Vanity Sizing o_O;

[ladyofthethread]

Went to the mall with my family today but didn’t buy much. I don’t like holiday shopping since my family tends to be impossible to shop for and most of the time, they don’t seem to appreciate what I pick out for them anyway. >_<

I did get a couple of boxes of cards (buy 1, get 1 free sale at Hallmark ^_^) and might start working on those soon. Warning: those of you who left your addresses for a card might be attacked by a shower of glitter when you open them! XD One of the boxes is glittery.

I also picked out a black skirt with gold embroidery for my father to buy for me. It’s been a while since I’ve really bought clothes; I had stopped this past year since I had so many that the rack in the basement was in danger of tipping over. >_>;

Usually, I used to buy skirts in size 10 but a few in my wardrobe without elastic at the waist are kind of loose now. So, I tried on a couple of skirts in size 8 and they were still too big around my waist. In the end, I had to get a size 6. My mind kind of boggles at that because going by the sizing charts on sewing patterns, I should be about a size 16 there. @_@ I guess vanity sizing is really running rampant these days; a difference of 10 between pattern sizes and store bought clothes seems kind of silly to me. I’m big-boned and not super skinny so I kind of wonder if really petite girls have trouble finding clothes… The smallest size in the skirt I got seemed to be a 4.

Comments

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

Oh, shopping is so fun! But I know being with family isen't always ideal. My sisters are always a pain to wait for, they have to try everything on twice before they decide!

Isen't sizing weird like that? I've always noticed that sewing pattern sizes are way bigger than store bought clothes sizes. I'm a size 12 in Macalls patterns but a size 5 in normal clothes. And when I go to stores like Walmart the XS is too big for me!

I think every single brand out there has their own idea of what a size should be. You really do have to try everything on first, making us spend more time in their stores so we'll hopefully buy more from them. They must do it on purpose.

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sizing does seem to vary between brands. I believe the sewing pattern sizes go by industry standards though. I have patterns from a few different companies and their size charts are the same.

Supposedly, the reason there’s such a big difference between sizes of store bought clothes and sewing patterns is vanity sizing by clothing companies. Since women stereotypically want to be thin, they size the clothes so that people can fit into smaller sizes (like they’ll make clothes that are a 16 according to sewing pattern sizes but label it several sizes smaller). Supposedly, it appeals to vanity (“Ooh, look, I can wear a size 6!”) and helps get people to buy the clothes.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

I haaate clothes shopping. XD I'm glad you found a pretty skirt! And yes, petite girls do indeed have trouble finding clothes. **nodnod.** That may be one of the reasons why I hate trying so much. And bra shopping.... It is the shopping assignment from Hell. XD

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

*laugh* If clothes are getting so big that I can wear a size 6, I guess it must be pretty tough to find things for smaller frames. Probably kind of like how my mother has a tough time with shoes. She wears a 5 but most shoes tend to not come smaller than a 6.

[animeangelblue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I most definately agree with you on that... I bought a skirt for the holiday season, and I'm usually a 10/12, and I bought the 10 and its gianormous on me... which just makes me go o.O cuz I know I haven't gained/lost anything for a while...

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my waist measurement had't really changed much for years so I found it weird to be able to fit into a 6. o_O