Stop the sizing madness!!!

[teigyr]

It's all depressing! I'm 5'11" and am usually a size 10. I've had mediums fit me and I've also had to buy XL's at times. I have jeans in size 12 that are tight and ones that are size 10 that are loose.

What I don't get is that I am not huge. I'm tall, I work out, and while I have chubby parts I'm muscular also. If I'm XL, what about people who are larger than me?

That is interesting about the thicker middle. I wonder if it is because women are living longer? Don't middles tend to thicken up later in life? I know mine isn't as small as it used to be though the rest of me is the same.

The bane of my existence are shirts that aren't long enough. Please please please, I don't need my stomach exposed! I have to get mens shirts and I don't always like how those fit. I want "girl style" things but sometimes can't get them. Grrrrr.......

[pooks]

I'm not as tall or lean as you are, but I share your pain.

I just posted a pair of jeans for sale over in the other category because they don't fit. I would have thought a 5'8" woman would be a medium-tall (since they also have regular and tall) but these drag unless I'm wearing my hiking boots.

And as for the tops -- I am not a skinny little girl with a cute belly. Everyone concerned should be happy I want to keep my belly covered. So why are more and more pants and shorts low-rise and blouses not long enough to keep me covered?

Gah!

[Zen]

This is one of the reasons I hate shopping.

[HoosierGiant]

I loathe shopping! Detest it even! Hate, despise, and abhor the entire process!

[cinnamon_toast]

Actually part of the reason we are getting thicker around the middle is due to the corset - or the lack thereof. (Now don't get me started on Spanx - those are a miracle garment if you are going to be wearing something clingy.)

I am also a fanatical sewer and I think the sewing sizes you see on patterns have been the same since the 70's. In ready-to-wear I'm now in a 6 or 8 (bottoms) but in a pattern I need to buy a 10 or 12.

And the term for the gradual enlarging of sizes is actually called "vanity sizing."