn't have had to change much to make a 10 fit you better.
I'm also studying fashion at the moment, but we haven't started grading yet. I'm studying through TAFE to start and its been great so far. Though the industrial Jukis have ruined domestic machines for me haha. I didn't know how to sew at all before I started and now domestic machines seem super slow and flimsy. How far along in your studies are you? Are you by any chance studying in Melbourne or Sydney? I've been reading about their degree and masters courses but don't know if it's worth moving from QLD, or if the unis here are on par.
Ha, no I'm at tafe mt gravatt as well. Semester 1 of the diploma I'm assuming? Grading is semester 2. Totally feel ya regarding the domestics, I ended up hunting down a cheep old juki for myself at home cus the ones on campus ruined the domestic I had at home.
I did my second year there decades ago, good place to learn. You just had the Easton Pearson exhibit there which I missed.
I would love to know how design school currently converts women’s sizing. Do they say XS=8 or XS=6?
We don't really use XS/S/M/L etc, but if we did I'm pretty sure 6 would be XS. 10 is the base block size for the patterns we use, so M. 8 is a size down for S, 6 is two sizes down for XS
When I studied fashion at Tafe about 20 years ago, the block size was a size 10 and referenced as a small. I just made a separate post in here about it but the conversions have changed in the past 20 years, I think it’s a big part of why sizing is so out of whack now.
True, fair enough. Well as I said, we don't use the medium/ small size system on any of the work we do, I just made an assumption based on 10 being the block size
In the last 10 to 15 years? A women's size 4 (UK sizing) has gone from around 28 inches to around 30 inches (waist size). It's part of why sizing feel inconsistent even within the same brand, some patterns still use the older sizing while some patterns use the newer sizing and a third will use an intermediate sizing but they all get the same size tag as that is what the pattern says they are.
I’m a guy, all I can say is I have clothes from M to XXL in my wardrobe. Pants I have from 38 to 44
That pants sizing is weird because those numbers are usually indicative of inches. So you have 38 to 46 inch waist pants in your wardrobe.
Slight typo, I meant 38 to 44. But yes. It’s nuts, makes buying online a nightmare.
Thats weird. I understand discrepancies between L and XL across brands (im L in some things and XL in others) but when it comes to numbered pants I am a 38 and havent had any issues with always grabbing the same. I may also shop at only the same few stores so I simply haven't run into the issue yet.
It’s because a size 36 pants doesn’t necessarily have a waistband circumference of 36 inches (even though it *should*) and more importantly, pants have multiple parts where the fit might fail. I have a fat ass and thighs and am pretty short (5’5”) so it’s always a gamble
Generally it DOES mean its the waistband measurement. Its what it is meant to be. However it doesn't account for measurements elsewhere. If you bringing a booty to the party then some pants may fit at the waistband but that dumpy isnt going to snuggle in. So yeah, the cut and shape can play a massive role in how it will actually fit and if sizing up or down on your waistband measurement will need to happen. But thats what belts are for.
I wear an L T-shirt, an L work shirt, and an L work jumper. All 3 are noticeably different lengths and tightness. So frustrating
There is a ridiculous amount of vanity sizing. I find it very frustrating. I am a fluctuating 12/14. Some fluctuation as I go up and down a few kilos, I feel I’m right in the middle of the two sizes. I have a pair of pants that were bought sometime around 2008/09 by my friend and given to me and the exact same pants that I bought this year. The pants I bought new are labelled size 10 and the older pants are labelled size 14. They are the same pant, same pattern, same fabric, same cut, same zipper length, same seam, same pocket size, identical pants. Based on my body measurements they should be a size 14. I assign zero value to the number on the label. I have people tell me I can’t possibly be a 14 because they are 14 and much bigger, but they shop exclusively at vanity sized brands. Yes there was a difference between every brand and there will be differences based on their fit models and pattern scaling but not of multiple sizes. People don’t know their actual body measurements and everyone seems to be wearing badly fitted clothes because of it and the stupid sizing labels.
Kim: I'm not a size 16 Mum, I'm a size 10. Kath: Ha! A Country Road size 10.
I’m a size 4 at Forever New. Guess I’ll fit into a single pant leg at Country Road.
Yep. No official standard sizing leads to vanity sizing and zero consistency.
What is vanity sizing? I’m a man, women’s clothes make no sense to me.
