i love GAP clothes sizes

just popped into Gap to get some new winter trousers as its freezing here. Tried on a 6 expecting it to be equal to UK 10 but too big, left the shop with a perfectly fitting pair of Uk 8 trousers. the label says 4US, is it wrong of me to leave the label on hanging out the back so everyone sees im offically slim even though i have the worlds largest bottom.

why dont other stores cut clothes like this, i know its just a number but it makes me happy? I tried on a pair of Dolce Gabana trousers yesterday and a 38 eurpoean which is supposed to be a UK10/US6 didnt even meet at the fly id have to drop a 10lbs to get the buttons to meet, walked out feeling fat and disgusting after being told that thats the biggest they do!

Yes Gap and Old Navy's sizes tend to run large. At those stores a 2 is loose on me. Not normal considering I usually wear a 4-6! But no one knows what size you wear so remember it doesn't matter what the actual number on the pants is just as long as you feel good.

I don't look at it as the gap sizes running 'big'. I figure that they just cut the pants to fit around real hips.

I don't think they run that big either, I fit into the same size at Gap as I do at other stores I get my jeans from.  But I do think they fit incredibly, I have like three different cuts and they all look good.  My favorite is the Long and Lean. :)

It's called "vanity sizing." The marketing geniuses thought that if they label their clothes with smaller sizes than they actually were, women would feel better about themselves and would buy more of their product. I was pretty insulted when I found this out--the ploy feeds on women's insecurities and apparent irrationality--and thought that there was no way women could be duped so easily. But I guess it works.

But I wear a US6 no matter what brand! I just prefer gap because they make xlong jeans and I'm like ... 98% leg ... LOL

It's also interesting to note (as per chelseagirl's original post):

Finer clothing (ie, those D&G trousers vs. Gap jeans) tend to be cut smaller and less likely to indulge vanity sizing. Less expensive clothing is cut larger, catering to the masses, which masses are getting, um, more massive with every counting year. It's a sad fact that poorer people in first world countries are fatter than their richer countrymen.

Case in point, I tried on a pair of 8 jeans just recently in Old Navy, in Gap, Espirit, Levis and H&M I am a 10, in Banana Republic and Club Monaco a 12, and in D&G? Well, they'd probably laugh me out of the store! :-)

phimegaphi, i understand its vanity sizing and im not some stupid woman whose been easily dupped, thats my point. Even though i know that they are trying to flatter me i like it, its certinaly better than trying on a pair of £700 trousers that didnt make it past my bum and then being told thats the largest they come in as they cut their sizes to only fit rich and skinny italian women :-(

can someone not come up with a set sizing, most of our stuff is 8-14 here but then occassionally we have stuffed marked in US sizes, European 34-44 sizes and the usual S,M,L. And these vary greatly on the high street not to mention designer lables who refuse to make clothes bigger than a model.

anyway im happy with my new trousers, they are a UK8 which is my goal size, i know i wont fit in an 8 yet in most shops but its one of those little triumphant moments that i want to boast about as those daily gym visits have abvoisuly made a little difference

Interesting.  I just posted about this topic yesterday.  All I can say is, marketing genius!  I can wear a size four in a certain brand of pants (Willi Smith) and not squeeze into a pair of size 8 Marc Jacobs jeans.  Then there is the size 6 JCrew skirt I poured myself into when I weighed 122 at age 18 - point being, sizes have definitely changed if I can now wear a size 6 at JCrew weighing 20 lbs more.  Size is SO relative.   Sometimes it's worth it to wear a pair of Old Navy jeans that are size 2 that make you feel like a million bucks rather than a pair of D&G pants that just cost a million bucks. 

As for the post about the fashion designers not making clothes for the masses - well, that's true.  Otherwise they wouldn't be exclusive.  Maybe it's a sort of protective marketing on their part - no one with a normal BMI can fit into their clothes! 

ok now i feel bad :-( seems my achievement of reaching a US4 is just cause Gap cut big, i knew this to be the case but i was hoping it wouldnt be.

Well my aim is a new pair of diesel jeans in a size 26", im currently a 28" and have even bought a 30" once before though after 1 wash they became huge, so anyway im going to achieve the 26" diesel i always wear the same brand so guess thats a good measure of change. In fact i may pop next door now and try them on just so i know where im aiming. Living and working next to all the best shops is a nightmare and very expensive

No, don't feel bad.  The question really is, did you fit into a gap size 4 before you started a program?  If not, then BRAVO, success! 

Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the new wardrobe.

 

hey chelseagirl, just to be clear: I didn't mean to imply you were a stupid woman who's been duped. Sorry if my post came off that way. I just think we should all be careful about our reasons for why we buy or like certain products over others and not get fooled by (very clever) marketing strategies. But Frandorra is right: if you can fit into sizes now from gap that you couldn't before, then that is the important thing to focus on, no matter what the tag says and where the tag is from. Good job!

My sizes vary from store to store, but I find Gap clothes in general more comfortable, so I tend to spend the bulk of my money in clothes there.

now im just too confused head hurts - im going home to eat and get fat!!

on the back of my success from droping from gap 6 to a 4 i though id check my progress on diesel jeans as my aim is their 26". Big mistake tried on 2 pairs of 28 finally squeezed into and buttoned up a 29". That means yes if dropped a little but seems im actually only back to wear i was 6 months ago when i last bought jeans. Guess the jeans streched so much i didnt notice i was getting that much fatter, then when i lost a few pounds they hang loose but actually thats just becasue im back to where is was before they streched. Oh well just means i have 3" not 2" to go, but im still going to get there

I think as of late GAP has weird sizes. My mother for 16 years went in, and bought her style and size without trying them on. She did that 2 years ago, and when she tried them on at home, she was like, "what the hell is this!?" The fit was completely awful, and I have noticed that with GAP pants as of late.

