Sizing clothes...drives me mad !

[beachcaster]

I just hate clothes manufacturers who use expressions of size like

S, M , L ,XL .XXL and so on ..............with out any further explanation.

Where some do have a chart to show what their own interpretations mean
its fascinating to see that XL can mean anything from 36 waist to 44 waist. So clearly those "sizes" mean nothing at all !

And there are so many adds around on the net.....where no explanation is given at all as to what these ludicrous sizes mean !

Now call me old fashioned but we have a system ( or two ) for measuring
which cant be argued with......the good old tape measure...Im old enough
to prefer inches but metric will do just fine ..as each a finite measuring tool.

BUT what really upsets me is when a well know online retailer goes to the trouble to
quote all the L XL xXL measurements etc for a tights/bib ....height..chest...waist
inside leg......and I buy it in the belief that it will fit.......only to find
that most of the given measurements are probably between 2-4 inches
out from the published measurements on the web site.

So I now have to wrap it all up and send it back and wait up to 10 days for my money back.

I know the simple lesson is not to buy any type of clothes online...
BUT why O' why...cant they get simple measurements right?

After all and inch is an inch.

I read in a review of another online product....the 42" comes up a bit small"...........Drives you mad doesnt it .SO Why not call it 40" or dare I say ...take an accurate measurement !

I'm taking the offending garment down to the post office tomorrow all nicely wrapped and labeled.. that will no doubt arrive at a huge RETURNS department employing people who sort this kind of stuff out !!!!!!!

.Well Im glad I got that off my ample but none the less accurate 46 inch chest

barry

 

[youngoldbloke]

+1. My personal problem is that of falling between sizes - my chest measurement 37" exactly - so what do I do when faced with small = 34-36", medium = 38-40"? You can almost guarantee that neither fits properly. Why not 36-38" as well? Have a similar problem with some helmet sizing too.

 

[semislickstick]

I feel your pain!!

Ladies sizes are generally a nonsense too, although a size 8 now in some shops was the same as a size 12, say, 10 years ago. I think it's supposed to be about making you feel thinner?

Real measurements would be too easy eh?

 

[LazyLoki]

Clothing sizes seem to be pretty screwed up across the board these days. I went into John Lewis the other day to buy a pair of trousers and after finding some I liked I asked if they had it in a 30" waist - no, a 'small' was 32"! Now I'm a fairly slim guy but I didn't think I was so skinny that they don't make clothes to fit me!

Of course, if you're at the other end of the spectrum you're spoiled for choice! Was in Cotswold Outdoor and spotted a jacket in - wait for it - XXXXL! Quadruple XL!

Britain is getting fat, simple as that.

 

[jimboalee]

Clothing sizes seem to be pretty screwed up across the board these days. I went into John Lewis the other day to buy a pair of trousers and after finding some I liked I asked if they had it in a 30" waist - no, a 'small' was 32"! Now I'm a fairly slim guy but I didn't think I was so skinny that they don't make clothes to fit me!

Of course, if you're at the other end of the spectrum you're spoiled for choice! Was in Cotswold Outdoor and spotted a jacket in - wait for it - XXXXL! Quadruple XL!

Britain is getting fat, simple as that.

I have a problem with trousers too.

I measure up a 32" waist, but when I go into Gent's clothes shops, I can't get my thighs down the legs of 32" waistband trousers.

I have found a supplier who does a 32" on the large side. More like 33" to be honest. The thighs are tight but manageable.

34" with a belt work, but there are 'Z's in the waistband.

As jerseys go. A 'M' size could be 2" different from manufacturer to manufacturer.

 

[Dayvo]

Good post, Beachcaster!

I avoid buying clothing from the net unless I know that the item I want will fit (either by knowing from experience that that is the case, or having tried it on somewhere to 'test' it first).

Send a letter to the papers saying exactly what you said here; I'm sure you'll get a very good response!

 

[Steve Austin]

buying clothes has become a lottery. i range from M to XXL, and being 6'2" is a nightmare as the legs are always too short, arms too short, torso too short.
I always try stuff on now

 

[I am Spartacus]

Inaccuracies due to the fact that sellers have naff all to do with manufacturing - neither knowledge or care - they just want your dosh..
Size charts are usually just a joke

I have ended up a 2/3 brand name person.. as now I know what 'size' actually fits me after annoying and long winded experimentation.

Buying online for cycling gear is sometimes the only realistic option.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Clothing sizes seem to be pretty screwed up across the board these days. I went into John Lewis the other day to buy a pair of trousers and after finding some I liked I asked if they had it in a 30" waist - no, a 'small' was 32"! Now I'm a fairly slim guy but I didn't think I was so skinny that they don't make clothes to fit me!

Recently I found only 1 pair of 30" waist in the entire range of jeans and trousers in the mens department at Bath M&S, (none in Leeds M&S the week before), and was told that it was policy to keep only very few in stock, however I could order (online) a 30" waist for collection. So why not just shop online, with home delivery, and avoid pointless journeys?

 

[jimboalee]

buying clothes has become a lottery. i range from M to XXL, and being 6'2" is a nightmare as the legs are always too short, arms too short, torso too short.
I always try stuff on now

http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/tallman2.htmhttp://www.aerotechdesigns.com/bigjersey.htm

Have you seen these guys?

They do kit for 'tall' chaps.

 

[yenrod]

> Sizing clothes...drives me mad !

Ive some trousers 34" (waist) and their aint much diff. compared to a pair i've got which are 38" - work that out ??????

 

[Steve Austin]

cheers for that.

 

[Dayvo]

Ive some trousers 34" (waist) and their aint much diff. compared to a pair i've got which are 38" - work that out ??????

The 34" were sized incorrectly!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Agree entirely. M&S is too big for me (all of it, yes, petite included which seems to mean 'short but fat' more often than not); but then when moving more 'designer label' suddenly I'm supposed to be a 6ft tall stick insect.

 

[beachcaster]

Im just glad my wife was out when I tried on the bib tights on .She would have collapsed with laughter !
They were meant to be fine for a chap of 6ft 4ins......Im 6ft 2ins

Once I had forced myself into this lycra straightjacket I made the mistake of looking in a mirror....even now the almost pornographic vision of bits of me trying to escape the torso section....and my ass looking like two boy scouts wrestling in a bell tent haunts me ..Once I got the zips done up I actually thought I may have to have it surgically removed !.........I need to loose another two stones at least !!!!

The "super comfortable" shoulder straps were so tight I could not stand up straight.The downward force on my shouders was unbearable
this combined with the short torso to force me into a fixed crouch.......
meanwhile the ergonomic double gusset was doing absolutely no favours to my nether regions !

And this was meant to be a loose fit !
It might have fitted Quasi Modo...but I doubt he would have been able to raise his arms to ring any bells.........Well its wiggling its way back to the online retailer today !...at least they are going to pay for the return postage

barry