downside to losing weight... vanity sizing

[oregonchick76]

I'm 41, 5'3" and have gone from around 130 lbs to 118lbs over the last few months. I'm so excited to be at a weight I haven't been at since I was in my 20's! But I am also dismayed at the way clothing is sized these days. I wear mostly outdoorsy or athletic clothing - REI, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Athleta, etc. Some of my size 2's are falling off and some of the brands' smallest sizes are too big already. I know I am not very lean yet - I don't know what my clothing prospects are when I get down to my goal weight of 115.

I know those of you who are truly lean and fit are not going around naked, so where do you shop?

[mavd]

Try Patagonia or PrAna brands for "outdoorsy" stuff. I'm a solid 6 still in most of that with measurements of 35-26-38 and large quads.

[oregonchick76]

Try Patagonia or PrAna brands for "outdoorsy" stuff. I'm a solid 6 still in most of that with measurements of 35-26-38 and large quads.

Great! Thank you. I assumed some of the higher-end stuff might still have realistic sizing.

[katya422]

Girl I'm not even that skinny and I can fit quite a bit of children's/girls sizes.

Not great for everything, but I just got one of the UA hoodies I ordered in KG size and it fits fine. Just go by the measurements.

Also check Juniors and non-US based clothing.

[Bhruninha]

Try to find a few brands that have small sizes and stick with those. Some brands have petite or short sizes for pants and dresses and go down to 00s or xxs. For work out clothes I've been wearing fabletics, for work Ann Taylor or the Loft have tiny sizes and for weekend outfits try Express.

[doctoremma]

Children's sections - I'm in Girl's 11/12 or 12/13 years for tops and most skirts. Trousers are a different matter because the shape isn't made for adults with hips/waists.

Although UK adult clothing sizes may run smaller/bigger than US sizes (other than the obvious difference in number). Certainly, the variability here is immense. I have clothes that run from size 4 to size 12 (size 0-8 for you guys), depending on brand.

I find "glam" athletic stuff (cool yoga leggings etc) run small but "functional" athletic stuff (bike shorts etc) run far bigger.

[mavd]

I'm surprised to see so many children's section suggestions.... my squat booty, quads, delts, and lats would not allow me to fit into children's clothes. I do wear some children's hockey gear, but that is made to be bulky and loose.

[AmandaLaughlin]

I definitely agree that the sizing has changed so much! It's frustrating when trying to find form fitting clothes (I want to show off my newly acquired gains!). For workout clothes I like Gymshark's products and their sizing seems more true to size. I've heard they can be a bit long on petite frames but haven't experienced that problem myself. Barbell Apparel has jeans for lifters, they are a bit on the spendy side but good quality and actually fit your waist, booty, and quads! I also do a lot of trial and error shopping on Amazon (yay Amazon Prime and free returns)!

[doctoremma]

I'm surprised to see so many children's section suggestions.... my squat booty, quads, delts, and lats would not allow me to fit into children's clothes. I do wear some children's hockey gear, but that is made to be bulky and loose.

Presumably that depends on the general size/scale of your body in the first place?

[katya422]

I'm surprised to see so many children's section suggestions.... my squat booty, quads, delts, and lats would not allow me to fit into children's clothes. I do wear some children's hockey gear, but that is made to be bulky and loose.

Under Armour Kid Girl/Bust/Waist/Hip...all in inches.

YLG 14-16 31½-33½ 28-30 34-36
YXL 18-20 35½-37½ 32-34 38-40

If you are very tall or very busty then that might not be any help. And I agree about the fit of pants generally not working. Tried on clothes with my daughter around the start of summer and I could zip the same size pants as her, but they were too tight across the hip in me. She is still relatively straight.

ETA: Sizing is really random any more. Just have to read measurements and/or try stuff on in store.

- I have a pair of size 0 denim shorts that fit fine, also have 6/8/10
- was wearing size 6 jeans when I went to try on some athletic pull on pants yesterday and the size that fit best was a 12-14
- received some button down blouses that I had ordered same brand at the same time and the long sleeve Medium was snug in the sleeve while the 3/4 sleeve was just too tight
- usually need a small in misses tee shirts...but I ordered large from one site based on their measurements and they were still too small.

IOW who knows...that's how I first got some children sized stuff...shopping with my daughter and thought "hey, this looks like it would fit me."

[oregonchick76]

I definitely agree that the sizing has changed so much! It's frustrating when trying to find form fitting clothes (I want to show off my newly acquired gains!). For workout clothes I like Gymshark's products and their sizing seems more true to size. I've heard they can be a bit long on petite frames but haven't experienced that problem myself. Barbell Apparel has jeans for lifters, they are a bit on the spendy side but good quality and actually fit your waist, booty, and quads! I also do a lot of trial and error shopping on Amazon (yay Amazon Prime and free returns)!

LOVE Amazon Prime!

[TrinnieBuu]

I'm in for answers. 4'11" 100 lbs. 24 inch waist so it's not like I'm absurdly skinny.



This was a 00P from J Crew. Normally Express 00 fits me around the bum, but waist is a little loose. If you ladies have any insight for work clothes that I can just hem and not have to have everything taken in, that'd be great. Getting a pencil skirt taken in is $40 where I am, adds up very quick.

For workout clothes OP: fabletics have small sized affordable clothes if you enroll. Gymshark works great for me too.

[mavd]

Under Armour Kid Girl/Bust/Waist/Hip...all in inches.


YLG 14-16 31½-33½ 28-30 34-36
YXL 18-20 35½-37½ 32-34 38-40

If you are very tall or very busty then that might not be any help.

Or.... have a small waist. The YXL hypothetically would fit my bust and hips but it's about 6-8 inches too big on the waist. That in turn means that even if you can get the clothes around your @$$ and thighs, you're probably going to get that godawful gap at the top :'D

[mavd]

I'm in for answers. 4'11" 100 lbs. 24 inch waist so it's not like I'm absurdly skinny.



This was a 00P from J Crew. Normally Express 00 fits me around the bum, but waist is a little loose. If you ladies have any insight for work clothes that I can just hem and not have to have everything taken in, that'd be great. Getting a pencil skirt taken in is $40 where I am, adds up very quick.

For workout clothes OP: fabletics have small sized affordable clothes if you enroll. Gymshark works great for me too.

Not necessarily sure on if it fits for bodybuilders, but my smaller framed guy friend swears by Asian brands, because "Fat America"

[fitfanatic123]

I've often wondered if clothes are getting bigger because the general population is getting bigger and the rise in obesity? not to digress from the OP too much, but i got an XS blouse for work and it's kind of baggy and just like you guys i'm not even THAT skinny. much more skinnier people than me. but anyway, i struggle too and have been wondering about this recently.

[AmandaLaughlin]

I totally agree with you. I have never been a size small/xsmall but lately even those sizes have been way too big especially more mainstream brands like Old Navy and Target. I fit into a size 0 short at Old Navy which I am definitely not your typical "size 0" lol

I've often wondered if clothes are getting bigger because the general population is getting bigger and the rise in obesity? not to digress from the OP too much, but i got an XS blouse for work and it's kind of baggy and just like you guys i'm not even THAT skinny. much more skinnier people than me. but anyway, i struggle too and have been wondering about this recently.

[swifton7]

I was amazed last time I went shopping in the US.

I am 5'9, UK size 12 on most brands and Europe 44 ish. In Europe, I struggle to find jeans that fit me. I feel like a whale. In the US, I couldn't find many things small enough to fit me. Not going to lie, I felt thin. So the "vanity" sizing did its psychological trick.