S, M, L, XL, XXL is nonsense

eXcentris · 02-17-07, 04:12 PM

Sometimes a medium t-shirt will fit me, and sometimes I have to buy a large. This "system" is idiotic, has no standards and needs to go away.

Vibiana · 02-17-07, 04:15 PM

I'd be happy if they just made every T shirt in size 4-X. I sleep in 'em.

Venusian · 02-17-07, 04:29 PM

Anytime someone gives away tshirts, why are they always XL?

achau9598 · 02-17-07, 04:33 PM

probably because most of them shrink after one wash anyway ...

eXcentris · 02-17-07, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venusian

Anytime someone gives away tshirts, why are they always XL?

Yeah, or "one size fits all"

Altimus Prime · 02-17-07, 04:47 PM

I'm very hesitant to buy t-shirts anymore because I know sometimes a XL will fit me fine, other times it won't fit. I hate wasting my money. I have a few shirts I bought that should fit, but don't.

But what I think is even sillier is the numbering system for women's clothes. What is a "size 4," anyway? And how can someone be a "size zero"? What, does that mean if they turn sideways, you can't see them???

At least with, say, men's pants, there's a measuring system that makes sense.

pedagogue · 02-17-07, 05:15 PM

Welcome to marketing!!

Speaking of women's clothing (more has been researched about it).....look at what a 'size 2' was in '60, '70, '80, etc. They will be different. But...a size is a size, right? Nope.

-p

4KRG · 02-17-07, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXcentris

Sometimes a medium t-shirt will fit me, and sometimes I have to buy a large. This "system" is idiotic, has no standards and needs to go away.

I have found that for the most part BIG MAN sizes are about right on.

Usually when I buy a 2XT shirt, it fits. I guess the cheaper brands that cut sizes to save a few pennies haven't invaded this size market just yet.

The question for me comes in when I wash it will the material shrink or not. Usually when it shrinks, it shrinks from the Tall part and leaves me with a belly button revealing shirt.

I am so glad clothes manufacturers finally caught on to larger sized clothing. When I was younger I had such an impossible time finding anything that would fit. Now that big and baggy clothes are trendy, I can actually find a lot that fit

Tarantino · 02-17-07, 07:52 PM

Agreed. I usually wear a medium tee, but sometimes a big small will work or a small large will be fine. Hate it, because I despise trying things on at a store.

= J

Mrs. Danger · 02-17-07, 07:59 PM

I just do the armpit check. I hold the armpits of the shirt, and tuck them into my armpits. If I can do that without stretching the shirt, it fits.

Hiro11 · 02-17-07, 08:38 PM

I'm with the OP on this one. I'm a medium but you never know. It's to the point where I have to try on everything I want to buy, even if I already own clothing from that particular store or brand and think I know what size fits me.

Actually, I've found that even the same size of the same article of clothing can vary widely.

TomOpus · 02-17-07, 08:42 PM

Sometimes I can wear a small, usually a medium, sometimes a large (especially if it's a t-shirt).

innocentfreak · 02-17-07, 08:43 PM

The problem I always have is the shirt is never long enough. I am only 6'0 but I have a long torso so I end up wearing 2xL. Even those nowadays are getting wider and shorter nowadays. Then I will see some kid in the mall that has a tshirt that goes down to his knees and I am always tempted to ask him where the hell he shops.

mndtrp · 02-17-07, 08:46 PM

It does seem stupid to have the same size be different with different brands. Shoes are the same way. If something universal was adopted, it would make shopping online much easier.

devilshalo · 02-17-07, 09:04 PM

I will wear an XL just for the reason of shrinkage after repeated washes. If it doesn't shrink, that's fine, too, since I wear things oversized anyway.

Lee Harvey Oswald · 02-17-07, 09:19 PM

I bought a bunch of medium sized white shirts at Target to wear under other shirts. I tried one on and it fit great, so I figured they'd all fit since they were all M's. I was wrong, after I cut the tags off and washed them they all fit differently. Some are as tight as smalls and others are baggy as a L or XL.

eXcentris · 02-17-07, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innocentfreak

The problem I always have is the shirt is never long enough. I am only 6'0 but I have a long torso so I end up wearing 2xL. Even those nowadays are getting wider and shorter nowadays. Then I will see some kid in the mall that has a tshirt that goes down to his knees and I am always tempted to ask him where the hell he shops.

