Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Why are clothes sizes so erratic and can they be fixed?
Position‹2 of 2

Clothes sizes seem different because of vanity sizing

This position explains the inconsistency as vanity sizing: retailers attach smaller numbers to larger garments because a flattering label helps the sale, so a given size number comes to describe a progressively larger body.

Supporting arguments · 2

  1. A smaller number on the label helps the sale, so labels drift downward
  2. The drift runs one way, which inconsistency alone would not produce