Modern clothing sizes. WTF?

[Bluesea71 698]

Have you guys noticed how much clothing sizes have changed in the last few decades? I remember reading a thread on BP months ago which had an article attached about how clothing manufacturers have added 0 and 00 to their size and adjusted the other sizes to make them larger. I have a pair of Calvin Klien Jeans from 1995 I have kept as my inspiration jeans to get back into. They are a size 12 and I wore them when I was 155- 160 pounds. I just looked up the current Calvin Klien sizing chart and the waist on my old jeans is equivalent to a modern day 8! Why do they do this?!? Is this to make us feel better about ourselves? One confused shopper just got more confused! Anyone else have an old article of clothing they can compare?

[awold0 246]

Have you guys noticed how much clothing sizes have changed in the last few decades? I remember reading a thread on BP months ago which had an article attached about how clothing manufacturers have added 0 and 00 to their size and adjusted the other sizes to make them larger. I have a pair of Calvin Klien Jeans from 1995 I have kept as my inspiration jeans to get back into. They are a size 12 and I wore them when I was 155- 160 pounds. I just looked up the current Calvin Klien sizing chart and the waist on my old jeans is equivalent to a modern day 8! Why do they do this?!? Is this to make us feel better about ourselves? One confused shopper just got more confused! Anyone else have an old article of clothing they can compare?

I have not heard that but interesting. I'm 160 and wear a 12 in pants and 10 in dresses and med in shirt. I'm all over the map. I would love to be a solid 10 but I think my curvy hips keep me at 12. I am 15 pounds to goal but stuck there at 160 at 11 months out.

[Bluesea71 698]

Interesting. There's actually a lot on the topic if you google it. It's called "vanity sizing.". Manufacturers do it thinking we will spend more if our reported size is smaller.

[gomekast 559]

Yes. I saved all my skinny clothes in storage. I pulled them out. I fit into anywhere from a size 12-16 right now. I have all sizes from this range and things fit me better from the early 90's compared to today. Everything modern sits super low and it's not flattering for me as a mom. I prefer the 90's jeans and shorts for sure.

[bikrchk 1,313]

I'm nearly at goal and can fit a 4, 6 or an 8 depending on the cut. Most of my jeans and pants are 6 women's or 7 Jrs today. I do have an XS maxi skirt, but those stretch, lol. Have to admit, I enjoyed purchasing (and wearing) that immensely! The smallest "old clothes" I had were size 10, so all of those are long since donated and I don't have much to compare.

[NMJG 1,266]

It is totally ridiculous. I am currently in a size 6. I fit in 12's from the 1980's, 10's from the 90's and 8's from a decade ago. If you look at sewing patterns you can see what the sizes used to be (the pattern companies never went to vanity sizing and base everything on measurements). I think I am a 14 or 16 in a standard sewing pattern LOL.

Personally, I like shopping at Chico's because they don't even use the standard sizing, they have their own sizes in 0, 1, 2, and 3. I like being a size 0!

[RayJunCayJun 41]

Yep vanity sizing, so many think its fabulous that Marlyn Monroe was a size 12-14 but that was way before "vanity sizing" in reality by todays world she would be a size 4-6

From her "dress maker"

Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches
Weight: 118-140 pounds
Bust: 35-37 inches
Waist: 22-23 inches
Hips: 35-36 inches

[JCP 619]

This makes sense! I could never figure out the size 0 thing! I was a waif in HS in the 70s and I wore a 6!