I always do consider that possibility as I've cut out many labels for the same reason (though usually I have to cut the whole tag out, so I carefully pull the stitches. If I try to just cut the tag and leave an edge, it's actually more irritating than the full tag).

That's why I mentioned the state of the tag's cut edge and the wear of the clothing. You can tell a newly cut tag from one that has been cut and laundered several times. And if the clothing looks like it's been worn several times, but the cut edge of the tag hasn't frayed, that's pretty suspicious (the tag only suddenly started bothering the person, and they didn't launder it before giving it away?

Also, sometimes it's extremely obvious that it was the size the person was cutting out, because they don't cut the whole tag, just the size off (especially when it's a designer label, and only the size was cut off, the name is clearly visible).

If the tag is completely missing, I do tend to suspect comfort was the issue. But when only the size has been cut off, while the designer name on the label is left intact, or when the label cut looks extremely fresh and unlaundered (unfrayed) on a garment that has signs of wear, I find that a bit suspicious, especially when the tag is cut in a way that it ends up being more uncomfortable than the intact tag would have been.

I realize I might not be shaped exactly like the original owner, but I find it pretty suspicious when a tag has been cut so that it sticks straight out, and is therefore scratchier and more uncomfortable than leaving the tag as it was would have been. It would have made more sense to remove the tag entirely than to cut the tag so that it sticks straight out and scrapes directly against the back of your neck.

I've also talked with the intake staff in the main consignment shop where I sell my clothes (one is a personal friend), and they've told me that when they get in clothes without sizes, they have to ask the seller what sizes the clothing are (store policy), and they say people will often get mad at the question, say they have no idea, or will obviously lie. If the person denies knowing, they measure the garment and make their best guess; but if the person lies they have to either reject the garment or put it with the sizes the person claims it to be. If they do reject it (because the size description is obviously a huge lie), they're not allowed to tell the seller why, so as not to offend the person.

They've even gotten clothing in that HAS had the size stamped on the garment, and the person has used permanent marker to black out the size - ruining the garment because the permanent marker showed from the outside (then they do get to give the reason of "ink stain" for rejecting the garment).

I love the idea of getting free clothes, but I've been offered several times, and it actuality it makes me uncomfortable, although not offended. If someone handed me a bag of clothes and said, "Here, take these, and pass them on if they don't work", I'd be delighted, but for me that's never been the situation. I always felt like I'd have been in the position of rejecting things one by one. I'm hard to fit. I also, it seems, wear a size or 2 bigger than people expect, and have more than once found myself arguing with people about it, as if I'm confused about what size is most likely to fit me. It's just a little awkward.

I've had only 2 wildly inappropriate offers of clothing. My tiny friend sent me her maternity clothes when I was pregnant. One of the items was a size large. Not maternity large, just large. I think the maternity jeans were a size 4.

The other offer came from a friend who weighed 100 lbs more than me. It was hard to find a diplomatic way out of that one.

This brings up an interesting question. How well can you judge size? When I was young, and much thinner, I knew how big I was. Now, I just don't have that same sense, I wouldn't be able to rank myself the same way. I know I'm bigger than my tiny friend. I was pretty sure I was smaller than the one that was 100 lb over me, but not positive. And I have no sense on a scale less than that.

My best friend offered me her maternity clothes a few months back when I mentioned how I was struggling to keep up with dropping sizes. I know she was trying to be helpful and I appreciate that... but the idea of wearing maternity clothes when I wasn't pregnant didn't sound so great to me, lol. I'm not an apple shape - I'm between an hourglass and a pear - so it's not like the clothes would have even worked on my body shape! Worse, I'd been trying to get pregnant for nearly 1.5 years at the time, and hadn't been able to. It was kind of a downer all around, lol.

I think a lot of times that's really hard to say and, in reality, what's the point? All my friends who live close to me weight less. They're all at least 2-4" shorter than me and smaller so it's an absolute no brainier. However, in the states? Well, it's always hard to say. I have a friend who I thought was about my size (turns out she was) who I wanted to offer a pair of pants that didn't fit me quite right. What I told her was that I had bought these pants and she could have them if she'd like but not to stress if they were too big for her or something.

But it's so hard to figure out your size and I know I've been shocked sometimes figuring out other people's sizes too (e.g. had a friend in high school who I swore was the exact same size as me, turns out I wore an 8 and she was in 12's). After weight loss it's infinitely harder. I still feel guilty shopping in regular stores and feel like they're going to kick me out and tell me to go to the plus-sized stores instead. It's silly but it takes awhile to adjust your mental image of yourself.

I'm trying to pay more attention to clothes and fashion now and I'll look at photos of other women in clothes I like to try and get a good idea of how that will look on my body. Many times you can look up the measurements of the models and sometimes I will be really shocked about how small they are (or how big) depending on the garment. I really like http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/ because they sometimes list the measurements of the models and it really helps to get a better idea on how they fit on your body type but it's also an eyeopening experience (and even if they don't list it you can normally google the model's name and find out).

It's only happened to me once and although it wasn't ment to be hurtful it actually really hurt. Then again, I am super fragile emotionally about my weight.

off topic but where are you going in alaska? i've lived here all my life and currently live in juneau