The other day I tried on two pairs of jeans at Banana Republic. Remember, I need new goal jeans? (btw- I have some now. I just don't own them). But NOT from the Banana. Nosireeebob. Because in the dressing room I had a couple of pairs of 6's as well as the size 8's I was wearing. My SMALLEST 8's I might add. Can you see where this is going? Yup. The 6's were big on me. Stupid vanity sizing.
So maybe I should change the tagline on our blog:
two sisters, one mission: to fit into what a size 6 was oh...about five years ago
-or-
two sisters, one mission. We'll let you know what it is when we figure it out.
-or-
2, 4, 6, 8! Who don't we appreciate: Devious Clothing Marketers!
How do you know what size you actually are? Do you even care? Any of you tag-cutter-outers out there?
Help!
36 comments:
I am SO with you on this! I needed new jeans and so I went to the store to try some on. I took some 14's and 16's in to the fitting room with me. The 16's (the current size in my closet that are too small) were too big and the 14's on average were fitting me. However I still had that darn gap at the back waistband! Hello! Don't they realize that my butt is round and my spine curves!?!?!
I found a style that I really liked in 14, but they were a little on the big side and with all of the self confidence that a WW member should have, I decided to try a size smaller. No 12's anywhere. There was a size 10. With much trepidation and doubt I took them in, you guessed it, I am a proud owner of a pair of size 10 jeans!!!! I will admit that they are a little snug -not too bad, though-but will definitely carry me through the next 10 pound loss.
Crazy. On that same day I tried on some size 14 dress pants and could barely get them zipped. No wonder I hate trying on clothes!!!!
Honestly, I just buy what fits and I don't worry too much about what the tags say -- as long as I'm not busting out of my old clothes.
I wish the sizing was more consistant but when I think about the poor little kids working 16 hour days making clothes in Maylasian sweatshops I hate to complain.
...
that is why i didn't believe i fit into a size 3 at Guess which was then followed by me buying a size 8 pair of shorts at Zara in the SAME DAY.
I have a closet full of 8s, 6s and 4s and I will continue to bring three different sizes into a changeroom with me and drive sales reps batty. It will never make sense to me...EVER!
No kidding. I have sizes 4-10 in my closet...and back in the day I probably woul dhave been a 10-16 :)
What is crazy is that I've noticed this with the kids clothing too. My baby can wear 12 mo at 8 mo when my older daughter (who was HUGE) was wearing age appropriate sizes.
My husband who really resists going up a pant size insists he can wear 33" pants.... I measured said pants waist and it is really 37".
I could care less what size I am I just want my pants to freakin' fit for once. Depending on when I bought my clothes I can wear a 4,6 or 8... and some OLD pants that I got 13 years ago or so J Crew 8s not even close to buttoning... like inches from buttoning. !
That's total crap! If I'm working as hard as I am to get to a size 8 or 10, I want to BE a size 8 or 10!! How annoying! I knew the Gap's sizing was a little off, but I had no idea it was this bad!
Yup, been there done that and have lots of clothes in the closet because of that.
I have clothes that range from 12 to 16. I wear "large" sweaters. If you saw me, you'd never know that. But that's what the tags say.
holly, That's Soooo frustrating! As someone who is trying to lose weight, I feel a little cheated. Can we please just have a universal standard of progress fashion industry?
mother s, Good point about Malaysian sweatshops. And while I agree with "buy what fits," it's silly that the size on the tag doesn't mean a thing. I should start bringing a tape measure...
marie, 3 and 8 in the same day? you need a tape measure too! lol, I think I'll shoot for the 8, 6, 4,'s in my closet.
bri, As much as I hate the deflating of sizes, I still don't even want to know what my *size* would've been back in the day.
Mrs. Furious. I don't know that I've noticed that about kids sizes- only because they have ALWAYS been whack to me. Since I have three boys, we pretty much live on hand-me-downs. But I believe you, I really do think babies are getting fatter in general (my 3 year old was MASSIVE when he was a baby)
be right back...
Ok I just read that back, and I didn't mean to say fat babies are BAD. They are very scrumptious. And I've totally noticed that with J Crew In particular. They have really gone bigger.
tara, "That's total crap! If I'm working as hard as I am to get to a size 8 or 10, I want to BE a size 8 or 10!" Amen! Although I have to say, I didn't notice the drastic difference at the Gap that I had at Banana. In fact, at the Gap, the 6's were still smaller than the 8's I was wearing.
Marijke, So maybe you should say, 12 to 16, hoping to get to 8 to 12? Ridiculous I tell you!
In my closet I have clothes from 6 - 18. When I was in college I dropped about 30 lbs after loosing my "boot camp beef" weight. I remember going into Old Navy and fitting in to size 6 in everything. I KNEW I was more like a 10-12 but when I saw all these size 6's, I went crazy, spending $200 on clothes just because the tag said size 6. And YOU KNOW a college gal does not have money to do that. I think it's horrifying! But I also know that I'm a major consumer sucker ready and willing to believe I'm much smaller than I know I am!
