Why do clothing companies mess about with sizes?

gozaimasu

Most blokes these days have big fat bellies - do the pleats accommodate beer bellies? Not from my experience - I see the massive guts hanging over the waistbands. Except this one here:

https://2x1dks3q6aoj44bz1r1tr92f-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Man-In-Pink-Shirt-And-Green-Pants.jpg

JJ_Egan

(What are Chums like)

No style large high  waist .

Spank

JJ_Egan said:

What are Chums like

A spoof version of friends done by Ant and Dec

jaybeetoo

I bought two pairs of walking trousers from Craghoppers (their own brand).  Exactly the same size for each but different styles.  One pair fitted perfectly.  The other pair I couldn’t get into and the legs were 1.5 inches shorter than the other pair.  Ridiculous!

MattMattMattUK

greyteam1959 said:

Trouble is there is so many different versions of a particular size.
There is Chinese, Japanese, Bangladeshi, India, Vietnam & then there could be a UK size.
All the same but different !!

As per this, in garment manafacture there are generally different size scales, European market, US market (sometimes European and US is combined), then Asian sizing, which may be sub-divided into India and China, with further sub-divisions. American sizing is usually bigger for the size (eg. a European 40-42 inch chest is a medium, in the US that might be a small, in Asia that could be a large) and American sizing usually goes much larger, with many more Xs in front of the XL than you would find in Europe or Asia.

That means that an European medium, an American small and an Asian XL might all fit a 40-42 inch chest. The issue then arises when companies use grey imports, so rather than selling you the European Medium you know fits, with the European sizing showing on their site, the supplier is selling you an grey import American medium which is too big, or a grey-import Asian medium which is far too small. 

jon81uk

eamon said:

Yes I know this thread is getting old and I'm sorry to revive it. I concur that the current M&S range of mens trousers sizes & styles are poor for the older man (the skinny look doesn't belong on any male that isn't  a stick insect). What other options are out there? BHS, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Burtons have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Am I really only left with the mail order option? What are Chums like or for that matter any other online retailer?

I've just checked M&S website Men's Trousers | M&S (marksandspencer.com)
105 regular fit trousers, 50 slim fit, 15 skinny fit, 6 straight fit and 5 tailored fit.
So the majority is not skinny or slim, but regular fit and there are plenty of options.
Yes regular fit isn't the loose baggy style that was more popular back in the 90s, but if fashions didn't change we would all be wearing tights, breeches and ruffs still.

mac.d

I bought three different pairs of jeans from Primark, all the same size, albeit one was slim fit. The guy they were bought for can't even get the slim fit pair to meet in the middle never mind fasten them, whereas the other two (regular) are fine. 

eamon

jon81uk said:

eamon said:

Yes I know this thread is getting old and I'm sorry to revive it. I concur that the current M&S range of mens trousers sizes & styles are poor for the older man (the skinny look doesn't belong on any male that isn't  a stick insect). What other options are out there? BHS, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Burtons have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Am I really only left with the mail order option? What are Chums like or for that matter any other online retailer?

I've just checked M&S website Men's Trousers | M&S (marksandspencer.com)
105 regular fit trousers, 50 slim fit, 15 skinny fit, 6 straight fit and 5 tailored fit.
So the majority is not skinny or slim, but regular fit and there are plenty of options.
Yes regular fit isn't the loose baggy style that was more popular back in the 90s, but if fashions didn't change we would all be wearing tights, breeches and ruffs still.

Thats all fine until you try a pair of regular fit and lol they are skinny/slim fit. Yes I understand that fashions change and no I wouldn't go  back to French flares/bell bottoms. I may give M&S another look.

Manxman_in_exile

Pollycat said:

Just noticed this thread.

Loving the old photos of pleats and turn-ups.

And Tom Hardy...?

Wow!

And going back to my earlier photos of Cary Grant, I was delighted to find that the suit he wore in North by Northwest ( trouser pleats and turnups and no vent in the jacket - perfect!) had been determined to be the best suit in film history!

"Costuming

A panel of fashion experts convened by GQ in 2006 said the gray suit worn by Cary Grant throughout almost the entire film was the best suit in film history, and the most influential on men's style..."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_by_Northwest

I won't hold my breath waiting for M&S to make a decent suit again.

Manxman_in_exile

Manxman_in_exile said:

...

and this bloke - the 60s synonym for the well dressed gentleman...

When I was looking for the above picture I came across a sartorial style I hadn't heard of before to describe the Connery 007 suit - Conduit cut.  I was reminded of it the other night when watching Dr No which I think the above photo comes from.

https://www.bondsuits.com/conduit-cut-complex-simplicity-connery-bond-style/

Come on M&S!  It can't be that difficult to make classic men's suits.  You used to be able to do it!