Why you shouldn’t solely rely on the size tag
I imagine that if you look through your current wardrobe you probably have a range of sizes that all fit you similarly. Maybe you have jeans in three (or more!) different sizes and they all fit you exactly the same or you have several different sizes of dresses that all fit you exactly the way you want them to, but because they are all different sizes, you don’t really know what size you truly are.
Have you ever wondered why that is or been frustrated at the fact that you don’t seem to be the same size in anything or been overwhelmed when shopping because you feel like you need to grab multiple sizes to try on (or order multiple sizes and then return the ones that don’t fit)?
Not to worry! This post will (hopefully) answer your questions about why sizing seems to be all over the place and arm you with the knowledge you need to help ease the stress and frustration that comes when shopping for new clothes.
As you are probably well aware, sizing typically varies from brand to brand and sometimes can differ between various styles of the same brand. For example, I have straight leg jeans and mom-style jeans from the same brand, but they are different sizes because of the way they’re cut.
To make it even more confusing, there can be items that are sold as the same size, but one may be described as a “slim fit” while another is described as an “oversized fit”. Obviously those two items will not fit the same way even though they may share the same size.
To say that shopping for new garments that fit properly can be frustrating is an understatement! Raise your hand if you’re someone who has had an absolutely maddening experience while shopping for new jeans!
So, what’s the deal? Why is sizing all over the place and how do you even know whether something will fit you properly?
To answer these questions, we’ll have to start with a brief history lesson on the introduction of standard sizing.
Standard sizing wasn’t really developed until the 1940’s and even then, there weren’t nearly the number of sizes available as there are today. At some point, clothing manufacturers and retail stores realized that women preferred to buy clothing that was labelled as a smaller size because it was a confidence boost to be able to say they could wear a smaller size. So, playing to the psychology of it, stores began relabeling the size tag on their clothes and introduced what is now known as “vanity sizing”.
You can read this article to see how a size 8 has changed drastically from the 1950’s to today. In addition to the introduction of vanity sizing, most brands have their own method of assigning sizes, so a size 8 can still vary dramatically from one brand to the next (which is why you shouldn’t let it bother you if you have similar items in multiple different sizes).
Okay, history lesson over (see, I told you that would be brief!).
So, the introduction of vanity sizing, coupled with the fact that most brands have their own method of assigning sizes is part of the answer to the size question.
Another part is simply that different styles of clothes are cut differently (my straight leg jeans versus my mom-style jeans are a good example of this). There are also clothing brands that now cater to specific body types (e.g., curvy, hourglass, muscular, etc.), so their clothes will be sized according to whatever body type they are catering to.
The type of fabric that is used to manufacture an item also plays a role in determining how that item will fit you. Some items are made with more stretchable material which means that a smaller size might fit exactly the right way, while other items may be manufactured with a material that has very little stretch, meaning you may have to size up from what you would typically purchase in order for that item to fit properly.
The fact that there is so much sizing variation between brands (and then between different styles of the same brand!) brings us to the second question – how do I know whether something will fit me properly?
The size tag can be a helpful starting point, especially if you are shopping from a brand that you purchase often and you know what size fits you best in that brand, but the best and most accurate way to determine whether an item will fit and how that item will fit is to learn to use measurements.
This includes knowing both your specific body measurements (so that you know what your baseline is) and garment measurements (so that you know how an item is going to fit your body specifically).
When it comes to garment measurements, a really easy way to find your best or preferred fit is to measure an item that you already own and that fits you the way you want.
Keep in mind that sometimes a garment will measure smaller than your actual body measurements and still fit you perfectly (think of activewear or other close-fitting types of garments), some garments may measure slightly larger than your body measurements to allow for ease of movement or comfort (think of a more rigid material, like denim), while other garments may measure much larger than your body measurements because you want them to be nicely oversized and drape easily on the body (think of your favorite oversized sweater or jacket).
If you’re shopping online, many stores/brands now give you some garment measurements (especially inseam length and total length) as part of the description of an item which is incredibly helpful. The description can also further inform you as to how that item will fit (i.e., oversized, slim, boxy, etc.). Checking customer reviews and seeing how other customers say an item fits is another helpful way to determine whether that item will work for you.
If you’re shopping in-store and don’t want the hassle of trying on multiple sizes, take a soft tape measure with you! I’m serious!! It will fit easily in your purse or handbag, and you can whip it out at anytime to take measurements of any item that you’re considering purchasing without the headache and hassle of making multiple trips to the dressing rooms!
This may seem like a lot to learn, and you may be thinking that it’s even more work than returning an item that doesn’t fit! But it really does save so much time (and money!) spent on new wardrobe purchases.
Learning how to use garment measurements and then applying what you’ve learned means fewer trips to the dressing room, fewer returns, and much less stress! And I promise that once you become familiar with using measurements, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start doing it this way sooner!
If you want to learn even more about how to use garment measurements or more about the role different fabrics play in your wardrobe, check out my digital audio course Creating A Well-Rounded Wardrobe, which provides you with everything you need to know to help you create (or refine) a practical, functional, versatile wardrobe that is unique to you!
Amber
Hi, I’m Amber
Creator and founder of A Well-Rounded Wardrobe. Whether you’re looking to start building a wardrobe from scratch or simply want to fine tune what you already have, you’re in the right place. Start exploring.