I enjoy switching up my style every now & then and exploring the different trends. Although I occasionally shop in person, I prefer to shop online because it eliminates the hecticness that might occur in the dressing room. Something that I have been paying more attention to recently is how sizing significantly varies from store to store. For example, I may be one size at H&M and be a different size at Urban Outfitters due to the inconsistency in sizing. This issue is commonly known as vanity sizing. Decades ago, women’s sizing in clothing remained constant throughout the department stores. No matter what store you stepped into, you always knew that cute blouse that you picked up from the rack would fit you. These days, you would have to go through the hassle of selecting multiple sizes to figure out the correct size. Hence, women often own clothing in 3 sizes whereas men average to about 2 sizes. This can sometimes harm a woman’s self-esteem, especially if she is struggling with body image.
Another issue with women’s clothing is size representation. A lot of us follow influencers and models, but most of them do not represent us. Very recently, brands are starting to realize and celebrate the fact that women can range in height and weight. A couple of weeks ago, Good American, a clothing company founded by Khloe Kardashian and Emma Gerde, released an announcement on their Instagram page that their website will have a model represent each of the sizes ranging from 00-24 in every jean fit and style that they currently sell. Although it took a lot of time on their part to photograph these models, it can help women who shop on their website better visualize themselves in their clothing. Another company that is very good in representing various women is the lingerie company, Aerie. On Aerie’s website, you can view women of different sizes, ages, ethnicities and some with disabilities modeling their clothing.
Although these are two aspects that most companies are putting in an effort to make women’s clothing more inclusive, there are still a lot of popular brands that refuse to make these advancements. Because I am becoming more aware of this issue, I try to spend my money on brands that promote body positivity. So, the next time you walk into a department store or order something online and are disappointed that the clothing won’t fit, don’t blame yourself but rather the brand and the industry.