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Reader and friend Yas sent me this hilarious blog post, “Vanity Sizing,” via The Lawsons did Dallas, and I just HAD to share it with all of you. Enjoy it 
Let me preface this post about vanity sizing by saying even at my leanest I couldn’t wear a 6 at Banana in pants (just skirts/dresses) … so while I found this article funny and sassy and deliciously fun to read, I don’t know how accurate/inaccurate the sizing is at any store anymore.
Today, I just buy what fits my body in the here and now. But, as you know, it took me a looooong time to get to that place, and it’s still a struggle sometimes.
All this talk about the “perfect size-6″ got me thinking … my first realization that a size 6 was “perfect” came from the Sweet Valley High series — twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield were always described as blond-haired, blue-eyed, California girls with, (and I’m quoting verbatim) “perfect size-6 figures.”
(Of course, this was before size 0 existed — which still makes no sense to me how someone can be “nothing” — … so maybe now the twins would be size 2s?! Yikes. I don’t envy teens today … or their moms!)
No wonder I had it in my head that I needed to be a size 6! … And no wonder why I cried tears of joy in the dressing room the first time a 6 slipped on … in my mind, that meant I had achieved “perfection.”
How crazy and delusional is that?! (Especially given that my 6 would have been a 10 just a few years prior!)
Vanity sizing is a whole bunch of hooey … but even knowing it, so many of us still fall for it.
How about you? What are your thoughts on vanity sizing? Does it bother you, or do you just not care?
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Comments
12.18.09
I know I personally got a thrill the first time last year when I magically became a size 8 at Ann Taylor Loft (without losing weight). It did make me feel fabulous to buy that first pair of single-digit pants since high school, but in the end it doesn't really make me buy more clothes. Ann has clothes that fit me well and since I hate shopping, it's easy to swing in there, spend 10 minutes, and walk out with what I need. That's the kind of vanity shopping I love!
12.18.09
Melissa -
Your mention of Sweet Valley High makes me want to go dig in my attic and read them over again. I wonder how different the interpretation would be so many years later, how many things we would pick up on. I'm sure a decent amount!
Thanks for the throwback!!
12.18.09
There are days that I wish we could buy clothes by measurements instead of sizing. Sure, I know that might cause panic for some, but honestly, if I could go into a store and not have to try on 3 sizes because I'm not sure what's going to fit, I'd walk around with my measurements. I also have to deal with a former athlete's body. Men's clothing seems to be a bit more forgiving, but I practically need therapy after buying a pair of pants. When something fits though, who cares about the number, you look good!
12.18.09
I gave up on numbers a while ago. I think if you can rock your clothes, then who cares?
I go into stores and sometimes I'm a medium, and sometimes extra large, and sometimes small (imagine that). And I do have donut phases as well. i call them sweatpant days. But honestly, if you feel good in what you wear, that's all that matters. And that inner confidence just appears outwards sometime later :)
12.18.09
Thanks for the feedback everyone--and I do think men have it so much easier!!!
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