Make this your mantra: Size does not matter

by Elise Carter (Subscribe to Elise Carter's posts)
Posted Nov 18th 2006 at 6:02PM

Size does not matter. Fit is all that matters. Repeat after me, "The size on my tag DOES. NOT. MATTER. All that matters is how I look in the clothing!"

In a recent London Telegraph article, one lucky woman received the makeover of a lifetime. Penny Moorhouse, who is the marketing manager for her family's auto repair business, said she felt frumpy, overweight, and style-less before she was chosen for the makeover project. After the transformation was complete, however, Moorhouse sang a different tune.

"I learned so much on the day (of the makeover) and had so much fun trying on the clothes. I realize I'd been fixated on wearing size 12 and it's not the size that matters – it's the fit. It was a revelation to discover that sometimes a 14 or a 16 can look better. All stores have different sizing systems anyway."
After I brushed the tears of joy from my eyes and finished singing my version of the Hallelujah Chorus, I immediately sat down to memorialize Penny's quote. You know how the saying goes, if I had a nickel for every time I saw a woman try on a gorgeous jacket/top/skirt and reject the piece entirely because she would have to go from a medium to (gasp) a large? Well, let's just say I wouldn't just be wishing for that Anthropologie couch.

I suggest we all take a page from Ms. Moorhouse and stop caring about what size is arbitrarily slapped onto a piece of clothing. Penny's right, you know. Almost all companies use completely differently sizing charts. We're only torturing ourselves, missing out on great wardrobe items all because the tag says L instead of M. And if you still can't get over what the tag says? I'll be willing to bet you own a great pair of scissors. Those tags come right out!

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Filed under: Fashion, News, Best of the Season, Denim
Tags: Anthropologie couch, Anthropologie furniture, clothing, clothing manufacturer, Hillary Alexander, London, London Telegraph, makeover, mantra, Penny Moorhouse, shopping mantra, size does not matter, size large, size medium, size small, sizing charts

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READER COMMENTS

(6)Add A Comment

Penni Helms, 11-19-2006, 3:24PM

HI!!! I read your article on PLUS SIZES, and i think Penny is so right... I am disabled and have gained some weight, my precious son in law passed away and I had to go and buy some clothes to wear to the wedding, and, i had to get a bigger size than usual, well, at 1st it
made me feel really down, but, you know, its just OK! who came
up with you have to weigh 100 pds and be a size 2,, God made
us all different sizes, and as we get a bit older we tend to have
to go up to the next size.. DONT LET IT GET YOU DOWN!!!!!
i really enjoyed reading this article... it made me FEEL alot better
about myself!
I am 45 and feel BEAUTIFUL!! thanks!
Sincerely,
Penni Helms/NC

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Wendy, 11-19-2006, 10:00AM

I kook at it this way if you do not like what I look like or wear then you do not have to look.

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Renee in Ohio, 11-19-2006, 10:49AM

Gasp! She was wearing a 12??!!! Oh my, what a problem to have! A 12! But I guess it would be a problem since 14's and 16's are considered plus sizes now! What does that make me in my 18's? A cow? I used to wear 22/24's and was ECSTATIC to get into 18's b/c I knew I was healthier, not just skinnier, but what did wearing 22/24's say about me? That I was as big as the moon? Let's cut the media crap about being as skinny as a stick and start eating healthily and exercising so that we live longer and can wear the size we're MEANT to wear, regardless of what the stupid tag says! I agree with this article that you are beautiful regardless of what size you wear, but let's add HEALTHY to that statement as well and make it true!

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Shawn, 11-19-2006, 12:31PM

Thank you, Thank you Thank you!

I too was "downed" by the size I had to purchase on a recent clothes shopping trip. But your article makes total sense! I had a "light bulb" moment as Oprah often says. The fit IS what matters. And to Renee; I absolutely agree, lets make HEALTH a part of the statement too.

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Tina, 11-19-2006, 12:35PM

What about those of us that are between a size 2 and size 20? We are the majority and it appears as if we have been dismissed! Who cares what size you are it about the person you are inside that counts.

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Tina, 11-19-2006, 12:38PM

What about those of us that are between size 2 and size 20? It appears that we are the majority and we have been dismissed. Who cares what size you are its about the person you are inside that counts.

Reply »