Size 8 or just Vanity Sizing?

OK, Friends. Before WLS, just one year ago, I wore a size 28 and today I went to Wal-Mart and tried on a size 8 pants, and they fit! Wow!!! Now, they are the stretchy kind of pants, but the good news is that I tried on some button-fly Levi's jeans, and wore a 12. The junior size 13 made my long legs look really sexy, but they were low-waisted, and my middle is still kind of "fluffy," so even though the legs looked awesome, I would still have to wear a long shirt over the waist. (sigh) The great news is that I really am shrinking! The clothes that I bought to "get me through" are all too big....and once again, I have a closet full of clothes I cannot wear. Am I complaining? Not really. But I do have a question. I'm at 192 pounds currently, and when I was in high school and a slim 135 pounds, I wore a size 10. Never a size 8. What's with all this "Vanity Sizing?" Have any of you noticed this trend too? I have a really hard time believing I am this small. I just don't "feel" small. Tell me what you guys are experiencing with sizes? ~Laura

Ya know...I find that sizes differ also from maker to maker. I can wear a size 8 in Old Navy...and a 6 in Ralph Lauren...and a 10 in NY jeans...so it really depends on the maker. Kristy

The reality is that womens Dress sizing has been "fudgin" for a while now. The point behind this was in hopes to have women feel better in smaller sizes. Designer names like Donna Karen are more closer to the older size forms while her every day live under DKNY you wil find a size 6 is closer to a size 12 in her DK line. The same hold true for designers like Ralph Lorren and others. Some desingers will make clother under a lable for say like WAL-MART and the sizes there are largeu compared to the clothes thay make for the high end speciality stores. So a size 8 in one store even by the same designer will not always be a size 8 in another department store. see for more info: http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/07/has_there_been_.html Lisa

PS: another thought........ the practice is so large that there is a formal name for it...... VANITY SIZING.... Check out GOOGLE for more: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=vanity+sizing&btnG=Search Lisa

Hi Laura It's been almost a year since my RYN surgery, -168 lbs., now at 124 lbs. I've gone from a size 24 down to a size 4 and with each shrinking size I too wonder the same things you have. So often I say when I can get into a smaller size, wow...but I bet this part of jeans is mismarked...LOL. I'm sure the sizing varies from manufacture to manufacture, and yes vanity sizing is being done by the manufacturers. But the bottom line is...we really are getting smaller with each passing day, though we are the last to see that happening. It doesn't matter what size we end up wearing...it does matter we have lost all that weight and have gained our health and lives back! I still at times go to the larger sizes to shop for clothing...a matter of habit I guess, before I realize I need to go down the rack a few sizes to get to what will fit me...LOL. I love it!! Enjoy shopping, the new you, and have fun going from store to store to compare what brands and sizes you can wear! Hugs Yvonne

Sizes have definitely changed since years ago, however I have found that the sizes have gotten smaller....I still have some of those H.S. clothes (18 years, sad I know), and they are a size 22. I can't even squeeze them over my fat butt....but I'm buying size 18s now. Go figure? So it sounds to me like your 10 in H.S. is probably an 8 now...and since you have probably gotten taller, and lost weight very differently, and your body shape is different...it sounds about right. wierd though huh? JUDY