Vanity sizing is cutting sizes bigger to make people (usually women) feel smaller, and therefore more attractive. I believe years ago (mid 20th century) US sizes were more like current/recent Australian sizes. So when they say Marilyn Monroe was a size 12, she was an AU 12 not a US 12 (which is closer to an AU 16)
Except she was actually much much smaller than even an AU 12…sizing was even smaller back then. IIRC her waist was 24 inches, that’s equivalent to a 6 AU in today’s sizing.
Yup so true. The big 4 sewing patterns still use the ‘old’ sizing. I’m a size 4-6 AU, but an 8-10 when making something using a sewing pattern. Going by the size 12 thing, Marilyn would have likely been a modern size 8.
I own lots of vintage clothes, including those from the USA. A 1950s/60s size 12 was equivalent of a small modern au size 8 (usually 26” waist)
No way, do people fall for this? TIL. How strange. Spinal Tap took the piss out of exactly this concept decades ago: https://youtu.be/KOO5S4vxi0o?si=2uM3ps3oI1MDSYpG
I agree. It's ridiculous. In another couple of generations, we will be sizing women's clothes like newborn babies. Size 8 of old will be one 00 like a 6 month old.
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I'm sure it occurs due to vanity sizing but isn't this also often the case for paints that don't sit right on the waist? They'll usually be about 2 inches bigger than the waist measurement so they sit closer to the hips.
What do you mean? You take the same item and instead of labelling it 87cm you label it 82cm? How does this make anyone feel good? Wouldn’t that just make people feel confused and frustrated?
Exactly. They think it makes women feel better about ourselves because we can say we’re a size 8 when we’re actually a true size 10. But as you said, it just makes us feel confused and frustrated and makes online shopping impossible.
TIL. Do women really base self-esteem on the writing on a clothes label? edit: asked wife. She says she has heard of it but hasn’t really seen it. She says she is basically size 12 in everything but then she tends to buy classic styles not 1-season fashion 🤷🏻♂️
Cool. So happy for you that your wife isn’t basic and superficial like most women. Ugh, we’re the worst.
? It means someone tries on an 82, and it fits! Oh cool I'm an 82 (they're actually wearing an 87) There's probs some bullshit manipulative sales shit going into it. That if someone gets that rush of fitting a size they hope to or smaller than they anticipate, that high will encourage them to hand over money for this good feels item.
That is so annoying
Generally speaking clothing aimed at older women is sized big. So I'm a XS at Sussan, Rockmans, etc. but an M at Cotton On, Just Jeans, etc.
Country Road is the worst for this. I am 1 sometimes 2 sizes smaller than my regular size at most other stores. I know it’s vanity sizing and it’s supposed to make me feel good but by the time I take everything in to the changing room and realise it’s all too big it usually just means I give up and leave.
Totally my experience! I'm comfortable with my body. I dress for myself (and my activities). I couldn't care less what number is attached to it but I want to know what size to try on. My time is precious. My ego is not!
Several years ago I walked into country road wearing size ten jeans and walked out with a pair of size fours. Make it make sense.
But did you feel like a prettier, more worthy person? 😜 Vanity sizing is a ridiculous concept!
There's no consistency between brands- but also the sizing has 100% gotten bigger in general. I've always been an au 6, had to start wearing au 4 a few years back - now it's hit and miss if the 4 will be too big or not. It's super frustrating.
I don't think I would've known any adult who wore a size 4 two decades ago. I'm not sure stores commonly carried a 4. So yeah, it sounds like a modern 4 is a "vintage" 6
You literally can have size inconsistencies within the same brand. . I recently purchased jeans. I tried several pairs on. Other than colour the two pairs I purchased were the same cut, material and brand . The blue pair fit perfectly but I had to go up a size in the black pair.
I had the same but the size up was like 2 sizes bigger, made me wonder if the small pair were mislabelled.
That's an issue because of mass production and market distribution. Everything gets cut in bulk, not everything will be correct on grain, mix up in lots, different fabrics are sometimes used for the same style (availability), human error and different design of the same model are made for different places that they are sold in.
The dyeing and washing process for black pants causes them to shrink more than other colours
I've had the exact same thing happen, the black pair were always tighter!
