Tired of the small sizing....arrrrrg!

[GLC1968]

??? I have always thought just the opposite. I wear a size 2P at Ann Taylor or Talbot's, but 4P if I order from LL Bean, and take me to a Wal-Mart and I'd need at least two sizes larger! I thought it was vanity sizing so that wealthier women would feel better about themselves.

Wow, that's really weird! I have to order S or XS from LLBean because their clothes run so large on me.

It is true that much higher end clothing (not Ann Taylor but more like Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Versace or the like) do run smaller than everyday labels you can buy at the mall. I don't think the sizing difference between Banana Republic and Target is quite as obvious even though there is definitely a price difference.

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, that's really weird! I have to order S or XS from LLBean because their clothes run so large on me.

It is true that much higher end clothing (not Ann Taylor but more like Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Versace or the like) do run smaller than everyday labels you can buy at the mall. I don't think the sizing difference between Banana Republic and Target is quite as obvious even though there is definitely a price difference.

I wear XS at LL Bean too -- you are very small up top, GLC, as I recall, so I am not at all surprised that you would take an XS. I should have clarified -- the bottoms that I have from them that are 4P and fit are quite a bit older (2-5 years) and and they are sized more like a 2P at other places, so they have definitely done the size inflation thing too. Their smallest size used to be 4P. If they have a 2P now, I was not aware, but that's what I'd order from them if I were ordering today. Their petite pants have been too short in the inseam for me after washing (28.5" which would shrink to 27.5") so I stopped ordering pants from them. The only bottoms I've ordered from them in the past year are a skort and a pair of shorts. They were both XS regular (not petite) and were quite large on me, but I like things loose and comfy down here because it's so hot and humid. Form-fitting clothes just aren't very comfortable.

As for the higher-end clothing labels you mention, I don't buy those sorts of labels, so I will take your word for it that they run smaller! To me, "high-end" clothing is Ann Taylor and Talbot's!

[GLC1968]

I've been obsessed with body image since I was 10. (Sad, but true). I have some of my body measurements from back then (yes, I was a preteen who knew my waist size and my thigh size and my chest size!). When I am at my happy weight now, none of those measurements are different. Yes, there is a little more sagging and slightly less tightness to my skin, but the circumference is the same. Back then (this would be late 70's/early 80's), I wore a 12 or, if the pants were cut well for me, maybe a 10. Today...again, same body measurements, I wear a 4 or a 6. If that's not vanity sizing, I don't know what is.

Emily - you make a good point. I don't wear LLBean bottoms, so you could be totally right about that! My experience was with coats, tops, sweaters and jammies.


You know what I love shopping for even though I'm a tough fit? Shoes. I wear a 7 (or 6.5 wide). I've worn the same size since 6th grade. It's kind of refreshing if you think about it.

[OakLeaf]

You know what I love shopping for even though I'm a tough fit? Shoes. ... I've worn the same size since 6th grade. It's kind of refreshing if you think about it.

Can I hate you? I'm wearing shoes three sizes longer and two sizes wider than I was when I stopped growing in height. But I think it's mainly because first I stopped wearing shoes that constricted my feet, and then my feet responded to not being constricted. Who knew toes were supposed to stick straight out instead of curling under?!

[ny biker]

Can I hate you? I'm wearing shoes three sizes longer and two sizes wider than I was when I stopped growing in height. But I think it's mainly because first I stopped wearing shoes that constricted my feet, and then my feet responded to not being constricted. Who knew toes were supposed to stick straight out instead of curling under?!

Your toes curled under? I think the size you wore when you stopped growing was smaller than your correct size.

[GLC1968]

Can I hate you? I'm wearing shoes three sizes longer and two sizes wider than I was when I stopped growing in height. But I think it's mainly because first I stopped wearing shoes that constricted my feet, and then my feet responded to not being constricted. Who knew toes were supposed to stick straight out instead of curling under?!

You can hate me if you want, but it's not worth it! My toes have stuck straight out and spread like they are supposed to my whole life...hence the 'tough fit' comment. I have a ridiculously hard time finding shoes that are attractive and comfortable! I get super excited when I score a pair, so it's worth the effort for me.

[OakLeaf]

drift, drift away ... Have I mentioned Leming shoes before? I am loving mine so much. I have them in brown and frost grey (which is much more of a true grey than the picture on their website) and I'm thinking about a third pair in black! They're attractive enough for casual wear, I only have to buy one size too long to fit my EEEEs, and they come out of the washing machine all shiny and new.

[emily_in_nc]

drift, drift away ... Have I mentioned Leming shoes before? I am loving mine so much. I have them in brown and frost grey (which is much more of a true grey than the picture on their website) and I'm thinking about a third pair in black! They're attractive enough for casual wear, I only have to buy one size too long to fit my EEEEs, and they come out of the washing machine all shiny and new.

Those are cute and look comfy! Unfortunately, they say they are not for narrow feet, so I can't wear 'em. Bummer! But glad you found some shoes you really like, Oakleaf.

I wear a women's 7 but am weird as I measure an "A" width. Not an "AA" (which is sometimes labeled "N" for narrow), not a "B" (Medium), but an A. That means I can't order any shoes online unless I've bought them before. And shoe shopping can be frustrating as I pretty much always have to get a B/Medium width, many of which are too wide, so I have to try and try to find something to fit. Thus I tend to wear a pair of shoes almost forever, or put up with it slipping off my heel and buy inserts and so forth in an attempt to make it fit better. In my case, clothes shopping is definitely less tricky than shoe shopping!

[shootingstar]

Since I did sew alot of my wardrobe up until my mid 30's, I would agree that sewing pattern size fit jived with store clothing rack sizes for me.

I haven't sewn (much) in past 2 decades, so I don't know what sewing pattern sizing is like now.

[lph]

What's a fit model? Are they the people you see on the store's web pages modelling the clothing? Like that spooky looking woman for Icebreaker?