BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Body Image Clothing sizes

I know we are all in different countries, But here in Australia for the last two days they have been running stories on the inconsistency of clothing sizes accross different womens stores. (sizes are different from country to country) - however I know from my own experiences that I am an average size ten, but range in size from 8 to 12 or XS to L depending on which shops i go to. Just wanted to see if anyone else has similar experiences and if you feel like it does actually affect body image perception. Eg if you are a size ten, and you manage to be a size 8 at a store does it make you feel better, and vise verser if you are a 10 and fit into a 12 does it make you feel bad about yourself. Just interested to see how wide spread the problem really is, and if its such a problem we should all do something about it :)

I know exactly what you mean. I have items in my closet with tags in a variety of sizes, but they are all the same measurements.

Sizing systems used by various companies are not consistent, but I've also found the exact same size item on the exact same sales rack run different. I recently tried on a pair of pants (same style, brand and item number) one pair black and one tan in the exact same size. The black pair were too big, the tan too small.

Oh, yeah, without a doubt the size tag makes a difference. Logically, I know it shouldn't. I look the same regardless of what the tag says, but psychologically, it's huge. Case in point:

A few years ago, I had lost some weight (which of course, I later found again), but at the time, I was tiny. I could regularly fit in a 4 or occasionally a 2 in US ladies sizes. Well, one day, I was browsing on lunch break, didn't really need anything, and I saw some funky jeans. I tried on the 6, the 4, and the 2. All were too big. I finally found a "0", and it fit! I had to have them, not because they were such wonderful jeans, but because they were the only size 0 I knew I would ever fit in.

Now they sit in my closet, mocking me...LOL!

--Maria

As per my experience the clothes sizes not only varies from country to country but also from brand to brand. But mostly a branded items will have the same size with minor differences and something picked up from a fashion street will have a different size. Also a larger size will be required if pick a dress from a fashion street.

I find this a problem too, and I vary considerabley from place to place. I think no one likes to feel like they have gone up a size, but it defintely makes you feel good about yourself when you can fit into a "smaller size"

I guess so. It sucks when I need a size 14, which is how it often is. If I need a size 10 or 12 in something I feel a little better.

I stopped worrying about this a long time ago. Take me as I am.

You know it is a psychological issue having to move up in size in clothing. But keep in mind that a lot of the clothing is being made in bulk and that means scrimping a bit on the fabric. Always trying to save a buck means that the quality and the sizing is often off. Also keep in mind that a lot of the designers are men that are dressing models that don't have an abundance of womenly curve. This means that right out of the blocks those of us with a butt, hips, and boobs are gonna have to go up sizes. What really matters is how it fits! And having that confidence within that no matter your size that beauty comes from your spirit, not your dress size. Lorena LorenaBBooks.com

My boyfriend is Australian and when he moved here he said the sizes are very different and his girls were having a very hard time adapting to this.

He told me that my size 2 jeans would be the equivalent of a size 6 jeans in Australia. If we ever move there I'll have to rip the tags out of any clothes I buy there because in my mind being a size 6 means weighing a lot more than what I weigh now and feeling [censored] like I used to feel when I was making my way down from a size 12.

I got stuck at size 6 for a long time even though I was low carb dieting and exercising myself to death and it was not a good feeling. My self esteem was terrible at the time mainly because I felt like a failure at being healthy. I think numbers do affect your self-esteem big time.

It does bother me that there isn't a standard size here in America. Lucky Jeans uses their sizing system and Anthropologie has a different system and then you have this whole relaxed and skinny business in the same size all so overweight women in this country feel o.k. with their weight issues.

I think this is doing more harm than good. If you can't fit into a standard size then you're overweight and you need to upsize your clothes and deal with your bad habits or do something about it. This issue gets to me on so many levels.

that's great!!!