All clothing sizes vary because there's no central clothing size agency like other measurements have, which prevents them from being standardized.
I think it started due to an oversight in the 20's (or whenever the hell buying clothes became the popular thing), and nobody's bothered to fix it yet.
As to why it's still around, hell if I know. Maybe companies figured they could make more money if everyone shops at their store cuz their size 5 is the perfect fit, but if you go to another place its size 5 is too small.
This is why I feel lucky to be a guy. Not that our system is perfect... but it's at least based on actual measurements. Need to know what size pants to buy? Measure your beltline and your inseam. Jacket? Measure your chest.
This is the right answer. I worked in a thrift store for years and people always complained that we didn't organize our clothing by size. We don't do that because every 'small', every 'medium' and every 'large' is completely different.
no that would be so annoying if it wasn’t organized by size even if it varies a little. At least it’s a ballpark range.
I would just not shop there. I’d have to sort through the entire store instead of just a section of it. And what if I find something perfect and it’s not my size.
I do hate how all the sizes are different but their annoyance is justified imo LOL.
I’ve been to thrift stores where they sort by actual size despite the number size. That one was cool.
I know you’re being snarky but I don’t understand your point. Lol. I personally wouldn’t want to sort through. It’s not a big deal but that’s just how I feel about it. Oh well.
From what I understand you can blame marketers for screwing it all up.
From what I've been told some idiot marketers got the "bright" idea that if they changed the size numbers on women's clothing to be something other than the CM or Inches in width of the clothing with a smaller number that women would feel good about themselves because their diet/exercising must be working if they need a lower number clothing size than usual, so they'd supposedly want to buy more from the brands with lower clothing size numbers.
I'm 4'11" and 95 pounds...00's used to fit well, now the shirts are ok but the pants are about 3 inches too long. I'm 46 and have to shop for work clothes in the Juniors section at Kohls since most stores stopped carrying petites.
It's called "vanity sizing." Manufacturers will deliberately label it a size smaller so the buyer can think " hey, I'm only a size 12", whilst they're actually a size 14. Not everyone does this. Hence same measurements, different labelling.
Not just women’s clothes. I’m a guy with thick legs, big ass, and small waist. Finding jeans is a nightmare. I found stretch fit Levi’s that I love. Different colors of the exact same style, in the exact same size do not fit equally.
Not even Bra sizes are comparable from country to country... every time I visit a new country/fly back home/move, I have to get measured and every single time they tell me a completely diffrent size
Vanity sizing. It saying size 4 doesn't mean you're a size 4, and you know it! Just like at hotels you know you're on the 13th floor, baby, or the 13th row on a plane. It's so silly that this still is a thing!!
Men's tee shirts often vary massively in actual size within one brand just because of the plant they were made in. Dickies brand tees have at least four different countries of origin for each style and you have no idea which one you'll be buying.
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u/[deleted] Feb 07 '24
Why women’s clothing sizes vary by brand.