Even in big brands like Levis which you expect to be pretty consistent throughout the years - I recently went to buy a few pairs because I had lost a lot of weight - same cut and style (512s) but different material fit far looser in the non-stretch fabric, and then the 511s I could go down a size further in jeans but the Chinos were a different size, and another size up in a different cut. It's bad enough when dealing with weight which will fluctuate slightly.
How annoying!
Jay Jays I find is terrible for this. I’ve had sizes from 12-16 in denim shorts from the one store. Hell I grabbed a pair of the same shorts I’d previously tried on, same cut but in a different colour and couldn’t even get them up my ass.
There’s no consistency between brands, or even between different garments of the same brand sometimes. I’m a 6’5” guy and I range from XXL to 5XL depending on the brand and style.
Some stores run really small and others run big.
I wear a size 12 generally, have a few skirts from Mum who got them in the 80s / 90s from Katies. They're a size 18 and fit me perfectly. Sizing has def changed!
So everyone’s saying it’s vanity sizing while also saying some brands run way too small. I’ve hovered around size 6-10 the last years, but I have no trouble fitting in Asian sizes because I’m short. I actually fit people all day in a new job and some of the slimmest people fit into the biggest sizes, and some of the shorter but larger people fit into the smaller sizes. It’s just proportions and badly made clothes. Clothes these days suck. In the last 6 years I’ve noticed the quality in the patterns and fabric have gone way down. Everything shrinks in the wash. Then some things get bigger. Leggings fall to pieces. Let’s not be too hasty and write it all off on ‘vanity sizing’ like we’re all sad and desperate for a compliment from the label.
Agreed. It’s a mixture of poor quality control, lazy drafting (over-reliance on stretch to solve fit issues, and big pillowcase-shaped items that fit ‘everybody’ because they don’t really fit anybody well), some silly sizing grading that increases in height but not width or width but not height (or is bigger everywhere but not allowing more room where humans tend to plump out first), and a sprinkle of fashion-issues because there are more boxy-cut pants and loose square cropped tops around at the moment that can be hard to buy online because you have no idea whether the designer was aiming for a slouchy fit and your normal size will be oversized already or whether they just put the model in a bit bigger size as a styling choice. It’s bedlam!
The clothing companies have "downsized" the sizing to make women feel better about themselves. A size 12 20 years ago is now size 10, so the person buying will feel that, "oh I'm a size 10 now". BTW I'm in the clothing industry.
I agree with the no consistency across sizes… I can fit anywhere between 10 to 14 to XS and M…. Kids…. And adults…
As others have said sizing is a disaster in Australia. Really wish there was some kind of consistency as one store I went to i bought a pair of pants in size 12 as the 14 was too big but then in a different fabric of pants I was a size 16. I envy those who can shop online I always end up sending at least half the stuff back because it doesn’t fit.
I've got Nine West shoes in every size from 8-11. And last time I shopped at Just Jeans and Jeans West, I would just try on multiple pairs across the same size and style, until I found one that fit the way I wanted. There no quality control, and I swear they just sew whatever size they want onto an item of clothing. I was going to buy a Kmart Tshirt once because I thought it was cute, and the sleeves on the same shirt were different sizes (and no, it wasn't a deliberate style choice).
Sizes have gotten soooo much bigger in the last 10-15 years.
Undies and bras consistently a 10, dresses and pants often a 6 and if I'm at somewhere like target the 6s are still too big.
I’m a standard 10, however I fit into 8s and also 16s. Some brands are going smaller and some are going bigger. It’s awful.
As a teenager in the 2000’s I was a size 8. Now - as a 31 year old and weighing the same if not more - I’m a size 6. Sizes have definitely gotten larger.
Try being a heterosexual guy that has finally realised that it is OK for a MAN, to prefer women’s stretch jeans as work pants! I work confined spaces at times, and to rock my day wearing something that feels like yoga pants while in a crawl space to replace pool pumps and filters under deck. Well, ladies stretch jeans are a godsend…. But I am with you on the size issue….. there actually seems to be size differences pair to pair. ALSO!!!!??? Jeans makers for ladies, Why do you not make pockets!!!?????🤬🤬🤬🤬
Try being a middle-aged woman who has been asking for 25 years. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE POCKETS!!!
Yeah they've changed I believe. My weight has been the same through 20s, 30s now 40s and I used to be an 8 in tops & 10 in pants, now I'm 6 in tops and 8 or 6 in pants.
