Shopping Conundrum

I know I've been down this topic road before but I feel the need to revisit it: SIZES.

Back when I was a plus size and shopping was a limited-choice event, I pretty much knew what size I was. All the plus-size catalogs and stores used a similar sizing template.

Now that I'm in regular sizing, shopping is more like a game of Who's On First? There is simply NO standard sizing anymore. The industry has gone completely off the rails.

First there are the lines of clothing aimed at the young and hip that are undersized--where an XL is a size 12 (maybe). This is echoed in the yoga apparel market where bottoms rarely go above a size 12 and tops never fit larger than a C cup. Prana is a beautiful line of clothes that I would spend hundreds on if I could get the XL tops down over my chest. I could lose 25 more pounds and still not fit into a Prana top.

Then, there are the clothes at stores aimed at the ever-expanding masses where an XL is a generous-cut 18-20.  Does anyone remember the days when an XL was a 14?

I have pants in my closet that range from a roomy 8 to a 12 that is two inches away from buttoning. It's insane. I went shopping at Chico's yesterday, which uses a 0-4 sizing system. (This is not a plus-size store.) Apparently, I'm a "1." WTF? You can't tell me at 153 lbs at 5'4" that I'm in the next to smallest size! There are plenty of women smaller than me. They can't all fit into a "0."

Why this especially infuriates me is catalog shopping. You simply CANNOT go by the size charts, even with the measurements. I find that if I go by my waist size, the pants will be about two sizes too big. On the other hand, if I order the correct bust size, the shirt is often too small.  I don't understand. Of course, to return things, I have to pay double shipping and take out the time and effort to do it.  The only way to find out what size fits you in a particular catalog is to order something, try it on and send it back. It's a colossal waste of time and money!

I just ordered t-shirts for my school journalism students and I had to order two for myself to make the minimum order. The catalog had no size charts. I called them up and made them pull shirts out of boxes and hold them up and tell me how big they were. I wound up ordering a M in a unisex T and a 2XL in a tight girly T. Both were the same size according to the lady on the phone. Insanity!

it gets worse

Because even if you think you know what size you are in a particular brand, it changes from season to season and sometimes even within the brand.  I blame this on corporations' use of cheap or slave labor in several countries at once.  Aside from the guilt, I have to actually try on everything to find one thing that fits.

And, as we've discussed before, the numbers keep corresponding to bigger measurements in almost every store I've visited over a period of years.  I have some size 12 jeans from high school (well, my sis has them, but they were once mine) that, stretched and faded, are still much smaller than the 6's I bought last summer.  It's no wonder I didn't realize how fat I'd gotten--I only sporadically weighed myself and went from a 12 to a 14 over 8 years . . . but gained almost 40 lbs.

I think I will continue to dislike shopping (with the exception of clearance racks and thrift store treasure hunts) no matter what size I am.  It's not about how the clothes fit, it's whether I can determine that without subjecting myself to long lines and fluorescent lighting in the dressing rooms.

Because of all this, I am afraid to give my SIL one of her bday presents!  DH found a beautiful XL shirt for her but I think she's about an 18 right now and I just know this one is about a 14.  He insists that XL is XL . . . she is on WW too and doesn't mind having goal clothes but I hate to give her a present she can't wear now. 

Erm, I guess you caught a good topic for a rant from me today.  Hope the shirts fit!!

Ugh! I hear you!

Even after falling way off the healthy living wagon and trying to buy some pants to get me thru my most recent days, I find that Lane Bryant's sizing is not what it used to be. My generous hips have always been accomodated with pants that fit pretty well. Not anymore! I was ready to spend some cash there a few weeks ago, since I now wear 'business attire' to work, rather than a uniform, but alas, their pants do not fit me properly at all! And their 'short' length sizes are all off! What's a girl to do?!!

AND....

clothing (worthy of tailoring- but not for large weight losses in future) is too expensive to purchase, tailor, wear until it doesn't fit any longer to donate! When you are losing weight...or even trying to...the last thing you want to do is purchase a pair of slacks, tailor them, and find out a few weeks later that the $100 bucks you just spent for 3 weeks of wear is void because they need tailored AGAIN!

I have always hate clothes shopping! I always will! DD LOVES clothes shopping and willing try EVERYTHING on!!! I didn't cooperate even at 9! lol

Guess this was a good topic!!

Yeah

I just hate clothes shopping full stop.

Preach it!

I ordered a really cute Yoga outfit and if finally came in the mail the other day.  I was excited because I thought maybe I would have something to wear around my still sore waist-line.  The catalog said XL was 18/20.  I'm actually about a 16 right now, but I didn't want to under-guess and wind up wasting my precious money.  Well, the darn thing comes and SAYS XL, but it can barely fit around one of my thighs!!!!!!!!  How depressing!  If you ever figure out the magic formula for buying clothes for a woman w/a figure, let me know!  Everything is cut for no-figure 12 year old girls these days. 

And how can

something be two sizes anyway?  Doesn't it have to be either an 18 OR a 20, but not both????

I had to go look up that line of clothing (prAna), they do have some lovely things!