Women's clothes sizing...arghh!

Contains_Mild_Peril

I used to buy M&S stuff without trying it on because their sizes were very consistent (even for bras) but in recent years, since they've been using new foreign suppliers in an attempt to increase profit margins, their sizes have been all over the place. Don't they know that their previously consistent sizes were one of the reasons they were so popular? Another reason I used to buy their stuff was good sensible washing instructions, but now it's all "wash dark colours separately".
I have clothes in my wardrobe from "size 10" to "size 16" which all fit. I'm usually a 14 for tops and 12 for trousers, but some size charts tell me I should be a 16 or 12 for tops and some say I'm a 14 for trousers.

furrypolka

I live near New Look headquarters and recently I saw them advertising for "models" to check their clothes for sizing irregularities.

They gave measurements for these models.

The size 16 "model" measurements were quite small, smaller than me.

However, the size 18 model measurements were a LOT bigger and clothes made to those measurements would be too big for me!

So what size am I meant to be in New Look?!!

What annoys me more is places like Primark, Ann Summers etc who size things as "10-12" "14-16" and "18-20". I'm a fairly generous size 16. The 14-16 is too small and the 18-20 is too big! Grrr!

hollydays

What is also maddening-those mirrors in some shops that are distorted,making you look slimmer than you actually are.I dont want flattery from a mirror,I want an accurate reflection of how I look in clothes.Anyone else noticed this.

Poppy9

Years ago I used to love Wallis. I have always had rather large boobs and tops are a nightmare but Wallis was fab. I'm not tall enough for longer length clothes, but too tall for standard. Wallis used to be just right. Now they are the same cheap crap as everywhere else.

M&S I have tops in 16-20 but I can never fit in Per Una!!

Bras - lady in M&S measured me as a 42DD. I normally wear a 38-40E/F. She brought me a selection of bras in a 42DD and they were huge around the back. She then told me I had a funny shape back in that it got thinner as it went up Came away with 2 bras one 38E one 40F:o

jillie1974

its amazing how shops do it. agree with La Senza though- Asda bra i'm 36 E but in la senza i've to buy 38 F (sometimes FF) madness!
Newlook Jeans in size 14 fit perfect but NL trousers same size are too tight! AGh
M&S bras used tobe great but now have to buy 3 or 4 sizes bigger!! (stopped buying theirs)
my list could go on forever- no wonder i hardly ever buy new clothes!!

hollydays

jillie1974 wrote:

its amazing how shops do it. agree with La Senza though- Asda bra i'm 36 E but in la senza i've to buy 38 F (sometimes FF) madness!
Newlook Jeans in size 14 fit perfect but NL trousers same size are too tight! AGh
M&S bras used tobe great but now have to buy 3 or 4 sizes bigger!! (stopped buying theirs)
my list could go on forever- no wonder i hardly ever buy new clothes!!

lol agree,and on top of hardly ever buying clothes,I have to first check the label to make sure its washable-very moneysaving but drives OH mad.

jillie1974

that too! everything always seems to say dry clean only or dont tumble dry or dry flat!!
its like they cant be bothered to check if you can wash it!!

kittykirsty

I am so glad i stumbled across this thread, i hate going shopping for trousers because of the confused sizings now! I have put on weight over the last year and now am usually a size 12, i can't bring myself to try on 14's, so if the 12's don't fit, i leave them! (don't mean to offend anyone who's size 14+, i just hate the fact that i used to be an 8/10 and now have to buy trousers with legs so wide a size 8 peep could fit both legs down one of the holes! It's all down to what you feel comfortable with, i know, and i just don't feel comfortable anymore ). My waist has grown, but not as much as my thighs and the inner part of my knees, so usually trousers that do fit on the waist cling and make my legs look horrible! I end up feeling like the weirdest shaped person ever after a shopping trip!

I just love H&M cos they do tops that are really long, but everything i've bought from there can't go in the dryer! It is good money saving, but drives DM and DF mad as every weekend all the radiators in the house have clothes draped over them!:rotfl:

helen_caslass

i once bought two tops in dotty p's only difference was the colour one fit fine the other went nowhere near...

Be_Happy

I've had this problem in M & S. Was really pleased with the fit of size 14 trousers, so went back and bought another same size, different range. Didn't try on and at home, found completely different fit. When I took them back sales assistant explained that some ranges were aimed at 'the more mature woman' and allowed extra space around the waist. This may be flattering to the 'more mature' figure, but makes nonsense of clothes sizing.

Even worse was when I bought skirt from a catalogue company. It was lovely with good fit, so ordered another one, same skirt and size, but different colour. It turned out to be a completely different fit. I noticed that the labels showed the 2 skirts as having been made in different countries.

I've no faith in the size of anything I buy now.

Has anyone else noticed that when the woman's magazines feature a slimmer with the before and after weights and sizes that although the person featured ends up with the same height and weight as yourself the clothes size is different - do they squeeze into clothes?