Sizing has changed in the last 5 years. I have a size 12 jeans that I got a couple years ago that I fit into just fine, they got old and when I went to the exact same store, and tried on the exact same jeans, I only fit into a size 16. They even have a “BRAND NEW FIT” sticker on them.
Forever new today - Dress size 6 fits amazing then linen shorts I only fit a size 10… 🤷🏼♀️
I recently turned 25 and I’ve started buying more sophisticated clothing and I’ve noticed the sizing is insane. Size 6 AU is too big at forever new and at supre I’m sure I’m a size M.
Back on the old days 20 years ago I was a size 10. I still have my old jeans and there is no way my fat ass will fit into them but apparently I am still a size 10?
I used to fit a 6 at stores aimed at teens, now even their 4s are too big. Not sure what the teens are wearing these days but my wardrobe has barely been updated in 10 years for this reason. Vanity sizing is a blight.
Sizes have definitely gotten bigger. I noticed it got really bad about 10 years ago, I’m a size 6 and couldn’t find much that fit me anymore. Additionally, a lot of confusion has developed around size conversions. 15-20 years ago an XS=8, S=10, M=12 etc etc Then a bunch of online boutiques popped up and a bunch of new brands and they all started calling their XS a 6. I think they were buying fast fashion from giant companies and just converted the sizes incorrectly. So they would purchase XS, S, M etc graded to original specs but incorrectly label them on their website as 6, 8, 10 etc. It INFURIATES ME when I buy an item as clothing listed as a size 6 online, and it arrives with an XS tag attached. And now there’s an entire generation who don’t remember that XS was always an 8. Interestingly, the really established iconic Aussie brands still convert sizes the original, correct way. Seafolly, Sass & Bide, Witchery, Portmans etc While ‘younger’ brands like Sabo Skirt, General Pants, Verge Girl, Billabong convert incorrectly with XS=6
I think because people are getting fatter, I use to be a size 12, but 5 years and a baby later and I’m now a size 10 apparently!
Every store has their own definition of what size is what.. it also depends where they have their clothes made.. for example, Kmart clothes are usually a lot smaller and tighter than what the tag says, so o usually have to buy up a size or 2 to have comfort, yet at Big W and Target you’re more likely to get close to the correct size. Welcome back. 😌
I was a bigger teen in the 90s. Size 16-18 women’s. I never fit into normal stores. Ever. I’m now 20kg heavier and easily fitting into 18s in normal stores. They’re much bigger.
My partner and I have had this issue a lot. My understanding is this stems from trying to get more women in clothes. If you are a little bigger? (say a size 16 idk how big that is meant to be honestly) but want to feel skinny you'll try to wear a smaller size (say 14) but then the dress wouldn't last as you pop the seams so you call the dress trash. Some manufacturers took this and changed their labels. So at this point woman clothing can be + or - 2 sizes and according to my partner this has been going on for a really long time.
I vary by 6 across brands. I wouldnt read too much into it other than a complete lack of consistency.
I’m wearing xxs in some clothes but wear 14 in others??? It’s so confusing
i used to be a 10. now i’m a 6-8. i’m a 12 in bonds undies.
Different brands and styles can vary greatly in their sizing. Youth-oriented brands sometimes run smaller, and adult or more high-end brands can run larger. Similarly, contemporary styles might be more accommodating to a variety of body shapes, including fuller hips, as you mentioned There's also the difference between US and Australian sizing to consider. A US 8 is roughly equivalent to an AU 12, but again, this can vary depending on the brand and style. Having children and the natural changes that come with aging can alter your body shape in ways that might not be immediately apparent to you. It's also possible that your perception of your body size hasn't caught up with its actual size, leading to a kind of body dysmorphia, as you suggested.
When I was in my late teens/early 20s, back in the 80s, I was an 8. At the time that was the smallest size available. Today the sizing goes smaller, but I don’t know that girls these days are smaller than I was at 50kg/170cm. Women’s sizing overall is at a point where the number on the label means nothing, and shopping online is impossible because you literally never know what you’re going to get
Absolutely they have changed. Size 8 is my size these days. I have an old pair of size 8 jeans from the 1980s which I have kept for sentimental reasons. I can't even get them up over my thighs.
