Sizes tripping me up lately - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Sizes tripping me up lately

Maya

Veteran

I don't know why, seeing as how I haven't lost weight, but lately I have been grabbing my usual S's and 4's and frequently finding them surprisingly large and sloppy. Yet the S's and 4's in my closet don't seem too big.

Weird.

Anyway, since I am Team Online (more convenient) this is making things harder. I used to be very reliably S, and occasionally XS (an 80/20 split). Now it's more like 40/60 or even 50/50.

So I need some input. I'm stalking all of these sweaters and would appreciate any info on sizing, if anyone has tried them.

-I'm assuming since this is junior's I should err on the size of bigger...but to an S or an M?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....hoppingbag

-Same with this

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....hoppingbag

- http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....hoppingbag

-I usually find Halogen to be large. Am I alone on this?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....hoppingbag

- http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....hoppingbag

- http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....hoppingbag

Thanks!

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from Sparky

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I can't speak to those exact brands but I found in Jr.s I was a medium in some lightweight cardis but I am right between xs and s in Banana Republic. Sucks to be right between sizes, huh?

Reneeb

Veteran

I don't know about juniors but Halogen runs about 1 size large to me. Kennth cole is pretty much TTS. You have picked some pretty cardigans. I like the red KC.

Velma

Veteran

Vanity sizing has gotten completely out of hand! I am more and more often a size small--and I am by no means a small woman (5'9" and 135 lbs.). What are the actually petite people supposed to do?

Debbie

Veteran

Maya I usually run a S to M. I have actually tried the Halogen Stripe Cardigan on and needed a small.

Maya

Veteran

I don't think it's vanity sizing. I think people are getting bigger and sizing simply reflects that.

That said I'm 5'2 and 110 pounds, so I am actually petite...just very curvy, so my size makes sense to me. I just wish I wasn't so in between.

Thanks Debbie. I think I need an XS then.

Irene

Veteran

I am 5,4'', weight less than 120 pounds and use an L (for coats). I know, impressive. I don't know what large women are expected to buy, people around me insist that I look too slim. I do have broad shoulders, but they are not THAT broad. At different shops I can be three different sizes, and that drives me crazy because I never know what size should I get. I'm happy I don't have to shop online, coz that would be even worse.

ps: I'm Spanish, I know in the States things are quite different... I met a girl from California last year who was surprised because what in USA was an S, turned into an M in Britain... and probably into an L in Spain. We're basically crazy. And then we worry about models being to skinny...

Maya

Veteran

Airin, you proved my point exactly. Different markets cut their clothes differently. For most Asian brands I wear an M or even an L because the clothes are cut smaller and straighter. In European chain stores like H&M, Zara, and Esprit I wear a bigger size than in most US stores.

It's understandable that US stores cut their clothes more generously, considering the people are more generous in overall size. We also have, compared to most other countries, quite a broad range of extended size options and markets. When all is said and done, I think we are very lucky to have so much selection. For all the complaining I hear, the truth is, we have LOTS of options (the notable exception being narrow calf boots, which we have complained about extensively on this forum). My post isn't meant to be a complaint. Just an observation.

The thing that baffles me is when women complain that sizes don't represent the average woman yet also complain about "vanity sizing." Seriously, there is NOTHING designers and manufacturers can do. People will always find faults, unfortunately.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I, for one, would like to buy my pants like men do - by waist and inseam. Size 27 low rise jeans have a 30, 31 or 32 inch waistband depending on which brand, for instance. Just list the rise, waistband and inseam and I'd be a LOT closer to finding the right size. That's why I sometimes find great stuff on eBay. I can ask the seller for specific measurements. Even dresses could be listed by hip and bust measurement for easier guessing. 4 or 6 is just too vague a system in my opinion. Heck, men get shirts by collar and sleeve length measurements as well. I'm all for it on women's clothes!

Maya

Veteran

I still don't think that would necessarily work. Women are just harder to fit, period. We have more curves, and the curvier a woman gets, the less likely she is to fit into standard clothing sizes. Curves are unpredictable and female proportions vary widely compared to male, and things get harder as sizes get larger because a larger size also means greater potential for variation.

