UK vanity sizing

RoseRodent · 01-10-2011, 02:59 AM

Can people post what they think are the worse offenders for vanity sizing in the UK? I'm going to try to arrange to buy new clothes, and since half the time I have to send someone out to buy it for me and most of the rest of the time there is no disabled dressing room I really want to get the sizing right straight off the hanger.

Yesterday I went through the tortuous task of trying on everything in my wardrobe to get rid of the too big stuff, only to find that the stuff that still fits ranges all the way from a size 10 to a size 18!!

Sainsbury's Tu clothing seems to be the worse offender (their 16 is about 4 sizes too big for me now), with other supermarket brands up there too, with Monsoon (I only have one Monsoon item and it's very old) being one of the smallest cut.

Who runs big, small or about right?
Thanks.

Rosinante · 01-10-2011, 03:16 AM

Bon Marche runs very big. I'm roughly 42-38-40 and fit their size 14 stretchy trousers and their M tops (not shirts, buttons are the devil's spawn).

I find Primark knitwear small fitting - but then, I'm the same with Tu jumpers too: I've got a couple of 20s that I still can't wear in public, they're like sausage skins.

micheleherts · 01-10-2011, 03:13 PM

Primark are small, Next is good, although their jeans I find are on the biggish side, but then I have the strangest shape little legs and narrow hips and a belly and bosoms yuk. New Look kind of small

Flamethrower · 01-10-2011, 06:12 PM

I think Dorothy Perkins runs quite large. Their 8's (dresses) are sometimes like tents on me and their 6's are about right.

I generally find that the cheaper a shop is, the bigger the clothing is (or less accurate to an actual person's shape it is).

Really the best thing to do is take a couple different sizes into the dressing room.

ems81wales · 01-10-2011, 06:16 PM

asda is very unpredictable with there sizing but they do have disabled changing rooms xxx

shcirerf · 01-10-2011, 10:29 PM

Can't speak for the UK, but being from Nebraska, smack dab, in the middle of America, sizing is not any better here.

Good luck!

Marchmallow · 01-11-2011, 06:23 AM

Primark sizing is ridiculous! I'm usually a size 16 top, but even their size 18 plaid shirts don't button up on me!

Rosinante · 01-11-2011, 08:21 AM

Primark is tiny - their 20/22 soft and cheap and lovely sweaters still don't fit me.
George at Asda was big yesterday - ordinary tops in 16 fit well, a blouson, I had to go to 14.

RoseRodent · 01-11-2011, 10:59 AM

Have to laugh again at Sainsbury's as I received a bunch of stuff to try on today and worked down and down and down until I was trying on the 8s and 10s. OK, it's quite a nice laugh to have a size 8 in my wardrobe (one of the size 8s was TOO BIG!!) but it's absurd if you don't want to try on every item you ever consider buying, and since I'm not even close to that size, what are people meant to wear if they are a size 8, 10 or 12? I guess they head for the age 11-12.

Stripes · 01-12-2011, 07:54 AM

Peacocks have always been a little lose on me, but primark are rediculous, i brought 2 size 16 jeans and neither of them fit, like they are a 12 or something!!!

lora m · 01-13-2011, 08:40 AM

When I last bought a pair of Sainsbury jeans (at size 16) I definitely noticed they were more generously cut than my other ones and were the first to get too loose. I'd agree Primark tend to come up smaller than some other stores and H&M's non-outsize range can also be snug on the bust. I was trying on fitted coats in several different shops a couple of months back and was 14 everywhere but there.

Cat86 · 01-16-2011, 09:58 AM

I think H&M sizings are ridiculous! I dont buy a lot of stuff there these days but about 5 years ago when I was size 10/12, I had to buy a pair of size 16 trousers!

roobear · 01-16-2011, 03:51 PM

I may be biased cos i work there but Marks and Spencers are pretty good for sizes, so our customers tell me. I find i'm a 14 or 16 in most shops and if i'm not i don't buy it. I have a gorgeous Yumi dress in an XL and although it fits everywhere else i can't get it done up over my boobs.

LucyFM · 01-17-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat86

I think H&M sizings are ridiculous! I dont buy a lot of stuff there these days but about 5 years ago when I was size 10/12, I had to buy a pair of size 16 trousers!

I agree, their stuff is ridiculous. For a long time, I was a size 12/14 in trousers but had to buy 18 there, which made me feel horrendous at the time.

Autumn Gold · 01-17-2011, 10:35 AM

Topshop is on the small side compared to some shops - it's probably the most accurate, "true-to-size" highstreet shop though. Next and RiverIsland seem to be inbetween. FC and Dorothy Perkins run larger sizes. FC particularly. Their size 6s are a 36 inch hip!