size question--what gives?
here's a general size question for both makers and gals in general: have you noticed that different manufacturers have different size labels? like, i've come to realize that it's incredibly hard to label things as XS/S/M/L/XL because they're kind of "relative" now. like, if you go to urbanoutfitters.com, they're relatively tiny (i myself have tried on things labeled "small" and found them to be incredibly *too* small...same with forever 21 clothing, which is so wildly weird with sizing). and if you go to gap.com, they're a whole size bigger than what urbanoutfitters say. thus comparing between the 2 websites will render different "size" results. i've always thought i'm an XS/S generally, but it's always a crapshoot now. not to mention that if you ever travel to asia, the sizing is totally different (like, i'm more of an "average" size and height, as compared to an XS/S). it's enough to drive someone batty, really!
so here's the deal: in trying to list sizing of my anti-factory garments, i recommend you check out the inches measurements first, and give them priority as opposed to the "size" measurements (that is, the XS/S/M/L/XL, etc). I wish US clothing measurements would stay consistent, but since they don't, i just don't know what to do!
isn't it just weird? like, at the gap i'm sometimes a size "0" (lord!) and at forever 21 i go between an S or M, and then at urban outfitters i'm an S but sometimes an M. it makes me think that the people who are designing mass-marketed clothes these days aren't exactly talking to one another or even paying attention to any consistency in labeling.
ok, yes, that was my rant. enough with the pet peeve!
what have you noticed? do tell, because it would help me in my own sizing labels...
5 Comments:
I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is.....I am an XS, a girls 10-12, and a womens double 0! I used to be a 0 at the gap, but now a 0 seems like a 4. Which also goes for Old Navy, Anthropologie, JCrew etc. I'm 32 years old & my taste is a little different than what I can find at Delias (one of the only stores that carries my size). This is why I thrift, and thrift and thrift. A 3-4 from the late 60s-late 70s fits me perfectly, and 1950s/1960s size 7s do as well. Anyhow, I completely agree with you! I don't think there are any standard measurements....
yeah, this really iritates me too! at teh gap i'm an 8, at u.o. i'm a large or 12, and at american apparel i'm an xl. wtf? when i make my clothing i use myself as a size medium (bust 34" hips 38") and decrease about 2" for small and increase about 2" for large. i think this seems to be pretty norm?
have you looked at the sizing chart on the back of a sewing patterns lately! i'm like a size 14 on there, and trust me if you saw me you'd know i'm not. crazy.
p.s. i'll have to e-mail you soon when i'm less busy getting settled in:)
hear, hear!
melissa, don't even get me started with american apparel--i tried on swimsuits there once and it was a freakshow with sizing. sewing patterns are really weird and confusing, too, but i think it's because they purposefully use a different sizing method. not sure.
anyhoo, it may sound like a minor thing to rant about, but in trying to accurately describe items or even buy things online, it makes it difficult.
cj--you are teeeeeeny...i can see why it's hard for you to find clothes!
there are industry standard guidelines, and then companies themselves either size up or down depending on thier clientele or whatever. no one is really beholden to the guidelines - though some of the differences between companies may be if they are using Misses or Womens standard sizes, theyre different for no reason.
(there was a big scandelous discussion on this in patternmaking class with the teacher back when i was in design school and alot of the companies who market to younger folk and want to keep young lithe twentysomethings in their store size everything up so us normal sized "older ladies" will only find clothes on the upper sizes of thier selection. and then other stores who are trying to market to older ladies actually size down to make you feel better trying on clothes! Its true!)
european sizes never ever change. i am always a sz 38, or a translated 6-8. and that goes for shoes too!
Hi, just found your site.. fabulous!!
I will say though I have always found this sizing stuff to be absurd! I mean I haev gone in very ritzy shops on 5th ave and found that I am a size 8 and frankly scarlett, I am far from a size 8. Then I go to another store and they say I am a size 16. which always shocks me. So I started knmitting my won stuff and use this sizing chart to help if I want to knit for others. I mean.. My aunt doesn't get it.. she just says "make me an extra large" but I want her *measurements* ya know?
http://www.yarnstandards.com/womansize.html
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