Vanity Sizing - Why don't my clothes fit?
- Emerson Pipes
- Dec 29, 2020
- 2 min read
Women's and men's clothes can be really annoying when you don't fit the ‘standard size’ but is there a standard size?
While you may say you're a size 8, that may not actually be true across the board. You may mostly be a size 8 but find that some clothes may be slightly too tight or too loose depending which manufacture your clothes come from.
Around the 1950’s the US sort to standardize and define the ‘standard average American’
based on the 15,000 women interviewed previously, with the addition of a group of women who had been in the Army during World War II. Setting the standard for women’s sizing. However it quickly became apparent that it needed to be updated, the representation had been very narrow. (Lacking POC women as they were excluded) The group of Army women also were fitter than the average American.
By 1983, the government ditched the standard completely. Manufacturers were left to define sizes as they saw fit. This led to Vanity Sizing. Clothing manufacturers realized that they could flatter consumers by revising sizes downward.
Because there are no stand sizes, manufacturers will have different versions of sizes, their size 8 will have different measurements to another size 8’s from other manufacturers. It's not just the overall size but the individual measurements. The waist on one 8 sized dress may be smaller than another and it is hard to tell this just from the overall sizing.
What to take from this?
I decided a few years back to take my own measurements, all my measurements. I mostly shopped online so knowing my measurements help with sizing- instead of looking at the overall size I look from individual measurements. especially if the clothes are from overseas or are men’s.
Of course, another thing to do is try on your clothes before buying them- before I could not really be bothered to try on clothes, I guess they would fit. But now I know how important it is, it may look perfect but many the shoulders cut too high into my armpit and are too short.
Another thing is to learn how to take in clothes or alter them, I know from years of things never fitting my waist and being too big that simply taking something in can help a lot. I often go from clothes being too big, knowing that I can take in the clothes. This may be a bit intimidating for some but there are a lot of simple instructions online and youtube on how to do simple sewing.
some argue that vanity sizing is designed to satisfy wearers' wishes to appear thin and feel better about themselves
vanity sizing promotes a more positive self-image of one upon seeing a smaller label.
1950’s standardization and failing
shows how a size 8 waist measurement could differ by as much as five inches of cloth between different designers.
Why does the manufacturer use vanity sizing?
How it boosts self-esteem.
Other information:
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