Theory sizing - YouLookFab Forum

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Theory sizing

anchie

Veteran

When I started my current job 14 years ago I treated my self to black Theory pantsuit. Blazer was size 8 and pants were size 10. I loved and wore the suit so much. Eventually elbows got shiny and hems frayed and I had to let it go. I now want to get another Theory suit for fall and went to a store to try it on. I am currently exactly the same size I was 14 years ago. So I reached for the suit in size 8. Oh boy it was huge. I tried 6, it was better but still too big. They didn’t have anything smaller for me to try, so I just assume I need size 4. But I am in shock. Is it possible that sizes have changed so much over the last decade?
How do you find Theory sizing? Does it run true to size for you? How it is compared for example with Banana Republic? I am thinking of ordering online but want to get the size right.

I tried also Max Mara and I still needed an 8 - so it is not me

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

bj1111

Veteran

Vanity sizing. I know I’m fatter but somehow the number on my clothes don’t change.

High street brands are notorious for this. Designer brands less so.

anchie

Veteran

bj1111 - I didn’t notice vanity sizing that much in euro brands that I usually wear. And I didn’t expect this from Theory. And 3 sizes difference - isn’t it a bit too much even for vanity sizing?

kkards

Veteran

hmmmm...i haven't noticed this with Theory, but its been a couple of years since i've tried a new blazer from them...wondering if it was sized in "American" vs "British"... for example i'm a US 0 or 2 in a blazer, which translate to "British" 4 or 6 (using Boden as my base) .

Brooklyn

Veteran

Interesting. I’m a size larger in Theory than I am in most brands, so I would have said the opposite - they run small. I don’t get it!

Susie

Veteran

Theory runs small for me.

anchie

Veteran

kkards - hm.. I don’t think I can fit in UK 8 but if they always run very big and my old suit had UK sizing that could explain but I am not really convinced

Brooklyn and Susie - exactly, judging by my old suit I thought that they run small. I am really confused and hesitant to order now. I don’t want to order 3 different sizes - it is a lot of money for me, and refunds take more than a month. And I need it fairly soon, so no time for many order and return cycles:(

Dana

(website)

Veteran

Anchie, I think Theory has gotten a little smaller. I have a blazer (unlined linen) that's an 8, a pair of skinny kick flares size 6 and a pair of trousers , size 8. For the most part I'm a 6 in pants. I believe I've had the pants taken in.

I had a pair of Theory black pants forever, too!

Dana

(website)

Veteran

It could also be that suit runs large. Did you try on other Theory pieces? It still floors me that a brand can't run consistently, lol!

nuancedream

Veteran

Theory's pant sizing can run a wee bit on the small side, depending on the pant style, IMO. Their jackets and shirts run TTS for me. I'm a US 4. Women's clothing sizing, regardless of the brand, is insane and makes shopping such a frustrating experience. Maybe the problem isn't vanity sizing, it's insanity sizing!

anchie

Veteran

Dana - I am kicking my self for not trying something else just to compare sizing. It could be that only this suit had such inconsistent sizing, but that was the only one i liked.

nuancedream - Funny thing is, on the store tag size 8 was translated into XXL and 6 to XL and they kind of felt like that

Bijou

Veteran

Anchie - I have never tried Theory - but your experience makes me very wary to try, especially as the only way I can get a Theory suit is online and agree trying three different sizes is crazy. Is the suit you liked on NetaPorter? Net a Porter is very good at providing accurate measurements for each garment. I have never had fit issues with their clothing because I don't base my purchases on the size on the label but rather the actual garment measurements.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I few things at play here:

I've been wearing Theory for ten years. Personally, I have found them to run consistently TTS. I always wear the same size and my regular size in Theory. I need a narrow fit, and Theory tends to run narrower COMPARATIVELY. Generally, clients who do not need a narrow fit find that Theory runs a little small. They size up.

TODAY, sizes are much bigger than they used to be. Footwear is much wider than it used to be too.

I bought a size US4 dress at the Gap 23 years. It's the same size as the US0 and US00's in my wardrobe today. I am exactly the same size. Size specifications have gone down two to three sizes, and clothing is much wider. When they say that Marilyn Monroe wore a size US8 to12 in the '50s, it's comparable to a size US 2 to 6 today.

anchie

Veteran

Bijou - I haven’t tried NetaPorter, good idea. I did have a look at yoox but they are always risky to order from - no measurements and no reviews at all.

anchie

Veteran

Angie - yes, it could be many factors. I don’t have a lot of experience with US sizing, mostly Banana Republic. I do wear 4 in Banana Republic which is kind of ridiculous because I am just average size and I wonder what all those smaller women wear. Would you say that I would need the same size in Theory as in BR? But 14 years is not that long for such a big change in the sizing.

Echo

Veteran

I have found Theory to run TTS, but narrow in the shoulders for me. But I remember years ago going into a Banana Republic to try a pair of shorts. I went three sizes down and finally gave up. I knew full well I was not the size I was trying on! That must have been around the time sizing started changing.

Kathie

Veteran

I bought a Theory suit 4.5 years ago, and found that it ran TTS, and slightly narrow for me, so exactly as Angie indicated. My jacket is a 6 (and I’m typically a US 4 or 6 in tops, and the pencil skirt is an 8 (I’m more often a 6 in skirts, and 8 in trousers), so the sizing was pretty much what I expected. I do need to have the waist of the skirt taken in a smidge. That said, I haven’t tried on Theory recently.

Style Fan

Veteran

This is why I don't shop online. I haven't tried on Theory recently. I have a Theory coat which is slightly big on me in the shoulders but the size down was tight in the hips. I loved the colour and was determined to buy the coat. Pre YLF days.

Anonymous

Sigh. I feel huge just reading this. I've always wanted to try Theory .

christy

Veteran

In my experience, Theory tends to run small for me but consistently so. I’m always a size or two up in Theory than my usual sizes.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think they do run small from what I have seen and owned. But it is very cut dependent because they tend to do more fitted looks (big generalization I realize).