Vanity sizing

JodieO · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:31

http://www.truejeans.com/blog/fashion_advice/vanity_sizing_alive_and_well.html

People always comment on the fact that Marilyn Monroe was a size 12/14 but because sizes have been increased slowly she'd actually be more like a size 6. I see the linked site has said 12/14 for Marilyn but she looks much smaller and also does in images I've seen of her.

I've noticed myself over the years that clothing sizes has changed. Maybe in a few more years it will be even worse? I've even noticed waist sizes not being what they should be.

So should clothes be labelled as they really are or is it ok to let everyone think they're smaller than they are. I suppose it makes people feel better about themselves and so buy more clothes but we are being lied to and, in a sense, manipulated.

Gigi · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:35

Why dont women just get trouser sizes like guys 32 inch waist, 33 leg etc. Save all this crap size 6, size 0, size 16 nonsense. Means nothing!

Dreadi · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:37

i thought they related, something like a size 28 being a 10 or something ?

JodieO · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:37

Gigi said:
Why dont women just get trouser sizes like guys 32 inch waist, 33 leg etc. Save all this crap size 6, size 0, size 16 nonsense. Means nothing!

Well apparently the inch sizes are also subject to changes. I think it would be difficult to factor in hip size as well though, there would be so many different variations that a shop would have to stock too many. Could be wrong though.

JodieO · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:38

Dreadi said:
i thought they related, something like a size 28 being a 10 or something ?

You'd think so but it's not.

SideWinder · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:39

Apparently i'm a size 8-10. \o/

semi-pro waster · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:40

I'm not at all convinced by the articles premise that mens sizes are standardised, they might be rather better on average than womens clothing and have fewer notable discrepancies but I've definitely found differences between jeans that have a nominal 32" waist. Now I just buy jeans for the length and wear a belt to hold them up.

I'd prefer clothes to be labelled correctly but that is a selfish thing in that I want to spend as little time shopping as possible so if I can guarantee that sizes work across manufacturers ranges then I can just pick something up and it should fit.

Oddly I've also noticed that shoes are not immune to this phenomena, I tried on a pair of 11s that were too small but a size 10 by the same manufacturer was huge. :confused:

Melm0 · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:40

I suppose if women go into a shop, see something they like, then discover that they are a size 10 in this store when in another store they are size 12, they are more likely to go to the first shop as they think they are thinner.

Money making scandle tbh

Gigi · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:40

JodieG said:
Well apparently the inch sizes are also subject to changes. I think it would be difficult to factor in hip size as well though, there would be so many different variations that a shop would have to stock too many. Could be wrong though.

Guys have hips

stevenazari1 · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:41

women are dumb.

JodieO · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:44

semi-pro waster said:
I'm not at all convinced by the articles premise that mens sizes are standardised, they might be rather better on average than womens clothing and have fewer notable discrepancies but I've definitely found differences between jeans that have a nominal 32" waist. Now I just buy jeans for the length and wear a belt to hold them up.

I'd prefer clothes to be labelled correctly but that is a selfish thing in that I want to spend as little time shopping as possible so if I can guarantee that sizes work across manufacturers ranges then I can just pick something up and it should fit.

Oddly I've also noticed that shoes are not immune to this phenomena, I tried on a pair of 11s that were too small but a size 10 by the same manufacturer was huge.

It did say that men's clothes do have the problem too but not as much. Personally I'm with you, I wish I could go in and buy without trying as I really don't like shopping. I've never had that shoes, always buy without trying and they fit thankfully.

Gigi said:
Guys have hips

They do but not like most women I don't think. Men are more straight up and down while women have hips that are curvy to necessitate childbirth. Not all of course, I don't have big hips at all but most women do.

JodieO · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:44

stevenazari1 said:
women are dumb.

Care to elaborate?

SideWinder · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:47

stevenazari1 said:
women are dumb.

And Gigi, women have wider/child-bearing hips.

stevenazari1 · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:48

JodieG said:
Care to elaborate?

[peter griffin]
wooooow men are really hot
[/peter griffin]

I was refering to how much they give 2 ****'s to their weight that they make a news broadcast on tv.

SideWinder · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:50

stevenazari1 said:
[peter griffin]
wooooow men are really hot
[/peter griffin]

I was refering to how much they give 2 ****'s to their weight that they make a news broadcast on tv.

Can. Worms. Open.

It can apply to men as well you know.

semi-pro waster · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:53

JodieG said:
It did say that men's clothes do have the problem too but not as much.

Ah ok, my mistake, I just skim-read the article and saw it explaining why some mens clothing had been standardised.

The shoes thing might have just been a one off mislabelling but even the guy in the shoeshop was taken aback by it.

jas72 · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:54

I'm glad my wife has given up trying to "educate" me on dress sizes. I love her anyway no matter what size she is or isn't.

She's nice to snuggle upto that's all that counts for me.

I must say though I don't know where to put my nads when wearing 501s it's like there's no nad space at all.

JodieO · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:57

SideWinder said:
Can. Worms. Open.

It can apply to men as well you know.

Agree there are plenty of men that do care about their weight and such is the rise of anorexia in men.

jas72 said:
I must say though I don't know where to put my nads when wearing 501s it's like there's no nad space at all.

Lovely image there

stevenazari1 · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:57

jas72 said:
I'm glad my wife has given up trying to "educate" me on dress sizes. I love her anyway no matter what size she is or isn't.

She's nice to snuggle upto that's all that counts for me.

I must say though I don't know where to put my nads when wearing 501s it's like there's no nad space at all.

big balls see.

its one thing I dont think women will ever understand is that guys dont care how big they are.

I got bored of telling my gf so if she said "do I look big in this" I just said yeah. that would teach her to ask me stupid questions.

hiroofheroes · 23 Jan 2008 at 20:59

jas72 said:
I must say though I don't know where to put my nads when wearing 501s it's like there's no nad space at all.

Indeed, if jeans aren't baggy sitting down too quick can be really painful