The FastDay Forum

Why on earth is there such a vast difference in clothing sizes....depending on where I buy clothes my size can be anything between 14 and 20.

I know, this drives me bananas too. On one memorable occasion I bought 2 pairs of trousers in the same shop on the same day in 2 different sizes and both fitted me perfectly well. Go figure!

Add to that clothing online in American and European sizes and I'm completely lost.

Try this.... (I've found it accurate for me!)

http://sizes.darkgreener.com/

Now that I've lost a size or two, I really have NO idea when I go into a shop what I should be looking at.
Trying to get some summer clothes, and in one way its fun- eg being able to get clothes in regualar shops, but it's also confusing and a bit disorientating.
I also have no clue as to what actually looks best on me any more.I'm size 14 in most pants, still usually large or 16 in tops. I haven't tackled dresses yet.
Not actually complaining as it's a wonderful problem to have, but it's tricky!

Tell me about it

It has (will use past tense at the mo!) depressed me everytime I went shopping. Because of this I would only go say a couple of times a year.

M&S, at some points I would be talking 4 sizes of say a t shirt into the changing rooms, only to find another style would be a different size again.

For that reason, I used to buy alot of clothes that wouldn't cling (and cos I wanted to hide the tummy area ). It put me off looking and getting any enjoyment.

However I am two sizes smaller and now looking at 14/16 (14 top). Only discovered this last week But I am expecting to be say a 16/16 in some brands. This does open the door for alot more choice though

Although it is still so easy to pick up the larger size as that is what you are used too; I have been doing this recently instead of going for a 14...in my head I am still a 16/18 !!

@domane. What a clever tool, thank you I also put in the numbers I 'hope' to be when I'm at my target weight - which was very motivational

Try this.... (I've found it accurate for me!)

http://sizes.darkgreener.com/

Thank you ,this is really useful! X

I bought a black skirt to wear to a funeral 17 years ago, it was from M&S and it was a size 12 and it has languished at the back of my wardrobe ever since. The other day I bought a new black skirt from M&S (no funeral this time) and it is a size 8, now, that sounds lovely but, and here's the rub, the new size 8 is BIGGER than the old size 12. How is this supposed to work? How can someone with a stomach and waist the size of mine possibly be a size 8 in any make? Daft or what? Obviously M&S are doing vanity sizing

Ballerina x

@domane. What a clever tool, thank you I also put in the numbers I 'hope' to be when I'm at my target weight - which was very motivational

Hadnt thought ofthat karen,must do it immediately..it will be very motivational x

Thanks now all I have to do is book a flight and come over your way shopping

We do have to alter our thinking clothes size wise but am so used to 2 sizes up it is still a shock.
Agree @Ballerina that the sizes are all over the place. But am chuffed when lately I fit into a couple of sizes lower. Size 10 as long as I don't breathe

Try this.... (I've found it accurate for me!)

http://sizes.darkgreener.com/

Thank-you so much for posting that @Domane, you are a star, a very *slender* star!

The calculator consoles me a great deal: I managed to slide into a very nice LBD in a size 8 a few days back and was feeling rather smug, and had all the smugness wiped out yesterday when I tried on a lovely Monsoon frock that was a good inch and a bit away from zipping up at the bust!

I think Jaeger has to be my favourite (size 8 waist & bust, 6 hips), and Banana Republic the funniest (4 hips, 6 waist and 8 bust) - if I try my 'aspirational' figures with the latter I'm off the bottom of the scale (which is plain silly).

[janeg]

ooof, work shirts are tiny and I ended up with a small male one. Tried on the ladies ones again today, Can do L but would be slightly restricted in the arm movement department. So XL it is....em no thank you. They are shaped and shorter to sit out over trousers but they still look like sacks on me- tight sacks. I have no shape.
grumbles off to the shapeless t shirts and S male shirts......
grumble grumble
I have to say that the ladies at work are tiny from the Phillipines...