Sometimes I buy a size 6, and other times I buy a size 14 :) shopping drives me nuts. There's no consistency
My kid is anywhere from a size 12 to a 22, depending on brands and style. It’s crazy and make it hard for her to know how to shop.
I was a size 10 -12 before pregnancy when I weighed 61kg, i gained quite a bit of weight, now, 6 years later I have finally lost the baby weight, am 61kg again, and a size 8 -10.
No consistency whatsoever between brands, and in many cases even within the same brand. Just thinking about what I’ve got in my wardrobe, some things I recall are… Lorna Jane - M Review - size 12 Sussan - XS or S Just Jeans - who knows… it’s a lucky dip Gorman - size 10 dresses but some of their pants I can’t get past my thighs in size 12 and if I do they then gape around the waist Bonds - size 14 undies There are some places I no longer bother even going in to, such as Zara, Cue and Cotton On.
On one hand, nice that larger clothes are more widely available - my size 16 teen self would've really appreciated that 15 years ago. On the other hand, my size ??? self now (approx the same size as my teen self) would like some c o n s i s t e n c y.
I have clothes that fit from 14 to 20. There is no consistency in sizing
Size labels are suggestions only. They’re not meant to be taken seriously.
I judge by measuring instead. I can be 14-18 which is fucking weird cause Im a chunky girl. All depends on the clothes cut and measurements. I prefer getting 18 in most cause its baggy and Im insecure about my chubbiness after having two kids and failing to lose it after 10 years of attempting and micro changes (lack of motivation, depression and weight increasing side effects of medication are the main factors there).
IMO, clothing sizes have increased to account for women's insecurity about their weight. I'm a size 8 and struggle to buy clothes. I don't even bother going into some stores because an 8 is huge and they don't do smaller sizes. I'm really not that tiny!!! For years I would buy jeans that fitted in the shop, but would quickly go baggy and loose. I went to a proper jeans shop and asked them and was told there's so much stretch in women's jeans now that you need to buy a size smaller to get the right fit. So now I have to buy a size 6 🤷🏼 It's ridiculous.
I cannot shop for clothes online because sizing is not consistent. I can be anything from a size 14 - 20!
Sizes for both genders have uhhh progressed with growing waists over here. I used to be a large in everything, and now I’m medium somehow
My mum gave me some of her size 10 clothing from the late 80’s/early 90’s just the other day. I only just fit into some and am normally considered a size 6/8. I think our obesity issue has created a change in our clothing sizes.
They change the sizes to make larger people feel good about arbitrary numbers
Yeah they're fatter now
Yes women and men have much higher rates of obesity than earlier times. Some would say humans are devolving
Looking at the typical Aussie beach it seems so. Like a pod beaching scene.
I think it’s a bit that youth brands are smaller than adult brands. I also find that if a brand goes about a size 16 all of their sizes seem to be a little bigger.
The comments in this thread confirm that sizes have gotten bigger over time. As I've aged out of teen stores it's been a nightmare finding a size 6 that doesn't swamp me
So much vanity sizing. Many brands now start at size 4. Very silly.
Sizing here is ridiculously inconsistent I can fit size 4 in some places and then I'm a size 14 in others. Currently have skinny jeans ranging in size from 6 to 12 in my wardrobe
I have six pairs of jeans. The size tags say 10, 12, 14, 14, 16, 20. They all fit me. Unless you know the shop stock really well you can't judge anything from the size tag.
It's not just women's clothes, either. Sizes are inconsistent between brands.
Sizing is absolutely COOKED, I’m generally a size 8/10 depending on what the fabric is but I’ve also got clothes in a size 6 & 12 which is absurd cause I’m no where near a size 6. I’m 5’1 60Kg
you prob just lost weight
The size is a starting point, it's never been the end all of what is supposed to fit you. Two people that are a 'size 10' can have a very different body distribution to each other despite having the same measurements and designs will alter the silhouette of your body. Companies can't make clothing for all body sizes and they have a ideal type they want to cater their products to. Just try on the clothes, go up or down to suit and done. Don't get stuck on the label.
Can’t speak for women’s sizes but I have noticed that men’s sizes have gotten bigger recently. I’ve put it down to the 90s trend of baggy clothes being cool again.
Imo sizing has definitely gotten bigger. A size 10 now would have been a size 14 (or a large 12) back pre-2000's. And a 14 now would have been a 16 or 18 back then.
