How high can a chicken jump?

[soapdragon]

Having managed to lose a bit of weight I needed to downsize my jeans. I like Per Una Roma fit as I am long waisted and these seem to suit. As my 12s were a bit loose, I bid on E-bay for a pair of 10s. Won them, arrived and fitted well. Having got these blue ones I then bid on and won a pair of black in size 10 to add a bit of variety to life!

 

They arrived and I took one look at them and though 'Ummmm, look a bit small'! Label said 10 but when I held them up against the 10 I had previously bought, the waist was approx 2.5' smaller! Doh... I know that sizes vary between manufacturers but surely a Per Una 10 is a Per Una 10; 2.5' is a LOT to vary by! Stupidly I did not ask for measurements (which I normally do) as I had assumed that they would be the same size...oh silly me!

 

Just can't get the hang of sizes; I simply don't believe I am a 10 anyway - based on sizes as they used to be I am probaly a 12 now but I am sure manufacturers are conspiring to make us all thing we are smaller then we actually are! I havn't actually tried them on as, as soon as I opened the packaging, I got a strong whiff of ciggie smoke so they went straight into the wash! Have a feeling they won't fit tho

 

Rant over I shall slope off for a low cal supper!

[Cinnamon]

I wonder if they might have been washed badly or tumble dried & shrunk?

[abwsco]

It's the same in the shops though with brand new clothes. Used to be only womens but it's mens as well now as DH found out the other week. Another reason I hate clothes shopping

[Lavenders_Blue]

I agree with you - I am a perfect size 12 in old fashioned sizes, but mostly buy 10s and the occasional 8. Vanity sizing indeed!

[Minnie&Moose]

I agree with you - I am a perfect size 12 in old fashioned sizes, but mostly buy 10s and the occasional 8. Vanity sizing indeed!

 

I'm another one who thinks sizing has changed over time! As a teenager I was a size 12. But 30+ years on I'm now apparently a 10 and even sometimes an 8 - but I'm also 2 stone heavier than I was back then and I'm definitely a different shape

[Alis girls]

I too struggle - having toned up round the middle and shrinking the muffin top I tried on some old size 14 skirts - cant do up. Others got more recently are fine and an old C&A one I can do up but its a toss up between that and breathing and breathing won Cant shift the wt but obivusly the exercise (mile plus walk a week ) has shrunk summat. Size 14 Next jeans hang off. I am 5ft 9-10 so not little. I feel your pain. I buy size16 tops as everything seems to shrink even on 30 degree wash and left to dry on airer. Clothing manufacturers wake up - and you size 8-10's i am

[soapdragon]

I wonder if they might have been washed badly or tumble dried & shrunk?

 

Good point but they were listed as only worn a couple of times and they do look in good nick with no fading, 'crisp' label etc. They look as though they may fit on the hip and thigh but really not sure about the waist; my days of laying flat on the floor pulling the zip up with a wire coat hanger are well and truly over - we all did that in the early 80s, as I recall:lol:

 

Interestingly enough, I recently bought a swim suit from E - bay (new from a business seller who had clearly got a joblot of various sizes.) I bought a 40' bust (so a 16) as seller advised they 'came up small' - not bloomin' joking, I had to send it back and ask for an 18 (which she did not have ) I am 5ft 5, 39 b, 30w, 37h so not,I think, an 18, probably a 14 ......

 

I now carry a tape measure in my handbag at all times so that I can avoid fruitless, frustrating trips to the fitting rooms! Oh, how I hate clothes shopping!

[Parsley]

M&S are a nightmare. Two identical items in the shop often vary in fit and the shop assistants are very used to people taking things back because of this

[Charlottechicken]

I'm shocked about the M&S size differences. I buy mostly 2nd hand clothing from charity shops and always grab any M&S stuff if it's on the pound rail. I have obviously been lucky so far, but it is something I will be aware of in the future. I have to say I usually measure any clothing before I buy, and have noticed even men's stuff is going 'off size' as has been mentioned. I use my hand span, as I know it is eight inches, and you don't get any funny looks as you can do it without rummaging in your bag for a tape measure!

 

I've also noticed more items shrink, even if you follow the wash instructions, it is so annoying! Most of OH's clothing cannot be tumble dried, which I find irritating to say the least, as my cheap charity shop stuff gets thrown in the dryer on hot and comes out fine!

 

Clothes in my wardrobe vary from size 8 to size 16, and all fit as my weight does not fluctuate, madness!

[chickencam]

I went into M&S for new black jeans, my clothing staple, go with everything. I tried on 3 different pairs all size 14 medium length, they were all totally different, in fact one pair were huge and all 3 were baggy, so I bought a size 12, they are a little snug, but no more than that, I haven't worn a 12 for 10+ years.

 

You may find that the second pair that you bought had originally come from an M&S outlet store, these are often seconds and wrongly sized or badly made. I have fallen for this and now try everything on.

[..lay a little egg for me]

I picked up three pairs of trousers to try on in Per Una, all supposedly the same size, one pair was huge, one I could not get over my bum and the third pair was just right...call me Goldilocks!

[soapdragon]

I picked up three pairs of trousers to try on in Per Una, all supposedly the same size, one pair was huge, one I could not get over my bum and the third pair was just right...call me Goldilocks!

 

So glad its not just me...I was beginning to get paranoid! Guess I have had the two dodgy pairs so fingers crossed that the next pair I get will actually fit!!!