You should check out the sizing at Chico's. (sp?)

A friend loves that store and we were in it down out the outlets.  I was looking at their denim jackets and the largest size on the rack was a 3!

Well, it turns out they have their own sizing, and a 3 is a 14/16. 

I can't afford their clothes, but I'd LOVE to have enough money to buy something there, just so I could say I was a size 2!

you know, i haven't shopped much since i put on 10-15 in the past year (well that's a lie-i have but clothes never fit right) but since i started dieting or starting my 'lifestyle change' as someone who doesn't like the word dieting told me-almost 3 weeks ago WOOHOO!- i think ive lost about 5 pounds and dropped a size?

 i bought a pair of size 8 jeans a little bit before or just as i started being healthy, from Express and it fit sooo well i was surprised. But now they're big?! yay! ...i guess. minus the fact that $50 i spent on them is kinda down the drain.

so Gap fits well? i havent tried them recently but i guess its different for most people.  its hard for me to find jeans, i guess cus i'm so (heehee) ethnic.

i get kind of irritated at jeans that dont fit. i must have like 10 pairs or something in my closet, sheesh. if only they all fit...they range from a size 4 when i was smaller just two years agoo and from gap actually to a size FUNNY. i think those never fit me properly, lol. oh jeans. Us women and our jeans. huh. jejeje

It's so very messed up, these GAP sizes. I've been wearing a US6 in GAP for about 2 years now (occasionally a 4 when I get stressed and forget to eat!!) And I found an old pair of 8's ... they were ... tight? Tight!! I think they go through pahses of mis-labeling ... because the 8's were the same style and cut as the 4's and 6's ... but, yeah.

I was talking about this with a friend this weekend. There are actual jean researchers (she knows one which is how it came up). These folks figure out the target demographic for their specific brands and determine how to cut the jeans accordingly.

There was a comment that was right on- there is definitely a coorelation in body shape and size and socioeconomic status in this country. If you make less money and lower social standing you are more likely to be overweight and less toned. Places like Gap and Old Navy are targeting a much large group of people and sell pants to mainly lower and middle class people. 7s and the like are made and intended to be sold to the folks who also employ personal trainers and can afford both money-wise and time-wise eating well. They also have the advantage of being cool so they can be more exacting in sizes and not lose customers (you buy them for the quality and the brand recognition). 

There is no standardization in women's sizing because of the different cuts and things (for example, I have no hips but a large waist size so in slim cuts I can be several sizes lower than regular cut).

Slightly related: In defence of the high end brands, I used to think it was absurd to spend a $100 or more on a pair of jeans. However, I recently was given a couple of pairs of Citizens for Humanity and suddenly I look like I have a shape and though I have to use a belt, the jeans actually hug my ruler hips. I still can't break down and do it (I try to only wear used clothes-for frugality and lessening of ecological footprint)

This whole vanity sizing is why I keep my size 6 Levi's that I have had for 7 years to keep me in check. These do not stretch so it is the original size for Levi's.

Carolcabbage, you're slightly incorrect: Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic are all owned by Gap, Inc. Each one targets a different market. Pricewise, Old Navy is the low end, Gap is the middle end, and BR is the high end. Out of the three, Old Navy has the widest demographic appeal.

Meanwhile BR is targeted at 20-somethings who have $ to spend and want to appear fashion-forward. The quality of the material also goes from low to high among all three stores.

I believe only ON offers plus sizing. Gap offers petite sizing for tops but not pants (you have to buy the "ankle" lengths). BR offers petite sizing for everything.

As far as sizing goes, all three use the exact same basic sizing and fit models!

For example, if I shop in Old Navy, I wear a 0 or a 1. Because they don't offer petites, it really depends on the cut and style. I take an XS in their tops, but often they are too long on me. 

In Gap, I am a 1 in their jeans and a 0 in their dress pants and khakis. I take an XS-petite in their tops (petite tops are orderable only online). 

In BR, I am a 0 in their regular sizing, and a 1 in their petite sizing. I take an XS-petite in their dresses and tops.

I've shopped religiously at all three for years and years. I can vouch for the fact that they have recently employed vanity sizing. I used to be a 2 or 4, and now I'm routinely a 0 or 2. It's not weight loss - I still have quite a few items in my closet from previous years that fit fine but have a higher number on the label.

With that said, I will say this: of all the manufacturers, in my experience, Gap Inc stores are far more consistent with sizing than any other. Yes, they just changed their sizing - that's not what I mean. What i mean is, if I walk in there today and I'm a size 0 in a pair of pants, if I then go back online and order several other pants  - all in size 0 - chances are very good they will fit exactly the same.

This to me is very important because I do a lot of online shopping, and I am very apt to order the same item in several colors if I like it. I've been screwed when I've tried to do this at Jcrew, Ann Taylor, and other places or brands.

I will also say that I think Gap Inc was the first to really figure out petite sizing and do it right! They gained my loyalty years ago when BR came out with their first petite sizing. Especially since they realized 1) petite people want to have a choice of their entire line - not just select pieces 2) petite people have enough boring basics - give me something fashionable and different, but in my size! and 3) it's not just about the pants - we're petite on top too!

That was my rambling missive for the day. :-)