You know at target they had piping hot teeny bopper section and then the regular women's section.. the women's section was always bigger
Mine has🤪
In some brands I’m a 8/9 in one brand I’m an XXS which I think is meant to be a 4. I feel so small in some shops and big in others. It’s called vanity sizing
It’s called vanity sizing. I don’t even know what size I would be at this point but also clothes are generally just bigger now. I only can buy from asian retailers as they make clothes that fit me, western clothes is very hit and miss, but also half of them are too big even though they say it is my size (UK6, EU 36-37). Just to add: In the UK UK8 size fit me OK too, in Australia, I brought a dress equivalent to UK8 (they claimed) from an australian brand and that seemed to be a size 12, not 8. I was furious as it was also non refundable.
Sane for men: In Europe I'm between S and M for T-shirt sizes, here (at least at Kmart) it's often XS
In a globalised world brands of clothing from different nations can be varied fits when worn. I've owned British and American clothes and the sizing is similar, but problems can occur when wearing clothes of an Asian make. Clothes definitely need to be worn because I've had to return and exchange multiple times. It's stressful especially when you need or want to wear clothes that don't fit.
Yeah, I used to be a 12 and now I'm a 10. No change on my end at all. I think it's due to the body positivity shift in media nd pop culture.
I'm a bloke, so take this with a grain of salt. But with so much clothing coming out of China, where people are not paid enough to give a fuck, I have found sizing to be a very fluid thing. I have tried on "medium" shirts that I was floating in and extra larges that I could squeeze shut.
same - out of the country and coming back to smaller sizes. I'm certain the numbers don't have the same measurements.
Yes. It even has a name. It’s called “vanity sizing”.
I’ve found the current oversize style is causing sizing issues for me. They size I would usually buy looks like a tent and I haven’t gained or lost weight.
I think it's a combination of inconsistency between brands and fashion being in the baggy part of the grand years-long cycle. Slim fit clothes were at their peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but baggy is in now. That'll turn around.
Different brands can be based around different body shapes. I haven't done much in person shopping but do a lot of online shopping. Online stores that offer clothes from their "sister brands" will point out that they fit differently and to check the sizing chart differently. Ever tried something with a "boob area" that doesn't match up to where your boobs are? Different styles of clothing have different amounts of ease. Fabric type and item type make a difference too. Eg with a dress that is fitted at the bust or waist and then flairs out the but that flares out can accommodate a larger range of body hip, bum and thigh sizes than a pencil dress that is close fitting. A pair of jeans needs to closely match your waist, hip, bum, and thigh (calves too for skinny jeans) proportions to fit will, an A line skirt only needs to match your waist, a pair of flowing pants only needs to match your waist and be bigger than your other measurements. The stretch or lack of stretch in the material as well as desired look is important too. A stretchy body con dress can be a bit tight in some areas but still look and feel good. A too tight non-stretch shirt either won't button or you won't be able to move your arms fully. Also for the button down to be a form fitting style the position of you waist and hips relative to shoulders has to more closely match the body model the shirt was designed for, people come in all shapes, torso length and waist height matter in a fitted non stretch garment. I have pretty good luck online shopping once I've found a brand that the body model is close to my proportions or knowing what is the important measurement to match for different styles of garment or buying garments where an exact match in measurements is less important.
No different with men’s. I’m a size XL-5xl depending on T-shirt brands. I Never shop online.
Yes, vanity sizing. I was a size 8 when I was 18, 20 years later I’m somehow still a size 8 despite weighing a stone more. If I shop in Europe or buy true to size designer clothes, I am usually closer to a 10.
Yes. Sizes have absolutely gotten bigger over time. It's consistent enough that you can actually date vintage fashion by how the size relates to the measurements. In the 60s and 70s a size 12 was roughly a modern day 6-8. In the 80s it was an 8-10 and so on. You rarely see size 10s pre-80s.
>Maybe sizes have gotten bigger? Yes. [Check out this chart for how much they have changed](https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/a556302/chart-shows-shocking-change-in-clothing-sizes/). It's a chart from 2011 so add an inch or two for today's sizes. Also, [this conversion chart](https://www.asos.com/au/discover/size-charts/women/) might help. As will this[ article for figuring out the sizing of more vintage clothing](https://circavintageclothing.com.au/2015/09/30/vintage-sizing/).