Yeah that's another problem. Not only is the width inconsistent, but the length as well.

It's fine in a store cause you can try them on, but if your order you have to guess. I ordered a t-shirt from cafepress a while back and it was a 'M'edium. Well it was too small. Luckily, after filling out the return form on their site (and expecting to pay shipping to send it back, and get a new one), I got an email from one of their customer reps telling me they'd send a new one at no charge, and that I could keep the original one too.

Snorker · 02-17-07, 09:29 PM

I'm writing a letter to God and complaining that he didn't make people in consistent S, M, L, XL, and XXL sizes. All of this variation is infuriating!

Charlie Goose · 02-17-07, 10:18 PM

And why don't they have dressing rooms for men in a women's clothing store?

I'm jes' saying!

Just Lurking · 02-17-07, 10:26 PM

Why do places charge a couple dollars more for XXL and bigger but not less for XS or smaller?

DVD Josh · 02-17-07, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXcentris

Sometimes a medium t-shirt will fit me, and sometimes I have to buy a large. This "system" is idiotic, has no standards and needs to go away.

So instead of a size, they should just write SHIRT on the tag? Or Skinny for S, Manly for M and Large ManBoobs for L?

Look, it's not the system. It's the fact that shirts are mass produced today. The presses constantly need resetting, and nothing is hand cut anymore (unless you pay through the nose).

dork · 02-17-07, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Lurking

Why do places charge a couple dollars more for XXL and bigger but not less for XS or smaller?

Plus size clothing is more expensive to manufacture because the Malaysian children who make it are periodically crushed to death by the amount of fabric needed for one Hawaiian shirt.

eXcentris · 02-17-07, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVD Josh

So instead of a size, they should just write SHIRT on the tag? Or Skinny for S, Manly for M and Large ManBoobs for L?

Look, it's not the system. It's the fact that shirts are mass produced today. The presses constantly need resetting, and nothing is hand cut anymore (unless you pay through the nose).

The presses constantly need resetting? What the heck is that supposed to mean? That the people who reset them are either idiots or the standards as to what these acronyms really mean in terms of actual sizes are so vague and/or varied that they become almost meaningless.

TimeandTide · 02-17-07, 11:25 PM

Even worse are the different fits of XL tees at Lucky (and Gap). Their XL tees vary in size so I usually have to take a pile of a dozen or so into the dressing room just to find a couple that will fit right.

devilshalo · 02-18-07, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dork

Plus size clothing is more expensive to manufacture because the Malaysian children who make it are periodically crushed to death by the amount of fabric needed for one Hawaiian shirt.

02-17-07, 04:12 PM	#1
eXcentris DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 23,001	S, M, L, XL, XXL is nonsense Sometimes a medium t-shirt will fit me, and sometimes I have to buy a large. This "system" is idiotic, has no standards and needs to go away.

02-17-07, 04:15 PM	#2
Vibiana DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 11,083	I'd be happy if they just made every T shirt in size 4-X. I sleep in 'em. __________________ Vibiana hooks up with chicks, she's more of a winner than most of the internet. -- mndtrp "If everyone you know is doing it, the only thing to do is rush into a marriage. It'll turn out great so don't worry about it." -- Jules Winfield

02-17-07, 04:33 PM	#4
achau9598 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 4,847	probably because most of them shrink after one wash anyway ... __________________ Tyler Perry is the black Uwe Boll - Joe Molotov Xbox 360 Live gamertag: ZombieReign\|\| Wii Friend Code 3594 9793 4462 5322 \| PS3 zombiereign CHANGE - It's what will be left in your pocket

02-17-07, 05:15 PM	#7
pedagogue DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 27,955	Welcome to marketing!! Speaking of women's clothing (more has been researched about it).....look at what a 'size 2' was in '60, '70, '80, etc. They will be different. But...a size is a size, right? Nope. -p __________________ Everyone is against racial profiling....unless it is called Affirmative Action. -kvrdave Coors Light is sex in a canoe. Natural Light is masturbating in a puddle. -The Bus

02-17-07, 08:38 PM	#11
Hiro11 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,786	I'm with the OP on this one. I'm a medium but you never know. It's to the point where I have to try on everything I want to buy, even if I already own clothing from that particular store or brand and think I know what size fits me. Actually, I've found that even the same size of the same article of clothing can vary widely. __________________ What's that? Jessie and Prospector are trapped in the old abandoned mine and Prospector just lit a stick of dynamite thinking it was a candle and now they're about to be blown to smithereens?

