Frustration with sizing of clothes

[55palfers]

Just had a pair of Levi's chinos delivered. Nice quality trousers.

Ordered a 36 waist but the actual waist measurement of the garment is 37.75"

This sort of thing seems to happen a lot. Had shirts, tee shirts, etc. all of variable sizing. Even from the same manufacturer

Now I have to take a punt on a 34 waist fitting OK.

Anyone else have this?

[Richard-390a0]

Yep vanity sizing for the Big Narsties & Kelly Brooks of this world. I tend to only buy online now if there is an image showing the dimensions being measured (vintage) or they state the model is such & such measurements & wearing a size such & such (new items).

[mmm-five]

Some retailers can't even keep to their own sizing.

I got 2 pairs of the same jeans, just in different colours. One pair fitted fine, and the other pair needed a belt to avoid showing off my ringpiece.

Took them back and compared then to others on the shelf, and we found a 2" variance across 6 pairs of supposedly the same 34" waist jeans.

[the-norseman]

Yep seems to happen very often now. Tshirt sizing lately for me, some I buy size M, some L, some XL.

[StevieBee]

Richard-390a0 said:

Yep vanity sizing for the Big Narsties & Kelly Brooks of this world. I tend to only buy online now

I only buy from a physical shop for the reason the OP states.

I have some Levis that are super comfortable at 34". A pair of Hugo Boss jeans that are a bit tight at 36" and some lovey Mayer chinos at 38" that fit a treat!

Go figure!

Same with jumpers and shirts with M, L and XL all providing a decent fit depending on the brand.

Other than pants, socks and t-shirts, I like to try before I buy.

[Nomme de Plum]

I found Boss sizing not too bad. In fact I buy most clothes there as they just seem to fit.

32" for summer and sometimes need 34' this time of year.

[Puggit]

If you lot are annoyed, go and talk to your wives and girlfriends about this...

[mikey_b]

Third world manufacturing from people who are barely paid enough to allow their families to eat, let alone enough to give a toss about consistency and quality.

You'll note that prices of these alleged premium manufacturers haven't come down though, despite the slapdash approach to making the product.

[Teddy Lop]

Puggit said:

If you lot are annoyed, go and talk to your wives and girlfriends about this...

X10.

Dress sizing is absurd!

But is mens getting worse - trouser waist sizing used to be a real life measurement, ie inches is inches, but is becoming less so. Shirts too, even when they offer measurements, you get one and it's ridiculously off size.

[vaud]

nuyorican said:

Yeah, it's a thing.

'Vanity sizing'.

This.

[Teddy Lop]

Puggit said:

If you lot are annoyed, go and talk to your wives and girlfriends about this...

Top tip, ideally not at the same time.

[ARHarh]

vaud said:

nuyorican said:

Yeah, it's a thing.

'Vanity sizing'.

This.

back in the 1970's i used to help out on the jeans stall at the local market as a pocket money job whilst at school. One of my tasks was cutting out the size 12 and 14 labels form a selection of jeans. The stall holder was rather good guessing the size of the female rear, if they asked for a size 10 and were in fact a size 14 they would be handed a pair of modified jeans to try on. They were then so happy to fit in a size 10. So I guess it's nothing new just done on a more industrial scale these days.

[toon10]

I've noticed jeans companies are changing their fit too. I have a couple of pairs of Nudie Grim Tim jeans. They were a perfect fit for me. Slim, tapered but not too slim as I'm an old git. I bought a replacement pair online the same size (34, 32) and I can't even get them on they are so skinny. Massively different to my old pairs despite being the same size. I had to send them back. I thought the whole point of a "fit" guide was that once you found a pair you liked, you could order the same fit again and again, maybe choosing different colours and finishes but you get the same style.

I went to Newcastle to my favorite retailer, and they said that a lot of companies are doing this as skinny is the new slim. I've had to go to a Gritty Jackson which is more of a regular fit.

[Zarco]

mikey_b said:

Third world manufacturing from people who are barely paid enough to allow their families to eat, let alone enough to give a toss about consistency and quality.

You'll note that prices of these alleged premium manufacturers haven't come down though, despite the slapdash approach to making the product.

Its not this though. It's vanity sizing by the brand.

I'm up to 36" waist Levis so getting even fatter than I thought!

[ferret50]

StevieBee said:

Richard-390a0 said:

Yep vanity sizing for the Big Narsties & Kelly Brooks of this world. I tend to only buy online now

I only buy from a physical shop for the reason the OP states.

I have some Levis that are super comfortable at 34". A pair of Hugo Boss jeans that are a bit tight at 36" and some lovey Mayer chinos at 38" that fit a treat!

Go figure!

Same with jumpers and shirts with M, L and XL all providing a decent fit depending on the brand.

Other than pants, socks and t-shirts, I like to try before I buy.

34'' waist?

OMG!

You jammy bugger!

[QJumper]

As far a I know it's always been this way..

When I was a child my mother would pick up 3 or 4 pairs of trousers of the same quoted sze in M&S and measure them against each other, and they were all different.

[steveo3002]

im anywhere between xl and xxxxl t shirts lol

[WindyCommon]

Vanity sizing works for me.

I went to a Levi’s shop planning to buy a pair of jeans 34/32, but the 32/32 fitted me perfectly. I was so pleased/excited that I texted my wife to tell her and then bought two pairs!

Jeans which say 32/32 on the exterior label are a sartorial power-play when you’re a 56yr old man 😂

[Randy Winkman]

I just made the mistake of buying one of those long sleeve base layer things from Sports Direct and took account of the website reviews by buying 2 sizes too big. 2XL instead of my usual large. And it was still too small and cost £4.99 to return because no returns are allowed in the shop. An utter con. How can something 2XL be too small for someone that normally finds large a bit on the big side?

Buying from Sports Direct was clearly my first mistake.

[TGTiff]

I am convinced that I was an Orangutang in a former life, as if I buy a shirt in my size the arm length is always a good 2 to 3 inches too short.