Ladies don't be fooled. Is a size 6 REALLY plus sized?

Question

Nowadays, fashion designers say it is! This is due to a trend known as vanity sizing. It's purpose is to make disillusioned women feel better about their bodies. OK ladies — let's admit it. We get excited when we can wear a smaller size, especially when we have gained 10 pounds.

The fashion industry gets a kick out of appealing to our wish to be thin — changing the size on the label without actually changing the size. The Gap, Old Navy, Express, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, American Eagle, B. Moss, just to name a few are guilty of it. They now follow the more loosely defined standards known as US catalog sizes. These are on average 6 sizes larger than the original standard. So, for example, a size 12 on the old standard would today be described as a size 6, while a size 6 on the old scale would be what is today known as size zero.

I'll use myself as an example. When I was 16 years old (16 years ago) a size 2 did not exist. At 5'9 110 lbs, measuring 33-23-33. I wore a size 3/4. (Today a size 0 or 00)

Now let's fast forward to the present. I'm twice my age. A husband, baby, dog, and 15 lbs later. I'm a size 2? That's impossible!!! In reality, I'm a size 6.

http://apps.rockyou.com/rockyou.swf?instanceid=98618830&ver=102906"

Sadly, I can see this detracting some overweight women from diet and exercise. I mean, who needs to lose weight if you can suddenly fit into those single-digit sizes you always dreamed of, right? Remember that old magic number, every woman's holy grail, the fabled size 6? Well, since the current 6 is what used to be a 12 a couple of years ago... a modest BBW can now call hers the "perfect body". Who wouldn't buy a pair of jeans that sold you that?

Answer 1

that is messed up.............

I wear a 6 long in jeans....... i feel sad

Answer 2

Sad... not because of the sizing change, if that indeed is going on, but the fact that so many of you women actually care!  Overweight is bad no matter what size you are because of the health issue not the "vanity" issue.  I'm a size 8, 5 foot nothing.  I'm exercising and dieting to lower my cholesterol and blood pressure.  All those high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils are going to kill me if I don't take care of myself now.  Who cares what size you are if your heart is getting overworked to maintain your weight?  Not to mention your spine, your knees, your ankles, your joints... Being fat is not ugly, being UNHEALTHY is.

Answer 3

It's good that there making bigger sizes so people can feel good about them selves. Not everyone is a size zero, so why should you judge someone to go on a diet because since there a size 12 the " Unhealthy". What if the 300 pound woman likes the way she is, The fashion industry should not leave out plus size women out. I'm a size 16 do you know how hard it is to find clothes. Don't Deny anyone right of buying the same clothes that you can just because they bigger.

Answer 4

NO NO NO , Anyone who disagrees with you is fooling

themselves and likes to do so.

The Dirty tricks retailers, or manufactures Designers get up

to does not surprise me.  We are so used to being fooled

and just lie down and take it.

If more people like yourself all over just Expressed that it is

not good enough to fool people like this , we should just block

from buying their fashions!  And they should be made to put

a big add in the paper with names of companies doing this.

MAde to do so by the watchdog committee for shoppers.

Answer 5

I don't think the numbers matter. Its your measurements (and sometimes weight) that matter. At 5'9 and 110 pounds (with those measurements) you were definitely the smallest size. At 5'9 and 125 pounds, you are still small. As long as something fits, why should size matter?

Numbers are the reasons America is messed up, especially in fashion. Whether it be with price, income, or size, numbers SUCK.

Answer 6

I disagree.

I'm only 14 and a size 5-6. HOWEVER, I'm not overweight. I'm only 5'6 right now, but I should be around 5'8. (The doctor said 5'10 but I really don't think I'll be that tall)

In my family, my sister's and I are all big boned. We have a large top stature and that came through GENETICS not by choice. We are larger in tops then bottoms because of this. That is why I'm a size 5-6. In bottoms, I'm a size 4 and sometimes those fall off of me.

I do however exercise. I'm active in sports like Soccer and Field Hockey. (And for the past two years, I've been doing them BOTH in the fall.. So let's say I had school, field hockey practice, field hockey game, then soccer practice) I had field hockey 5 times a week and Soccer 4 times a week. Okay, so now you see that I AM active. I also used to play Basketball and Lacrosse but gave them up for Indoor Soccer, and Soccer in the spring.  Next year, I'm playing Field Hockey, Squash and Lacrosse. I do not work out (Going to the Gym) because they do not allow kid's my age to do so. I do however run.

So do not say that because I'm a size 6 that I'm overweight or I don't exercise and I should diet.. I'm in no means, overweight. I am very active and I have always been since I could walk. However, I do not think that the industry is doing this to distract people from their weight. If anything, they are doing it to make people feel worse.

Answer 7

This isn't a question, this is a rant. Blogs are for rants.

and it seemed to me that you were saying anyone that wasn't below a size 6 should get on a diet NOW...

Honestly. keep your opinions to yourself. Y!A is for QUESTIONS that need ANSWERS.

Not for conceited people to make others feel worse.

That's what Y! blogs are for.

Answer 8

no

Answer 9

If it is, then I'm plus sized because I'm a size 7, now I feel even worse about my weight :(

Answer 10

this is a rant not a question

Answer 11

size 6 ISN'T a plus size. I just want to know who the fashion industry think hey are , to suddenly make everyone as thin as a skeleton?

In my opinion people should form a large group and go around and educate people and the designers on people(especially teen girls) aren't in reality a size 0 in every case!

Also America does have a lot of obease children and adults, Which I just find sad, and would like to be able to help them

Answer 12

WTF ?

Noooo

it's not !

A size 6 is fine !

Answer 13

i know! isn't that crazy. i have read and seen this too.

just recently i have always been a size 6, which is a very common size. now all the sudden a 6 is too big and i am in 4's! i thought i lost weight at first, but no.

then i see other people and they tell me they are a 6 or an 8 and i am like huh?! when they are obviously 10-15 pounds heavier than me.

it is horrible because it is making being overweight ok (not to offend but in the majority, of course not all, of cases it is unhealthy to be overweight)

and if you go to another country and you try on a size 6 it is way too small! even in canada.  

Answer 14

im a size 12 and i always wondered why size 6 was always talked about..when i looked and my waist there wasnt any difference..but this is not rite..i actually like the idea of using actual waist measurements for pant sizes..ill admit, when i hear size zero i feel fat..letting us women realize our true size in stead of covering it up with false numbers will allow people to think more relistically and when us females understand we are overweight we will do something about it...but not go too extreme

Answer 15

I don't even think what you are saying is true. Before having kids I was a size 1 for pants. Now I've had 4 children and I wear a size 7. I am 5'1 and weigh 128lbs. I think I would have been a size 7 then as well if AI was the size I am now. I think if you are wearing a size 2 then that's great. I have a friend who wears anything between a 0 and a 2 and she has three kids but she is skinny as a rail.