A couple of questions about American clothing sizes?

I have the same issue. Where do you shop where a size 10 turns into a 6 because I want to shop there?

Great question. Yes, men have this problem as well. I posted a similar question a while ago. For example, a size 28 at the Levi’s store is basically a 32 at H&M.

My advice is to know the brand and their idiosyncrasies. I know how a Nike Small is most likely going to fit, as I do an American Apparel Medium [both about the same dimensions].

I think some or most of it may have to do with target audience/clientele. The Gap is catering to a different crowd then, say, Forever 21 or American Apparel and hence has more forgiving, even deceptive sizing.

Its called vanity sizing. You go in to a shop thinking you are a a size 10 and when you find a size 8 fits it makes you feel good so you are more likely to buy it.

It’s my understanding that higher end stores/manufacturers size smaller as Lightlyseared suggested for vanity reasons. Stores like H&M or even K-Mart or WalMart tend to size up. Who knows what a “real” size 6 is.
When I was younger the smallest size in most stores for women was about a 6 typically, sometimes you could find a 4. There was no such thing as a zero or a double zero! Petit women had to go to special stores to purchase 4s and 2s.
If we are so obese, when did we get so tiny, too?
I would think men would have less of a problem with this since their sizing is based on waist size (28” should be 28”, but that’s not what peedub is suggesting).

Guys have the same problem, but I’d definitely say to a lesser extent.

I think we just don’t get as happy when we need a smaller size (or larger), but a medium t-shirt one place will hit about mid-thigh and feel alright, the next place I’m showing off my treasure trail and it’s tight enough that I need some pasties.