The FastDay Forum

I've been out shopping today in second hand shops for new clothes, and come across clothes in UK, US and European sizes, and its very confusing

And Wiki is downright contradictory !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_sizes

DO you think US 10 = UK 12 or UK 14?

I think that there's a two sizes difference so a US 10 is a UK 14 which is a European 42.

very confusing! I bought two pairs of three quarter pants in the same shop, at the same time, in the same size.
One pair was too big, the other at least a size smaller. I'm shrinking into those!

[Tracieknits]

I have to say, most US clothing is very inconsistently sized. While I'm usually one size, I could go into the posh shop next door with vanity sizing and take a size smaller, or the cheap shop over there and require a size larger.

ETA the mass produced items for big chains like Target and Walmart are even inconsistently sized within their own items. I have heard this is because they cut so many items in one go that the items on the top of the stack can be as much as a full size smaller than the items on the bottom of the stack. But they all get the same size label sewn in.

Well this is a topic to get my blood boiling!! I tried on a pair of denim jeans called ultimate fit. They fitted beautifully so I tried on the same but in black - too small. So when the same brand can't even make things the same size there's no hope for consistency between brands.

I got my 147.5 pound self into a US size 6 pair of pants from Coldwater Creek (not inexpensive)the other day. Now, I know that when I was a slim, young thing in the 60's and 70's (5'4", 115 pounds, 23" waist) I usually wore a US juniors size 7 or 9, and a size 5/6 straight skirt only for about one week! I saved that skirt for years hoping to get back into it. Didn't happen.

So, just as grade (mark) inflation exists, so does size inflation. In addition, what once passed for consistent, regulated sizing just does not exist anymore.

I think that there's a two sizes difference so a US 10 is a UK 14 which is a European 42.

Which makes UK size = Aus size, in theory at least. As others have mentioned size inconsistency is bloody annoying!

In my experience a US 10 is a UK 12. But sizes vary so much even within the country, I have to try everything on.

One of the reasons why I like to shop from New Look is that they are very consistent when it comes to size. I buy my trousers without trying them on!!!

I was pleased that some of my size 14 jeans were a little big so went to M&S and tried on a 12. Couldn't even do the button up .

Mind you, Vicki, when we buy jeans they should be very tight! Breathtaking tight! Because after a week of wearing them they will be 1/2 size bigger.

It's very frustrating the inconsistency in clothing sizes. In recent weeks I've got 3 pairs of M&S Woman trousers from charity shops in size 10 (Yay!) as all my size 12s are falling down. They all fit perfectly. So I thought I'd treat myself to some new ones.

In M&S I tried on 2 different pairs of jeggings and another pair of summer trousers, all size 10. The jeggings I could hardly do up and the cotton trousers were way too big round the waist. So I ended up with nothing.

Isn't it maddening and off-putting to shop too. I was drifting into size 20 (:0@) but now can be 16 or 18 and I suppose must try on everything (time wasting), which makes online clothes shopping a nightmare. Bleurgh!
It used to be fun ...

Jeggings are always one size larger than jeans. Cotton trousers are usually a size smaller or the same size.

No one should have the misfortune to see me in jeggings! Only recently ventured back into old style straight leg jeans and too old really to be in those.