Store Sizing: Too Big, Too Small, Too Complicated

by Elizabeth

The other day I had something I needed to return and a gift card to spend, and I ventured out to the mall. It reminded me why I love online shopping so much. Despite the delicious pretzels and the cranked-up a/c, the mall is a wretched, wretched place. 

The problem with online ordering though, is that the sizes of things range so crazily, at least in my opinion. Or is that just me? Sometimes the reviews are helpful, but usually they're all over the place and no one can agree, so they don't actually help. Anyway, I thought I'd take a quick poll of you guys to see we're in agreement on how the sizing is running in the stores we're shopping at most often.

So, for me:

Anything from Lands End runs CRAZY BIG. Anytime I don't order a size down from what I normally wear I end up returning it.  

The Gap is generally pretty dead-on, but the pants are usually too big in the waist for me. 

American Eagle runs a little small on me, probably because I am not 12, but in general I think their clothes work well for short girls with big kiesters (i.e. myself). 

The clothes at Banana Republic fit me really well, although some cuts are better than others. 

I think the clothes at Ann Taylor run true to size, but the clothes at Ann Taylor Loft run large. 

Everything at Forever 21 is so tiny I don't even really order clothes there anymore. 

Anthropologie is really hard to predict since they are just a clearing house for a bunch of small name designers, but I do find the comments at their site to be very helpful, especially because people can attach a picture of themselves to their review. 

Everything at Target is SO SMALL on me! It's crazy. 

J. Crew also runs a little on the small size, I think, but not WILDLY small. 

And Old Navy is just all over the place. Some things are tiny, some things are huge. Even supposedly identical jeans vary from pair to pair. 

I suppose I could get all scientific about this situation and compare size charts from all these stores, but I always get so confused when I look at those things. Some of my measurements don't line up at all. Like I wear about 8 different sizes depending on what you're measuring. I'd rather just ask you guys -- do these categorizations hold true for you? Do you have any sizing tips you remember when you're ordering online?

(Photo credit: the lands end dress I just exchanged for a smaller size, grrrr.) 

Comments

[A'Dell]

That's pretty much EXACTLY my experience. Honestly, why can't women's clothes be like men's and just go by INCHES? It would be so much easier on everyone.

[Holly]

Agree 100%. I recently tried to order a bathing suit at J Crew and when I looked at the size chart my hip measurement was an 8, my bust was a 14 and my waist measurement WAS NOT EVEN AN OPTION.

Buying clothes on line makes me frustrated because as much as I hate the mall, I hate the post office slightly more. I agree with most all of your size ups in this post, so if I have to (or if there is an online only sale) I will sometimes roll the dice, but mostly I just shop online, find things I'm interested in and then try and hit up the stores with a list of things to try on and buy.

Such a mess! :)

[Kate]

I've found J. Crew to run just a bit large in the past year or so, especially their knits and pants in anything but City Fit, but maybe that is just body shape weirdness on my part. Old Navy is just horribly inconsistent and I have to try on Every. Single. Thing. which drives me nuts. I also need to go 2 sizes down for regular Lands' End and 1 size down for LE Canvas.

Regardless, I'm with A'Dell. INCHES. PLEASE.

[Emiliy M]

THANK YOU for not making me think I have some odd shaped body. I thought it was only me that had problems with store sizing.

[Elsha]

Yes! I own shirts from Old Navy, all purchased at the same time, in sizes medium to extra large. What is that about?

Also, I totally agree about American Eagle jeans. And I love them because I'm also short with a serious booty.

[susie]

I'm bookmarking this. These are my experiences, but I can never REMEMBER when I am ordering stuff!

[Natalie]

I feel like Gap, Banana, Old Navy, and Ann Taylor runs big. Target runs small, really small. It's so hard to buy clothes online, I usually only buy clothes from places that I've bought from in the store.