A few of you have asked me why it is, what with my constant Internetting, I don’t order more of my clothes online. Why do I sort through racks of scratch’n'dent clothes at Filene’s Basement when I could be sorting from the comfort of my own clicky mouse finger?
The answer? Size charts.
Faulty, ridiculous, confusing size charts that exist on a plane that does not intersect with earth reality.
No one would be foolhardy enough to guess her dress size when ordering from an unfamiliar site or designer, or to estimate it based on what is in her closet (Ha!), so most folks recommend you take your measurements and compare them to the often impossible to find handy-dandy size chart. Sadly, even if you’ve memorized the length of your index finger and the curvature of your inner ear, if the size chart is broke, you can’t fix it.
To wit, a Cautionary Tale.
If you are a regular reader, you know that I am an Ann Taylor Loft stan. Viva La Loft (and their coupons)! Thus, and even given my slowly decreasing weight, I have a pretty good idea of my size there (adjusted, of course, for how tailored the garment, and how stretchy the fabric).
For the record, I am using ATL as an example, but they are far, FAR from the worst offender in this regard.
To demonstrate the problem with size charts, I used this dress, ’cause it’s totally up my alley. Let’s pretend that I have never shopped at ATL before, and have decided to order online.
U-Neck Dress with Belt
On the day in question, my measurements (taken according to ATL’s instructions) were:
- 40″ Bust
- 29.5″ Waist
- 44″ Hips
Let’s take a look at the size chart, shall we?
So, according to this, my bust puts me at a Size 14, my waist at a Size 10, and my hips at a Size 16. Recognizing the fabric to be a substantial but still stretchy knit, what size would you order, if you were me?
Now, I could order a 16 and have the dress taken in at the waist, but given the Spandex factor, I could probably get away with a size as small as a 12 and allow it to stretch 1-2 sizes over my hips and bust. The belt would probably conceal the fact that it was a size too large in the waist.
I do like my clothing on the form-fitting side, so I might even order a Size 10– but I’m not sure I’d be confident enough that something three sizes too small would accommodate my hips. Hey– even Spandex only stretches so far.
Let’s hit La Loft and see how this pans out, shall we?
On the day in question, I found this exact dress in a 14, 12, 8, 6 and 4 (they were out of the 16 and the 10).
I began with the Size 14, which should be a bit snug on the hips, loose on the waist and fit my bust perfectly.
Size 14
Ummm…
Well, how about that Size 12?
Size 12
At this point, according to the size chart, the dress should be two sizes too small on my hips. I’d say not.
Unfortunately, there was no 10 in the store I visited, but what the heck! How about a Size 8?
Size 8
Okay, now we’re starting to get somewhere. I’m wearing a size that, according to the size chart, shouldn’t accommodate hips much bigger than 38.5.” Mine are 44″, and I promise you there is not 6 inches worth of stretch in this dress. And! It’s still too big. But it’s closer.
A 6, perhaps?
Size 6
Much better. Let’s try it with the belt.
Size 6 with Belt
Not bad. Maybe a bit Jessica Rabbit, but hey– I’m just drawn that way.
Just for kicks, let’s try the 4.
Size 4
The waist is finally approaching mine, but overall, it’s a bit snug… Let’s see it with the belt.
Size 4 with Belt
After all is said and done, I’d probably go with the 6, maybe the 4 if I finally broke down and got some Spanx.
What does that mean? That Ann Taylor Loft– which, I would like to reiterate, is not an exception when it comes to size chart disparities, but very much the rule– has overestimated me by at least two sizes and as many as six. SIX SIZES. (And if you prefer to use Diet Ad English, twelve dress sizes!!!)
For the record, everything I own from ATL that currently fits is between a Small/4 and a Medium/10 Petite, and the only 10 Petite is a very tailored, non-stretchy button-down top. If I didn’t know that, I would have ordered this dress in a Size 12. And possibly have been annoyed enough not to order from ATL, ever again.
I’ll discuss this wild discrepancy further in an upcoming post, but suffice it to say that this is a big reason I will window-shop online, but almost always buy brick-and-mortar. I know I’m not the only one, and the longer clothing manufacturers pull this stunt, the more company I will have.
Update! Check out Part II and Part III for more on The Trouble With Sizing.
Related posts:
- Size Chart Woes, Part III– Revenge of the Stitch
- Size Chart Woes: Fun With Math!
- Size Chart Woes, Part II
- Size Chart Woes: The Naked Truth About Bra Sizes
- Snapshot: Size Charts For The Lose, Part 278624
Amazing! They just don’t know what to do with us curvy girls.
btw, love the dress, esp the color!
That was really interesting. And thank you for your efforts!
I have to say I am horrible and do “window shop” from online (despite the similar results I’ve gotten). Mainly because I prefer to try things on at home. For some reason it feels better to do it at home. And I’m willing to suffer by going back to the store if an exchange or return is needed or if I have to mail something back.
That dress is interesting because it seems designed for a woman that is more boxy than you. To me, it looks kind of boxy on the online model and when you wore it it almost seems like an entirely different dress. Did you buy it? Or are you intending to buy it?