 

And its not just adults clothes either........my 8 year old (a bit of a stick insect,not a chubby!) is wearing TU vests ages 12/13 and they are not a baggy fit!! YS winter coat this year is aged 7 - he is a smallish 5-in-Feb! Doh

[Mercedes55]

I also find M&S to be the worst offender in recent years. I went with OH to buy some new trousers a while ago and he tried on a few pairs that were all the same size but different colours. None of them fitted him the same, some of them even had one leg longer than the other

 

I hate this vanity sizing rubbish. When I was in my early 20's I was a size 10, sometimes a size 12 even. Now, even though I am the same weight, I have to buy a size 6 and in M&S you can't even get any size 6 clothes now unless you order them online. There is no way I am a size 6 and it annoys me that they change the sizes around so much.

[welovemarmite]

this thread makes me feel so much better. My clothes sizes vary from 12 to 16. Some are falling off me, some i can barely get in. I too now tend to buy from charity shops. At least they should all be pre shrunk there . I used to buy mand s jeans but got fed up going back and forth to the changing room. I am tall and long waisted. i also actually have a waist and found that i could usually get another person in the back of my jeans as well as me, even though the front fitted fine or was even too tight. I would love to meet the person that actually fitted into them perfectly. I usually end up in sainsburys for jeans now and its a pot luck of what size i buy, but at least i am paying very little for very little quality. I expect better fit for per una prices.

the other thing that annoys me is when a top is huge and baggy but the arms are so skiiny they wont fit. My arms are average, not overly fat!

[Lavenders_Blue]

i also actually have a waist and found that i could usually get another person in the back of my jeans as well as me, even though the front fitted fine or was even too tight. I would love to meet the person that actually fitted into them perfectly.

 

Ooh yes I know this problem well! Isn't it awful when you try jeans on and you can barely get them done up at the front but there's a huge expanse of space at the back? What shape of person are they meant to fit?! I find that high waisted jeans tend to fit a lot better than hipster styles, although they can still be a bit hit and miss. The only problem then is that there is a big bulky zip running down your tummy and showing through your clothes! I have largely given up on jeans now for this reason and tend to only wear them around the house and for dog walking. The rest of the time I tend to wear jersey dresses or tunics and leggings as they fit a lot better.

[The Dogmother]

It amazes me too; I buy jeans in Gap and usually take 3 pairs in the same size to the fitting room as they will each fit differently!

 

I am a size 8-10 but can also wear a 12 depending on the retailer

[soapdragon]

Weeeellll - the ciggy smoke smelling ones have now dried and I have been wearing them all today and, tho maybe half an inch short in the waist (nitpicking ) they are absolutley fine which leaves the other bootcut 10s I bought two weeks ago constantly trying to relocate to my ankles (its just so embarrasing having to pull your trousers up every few minutes!- have bid on e bay for a suitable belt!!)

 

I give up!

[chickencam]

M&S have launched a range of jeans that come in different fitting for each body shape, haven't actually tried them yet because they didn't have the one for mine I have a waist but a round tummy so have to buy bigger sizes to accommodate this then I have loads of gaping at the back too.

[SarahJo]

Bought a 3 pack of undies for YS - age 11-12, one pair was 9-10 and the other 2 11-12 as expected.

 

Took them back to discover that frequently customers swap sizes, but as we overlaid all 3 pairs of trunks, they were ALL different and quite noticeably.

 

The bottom (haha) line is - all M&S clothing is allowed 1/2 inch either way, so no item will ever be the same

 

Basically because they manufacture in other countries they do not have the same quality control - whether pants, jeans or tops - so even the 3 pair of boys trunks can have 3 very different sizes in the same pack

 

I will always double check and try on now - especially M&S for the size discrepancy

[soapdragon]

Aggggghhh! Have just discovered Fat Face (over the last two months) and bought several tops from store - sale - in a 14. Result!

 

Or so I though.....then bought two FF shirts from E bay in a 14 but they were too small - doh and measured two inches smaller than the four Fat Face 14 tops that I already have.

 

What is going on!? I feel like taking a leaf out of Dobby's book and adapting a pillow case!

[soapdragon]

Sorry - have tried to 'update' but it didn't work!!!!

[chuckmum6]

I find M&S sizes are very variable even in the same style the same size can fit in one colour but be tight in another colour!

[Chortle Chook]

i also actually have a waist and found that i could usually get another person in the back of my jeans as well as me, even though the front fitted fine or was even too tight. I would love to meet the person that actually fitted into them perfectly.

 

Ooh yes I know this problem well! Isn't it awful when you try jeans on and you can barely get them done up at the front but there's a huge expanse of space at the back? What shape of person are they meant to fit?!

 

Yes what is it with these gaping backs to jeans? I have a pair from Joules jeans which make me look like a reversed kangaroo I got them in the sale and they were such a bargain I just grabed my size and did not try them on. Only to realise when back home exactly why they were in the sale.

 

As for vanity sizing it's quite funny really - I'm a pear shape - used to be a conference pear but am now a much more bulbous variety with my bum getting bigger and my bust getting smaller yet I now have to buy bigger shirts and jumpers (size 12 whereas I used to be size 10) and smaller trousers. It's a puzzle

[Lavenders_Blue]

I've discovered ASOS skinny jeans recently, I buy the petite ones (I'm 5'4" so not strictly petite but they're still a fraction long on me) and they fit an absolute treat. They are higher waisted - fastening just under my tummy button - and don't have that horrid gap at the back. I recommend the ones that have a poly-cotton mix as they keep their shape better than the 98% cotton ones which stretch with wear but stay stretched. They are £30ish, so worth a try as they won't break the bank.