I've made it a habit of getting rid of clothes that have become too loose and purchasing smaller sizes. At Walmart I buy inexpensive pants and have progressively bought (and subsequently donated) sizes 18, 16, 14,12, 10 and 8. These are all the same style and are made in Mexico.
I just bought size 6 pants - and they're looser than the size 8's I'm about to donate! What's going on? Is Walmart now getting into "vanity sizing"? (i.e., cutting their clothes larger and thus misrepresenting the size)?
I know what you mean. I am all over the place with sizes depending on where you get them. Makes it really hard to buy off places like Ebay when no one sticks to the same measurements.
My complaint is mostly on shirts. When I was 50 lbs heavier I bought a shirt at walmart that was a Jr. size 3x now that I am 50 lbs lighter I cannot even fit into their 2x's. What happen to the sizing in clothes?
Although sizes have become more variable now, they always have varied enough that one manufacturer's 6 might be another's 4 or 8. The idea that you can pull a gament off the rack, regardless of maker, and take it home without trying it on and have it fit perfectly has never been true.
At least men get pretty standard sizing in their pants. It seems like women's sizes could just use the inch measurement for the waist and inseam too instead of using this arbitrary system. But I guess that would be too easy.
I actually think Walmart clothes are too expensive. (I'm really cheap) I tend to buy my clothes at department stores sales (love Macys sales). I recently got a lot of nice shirts for $2-5 each (although I need to stop buying clothes).
Anyway, I have a similar gripe about Target but the other way. I bought a pair of size L fleece lined pants from Target which are great for chilly morning dog walking. Well this morning, I pulled on a pair I hadn't worn yet and they were tight, all the way from the ankle to the waist. So then I threw on a different pair, same brand, same style and they are huge on me. Now that I don't get.
In regards to the same brand and style of a pant being different sizes, I've heard that can be due to how many layers of fabric are being cut when the factory is cutting the fabric for the clothing. The cheaper the clothing, usually, the larger the pile (ie more layers of fabric for more pairs of pants) is being cut at one time. So the pieces on top of the pile are stretched slightly as the cutter pushes the pile down to meet the cutting pieces/board on the bottom of the pile. If the pile is larger, the top pieces are stretched more, and the middle pieces still get stretched a bit, etc., etc. creating a greater range of sizes. More upscale clothing cuts less pieces at once, so there is less of a range of sizes within one numerical size. Did I describe that in a way that makes sense?
I don't remember who told me that at some point, but it seemed to make sense to me. I've always found greater variation in stores like WalMart or Old Navy than in Banana Republic or The Limited. I always try everything on before I buy it!
Megan...i remember someone on here once explaining that. I too had two pairs of pants from walmart...George was the brand. Same size...but slightly different in color. One fit tight while the other was a little baggier. So, yeah...i know what you mean. I try on everything before i buy it too. One shirt in a size medium may fit great, but another shirt in a medium will be too snug. My shape is not ready just yet to wear clingy type shirts. Still got this middle roll i gotta whip into shape. But back to the subject, Megan...I believe you are absolutly right!!!
WM clothes are crappy anyway, ill fitting and they don't hold up well in the wash. I'd much rather spend less at a trendy second hand stare (like Plato's closet) than to shop WM.
A gripe about Walmart clothing sizes