I wish wish wish that the tag didn't bother me but it does!! I can't help it! Is it wrong that I like my pants that are a size 7 better than the ones I won that are a 9? I just feel better in them (and it has ntohing to do with the fit, like it should) I also have 2 sclaes at home too and one always always weighs me in 2lbs lower. Which scale do you think I use???
Mindset IS half the battle!
yea, the sizing thing is annoying...i wish i didn't get so sucked into it though! i have bought soooo many things just because "it's a size 10!" or "it's a medium!" those clothing manufacturers know exactly what they are doing....
BUT, even though the sizes are skewy... good job on having the size 6's feel big!! woo hoo! sooo...what are your new goal jeans?
It's smart on their part because we will buy their brand if it is a smaller size to make us feel better about ourselves.... I think my goal - or focus - is going to be just feel healthy and have energy to be a fun mom and let my body become the size it is intended to by just being active and eating right. Whatever size that ends up - for whatever brand.
I can't stand that bra sizes aren't the same across the board either. Are there "C" cups for people who are a "B" cup to make them feel better about ourselves? If so, please share! Ü
You know what is wrong about this vanity sizing, is it makes it so our husbands don't want to go shopping with us because we haven't a clue what size we are when we walk into a store so it takes longer.... Maybe if men's clothes were vanity sized they would have more empathy!
Target runs small. My husband bought a pair of Mossimo shorts the other day, and was bummed because he had to get a bigger size. The truth is Mossimo runs small because I wear a 8 right now, and I have to get a 12 there. When I told him that he felt better, but I think that sucks. I noticed Old Navy isn't true to size either.
Anybody see The Devil Wears Prada? This post just reminded me of that. Anything for a size 4!
The girl in this video, Wendy Chao, is a friend of mine from BYU! Crazy!
I wish they would just standardize women's clothing like they do men's clothing. Then you wouldn't be a size 8 at the Gap, a size 10 at Old Navy and a size 6 somewhere else. I don't like feeling tricked into thinking I'm skinny just because I can fit into a certain number.
All that being said, I was VERY pleased that I fit into my pre-pregnancy size 12 jeans!
Ann Taylor is totally guilty of vanity sizing, too...but Banana is the absolute worst!
Ooh, I think that's so annoying! It makes shopping ten times longer. But, I have to tell you, I fall guilty to it as well. If it's a small size and they fit, they're all of a sudden "pretty cute"! I'm a sucker.
Beth, I totally laughed when I read that!! I think we're especially more susceptible right after we've lost weight. I feel much more of a need for validation.
Carolyn, ME TOO! It bugs me that this even bothers me but it does. (And I would use that scale too!)
Meg, I tried some "curvy" fit jeans on at the gap which previously have looked atrocious on me. I'm going out on a limb here but I think they might work better this next time than my trusty straight legs. I think I might go into detail tomorrow...
Jen. Fantastic comment. If only I could be so mature! And I really did laugh out loud at the bra comment. I am in complete agreement! (And Aaron hates clothes shopping with me regardless of vanity sizing ;)
Sarah, That's funny, because I've thought that Target runs kinda big...but maybe it was a different brand...and I used to work at Old Navy and noticed you could take two pair of pants the EXACT same simze into the dressing room and have them fit totally differently. It happened a LOT.
(first) Amy. lol, yeah. Anything for a 4! (which is, in reality, probably more like a double zero)
xena, No Way! You know Wendy? lol? She went to BYU? The really retarded thing is that I shop at Old Navy, banana, and the Gap, which are ALL ONE COMPANY. Even if they could just standardize it WITHIN the company, I would be so happy.
Amy, Ann Taylor too? Boo. Although while I really like Ann Taylor, I never really shop there, it's a little too high class (read: dry-cleaning) for my baby fooding, snot-wiping, dirty diaper wielding lifestyle. I know, Banana should be in that category too, but for some reason it's different.
Chrissy, sorry I missed you there! I fall guilty too when it feels close, but these was so blatantly NOT 6's I just got mad. And I agree, when I only have like a half an hour to run out, the last thing I want to do is sit there trying to find the right size.
I've found that the more expensive the clothing brand, the smaller the size I wear (thought this isn't always the case). I can fit in size 10 in Banana Republic, but I still wear a 12 in Gap jeans. And the last size 12's to fit me? A pair of cargo pants from Target. All the more expensive size 12 pants fit me first.
When I was a freshman in college (1991-2), I was 145 pounds (I'm 5'9) and wore a size 10 in Gap pants. I'm certain that I'll be wearing a size 6 in Gap sizes once I'm 145 again. That's just weird!
Oh, and I have a bunch of vintage dresses. The only one that fits me right now is tagged size 18. I wear a size 10 most of the time now in modern dresses.
