topic Just a rant - inconsistent sizing in Fashion

Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

MercysMom — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:07:11 GMT

This makes me nuts! I've been buying the same brand/style pant from Belk for the last few years as my go-to work pants, mainly for the fall/winter months. I have black, gray, brown and navy in my closet right now and they all still fit great! I decided I could use another black and while there, saw they had three new colors, a nice plumb, a tan/brown plaid and a black/gray plaid. I tried on all 3 colors in the same size I always buy and they were all too tight. Makes me nuts when the sizing isn't consistent!

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Vivian — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:15:19 GMT

This has been a pet peeve of women everywhere. When men buy shirts, they can chose from collar size and sleeve length. Pants come in waist and inseam lengths. For women it's like Russian roulette. You never know what you're going to get. Petite pants inseams, for example come in lengths from 27" to 31". Four inches...REALLY?

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

05gage25 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:19:08 GMT

That drives me crazy, too! One reason I hate to order online.......I like trying everything on before I buy because I hate to return things. Maybe they changed manufacturing companies and their sizing is different. Whatever the reason, I don't like it...lol.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Mz iMac — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:28:56 GMT

1 - QVC is vanity sizing

2 - Maybe you gained weight?

3 - Clothes made in the Orient are usually smaller.

4 - Start shopping by physically going to the store if you want your "real" size which will be consistant depending on the designer & where they are made.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Gram W — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:47:58 GMT

I have carried a 36" retractable tape measure in my purse for years. I can lay out a few pants, measure the inseam and try on only those of the right length. I can always find at least 1 pair that fits perfect so cuts way down on shopping frustrations. As most of us have learned 5 pants the same " size" all fit different. For my needs and for some in the reviews I wish they would go back to 30" for regular and 28" for petite. Not everyone wears 3+ inch heels. I am 5'4" which is supposed to be average for US. The tall models often say they have on regular pants with their heels so maybe they just have a long torso and regular inseams. Alterations plus higher costs and shipping means I probably will not buy the item on line. My bottom line is important to me too.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

MercysMom — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 15:15:28 GMT

@Mz iMac

Took your snarky pill today? If you read my post, I have not gained weight as the same size I bought last year in the same pant still fits just fine today. And I was in the store "physically" and trying on my "real" size.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Mz iMac — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:30:54 GMT

@MercysMom

I asked you a question. It wasn't meant to be "snarky." Sorry you took it that way.

P.S. I don't need to take a pill to be snarky.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

feline groovy — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:33:23 GMT

I understand, but there are now more bottoms available by waist and inseam.

Levi's newest women's jeans, for example.

just Google-search to get more options...

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

ChynnaBlue — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:39:08 GMT

Yep, I agree. Both length and width are issues. I can take two pairs of identical pants off the shelf or rack and have one fit and one be too loose or too tight and have one need to be hemmed and another that works withing hemming. So frustrating.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

lilac lover — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:40:18 GMT

I totally agree with you. I just bought a pair of jeans without trying them on because they are the same brand, size and style that I bought in the spring and wore them recently and they fit fine. A few days later I finally tried the new ones on they are tight and the rise seems a little smaller... don't come up quite as far as my older pair. It's like they are cutting back on the amount of material!! Sometimes you don't have time to actually try something on and you do take a chance on the fit but I have these exact jeans and have not gained any weight in the past several days since I wore them!! Frustrating.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

feline groovy — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:43:47 GMT

@Gram W wrote:
I have carried a 36" retractable tape measure in my purse for years. I can lay out a few pants, measure the inseam and try on only those of the right length. I can always find at least 1 pair that fits perfect so cuts way down on shopping frustrations. As most of us have learned 5 pants the same " size" all fit different. For my needs and for some in the reviews I wish they would go back to 30" for regular and 28" for petite. Not everyone wears 3+ inch heels. I am 5'4" which is supposed to be average for US. The tall models often say they have on regular pants with their heels so maybe they just have a long torso and regular inseams. Alterations plus higher costs and shipping means I probably will not buy the item on line. My bottom line is important to me too.

At 5'8", I've also been keeping a tape measure in my handbag - and for decades, LOL.

I have most of my height in my long torso, so it really comes in handy for measuring the rise & inseam of bottoms, as well as the chest & center back length of tops (including vests, cardigans, & jackets).

If you know your numbers, it really makes ordering any clothing online much easier, and you'll be less likely to return the item.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

chrystaltree — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:15:11 GMT

It's not a new problem, in the USA we don't have standard sizing. We never did and we never will. Well.mot while any of us are still alive. To be honest, I don't give a diddlyquat about the number on a tag. When I shop in b&m stores (which is rare for me), my size just as a starting off point. If I'm trying on pants, I take that size and a size smaller and a size larger in the dressing room. One of the three will fit. Usually the last pair I try on.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Mz iMac — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:38:29 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
If I'm trying on pants, I take that size and a size smaller and a size larger in the dressing room. One of the three will fit. Usually the last pair I try on.

That is so true!!!

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

febe1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:44:09 GMT

@MercysMom wrote:
This makes me nuts! I've been buying the same brand/style pant from Belk for the last few years as my go-to work pants, mainly for the fall/winter months. I have black, gray, brown and navy in my closet right now and they all still fit great! I decided I could use another black and while there, saw they had three new colors, a nice plumb, a tan/brown plaid and a black/gray plaid. I tried on all 3 colors in the same size I always buy and they were all too tight. Makes me nuts when the sizing isn't consistent!

Love Belk's -- hope they're not letting go of their quality control.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Bhvbum — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:51:26 GMT

Which gets us to QVC sizing which is also all over the place even within brands. "CLICK HERE" on every clothing description has this link now with the actual measurements of the item. There are some critical like inseam, waist, bust and the actual critical measurements are there for each size.

I never have to return clothes for size anymore. I know my numbers from clothes I have that fit well.

Now shoes are a different matter and I just returned two pairs. QVC, when will you develope a click here for shoes????

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Kachina624 — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 01:54:32 GMT

@Mz iMac You need to read the OP's statement before responding. You're so eager to criticize QVC's sizing, you missed the fact that she's discussing merchandise bought at Belk and she did go to the store.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

Mz iMac — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 02:37:50 GMT

@Kachina624

Was not criticizing. Just stating a fact.

Re: Just a rant - inconsistent sizing

chiclet — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 11:47:50 GMT

I could rant about this all day. I used to go in a store and try on a size and then pick out what colors I wanted. Now I might take in two of the same color and size just to see which fits better. It is unbelievable. Yesterday I went in to a store and in one thing my size was too big and the other thing my size was way too tight. I am very afraid to order clothes from QVC because I feel it would be a miracle if it fit. I am not a shopper and hate going in and out of stores trying stuff on but now I would never buy anything to wear unless I could try it on. Also you have to be careful that seams are not twisted and uneven.