Today I am here to offer you one thing, and that is the permission (not that you need it) to stop attaching your worth to the size you see on your clothing. I know you might be expecting me to convince you that you’re beautiful no matter what size you are, and that is 100% true. However, what I actually want to talk about is the reason why buying clothes can be so frustrating. And no, it isn’t that your body is wrong or different, or whatever other lies the clothing industry has made you believe over the years.
Reason #1 : Vanity Sizing
Vanity sizing is generally defined as the practice of labeling clothes with sizes smaller than the items measurements and industry standards would indicate. This began in 1983 when standardized sizing was abolished, and we started seeing sizes 2-8 pop up in brands across the country without any change in the actual measurements of the clothing being offered. In 1999, size 0 was introduced, followed by size 00 in 2011, and finally, 000 in 2014. In 1958, when sizing was standardized, available sizes ranged from 8-22. They wouldn’t have needed to go below size 2. But because, in 1999, the smallest size was already a size 2, they didn’t really have much choice but to resort to sub zero sizing.
Why would brands do all this and not just stick with standardized sizing? The answer is quite simple really, as with most things companies do, it always comes down to profit. First we were taught, through decades of socialization, that being smaller was better. Then they started making sizes smaller to make us psychologically more likely to purchase their clothes. The only way they will continue to get away with this is if we all continue to have the internalized belief that we are “better” if we are smaller. So, if you need a reason to work on your internalized fatphobia, besides just improving your quality of life, do it because of this!
Related Post: 3 Social Media Hacks to Improve Your Body Image
Reason # 2 : Fatphobia
To be clear, I have no issue with providing new sizing when a gap in the market is discovered. Inclusion is an extremely important value I think more companies should adopt. However, what I do have an issue with is brands ignoring the clear need for larger sizing regardless of years of us demanding larger sizes. To this day, only 8% of all brands in the United States carry over a size 18. The average American woman is size 16-18, which means that almost 50% of all American women are fighting over an 8% share of the market. Where is the consideration for the women who need different sizing now? The only reason I see for this injustice is fatphobia. This means brands would literally rather leave money on the table than include fat women in their stores.
This fatphobia isn’t only hurting women in larger bodies, it is also affecting teenage girls who are now, on average, a size 12. The lack of sizing has become such an issue that between 2012-2019 the number of American teenagers purchasing plus size clothing shot up from 19-42%. As they become women and their hips naturally get wider, they get taller, gain weight etc. where are they supposed to go? Their options will only become more and more limited as they become women. Not to mention the majority of the styles in plus size stores are geared towards grown women, so finding appropriate clothes they actually like in their size is even more difficult at this age.
Reason # 3 : No Standardized Sizing
As of 2014, there was an 8.5 inch variation in the size 4 waist of most major retailers. I would be willing to bet in 2021 this disparity has gotten even worse. This likely doesn’t come as a shock to any woman in North America who has ever gone shopping for clothes. Sizing varies so much it makes it impossible to know your size unless you have shopped at that store before or can view a size chart. When this isn’t available, you have to resort to trying everything on, sometimes choosing multiple sizes, and still needing to go get more. Or even worse, having to get someone else to hunt them down for you! I personally range from a size 8-14 in pants because of this which makes trying on clothes an absolute nightmare. Given how we have already been socialized to hate our bodies, I don’t think we needed any more reasons to hate trying on clothes, do you?! This is the real reason your size is never consistent, it isn’t because there is something wrong with your body!
I hope by now, it is clear that the size of your clothes is completely arbitrary, and that clothes should be made to fit us, we shouldn’t be trying to alter our bodies to fit clothes. My challenge to you? Clean out your closet of all the clothes that don’t serve your body and replace them with ones that actually fit, regardless of what the label says! For more tips on learning to love yourself as you are and improving your body image check me out at @normalnotwrong on Facebook and Instagram !
JENELLE CARTO
Hi, I’m Jenelle! I am from beautiful Calgary, Alberta! That’s in Western Canada, for those of you who just said “where?!” I live with my spouse, who is an airline pilot, and our dog, an adorable Yorkie/Jack Russell mix named Abbie. I work by day as an insurance broker, and I also have a lifestyle blog that focuses mostly on body image, self-love, and breaking down stigmas and societal expectations.
My idea and passion for my business came from my personal experiences and self-love journey. Starting when I was about 10 years old, I grew up with little confidence and body image issues, after childhood trauma triggered an eating disorder. It progressed even further as I became a teenager and started struggling with societal expectations, chronic anxiety, and migraines. This was followed by periods of depression and panic attacks in my early 20s, leading to an all-time low when I finally started dedicating my time to improving my mental health and self-image. I’m sure a lot of you can relate to these struggles and understand just how horrible it can feel living in a world that profits off of convincing us we’re never good enough.
Over the last 5 years, I have learned so much, and have come to a place where my mental health is stable. I have learned to love myself and feel confident and sexy regardless of what the number on the scale says, and I am finally done with the endless cycle of thinking about food, my next diet, and how much I hate myself and my body!
My goal is to share how I did that with as many people as I can, and to make my business as inclusive and welcoming as possible to all those still marginalized by our society. I see you and am trying my best to make everything I offer in my business with you in mind.
If you’re interested in following my journey and getting updates on my budding business as I grow, follow me on Facebook or Instagram at the links below.