I keep hearing about vanity sizing but have yet to really experience it. Granted I only shop at a few stores and always know what I wear from which store. I also have my clothes from before I gained weight that are anywhere from 3-10 years old (yes I am a pack rat) and all my 6s are the same except that WHERE the waist is may be slightly different. TRUE waist aka high waist I am always smaller, low rise waist which is really more like hips is always a bit bitter but I've never met a pair of 6s that were loose unless I was in the lower 120s and closer to a size 4. I do remember Banana's clothes always ran big though so I was more of a 4 there. Dickie's for instance always run totally small so I always have to wear about 2-3 sizes bigger than I really am. I say find stores that you love and only shop there, after a few things you'll know that you are always a size X in their clothes.
Good luck!
The size differences among brands are quite interesting. I comend you, that you didn't just "do a happy dance" when one brand fit in the size you wanted it to!
I don't get too worked up about numbers though.
Here's my take...
I just like feeling sexy. That's. All.
Right now, I'm there, and it has truly nothing to do with a scale or jean size.
Hope you are having a good week!
Sylvia C.
YES, vanity sizing is the worst! The most awful offender I have come across: Banana Republic, Anne Taylor, Abercrombie, and American Eagle.
I have one pair of jeans from about 5 years ago when I was at my skinniest. They are a size 9 and they are (a lot) smaller than all the current size 6's I have now. Even though they're hideous I keep them to reaffirm that I'm the size size and not totally shrinking as the stores would have me believe.
The good news is that you are smaller than you were. The bad news is we have no idea what size you really are (or anyone else). Oh well.
Banana Republic is especially good at vanity sizing - I wear a 2/4 there. Size 2. These hips. Yeah right. (Let me toss in that I am normally an 8.) Maybe pre-puberty my hips could have done a two. But not post. And definitely not after two kids. Honestly though, I think thats one of the things I like about Banana Republic. The number always makes me feel good.
Violet, What a difference from an 18 to a ten! And that's interesting about the more expensive brands being the ones you wear the smaller sizes in. I'll have to pay more attention to that.
Swizzlepop. Go to the Banana! the end.
No, just kidding. I read your comment and totally related because I used to think "How off can they REALLY be??" I don't normally shop at Banana. I went outside of my usual stores (2). And I agree to about the cut of a jean. All those different fits! You could pull 6 different pairs of jeans from the Gap in the same size and some would be falling off and some would be way to tight.
I'm taking your advice: Stick with what works!
Hi Cheerful and Wise Sylvia! Good for You, that is a great place to be. I admire your freedom from the scale and jean size. I'll get there too! Um, but probably not today. You and Jen should hang out, she's got a really healthy perspective too.
be right back...not that you're waiting, lol
Mamacita Chilena, thanks for the heads up on those stores. And what a good idea to keep an old pair of jeans just to check yourself!
sbg, The thing is, I don't think I AM any smaller. I was just looking for a pair of pants that were too tight (goal jeans). Nevertheless, a big fat "OH WELL" is in order.
Janae, Totally laughed when I read your comment. It kind of makes me want to see who is in charge, look at them and say, ARE YOU KIDDING ME PEOPLE?
(so thanks for the validation :)
Heck ya I cut tags. How else would I explain that i have sizes from 2 to 10 and can fit in all of them. Seriously.
How about J Jill? Their sizes are crazy...I can wear an XS, and even an XXS top from them...and I am a solid size 8. When I get size Small from them I swim in it.
i'm so in another boat to all of you guys. i live in south africa, and i'm having the opposite problem,i am presently a size35 (our sizes are different to your) and i'm finding that when i go to the shop and try on the 36's (which SHOULD as seen from my size above fit me easily)they are WAY too small, really annoying, for interests sake yesterday i measured three of my pairs of pants,all labled 36.. the 1 thats loose is suprise suprise the size it says it is wooohooo, the other two are 34s,hoe is this happening,this so so not right,its crazy,why are they making our jeans smaller????
It's sad that we're so predictable us women...most of us anyway...but I fall for it! I know it's a lie right in front of my face telling me im a size 0 but i still give in because it sounds so good and it makes me feel so sexy...and in the end...it's that confidence that makes heads turn!
I won't shop at Ann Taylor Loft anymore because of their "vanity" sizing. I don't need to be deceived about my actual size and it bugs me to think that retailers are being deceptive in that way to boost sales.
Last time I shopped there (ATL), I could swear they also modified their mirrors somehow because I definitely looked thinner than normal in the fitting room mirror, but then when I got the items home and tried them on, I looked bigger in my own mirror!
I find sizes that look like they would fit me, fit too small. It's very depressing to the point I look to my old clothing as motivators. I barely go shopping. Everything is either too big or too small.
Ever try finding a shirt that would fit nicely with a 38DDD? it's hard!
This year I stopped fitting the new 0 and 00 sizes at most stores. I acutally gained weight for the first time in years this year, too. I AM NO LONGER A PERSON ACCORDING TO (adult) CLOTHING MANUFACTURORS!
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