02-17-07, 04:29 PM	#3
Venusian Moderator Join Date: Nov 1999 Posts: 36,943	Anytime someone gives away tshirts, why are they always XL?

02-17-07, 04:47 PM	#6
Altimus Prime Guest Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Posts: 2,239	I'm very hesitant to buy t-shirts anymore because I know sometimes a XL will fit me fine, other times it won't fit. I hate wasting my money. I have a few shirts I bought that should fit, but don't. But what I think is even sillier is the numbering system for women's clothes. What is a "size 4," anyway? And how can someone be a "size zero"? What, does that mean if they turn sideways, you can't see them??? At least with, say, men's pants, there's a measuring system that makes sense.

02-17-07, 07:52 PM	#9
Tarantino DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 14,354	Agreed. I usually wear a medium tee, but sometimes a big small will work or a small large will be fine. Hate it, because I despise trying things on at a store. = J

02-17-07, 07:59 PM	#10
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	I just do the armpit check. I hold the armpits of the shirt, and tuck them into my armpits. If I can do that without stretching the shirt, it fits.

02-17-07, 08:42 PM	#12
TomOpus DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23,337	Sometimes I can wear a small, usually a medium, sometimes a large (especially if it's a t-shirt). __________________ "Pear Pimples for Hairy Fishnuts!" My So-Called DVD Life (Profiler),A Fistful of Discs (DVDAf)

02-17-07, 08:43 PM	#13
innocentfreak DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,733	The problem I always have is the shirt is never long enough. I am only 6'0 but I have a long torso so I end up wearing 2xL. Even those nowadays are getting wider and shorter nowadays. Then I will see some kid in the mall that has a tshirt that goes down to his knees and I am always tempted to ask him where the hell he shops. __________________ Humans United Against Robots 360 Gamertag: Nobrumski Steam: Nobrumski

02-17-07, 08:46 PM	#14
mndtrp DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2004 Location: a mile high, give or take a few feet Posts: 10,830	It does seem stupid to have the same size be different with different brands. Shoes are the same way. If something universal was adopted, it would make shopping online much easier.

02-17-07, 09:04 PM	#15
devilshalo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell Posts: 24,268	I will wear an XL just for the reason of shrinkage after repeated washes. If it doesn't shrink, that's fine, too, since I wear things oversized anyway. __________________ Oh, don't be the victim. Don't make up excuses because you're a dumbass. - Lynda Thompson

02-17-07, 09:19 PM	#16
Lee Harvey Oswald DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Nowheresville Posts: 1,976	I bought a bunch of medium sized white shirts at Target to wear under other shirts. I tried one on and it fit great, so I figured they'd all fit since they were all M's. I was wrong, after I cut the tags off and washed them they all fit differently. Some are as tight as smalls and others are baggy as a L or XL.

02-17-07, 09:29 PM	#18
Snorker Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 57	I'm writing a letter to God and complaining that he didn't make people in consistent S, M, L, XL, and XXL sizes. All of this variation is infuriating!

02-17-07, 10:18 PM	#19
Charlie Goose DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's) Posts: 19,398	And why don't they have dressing rooms for men in a women's clothing store? I'm jes' saying! __________________ Ohwa Tagu Siam

02-17-07, 10:26 PM	#20
Just Lurking DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 1,169	Why do places charge a couple dollars more for XXL and bigger but not less for XS or smaller? __________________ Wii Code: 2249 5813 7598 3185

02-17-07, 11:25 PM	#24
TimeandTide DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Orange County Posts: 4,234	Even worse are the different fits of XL tees at Lucky (and Gap). Their XL tees vary in size so I usually have to take a pile of a dozen or so into the dressing room just to find a couple that will fit right.