Size doesn't matter

I know you've all heard that before and it is true...though not necessarily in a hippie, kumbaya, everyone-is-perfect-just-the-way-they-are type way. It's just that in the clothing industry there is no standard for sizing, which means that designers can pretty much slap any number they want to on their tags and call it a size. Have you ever noticed that you usually can wear a range of sizes? Sometimes a very wide range of sizes? I've noticed that sometimes even within a single brand I fluctuate sizes simply because they change designers.

Sweater-Target, tank-Aeropstale, leggings- Target

Also, sizes are being shrunk for the so-called vanity sizing epidemic. Don't believe me? Just go try on your usual size in a vintage dress, chances are you won't even be able to get it past your knees. I know because I try on vintage stuff at the thrift store all the time. Yes, Marilyn Monroe was a size 12, but in today's dress sizes she would be a 4 or 6. Vanity sizing happens to be a very potent marketing tool. I saw it ALL the time when I worked in retail. If a lady who is normally a size 8 in our store could suddenly squeeze into a 6, it didn't matter if the item had a pink fur collar or blinking lights all over it, she almost always bought it. And the opposite was also true. At Ann Taylor we once got in the most darling skirt ever, seriously everyone who came into our store just adored this skirt but it ran a bit tight and no one EVER wanted to go up a size. In the end we clearanced out the skirt and it was such a shame because no matter how much everyone loved it, they wouldn't buy it because of some dumb number on a tag.

So size really doesn't matter. Not even a little bit. But what does matter is fit. Just ignore the made-up number on the tag and start trying stuff on. I routinely buy things that are not my "usual" sizes because they fit. See the sweater I'm wearing today? It's a 16. Not my usual size, but who cares? I love it.

Happy Friday and Veteran's Day!