Clothing manufacturers scaling down sizes as Americans get bigger

[Liberal_in_LA]

I don't like this trend. Tighter pants tells us when we need to watch our weight. Now I can walk around wearing size

X thinking I'm really 2 sizes smaller.

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http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/10/attitudes.overweight/index.html

As nation gains, 'overweight' is relative

By Elizabeth Landau
CNN

(CNN) -- The little number on the tag on a pair of pants that indicates size can mean a lot to a person, and retailers know it.

The probability of people describing themselves as overweight is decreasing, researchers find.

That's why, in recent years, as the American population has become generally more overweight, brands from the luxury names to the mass retail chains have scaled down the size labels on their clothing.

"You may actually be a size 14 and, according to whatever particular store you're in, you come out a size 10," said Natalie Nixon, associate professor of fashion industry management at Philadelphia University. "It's definitely to make the consumer feel good."

Research shows that, when it comes to self-perception, the concept of "overweight" may be relative.

[dionysus]

1. that's why i don't understand sizes for women... why not measure in inches like for mens pants?

[Lilith Velkor]

2. That's why I buy men's pants - waistband is in inches instead of an arbitrary number

I don't want to go to fitting rooms, I got SHIT TO DO.

[Caliman73]

3. That is why I like how men's clothing is labled.

Pants by waist size and seam length. Shirts by chest and neck size. Try to fit a 42 inch waist into 36's...

Now I am currently overweight but working to get back down to my typical weight. That I have to look at my waist size and not fit into the size I wore 5 years ago is disheartening, but it shows me that I have to work to get back to that place.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. while a women who wore size 10 years ago can still wear size 10 even though she's a 14.

:eyes:

[RebelOne]

5. I had been thinking this for a while.

Over the past year, I have lost 20 pounds. I am at the weight where I used to wear a size 9. But when recently buying clothes, I found that size 9 is too big and size 6, 7 and 8 (depending on the style) are what I wear. So, that got me to thinking that manufacturers' size labels have changed. I could never have worn a size 6 in the past.

[Deja Q]

6. Why not just nix size 26 and use that fabric for a couple more 64s?

It sounds like they're rebranding a "36" as a "32"...

[OhioChick]

7. So, if I currently wear either a size 2 or 0 in jeans......what size would I have to buy now? n/t

[Caliman73]

8. - 2?

nt.

[OhioChick]

10. And....Where the hell would I find that size?

:rofl:

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. children's section

[SoCalDem]

20. you will be invisible

:rofl:

[Arkansas Granny]

9. I've noticed this happening for years. When I was in high school, I was 5'5",

weighed 125 lbs. and wore a size 12 (we're talking back in the 60's, folks). Now, 45 years later, I am the same height, have gotten back down to the same weight and I'm now wearing size 4-6!!! I got a good laugh out of it when my pants size got smaller than my shoe size.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. Shoe sizes are kinda weird also, not consistent

[Kansas Wyatt]

11. There haven't been "uniform" sizes for a number of years now.

Because EVERYTHING is imported crap from China that varies a couple of sizes.

There used to be a time when you could buy a brand name by the size and not try anything on. Not anymore, the size on the clothing now, only indicates what size it should be and what size they meant to make.

Oh, and it doesn't last even half as long as clothing used to last, because it again, it is absolute shit from China*.

*Or any other third world country they outsourced manufacturing to.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. This has been going on for a while

There was a wholesale downgrade maybe a decade or so ago.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

14. RTW?

If you have the means, I would suggest you move away from ready to wear (rtw) or off the rack and go Bespoke. Just find the material you like and find a good tailor that can make your clothe for you. This is mostly for the men because I am unfamiliar with womens clothing constuction.

There are some decent websites where you can have your shirts made to measure (MTM). Feel free to PM if you want any sources.

[bulloney]

15. I think it's for women in denial. They can say they fit in a size-whatever

so they can act like they're thinner than they are.

When shopping for my wife at Christmas, I'm amazed at the sizes of clothing they display in the "petite" rack. I thought petite implies exceptionally small. Cripe, I've seen tents that were smaller than some of these clothes on the "petite" rack.

[jazzjunkysue]

16. It used to be, top lables like Lord and Taylor ran big, but discounters were smaller.

I guess size inflation is he new sales tactic.

It's clear that alot of people are in denial about their size, or never look in mirrors. Otherwise, they'd never go out looking like they do.

But everywhere, I see people eating burgers and fries and all sorts of unhealthy foods.

[Ms. Toad]

18. Duh - might have been news a decade ago. n/t

[SoCalDem]

19. AGAIN?? They already did this a while back..

:rofl:

Back when I sold clothes in my aunt's boutique, the measurements for a size 12 were 34-26-34..

Get out that tape measure, girls :rofl:

our clothes stopped at size 18 (my aunt ordered a few for pet customers) and those measurements were 38-30-40

the largets shoe sizes she ever ordered were a size 8...and those usually went on sale..

we've grown..all over..even our feet :)

[Cid_B]

21. Men have this too..

I've seen this in polo's and t-shirts. I'm a fairly big guy ( 6'0" and 220 lbs) and the majority of the time I can easily get away with a medium. I usually have to if I don't want something huge and baggy hanging off of me. It's a reflection of style as well.

[1]

22. heh. ok. let's start calling a 14 a 2. would that make those with "size issues" more comfortable?