Documenting size inflation

[Tad]

Anyone who has been buying clothes for a decade or more has seen it: for a given tag size, the clothes have gotten bigger. The economist through some numbers at this (although only up to an 18). Article and chart here:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/04/daily-chart-1?fsrc=nlw|newe|4-4-2012|1297789|37020722|

[CastingPearls]

This is old news. It's called 'vanity sizing'.

[LinathSuru]

Originally Posted by CastingPearls

This is old news. It's called 'vanity sizing'.

And it's obnoxious... Because it contributes to the 'different designers have different sizes'. So hard to find clothes in the right size when every designer has a different idea about what a 28W is. And I list that size because it's around what I wear (somewhere between a 26W and a 30W, depending on designer) and because I find the variance is worse in plus size clothing than in 'normal' size clothes.

It seems like when I wore a 16W or a 12W they were pretty universal in how they fit, but then again I may just be viewing the past with rose-colored glasses... Or maybe when I was younger/smaller I shopped at the same stores more often. *shrug*

Anyway, sorry for my mini-rant.

[CarlaSixx]

I hear you on how frustrating it is. I'm a 28 at my local store, but depending where I go... I can fit in a 24/2x with room to spare, or some places a 5x/32 is even too small to get into. It's very very frustrating.

But I've definitely noticed vanity sizing even in the past 10 years. I still have a pair of zip-off cargo pants in my closet from when I was 12. The tag reads size 28, and it has no give in the fabric, except for an elastic band at the back part of the waistband. Now... I have a pair of pants I bought recently that also reads size 28 with no give in the fabric and no elastic waistband, and it practically falls off me on most days. They are NOT the same size. In fact, I'd say that the cargo shorts would be considered a 20-22 these days compared to my 28 pants from this year. AND... they were bought at the same store at that!

[Skye23]

I can wear anything from an 18-28 depending on manufacturer, and a 1x-3x. Its bloody annoying I tell you. Even within the same store (Fashion Bug, Lane Bryant). I might wear one size in one brand and another size in another brand or even another line also made by the same company.