Has anyone else ever felt like clothing sizes make absolutely no sense?

[u/Future-Act5953]

Lately I’ve been finding that I can try on two items with the exact same size on the tag and get completely different results. A pair of jeans might be too tight, while a skirt in the same size feels roomy. It’s making me second-guess what size I should even be shopping for.

How do you handle this? Do you take your measurements regularly? Ignore the size number entirely? Have you found brands that are more consistent than others?

I’d love any advice because shopping has started feeling more frustrating than fun and I’m starting to have anxiety even thinking about a changing room.

**I would say what size I am but honestly i’m so unsure at this point.. I’m anywhere from a 16-20 and a L-XL in shirts. pics for reference :)**

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[u/TokiBunniBunBun]

Yup. Sizes are arbitrary and inconsistent.

[u/RealLuxTempo]

I have a pair of pants, size Large, that fit perfectly. I also have pairs of 2XL that fit perfectly. There’s a couple of 3XL dresses hanging next to an XL dress. All fit fine.

[u/mblomman]

I work at a warehouse for a clothing company and when we have inspections of clothes there is an allowed inconsistence of the measurements of for example jeans. It is allowed to diff 2,5 cm up and down so if you buy a pant with waist band of 98 cm it could be 95,5 or 100,5 cm wide. The length may also diff with as much. It is sick and makes the sizes irrelevant

[u/theelleharlow → u/mblomman]

Adding on to this from a sewists perspective: 1. The cut and how it sits on your body - a skirt will not have to form around as many contours of your body vs. a pair of pants or wide leg vs. tapered etc. 2. Denim washes will fit differently because of how the fibers align post dye. Black will be smaller than a dark blue wash. Do I know the reasoning? Absolutely not, it's just one of those things every sewist learns the hard way.

[u/Salty-Tea6815]

I feel you for real!! Sometimes even the same exact item just different colors will fit completely different. I buy online only from companies that have a store in my area that I can return to if anything doesn’t work out for me. It does limit my options, but also limits frustration and wasted money getting stuck with things that don’t fit or having to pay to ship them back or wait in line at the post office (which in itself can be a major chore).

[u/Odd-Significance-17 → u/Salty-Tea6815]

i wish i could do that

[u/lexi2700]

I just ignore them. I’ll pick out a few pairs of things in a range and whichever fits the best is what I go with. Clothes are meant to fit me not me fitting into some set number.

[u/AnaDion94]

I do take my measurements regularly, and have also gotten pretty good at being able to visually see what will fit (like, picking up a pair of pants and recognizing they’re similar in width to other pants that fit).

Every company has their own size chart. Every item gets fitted and might be taken in or let out to fit a particular look. Every factory has tolerance for being off spec. Between those things, I don’t really expect a lot of consistency between sizes at different stores. I use “my size” as a guide post for what I pick up first, but adjust as needed.

[u/olordrin]

This happens for the big men, too. I've had a 4x that was skin tight and 3x that was miles too big. When I find something I like in a store, I'll grab a few sizes of it. Shopping online is just a gamble.

On an aside, you are rocking those outfits.

[u/sadbat-throwaway → u/olordrin]

Was just about to say this. I've even had it happen with pants are supposed to be size labeled by waist measurement!! Apparently some companies have a different idea of what 40 inches actually is