A man doesn't walk into a store and know what to get because the size labeling is easier. He is just more angular and thus easier to fit (and let's face it--there are a WHOLE lotta men out there who still manage to bungle the whole process up and just buy the biggest size they can find under the mistaken impression that as long as they can find their body somewhere in it, it fits...).

A waistband on womens' jeans also differs based on rise. The higher the rise, the closer to the actual waist measurement it is.

Personally I don't have a major gripe with "the system" we have in place. Sizing for women's clothing is and always will be challenging, and finding clothes that fit perfectly will be challenging too.

Anonymous

Maya, I love how you are careful to get the fit right and have learned a lot from your posts. I hope you have good luck with these sweaters. I'm especially liking the last one but wish it came in a true red.
I've also noticed that sizing seems to be getting bigger . For example I have older BR pants that fit just right in a size 4 but now need to get a 2 to fit the same way. I'm also noticing that I have to go down a half size in many shoe sizes including Me Too. So confusing!

Marigold

Maya, I do have the very first one of the cardigans! It's really nice, soft and thin. For your reference, I'm 5'6'' and 115-120 lbs (depending on the day ;} ), and I ordered M.. Do you need a mod pic ;: ?
Love the other cardigans as well, I got the gray along with the drop shoulder Caslon cardi and a Bobeau (sp?) fly-away cardi that I returned, as it's dry clean only...

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Actually men's sizes have variation as well. I saw a report on the news about a month ago that actually measured men's jeans and there was a huge variation between the stated waist and length and actual waist and length. Vanity sizing exists there. I'm with Maya that's there too much variation in women's shapes.

Megan

This is rampant in Australia too- our sizing is different (a Aus6 is the smallest and is= US0). I used to be able to wear 6's without a problem and most often they are too big now and there are no smaller options.

Some of the teen stores (like Old Navy I guess?) have started making XXS's which is great for basics.

I'm so glad I found YLF and realised the range of options in the US

I've also noticed the shoe sizing issue- I used to wear a 7 and am now in a 6 or 5.5!

Barbara

Veteran

Maya, sizing IS crazy. But one thing is for sure: Junior clothing IS NOT cut for a real woman's body. I quit perusing that department decades ago. At 5'8" and 130 pounds, I have clothing ranging from 2 to 8, small, medium AND large. Vanity sizing does exist, but I totally ignore it.

catgirl

Veteran

Maya, you said "I don't think it's vanity sizing. I think people are getting bigger and sizing simply reflects that." I'm confused, because isn't that what vanity sizing is? I have been the same size or gained a few pounds over the last 20 years, and I used to be a (vintage) size 10 - now I am a 4 in most brands.

It confuses me because an inch is still an inch, so shouldn't a 4 still be a 4?

Velma

Veteran

I'm with you, Alaskagirl. I was a 10 and size M in high school ('80s), and now--15 lbs later--I am a 6 or sometimes even a 4. American sizes used to be the same as British sizing, I believe, because I now wear a 10-12 in English brands. Vanity sizing allows us all to believe we are all the same size as we ever were, while in fact, Americans have gotten a lot bigger.

Don't get me wrong: I think it is marvelous that a broad range of sizes is available, but I do wish that the sizes were standardized or at least consistent across time within the same brand.

The one GOOD thing that has happened in sizing since the 1980s, from my perspective, is that at 5'9" and 33.5" inseam for flats, it's no longer much of a problem to find jeans that are long enough. I think that is due to PPL and shorter women who want to wear heels and have their jeans drag on the floor. Regular women's jeans used to have a 30-31" inseam, but something like 32-34" is now pretty standard. Good for me!

Anonymous

This sizing thing has been happening to me too! It's so annoying. I looked at the sweaters, but I haven't tried any of them on, so can't comment.

Maya

Veteran

AG, vanity sizing is the idea that companies alter their sizing schemes to appeal to consumers' sense of vanity by making them feel that they are thinner than they really are. It's a conspiracy theory, if you ask me.

And no, an inch and a 4 are not comparable. Have you seen dress patterns from the 50's? I would be considered large by those standards, and I am much smaller than the average woman. How does it make sense to use the same sizing schema that existed then?

