Also, vanity sizing is nothing new. I've tried on some vintage size 14s and they seem close to modern-day 4s.

5'5", 145, carry it mostly in boobs and thighs, and wear a 6 in most clothing. I was a similar size in college 20 years ago and mostly wore 8-10s.

I can never guess what size anyone wears based on overall thinness - seems it's at least 75% about body shape.

Anonymous wrote:Op, is your weight mostly in your arms/face/chest?

I am the same weight and height as you, and I don't see how that would translate into a size 6, unless I was busty.

OP here. Yes. I'm a 36D bra size. My waist isn't super tiny, but I do have smaller hips. I still wear a L in tops at times. I was referring more to pant and dress size when I said I'm a 6. But having said that, I bought a t-shirt (not the fitted kind) at Nordstrom not long ago that was a size XS! No way am I a XS! There are many, many women smaller than me on top. I guess they just couldn't buy that particular shirt? I asked 2 different people in the fitting room to confirm that the top looked OK because I could not believe that I was purchasing anything in that size.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5 7, 150, recently gained 15-20 lbs due to hormone problems and hoping those will come off w/ treatment..

anyhow most of my old clothes (from 5/7, 130 lbs) fit, just not as well. I'm a size 2-4.

You're a size 2-4 at 5'7 150!?!

I was a 6-8 at that weight. Now about 175 and a 12.

Yeah so I lift weights so that probably accounts for some of it, but not all.

I think I look about the same with the weight gain- when I confide in a friend that I feel disgusting due to my medical condition and the weight she always looks at me like...?

I bought my husband a pair of boxer shorts in the exact same size and brand that I always buy him and when I compared an old pair with the new pair, the new pair was much bigger in the waist and you would have assumed that the elastic had stretched out and made the old pair bigger! Clearly vanity sizing is in effect for men too!

Op, is your weight mostly in your arms/face/chest?

I am the same weight and height as you, and I don't see how that would translate into a size 6, unless I was busty.

5'7", 130lb, slight pear shape. definitely see evidence of vanity sizing. I was a bit thinner at HS graduation and wore a size 8 from Ann Taylor - I am now a size 4 / S there.

Of course, there's also huge variation between brands. At AT and Loft I'm a size 4 (size 2 in their 'curvy' pants, some dresses), but am a 4/6 at Banana Republic, and a solid 8/M at H&M.

And just to comment that I think the vanity sizing is ridiculous. I'm decently fit and happy with my weight, but think there is NO way I should fit into a size 2 at 5'7". I'm no giant, but I'm not short either, so if I'm in a size 2 what do the 5'0" tall women wear?

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of it depends where you carry your weight. I have an hourglass figure with big boobs, small waist and decent sized hips and butt. My dress and skirt size is 2 -4 sizes smaller than my jean size.

13:55 here - me too. Some of my well-fitting dresses are 8s but my 8 pants are all too tight at the moment.

I think you're right, OP. At 5'8 and 166 pounds, I am a 10, sometimes 8. I wore an 8 in college about 12 years ago, but was about 20 pounds lighter! I've gotten rid of those old clothes but wish I could try them on for comparison's sake. I am doing Weight Watchers and its been going well. I feel like if I meet my goal, I'll be like a 4 or 6 which is ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of it depends where you carry your weight. I have an hourglass figure with big boobs, small waist and decent sized hips and butt. My dress and skirt size is 2 -4 sizes smaller than my jean size.

I am the reverse. 5'5, 150s, size 10 jeans, size 8 dress and small-medium tops, depending on the cut.

I think a lot of it depends where you carry your weight. I have an hourglass figure with big boobs, small waist and decent sized hips and butt. My dress and skirt size is 2 -4 sizes smaller than my jean size.

I am also 5-5 and 150 lbs post partum, and I just barely squeeze into size 8 jeans. Am probably more safely a 10. For pants, a lot depends on how you carry the weight. At my pre-preg weight (125/130) I wore 4/6 ...

Anonymous wrote:5 7, 150, recently gained 15-20 lbs due to hormone problems and hoping those will come off w/ treatment..

anyhow most of my old clothes (from 5/7, 130 lbs) fit, just not as well. I'm a size 2-4.

You're a size 2-4 at 5'7 150!?!

I was a 6-8 at that weight. Now about 175 and a 12.

5 7, 150, recently gained 15-20 lbs due to hormone problems and hoping those will come off w/ treatment..

anyhow most of my old clothes (from 5/7, 130 lbs) fit, just not as well. I'm a size 2-4.

I'm 5'5" and weigh 150 pounds. I consistently wear a size 6; sometimes a 4, almost never an 8. When I was 185 pounds, I wore a size 12, sometimes a 14. I feel like when I was in college I weighed less than I do now, but could rarely squeeze into a 6. I always wore an 8. A size 4/6 sounds skinny to me, but 5'5" and 150 does not. I suspect vanity sizing and that my college clothes in a size 8 would fit fine now, but that a current 6 is what an 8 was back then. Anyone else?

What do you weigh and what size do you wear? Do you see evidence of vanity sizing in current fashions?