Let’s talk sizing
What. Size. Are. You.
I admit, it is one of the first things I ask my clients when we start working together. It is a helpful measure to find clothes that are more likely to fit…and it is also a question that can bring a lot of shame, or pride, for many people.
However, with mass production of clothing, sizing is not a very reliable metric. One piece, from the same brand, in the same size, can be virtually a different size — especially with cheaply made clothing.
And yet clothes hold a lot of power over us — we can all relate to a time when we felt good because of the size of clothes we bought (usually smaller is considered better — at least for most of my clients) or when we had to size up and then felt less good about ourselves. While it is hard to let go of these feelings, I encourage my clients, and all of us, to focus on how we feel in a garment instead. Does it make us feel happy, confident, loved, etc? Those are the feelings that we should hold on to — and the clothes we ‘should’ wear!
For many, life during the pandemic has changed our bodies and our sizes. No matter how you’re feeling about your size, the tips below can help you let go of the label (and number/letter) and focus on the garment and how it helps you be your best self!
Remove (donate, sell, gift, recycle) the clothes that are not your size RIGHT NOW. (If that means you have nothing left in your closet, make sure you have a budget set aside for mindfully re-creating your wardrobe.) Keeping these clothes in efforts to change your body (at some point in the future) will diminish your mental energy and clutter your closet — making it harder and a lot less fun to get dressed everyday.
Cut out the tags. If you don’t love your current size, then cut out the tags! There is no reason to look at a number that you don’t love each time you wear a piece.
Choose your brands. As with your overall Style Summary (especially if you’re focused on sustainable and ethical clothing), shopping with brands that you know and love will reduce a lot of the worry over sizes. You’ll learn what size works for you in that brand and you’ll be able to shop accordingly (most of the time).
Treat your clothes with respect. Wash them according to the instructions and air dry if possible — not only is this approach better for the environment, but it also helps the garment last longer.
Keep notes. Keep a notebook in your closet or note in your phone that includes your size in each brand so that you don’t have to remember (or guess) each time you shop. (Don’t use this information to shame yourself, only to help you when shopping!)