Sizing rage

This is just a post to rant about sizing consistency. I already get annoyed at the rampant inconsistency in women's sizing - especially the arbitrary numbers which mean NOTHING and can make you feel crappy if you have to "size up". Why don't we just have the actual measurements like men's jeans do? So much easier.

Bad enough you get different fits across different brands, but what if it's the same brand? It happens, unfortunately for me. I bought a skirt a few weeks ago off of trademe, from Cue, and it was listed as size 8, which I know I fit in Cue sizing, and the waist measurement was exactly mine. I was stupid and didn't get a hip measurement as well (small waist and larger hips and bum make shopping a chore sometimes) but it was only $15.

I received it and tried it on and it did indeed fit me perfectly around the waist, but my bum was another story. So bloody tight. I just managed to do up the zipper! And I could forget about sitting down - for a 100% polyester skirt it does not stretch at all, and emphasised bulges to the point of being unsightly. Overall, far too tight and uncomfortable. It COULD fit if maybe I toned up my general bum and thigh area but I'm not really holding out for that.

Then I bought a white shirt, size 8, from Cue, which I tried on in the store and for some reason at the time I thought it fit fine. I put it on layby because it was $130 and finally paid the rest of it off this week, take it home and... oh. Anticlimax. Love the style, the material (although as you can see in pics it creases like nobody's business) but it doesn't fit right. Feels and looks a little bit like a tent. But because it was layby I can't return it for a size 6. Gah!! I think I will maybe get some darts put in the back to bring it in more. Also it's a bit see-through but it doesn't help I'm wearing a black bra in the pictures. Need to purchase a flesh coloured bra and/or camisole.

So two items supposed to be the same size, and both fit badly. Why! In Cue's defence, the shirt is from their latest collection and the skirt is older, so some variation can be understood.... sort of. I'm still annoyed, but mostly at myself for making silly decisions. I've at least learnt my lesson about buying clothes online - don't unless you can return them! And choose secondhand clothes wisely and always, always, always get measurements (especially for my bum).

Here, have some pictures of my mistakes, paired together, which from a distance and in pictures look alright but trust me that that skirt is a hot mess. Sigh. On the other hand, inspiration to start exercising again? Although it hasn't been inspiring so far... just depressing.

How I would like this shirt to fit - pulled in a few centimetres at the back..