Why can't manufacturers make women's sizes uniform?

[SarahB]

Why is it that depending on where I buy something, I'm either a 6, 8, or 10? Same with juniors sizes. I've got 9's that fit, but 11's that are tight. I had to give these size 11 pants to my daughter who usually wears a 7. Why can't things just be like men's clothes? Know your waist, chest, and inseam? Then you're pretty much set. :grr:

[amazona]

1. they're in competition with each other

Better designers have been engaged in flattering the customer for years by making the clothes a size too big. Now they're all in on it. I got some jeans at Old Navy that were size 4. However, in theory, as a general rule, the more expensive the designer, the roomier a given size, since the better designer would use more material in days gone by. Now all bets are off. You just have to try before you buy and not worry about the number. I moved from 6/8 to 4/6 although I weigh exactly what I ever did.

[democracyindanger]

2. Too many curves.

[amazona]

3. plenty of men over 40 with plenty of curves

I see lots of pregnant men and men with generous bustlines in that age group and they are still able to buy clothes.

[democracyindanger]

5. You've seen pregnant men?

All I mean is that there's generally less variations in men's dimensions. That doesn't, by the way, discount your assertion about designers using sizes to flatter their customers.

[SarahB]

10. Yeah that too!

Try find a dress that fits when you do. Or worse, a swim suit. My only option has been tankinis with one size top and another size bottom. :eyes:

[bettyellen]

14. the average woman is a size larger on the bottom than she is on top....

so the mannequins and fit models we use are basically wrong for most of the population. these gals have to do a lot of pilates or wear padded bras to keep fit modeling, and they don't do print or runway, they're supposed to be average.

[eyesroll]

4. It's weird.

I'm 5'2", 120. It seems I can wear a "medium" top from no matter where (I guess there's more leeway), and I have some wiggle room with dresses, but with pants/skirts it's all over the place.

At Target and Old Navy, I'm a 4p.
At most mall stores, I'm a 6p.
Thrift stores, I'm usually an 8, because the stuff there is older, from before the sizes went bonkers.

I went into a 5,7,9 Shop 10 years ago (when I was still in college), and nothing fit -- I told them I was normally a 7, so what was the problem? They said, "we're a junior petite store. Our 9s are like most people's 3s. Good luck."

I can't really wear Juniors (petite or otherwise) anymore, because the proportions aren't right for me.

I have the best luck shopping vintage or thrift, ignoring sizes and just eyeballing what looks like it's going to fit. It usually works.

[Taverner]

6. I dunno - for guys its that way too

Levis I need 34 waists, but everything else 31-32 works.

Why is Levi's different? :shrug:

[sniffa]

7. what kind of uniform?

i have to update my fantasy.

[SarahB]

11. I recently told someone...

I still fit into my old Catholic prep school uniform. :P

[sniffa]

13. so what are you doing this weekend?

:evilgrin:

[mcscajun]

8. It's a prestige thing, and a 'divide and conquer' thing, too.

The designer clothing catering to the moneyed set will put smaller numbers on clothing to flatter their customers.

You'll find larger numbers at the boutiques, and even larger numbers at J.C. Penney's and such.

You hear the conversations between women, the little snips over who can wear the smaller size, and whose cut is a true 10.

Then, when you get to plus-size clothing, you get Xs and in fancier catalogs, they start the numbers at 1.

It's enough to drive you totally, totally MAD.

Two size 12s won't be the same size and neither will two 3Xs.

:grr:

[kwassa]

9. Every manufacturer uses different contractors

Many have little quality control. It is up to the main companay to enforce it, and sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't. An ex used to do quality inspection, and she led me on a tour of a local department store, an expensive one, and it was quite educational.

The quality in a garment's construction often has little to do with the price, by the way.

Men's clothing really isn't easier. I know that I can buy certain manufacturers clothing, and not others. Most pattern making comes off a basic block, and if one thing fits you buy that manufacturer, everything will. Men's waist bands and lengths vary, too.

[bettyellen]

12. i worked for an expensive couture designer and every special order we did

for a gown, they put in a tag that said size 2. except for stuff for starr jones, we went with a 4 or 6 for her. if i buy vintage 50's-60's pants, i'm a 14 or 16, and i'm thin. it's always been like this for women.