So now I have three things in my current wardrobe that arer a size 8. Other things arer a size 10 and many size 12s still fit. How is it I can fit 3 sizes at once? Some even by the same designer? I couldn't do that when I was wearing a 20 or an 18 or a 16 or even a 14. I was that size and that was it. but after that, I can now wear several different sizes depending on the cut and designer.

And I'm flabebergasted by how small the clothes look on the rack and they fit on my body! What?? Yet the 14s look so big now and a few months ago they looked so small.

Isn't it odd. Is it vanity sizing or just the cuts? I was in Ross the other day and size 6s and mediums were fitting well. I later went to Burlington but could only wear the 8s or above. I am currently sitting in some size 10 jeans I bought in November and they are too too big. But I guess it also matters what you are wearing. I can fit into smaller size jeans and cotton clothes but synthetics or things that are supposed to be tailored have to be a little bigger to look neat.

I'm noticing a lot of it is the cuts. I don't look good in low rise pants. Mid rise is fine, but not low rise. And in low rise, I need a larger size - like a 12.

And it is true, clothes that are stiff construction, or no give to them, I need a bigger size. Though, I tired on a suit today in a size 10 with no give to it and it was well tailored and it fit great except the darts for the boobs were too small so they smooshed the boobs flattish. But it fit perfect in the waist, hips and arms.

Of course it's vanity sizing. A size 8 now is like a 12/14 when I was a teen.

Oh gosh depending on the cut or brand I can wear different sizes!!

I have pants in sizes 14 girls to a women's 6, all that fit me perfectly. I tend to do best with low-rise jeans, I find. Before I lost weight I couldn't wear low-rise jeans at all!

I remember trying on different cut jeans at the same store. The "curvy" style was made for someone with wider hips I think. When trying those on they were roomy in the hips, but tight at my lower waist. The "classy" style fit me perfectly...in the smaller size!

It's certainly frustrating and annoying. I'm going to need a new suit soon and I'm NOT looking forward to shopping for that.

I know the feeling! I'm mostly between 6's and 8's right now but I still have one pair of 6's in my closet that are definitely too small whereas some of them are getting big already! Then I went to the Levi's store to try on pants and one 6/28 was gapping like crazy in the back while at the same time another 8/29 gave me a serious muffin top.

What drives me nuts more than anything else is that according to most size charts I should be something like a 12/14!?!?

yep same here. I have everything from 8's to 14's......Usually in 12's and able to squeeze into some 10's depending, exactly as you describe, on the cut - material - even brand.

Isn't the confusion fun? It's for this reason that I tend to find one or two clothing stores I like/am familiar with sizing-wise and stick to them when possible. Most of my clothing is size 2 or 4 now, but in some stores (those notorious for vanity sizing, of course - I'm looking at you, Ann Taylor Loft!) I take a size 0, and in other stores sometimes a size 6 is bordering on muffin-top territory! Buying clothes online is really convenient, but not really an option for me unless I'm already familiar with a particular brand's sizing scheme. I find that even when I go by the measurements on sizing charts, I usually end up with something too big - annoying!

I worked in a clothing store for years while in college, and I'll never forget the groans of frustration that would emanate from the fitting rooms.

Another thing that is probably happening to you is that smaller sizes are closer together than the plus sizes. You have to lose 20 or more pounds to move from a 24 to a 22, but there may only be 10 pounds between an 8 and a 10. Add the fact that different designers cut sizes differently and no wonder it's so confusing. I can't wait to have your problem! Hehe.

Liz

That drives me completely bonkers. Yes, according to a designers chart I would wear a 14, but that same designers a 10 fits pfectly no mattere of theirs I try on.

I guess it would help if I shopped a specific store, but I don't. I mainly shop TJmaxx and Marshall's and if I go to the mall I hit Nordstroms or Lord and Taylor. Even when I go to REI they are a bunch of different designers.

This is definitely true. At my top weight down to about 200 I could wear one size and that was it no matter who the designers were. Now I have this range of sizes I depending on the designer and cut and I drop sizes much faster.

My ultimate goal is to get to a size that is comfortable for me and then get rid of anything bigger than that size. If that size starts to get tight, it's time to drop pounds, not buy a larger size. I thought that size would be a 12 before I knew MORE vanity sizing has taken place. Now I think it will probably be a 6 for a few designers and an 8 for others.

Just wanted to update this. I went to Marshall's today and grabbed a bunch of things to try off the clearance rack. I was eyeballing for size as much as I was looking at the size in the section. Since the sections were small, it was easy to eyeball everything there.

Back to the dressing room I took:

Size 4, Size 6, Size 8, Size 10.

The size 4 fit - a bit tight but wearable. That was one HUGE size 4 no wonder it was on the clearance rack!

Size 6 was a bit tight and not flattering cut, but again, it was wearable.

Size 8 - all that I had fit, one was a bit tight - had 4 items.

Size 10 - two items, one was a bit snug - like the size 4 fit me and one could have fallen off if I walked around in them without belting it.

What the heck????? it's getting worse the smaller I get!

Vanity sizing has gone crazy. When I was in my 20s and weighed 145 to 155 lbs I wore size 11/12 or 13/14 pants. Now, at age 55 and 145 lbs, I have one pair of pants in a size 4 (!), a few 6's, and a couple of 8's.

Freelance

Sizing is all over the board!!

I have jeans in size 12, 10, 13, 11, and 8 that fit. I have bathing suits in 12, 10, 8, and 6(!!!) that fit. The one in my avatar is a 6. I have formal dresses in 6,8,and 10 that fit... I feel like there is no rhyme or reason to it anymore!

I actually have two pairs of pants from the GAP a size 4 and size 6. The size 4 I can get on but is still slightly too tight whereas the size 6 won't even button!! I laid the 6 on top of the 4 and it's at least an inch smaller than the 4 around the waist! What's even crazier is that the 4 is stretch trouser whereas the 6 is low-rise, which if anything means the 4 should run small since it's made out of stretchier material and the 6 should run larger because it's supposed to sit lower on your waist!

There are no standards for sizing women's clothing and depending on the quality control of the place one shops, the sizes can be completely unreliable (I once tried on a medium that was larger than the large - of the same item).

I usually take into a changeroom the size I think I will fit, the one above and the one below. Then who knows which one I'll come out with. It depends on the cut of the item.

I've kind of giving up on new clothing as a judge of my weight, but then, I also sew and patterns are not vanity sized so I can track it that way.