I’m going to a wedding in October and have been shopping for dresses, but honestly it’s been kind of discouraging. I’ve had to buy a size Large, which feels weird since it’s bigger than what I normally wear. At the same time, I have to remind myself that it’s still way better than the 2–3X I used to wear, and that’s something I should be proud of. I think what’s getting to me is the 10 pounds I gained after my breast augmentation, and seeing that bigger size just messes with my head. I know sizes are all over the place depending on where you shop, but it still makes the body dysmorphia flare up. I’ve worked so hard for the body I have now and continue to maintain it, so it’s frustrating when a number on a tag makes me feel otherwise.

Am I alone?

@Arabesque did you take a picture of your outfit?

Actually I didn’t get a pxt of just me wearing the dress. The only full length mirror in my room was jammed in a dark corner & then I forgot to ask someone to take one which I didn’t post anything on OOTD.

I cropped this from a pxt with my younger nieces and nephew so I’m a bit squished.

Did you find something to wear or did you stick with the outfit you had already bought? Pxt sharing time.

PS - my s-i-l found a bronze silk top to go with a black silk skirt she already had three days before the wedding. It was a bit of a ‘this will have to do’ purchase.

On 8/30/2025 at 11:26 PM, Arabesque said:

Ten pounds of weight is usually the difference in sizes up to about size large which is the 2 inch difference in the width in the cut (except in those Amazon jeans @ShoppGirl - WTF). Some brands are more generous in their cuts others are neater in their cuts.

I’ve discovered that UK sizes are supposed to be the same as Australian sizes but I find they are a neater cut so on the smaller side of the size. US sizes are usually more generous and are 2 sizes smaller than Australian sizes. Japanese clothing tends to be neater. And then the variations in the same brand or the labels that have created their own sizing. I mean we’ve got no hope.

At least if you are between sizes you can have a larger size tailored down to fit. Any more than one size difference in fit becomes more of a challenge to tailor down though. I had to get a dress let out across my back recently because, thanks to using resistance bands, I’ve become broader across my back. The dress fit fine last year but this year it was a struggle to zip up the last couple of inches. Thank goodness for seam allowances in the armholes/sleeves.

What I dislike most of all are shoes manufacturers that don’t do half sizes. Buy the size up and your foot flops around inside or you walk out of them. By down and you get sore toes, blisters & pressure marks. Can’t do anything about it And no you can’t stretch them out even if sales people say they can. And heel grips, etc. just push your feet up or down in the shoe & more pressure points in your feet.

I wonder if the people that decide to only sell whole sizes and shoes are the same ones that make those cushions and shoe fillers And that’s how they make their profit.

22 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

I wonder if the people that decide to only sell whole sizes and shoes are the same ones that make those cushions and shoe fillers And that’s how they make their profit.

Oh, that’s good. I never thought of that. 😆😆

Besides those half soles, heel grips, etc. do nothing except push your feet up to rub somewhere on the shoe. So you throw out the shoes & buy a new pair. And the cycle continues.