New to Me Clothes

Excuse me while I take a little break from blogging about weight, weight loss, food plans & exercise, so that I can climb up on my soapbox and rant about women's clothes sizes...ahem...


Yesterday, as I mentioned I dropped off clothes at the consignment sale.  I was able to pre-shop and picked up a few things sized 12P.  I started with size 14, but they were too roomy, so I got a 12 and there was a blouse I liked with a 12P label so I grabbed that too.  It fit like it had been tailor made just for me.  I admit it made me feel good to be able to put on that top and have it fit so nicely.  It felt good to know that I can walk in to any department store now and shop with the 'normal' size clothes as opposed to the plus size. 

BUT, in my heart I knew that I was not/am not a size 12.  When I weighed 165+ on the way up, I wore a 14 on a good day.  The kind of day when there was no bloat, I had control top pantyhose on and the clothes had a generous cut.  ;-)  Most of my clothes were size 16.  I'm not really complaining, just stunned a little bit.  I'm sure manufacturers know the buying public much better than I, and this must be what the public wants.  OK.  I'll deal with that.  It seems a little deceptive, but we all know better, right?

Today, my mother brought me  a box of clothes a friend had given her and she could not use them.  I never know where a gem might be hiding so I took the clothes to try on.  The first garment I pulled out was a classic black blazer, size 16.  My first thought was that my poor mother had no idea that I was a size 12 now and that would swallow me whole.  I put it on anyway.  It fit, nicely even.  Hmmm...I didn't want that size 16 corrupting my little 12's, I put it in the pass pile.  Then I pulled out a pair of slacks, size 12.  That was more like it, but I couldn't get them over my hips.  What?!?!  How long had this lady had these clothes in her closet???  After that, I stopped looking at the sizes and developed a lot of respect for my mother being able to know what size my body is better than I do.

Several of the items were quite dated, and wouldn't work with my wardrobe, but some were fine and it was worth my time to get a few more pieces that will serve me on the way down.  The last thing I tried on had to have been in this woman's closet from 1970.  Even 65MD, who seems to like these fashion shows, started laughing when I pulled out this lovely dress.  It was from that new fangled double knit fabric.  The top was a red & white horizontal stripe and the skirt was navy blue.  It was a dress, made to look like a skirt & top.  It had a navy blue jacket with white piping around the collar and white buttons.  It was a nice patriotic ensemble.  I wouldn't wear it in 100 years unless I was attending some sort of 1970's retro party.

Then I noticed the size.  It was 14.  I put it on out of curiosity.  I managed to struggle in to it, but if I'd taken a deep breath, some of the seams would have ruptured, and there was no way it was going to zip.  There was at least a 3 inch gap at the waist.  65MD was about to pass out he was laughing so hard.  It was funny.  Too bad we didn't take pictures.  I was a little afraid to laugh because I didn't want to rip out any seams. 

I managed to get it off perhaps saving a shred of dignity.  Then I hit upon this idea for clothing manufacturers.  Please put the year the garment was made in addition to the size.  That way those of us that shop for vintage/classic garments, will have a better idea as to if it will fit.  If the label is a size 12 but the year is 1980, it is too little for me right now.  I could make a little spreadsheet to keep up with it.  I'd even publish for all of my blog friends.  It would save us all a lot of time in the dressing room and a lot more embarrassment.  So, manufacturers, is that possible?  It doesn't seem too hard to me.

We now resume our regularly scheduled weight loss blog...