What size am I?

[Kerri]

Today I decided to sort out my femme wardrobe.
Most of the articles of clothing in there are at least eight years old, some are as much as twenty years old.
I've lost a little bit of weight recently which makes me happier with myself. So I thought maybe its time to update my wardrobe, but what size am I?

Well I have tried on every item I possess. And to be honest I dont have a clue about my size!

My newest skirt was bought at Marks & Spencer last weekend. It is a mini skirt (Mid life crisis) size 16. It fits really well. I have another new skirt, also a mini from Matalan, it is a 16 too. Wow I really have lost weight, I thought. This is brilliant UNTIL; I tried on my Long Tall Sally size 20 (really long skirt) Its Tight! An old size 18 pencil skirt from Marks & Spencer, its really Tight! A Debenham Kilt size 20 it fits eally nice.

My newest top is a size 18 strappy lycra cropped top (also mid life crisis) its wonderful. My hippy style cotton tops, all size 20 fit just fine. My JTaylor silk dress size 16 is not too bad; my size 20 BHS dress is too tight and several of my other BHS dresses are confined to the bin, since I discovered they were big enough to be mistaken for a marquee.

My favourite size 20 cardigan is too tight, my wifes old size 16 lambswool cardi is just fine.

To come to the point. Whats happened to size labels? Are they just sown on for show? Have they lost their meaning?
More to the point "What Size Am I ?"



hugs

Kerri

[Anne]

Sizes can vary from one manufacturer to another compared to mens clothes. That is why stores tend to encourage trying them on.

When going through the wardrobe, you'll probably have to try something on to see how it fits again. Can be kinda fun.

Anne

[DonnaT]

with Anne. Plus, over the years manufacturers have changed their sizing, so what was once an 18 may now be a 16.

You sound a little like me Kerry, I've got clothes so old, well not telling

My wife keeps wanting me to go through my closets to thin them, but I keep saying I'll loose enough weight to get in them again

Get a cloth tape measure and take your measurements and check them with the sizing charts of the stores (some are online). OR better yet go into the store and try them on.

[Anne]

Some women have "fat" and "skinny" clothes stored away if they lose or gain weight.

Anne

[Kerri]

I have taken to carrying a cloth tape measure around when I am shopping. I dont like to ask to try anything on anymore. I used to years ago when I lived in London but since I came back to Aberdeen, Scotland I have had three warnings from the police for disorderly conduct. Or in other words daring to try on ladies clothes in a department store, with the assistants permission.

Back in 1999 the Aberdeen Press asked for ideas on how Aberdeen could mark the new millenium. I wrote in and suggested they could try joining the 20th century. The place is so backward. There you are started me on my old rant again.

I am one of those people with a long crossdressing history. I have clothes which I bought twenty years ago. I dont keep as much as I would have liked. But then I dont think I will ever get back to my original size of 12 / 14 no matter how much I dieted.
So the Hotpants and Ra-Ra skirts will have to stay in the bin where they were placed a long time ago.

My wife doesnt insist I thin out my wardrobe, just a song as nobody can see it.

Kerri

[Ahzz]

I've heard several times that dress sizes in maerican brands have continually been lowered to make women feel better about themselves buying a 16 from one brand when it's the same as the 18 in another brand. Supposedly this is done to get people to buy the brand with the smaller naumber for the same physical size. Psychological marketing.

Dunno if this is the true reason....but with the way companies compete, I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.

[Jadeanne]

Hi all,

There is a great variation of sizes in women's garments, with brand name, time period of manufacture, etc. I'm glad my wife is my shopping companion, especially in thrift stores.

My late mother worked in a factory making children's clothing in the late 60s through early 70s. I remember one practice that her place did, so it wouldn't surprise me if this took place all across the garment industry. Several times she told me that they removed size labels and replaced them with labels for the next size up or down, depending on what was needed to fill an order.

I think there certainly is size psychology in marketing. My wife does not really like clothes shopping in most stores, but we both like Avenue for several reasons:

• One is literally next door to one of our favorite lunch/early dinner restaurants;
  
  The size range we look at is the SMALLEST they carry (14-16W);
  
  There are usually clearance priced items that appeal to us;
  
  Clothing is neatly displayed and grouped by size;
  
  My wife is on their coupon mailing list;
  
  The clerks are helpful, but don't hover over us constantly;
  
  The things we buy are good quality and we like them.

Several times my wife has chased me out to buy me presents.

Jadeanne

[Kerri]

Yes! It does appear that the manufacturers have been reducing the size on the labels. It corresponds with the age of the garments. The newer garments are size 16 the older garments are size 18 or 20.

I also concur with JadeAnne. My first wife was a machinist in a denim jean factory in England. She said that her employers only made two sizes and attached the size labels for size10, 12, 14 & 16 to these garments.

Thanks for your opinions. As far as marketting strategy goes, I thinked it worked for me. I felt happier being able to wear a new size 16 Mini-skirt, than I ever did with my size 18 and 20 skirts.


thanks
Kerri

[Virginia]

Kerri,
You have got to be kidding!??? A person can get arrested for disorderly conduct for trying on clothing??? How stone age can you get?! Is that still the case?? Unbelieveable.
As for the sizes, yes, I believe that no two manufactureers use the same size charts and the variations can come about as a marketing tool. Before you pay for something make sure you understand their return policy! I have bought a whole bunch of different sizes from different manufacturers , taken them home, tried them on and taken back what did not fit or look as good as I thought. Some items you wear with a full slip others a half-slip, tops with different bras and it does not seem feasible to carry several of your "unmentionables" into a store just to try on clothes to see how they fit so take them home and do it - works for me!
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Love,
Virginia

[Tammy Lynn]

WELL I GO TO WERE THEY SELL CLOTHS AN TRY THEM ON AN THATS HOW I NO WHAT MY SIZE IS.

[Terri(SO)]

"...only made two sizes and attached the size labels for size10, 12, 14 & 16 to these garments."
"...they removed size labels and replaced them with labels for the next size up or down, depending on what was needed to fill an order. "

Wow, well that explains alot!

[Ann Stef]

you have to try on for size all the different styles and fabrics and give yourself an average number. On stretch clkothes, a smaller number may be assigned as a sales gimmick. The material stretches so no complaints from the customer. Your true size would be a full length dress that does not stretch and it fits well

[Kimberly Kael]

I've just given up buying clothing without trying it on first, though I guess you could just rely on liberal return policies. I personally found that I couldn't justify returning the same item for a different size more than twice so it was occasionally really tough to find the right size!

I find less variation in skirt/pant size than in tops but it may well depend dramatically on the style of the item in question. Form-fitting articles are definitely the hardest and while there's definitely a general trend toward labeling items with smaller sizes over time, there's still more variation among brands and styles than anything else. As I've detailed in another post I recently got back from a trip where I found out that "my size" ranges from XS to XXL depending on the article.