People--as in humans in general--are bigger now than ever, and are continuing to get larger. Sizing has to change to accommodate the people who are wearing the clothes. I don't understand how anything else could make sense, either from the standpoint of business or logic. Why would anyone design clothes that a majority of people can't wear? Even now, a medium--which should represent the average--is a good 1-2 sizes smaller than average if average is considered a size 12/14. A medium typically corresponds to an 8-10. So no, I don't believe in vanity sizing.

Anyway, this has gotten way off topic. My post had nothing to do with whether or not vanity sizing exists or not. I was just looking for input on those sweaters!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

All I can say is that just because people are getting bigger does not mean sizes need to change. They just need to keep making larger sizes for the bigger people. That's like saying houses are getting larger so we should change what the square footage means. It's illogical. A cup of milk is still 8 ounces 100 years later. Why does a size 6 need to be any different than a cup of milk. Jus' sayin.
And yes, I agree, we got off topic with sizes changing. I still think it sucks to be between whether I'm between a XS to S or a M to L!!

Sparky

Veteran

Maya, i haven't had a chance to read through all the replies, but here's my answer to your original post ~ you and are are similar sizing, at least we're the same height and have the same hips (and maybe the same waist? can't remember). I'm a smaller bust though. And shorter limbs. In BP, I take a medium in their camisoles, and a medium as well in some BP three-quarter sleeve cotton cardigans. So I'd suggest sizing up to M for the junior items.

In Kenneth Cole I usually take XS, so I suspect you would too. I'd agree that Halogen tends to run a bit large. I have that Halogen BF cardi you linked to, in XS petite (those short limbs again). If you took XS in the Halogen sleeveless silk top, I bet you would take the same in the BF cardi.

I was thinking the other day how a long time ago I was a size 8 at Ann Taylor and now I tend to be a 2 there, so I was wondering, what are all the women who used to be a size 2 wearing now? The 2s would be 00s or some negative number, but AT and most places don't go that low, right? My head was hurting trying to figure it all out.

Maya

Veteran

Mo, it's not possible for retailers to just keep tacking on more sizes from a business perspective. If they did, then it would simply mean modern sizing would start at an 8 instead of a 0, and the largest missy size would be a 24 instead of a 16 or 18 or whatever it is depending on the line. They're trying to fit and include as many people as they reasonably can, but inevitably some people will be off the radar, and that would be the case no matter how they labeled sizes. I'm certain that a lot of thought and analysis goes into these decisions, and I'm giving the designers and manufacturers the benefit of the doubt. There is a reason it is their job and not ours.

In the end, we all find clothes that fit us, so really...who cares how they decide on sizing? I don't! I'm glad there is so much variation in fit, and that it is constantly evolving. It's frustrating when shopping online, but it's a minor complaint.

Sizing up humans is not comparable to sizing up a piece of furniture or a glass of water. I'll leave it at that.

Anyway, Sparky, I actually took a SP in my Halogen bf cardigan (a different one), probably because of my bust. The military jacket I tried on was a regular XS but was too big in the shoulders and the tank was a regular XS. Hmm. I guess if I get a regular I can get a XS, but if it's a petite I'll get an SP. For future comparisons, I have a 25-26 inch waist depending how much I have eaten...and, I know no one will believe me, but my bust is only 33" at the fullest point. Wild huh!

To answer your question, I just think there are a whole lot fewer people who would fit into an 80's size 2. I mean seriously. People are just so much bigger now than then.

catgirl

Veteran

I'm still confused because I feel thinner as a size 4, but only until I realize I can't fit into a size 12 skirt my mom used to wear! Didn't mean to hijack your thread though so I'll start a new one.

Anonymous

I used to wear a XS or a 0-2. More recently, I find that I need a XXS or 00 in most stores to get the right fit. The problem is even retailers that carry XXS or 00 don't carry them in the stores. This makes shopping for something that fits well a hassle as I often have to order things I saw in stores online and hope it will work! Or take things which fit poorly to a tailor...which is an extra expense!

I wish there was a larger variety of sizes in the stores!

Sparky

Veteran

Maya, I just looked at my Halogen BF cardi, and it turns out it's a SP, not XSP. Sorry about that; hard to keep track what sizes everything I have is in. And FWIW, my waist is around 25.5" and bust is 32" so we are pretty close in measurements.

You picked out some really neat pieces, BTW. I hope some work out for you.