LOL– my husband says the same thing about most dresses when I show him photos. “I can’t give you my opinion because it’s just not going to look the same on you.”
He’s so unhelpful. Accurate– but unhelpful.
IKWYM about the “boxiness,” but I’d like to think it’s more that the dress is meant to be “curvy,” and the model is not (particularly). But what do I know?
I’m not buying it, mainly because it’s just not quite fabulous enough to spend any of my $250. Maybe it would work better in Petite? My waist is really short, so that is probably a part of what is contributing to the fabric bunching, among other things. I’m not quite sure.
$29.99 is not bad, but I’ll pass for now. If it goes down to $9.99… Well, we’ll see!
[...] March 17, 2009 · No Comments (Check out Part I– in which I am cruelly mocked by a dress– here.) [...]
[...] So, looking back at my Ann Taylor Loft adventure, what would you say is the primary problem (or problems)? Shouldn’t an ATL shopper expect a [...]
[...] April 22, 2009 · No Comments Yeah, so, we’ve been through this before. [...]
[...] out this turquoise sheath from Ann Taylor Loft ($49.99), still available in sizes 16 and 18 (which, based on my experience, should fit sizes 20-22). Petites and talls have another option in this versatile coral dress [...]
[...] is by looking at photos, that women’s dress sizes are anywhere close to standardized– or even that size charts have a shred of credibility? Are we serious? We all know from personal experience that that’s BS. So why build an [...]
[...] bargain costumes (at least 40% non-offensive!), and plus-size bargains (although according to the probably-unreliable size chart, many of their “plus-sized” items may only accommodate up to a [...]
[...] more investigative reporting! Size chart secrets revealed! Bra fitting expose! Q&A with Dr. [...]
Hi Michelle,
Great post! We tend to complain about sizes being different across brands, but, sheesh, for there to be that big of a discrepancy between the size chart and the fit is amazing to see. The dress does look great on you, though. Vive la courbe!
Stormy, SizeTracker Blog
Thanks, Stormy– and what a great and useful blog!
I was directed here from SizeTracker Blog who had visited my site on exactly the same subject but yours is so much more informative while mine is more of a whine. Very interesting. I have recently returned to sewing some of my own clothes and I have been battling with patterns and they too are really confusing.
[...] know what to do. I’m afraid to try and take it in and end up ruining it. Maybe I should just embrace the blousy look? Why not go all the way and stick some armholes in a parachute? Everybody knows fabric must never, [...]
This is quite an old post, but I just wanted to commiserate. I love Ann Taylor Loft — I consistently find flattering tops and dresses there, which is tough for me. But, according to ATL’s size chart, I am a size 10 in the bust, a size 0/2 in the waist, and a 2 in the hips. One is supposed to buy for the largest area, yet I can fit into XS tops and 0P dresses. Similarly, jeans size charts normally tell me I should wear jeans 2-3 sizes bigger than I actually do. It really frustrates me, because why print size charts if they’re completely wrong?
On that note, have you heard of Trashy Diva (trashydiva.com)? They do great ‘vintage’ dresses that are designed for curvy frames. That is, I actually fit into the online size chart. Some of their dresses can get pretty cheap, though probably not cheap enough for your particular budget. As another commenter pointed out, it’s really interesting how much the shape of the dress differs on you and the model, but, in my limited experience with Trashy Diva, the model (er, mannequin) represents quite well what the dress would look like a curvy figure.
Sara, I KNOW. I have no idea what’s wrong with size charts, but among mass market retailers, it seems to be epidemic. And it does seem that most charts overestimate most folks, but especially those of us who are “disproportionate” in some respect.
As for Trashy Diva, I agree and I’m way ahead of you! Check it out– I bought their Trixie 2 dress last summer the outfit I created around it won Best of the First 100!
One aspect of sizing is consumer wearing preference. It’s hard to guess how snug or loose each woman prefers to wear a garment. Having a lovely figure, you prefer yours snug. Me personally, I preferred it less revealing.
Speaking professionally, if I’d been involved with the product development of this dress, I would have said you’d wear a 14. Perhaps our training is partially to blame. If a garment is wrinkling inordinately to the extent we have to get rid of them (too small), it is considered to be poor fit. You had these kinds of wrinkles across your tummy in size 12 and under until it was quite snug that the wrinkles disappeared.
Another matter is that of your dimensions. Few women, no matter their size, have a difference between bust and waist of ten inches, and the same again of waist to hip. ATL cannot promise to fit ALL women of a given size dimensions. Consider the alternative… how many women do you know are shaped like you with your measures? Very few. If ATL cut to fit your unique attributes, you wouldn’t be buying ATL anymore because they’d have gone out of business.
[...] friends, or shop alone? Are you willing to take chances on catalogs and eBusinesses, or does your size-chart-shyness relegate you to [...]
I experienced a similar surprise as I’m looking to purchase a dress online for the first time. According to the charts, with my waist size I should be wearing a 12 or a L. Yet, I am 5′ 61/2″ and generally fit into a size 10, even an 8 on occasion. It’s very puzzling but I suppose it must be difficult to establish a standard chart with women coming in so many shapes and sizes!
Forgot to mention above that I’m 5′ 61/2″ and weigh 133 lbs.