Clothing Sizes????

I am 5-3 and weigh 148 and I am wearing a size 10!  Yes, I am happy with that but I do have a question for y;all.  The last time I wore a size 10 (about 20 years ago) I know I weighed less that I do now.  Is that possible??  Have clothing manufactures changed sizing or was I just using an unaccurate scale?  I just find this interesting.  Has anyone else noitced this? One more question-How do you know if you have a small, medium or large frame?  Several weight charts are listed like that and I have no idea where I fit.  Thanks!!

Ha... I don't know for sure but I have been saying lately to friends that sizes have gotten smaller in clothes.... meaning a 3X isn't the same as they use to be.  It sounded funny because I know I was the largest I have ever been when I recently had surgery but seriously... the X sizes have shrunk.  Also... if you shop somewhere differently... The X sizes will look completely different so yes, you probably have something there.

To try and give yourself a size in this day in age is almost impossible.  I look at some XL shirts in some of the popular clothing stores and I am amazed by how little it looks.  I guess clothing designers thinks everyone wants to wear something skin tight that shows the belly button. Seems like I recall a chart that involved measuring your wrist and it was a good indicator of body frame . Missy

I'm with Missy on this one, I too read somewhere that measuring the wrist is a good indication...here, looked it up for you - aren't  I kind 

Female Wrist Measurements
	Height under 5' 2" (under 155cm)	Height 5' 2"-5' 5" (155cm - 163cm)	Height over 5' 5" (More than 163cm)
Small	Under 5.5" (140mm)	Less than 6.0" (152mm)	Less than 6.25" (159mm)
Medium	5.5" - 5.75" (140 - 146mm)	6" - 6.25" (152 - 159mm)	6.25" - 6.5" (159 - 165mm)
Large	over 5.75"(146mm)	over 6.25" (159mm)	over 6.5" (165mm)

 

Male Wrist Measurements
	Height over 5' 5" (over 163cms)
Small	5.5" - 6.5" (140 - 165mm)
Medium	6.5" - 7.5" (165 - 191mm)
Large	More than 7.5" (191mm)

 

Yes you are kind... And now you got me to search out my measuring tape to be told I have a large frame, wrist is exactly 6.5", and here my husband keeps telling me I have such small wrists... yeshhh...

look!  Found another trick!  Now you got me all curious!

Small Frame: If your middle finger and thumb overlap, you have a small frame.

Medium Frame: If your middle finger and thumb touch, you have a medium frame.

Large Frame: If your middle finger and thumb do not meet, you have a large frame.

Yes, I noticed that sizes have changed too!  When I was 16 I weighed 135 lbs. (for about a week!) and at 5'8" I was wearing size 11/12.  I do have big hips, even when thinner, but I know by today's standards that would be at least a size 8!

Thank you for this post I have always wondered what my frame size was. According to the wrist thing I have a medium frame. I don't understand the finger thing....can you expand upon this or am I just not getting it???

NO IDEA what it means, lol...I just looked it up.  Your suppose to do it at the smallest part of your wrist, my problem is that my fingers touch and START to overlap but don't necessarily overlap.  I guess we better stick with measuring huh? Julie

Yes, sizes have changed a lot. This is actually done on an official or widespread basis fairly regularly - every ten years or so - and is based on widespread changes in average heights/weights.

And then there is the whole concept of "vanity sizing". Manufacturers realized that women are pleased and more likely to purchase a garment when the label states a smaller size, so they just changed the sizes assigned to various measurements. As an example, what used to be a 13 when I was a designer for a particular company about 15 years ago is now, according to their latest size chart, a 7! Same measurements, way different size.

My daughter is also 5-3½ and  weighs between 125 and 130 pounds - the same she did when she graduated from high school i***** She wore a 10 then (still has a couple of dresses she wore at age 16 and they fit just the same), but is a 6 now, even a 4 according to certain manufacturers' size charts.