Clothes shopping size frustrations (Rant alert!)

16 years ago

Last summer I was a size 6. When DH and I quit smoking last September, I put on some weight and now none of my shorts or summer capris fit me. The ones I can zip make me look like a stuffed pig with serious muffin top issues, while others I can't even get to close.

The past three weeks I have made a concerted effort to watch my diet and have taken off a few pounds but I'm still not an attractive size 6. After gardening in my casual dresses, I decided to go shopping for a few things that fit me now. I had no idea what size to even try on, so I took three sizes into Macy's dressing room and started with size 12. They were huge and I was pleasantly pleased to walk out with a size 8 that fit me well.

I still needed another pair so I continued shopping in the same department. I found a cute pair of jean shorts in a size 10. They were HUGE, so I grabbed the size 8. The size 8's were smaller than my size 6's at home. I really liked them but the size difference between one size was so drastic, I started holding up the huge size 10's next to the other sizes for comparison. Their size 12's was about 2" wider than the size 12's. The size 12's fit me perfectly.

I ended the day with 2 size 8's (a jean skirt and a pair of navy shorts) and the size 12 jean shorts, one XL and two size medium blouses, wondering if there is any quality control anywhere these days. I could tell by looking that the blouse was no XL. I'm a 34C and it fit perfectly.

I would expect sizing issues at Target but Macy's? I know Macy's is not Saks but still...

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Comments (9)

Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
16 years ago
It doesn't have a thing to do with the retail store but who the manufacturer is and sizes vary tremendously between brands and even within brands.
The bottom line is, everything has to be tried on first.
Mainly why I gave up catalog shopping.

Vanity sizing over the years have pushed sizes much larger than they used to be and becuase everything is made in China en masse, the same pair of trousers in the same size with the same item number can be different in size than the last pair.

But the size 10 of today is not the size ten from 1970.
natal
16 years ago
Vanity sizing

Never knew it had a name, but that's so appropriate ... unfortunately.
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theroselvr
16 years ago
What I would do is to send an email to the brand that you feel is sized wrong. I think if we start speaking up; someone is going to have to do something.

I normally shop in the Juniors department & find it's pretty accurate. I buy my jeans through Victoria's mail order & they have stayed the same size since I've been buying them; we're talking years.

As far as tops are concerned; everything these days are fitted to be snug & I hate dressing like that.
neetsiepie
16 years ago
I went shopping two different times with my DD's and we ALL agreed that sizing is ridiculous. DD2 walked into the store and the sales girl guessed her size. Brings her some pants in that size and she could barely get them on. Had to go up FIVE SIZES till she found some that fit.

I tried on 18 different blouses and bought 6 in five different sizes. Only one brand was somewhat consistent in sizing.

In womens sizes, an XL used to be 16-18, 1X was 18-20 and so on. Now womens XL is 12-14, 1x is 14-16. And for some reason, when they make the shirts larger, they don't make them longer...just wider. So something that will fit in the bust is huge in the waist and comes up somewhere above your belly button.

And it's true with mens sizes, too. DH ALWAYS wore an XL as he's got a huge chest & shoulders. I recently held up a Tshirt he got 10 years ago to a recently purchased T (also size XL) and it's a good several inches narrower & shorter. His pants haven't changed, just shirts. It's SOOO frustrating!

We found that vanity sizing has gone the other way. In womens sizes, what used to be an XL (16-18) is now a 2X. I used to buy blouses in a large (12-14)...that is now E
ljwrar
16 years ago
It happens within the same brand. I found some khaki's that fit at Nordstrom and wanted to stock up. The store did not have more in my size so they had three pair of the same size sent to me. Only one of the three fit. Go figure!

Lisa
golddust
Original Author
16 years ago
In the fit of my rant, I meant to say that the size 10's were bigger than the size 12's by about 2 inches. (The size 12 was really size 10 and the size 10 was really a size 12.)

I tried to complain via email today but I have a defunct email application as a default so I'm still feeling voiceless.
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
16 years ago
It doesn't bother me because I love to shop and try on clothes. It's the quest for the most perfect shirt, jeans, jacket, handbag, etc.- at the very best price too. Except bras, of course.
work_in_progress_08
16 years ago
Have had the same experience with purchasing clothes all within the same manufacturer and size, being completely differently sized than the tag.

However, if you take the time to read the Made In " " tag, our clothes are now sol made in China and Indonesia, or most anywhere but the US. These US designer/companies send the work out to labor intensive sweat shops that pay their workers pennies. There are kids working full time in some countries. They aren't given the opportunity to go to school even if their village may happen to have one. The families need everyone to work to keep a home that many on the decorating forum would not feel fit to camp in, let alone live. Cheap labor begets crappy quality control. I don't think complaining will do much, now if we were to boycott enmasse, then it may be noticed, but how difficult would that be to organize?

I absolutely hate to shop and do most of it online. I've noticed my need to return for size being my number one reason for doing so. I've always stuck with the stores that I can confidently order a size 8 and that size 8 will fit. No more. That size 8 may fit like a 10, 12 or 6, totally frustrating.

Last bit of rant. I haven't notice the designers lowering the cost of their clothing as it was being assembled in countries where the workers are paid next to nothing. Anyone else notice deep discounts because of not being made in the USA?
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
16 years ago
Prices are still the same but I do find good discounts within department stores that I never see online.
As I read somewhere here recently, clothes are allowed to be marked down but how often do you see a designer handbag for nothing? Never.
I bought a $99 Jones New York top (had been admiring it last fall- pink ombre knit ) for $11 last week in perfect condition btw, but again I never see a Dooney and Bourke bag marked down significantly.
Now that annoys me.
The whole third world mess- can't wrap my brain around it. While the conditions are deplorable, I don't know what can be done.