We all know too well the struggles of jean shopping. In one store you might be a size six while in another you’re a 12, and you have absolutely no idea when it’s European sizing. It’s a struggle that women face every time they want to go shopping. Though it seems like a minor inconvenience, something that seems so small can actually have a huge impact on someone’s self-esteem. It can be discouraging when you have to go up a size or even two. With skinny being the standard of beauty, sizing up is a subtle way to remind you of how hard it is to fit that standard.
Chloe Martin took to Twitter to help remind women that the discrepancy in the clothing industry is very real. Chloe posted a photo of several pairs of her jeans all in a size 12. The idea behind the photo was to show how different sizing can be from one to the next. Chloe believes that this inconsistency is toxic to young people. She’s not the only one. Many people have responded to Chloe’s tweet with pictures that are similar to her own.
Photos like Chloe’s are important because they can help remind us that size is just a number. While it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle it’s also important for you not to get caught up in numbers. It’s easy to find yourself obsessing over what number is on your jeans or what numbers pop up on the scale. It’s important to remember that your self-worth is not defined by the size on your tag. It is difficult to remember that your change in size could be a result of the clothing company and not your body.
Will this ever change? Will clothing companies ever become consistent in their sizing? These are the questions that tons of people commented below Chloe’s tweet. When women have five pairs of jeans in their hands that are all different sizes, these are the questions they’re asking. Some designers have admitted to sizing their clothes differently because women want to feel smaller. If this is any indication of how easy it is to decide what number is attached to a piece, of clothing I don’t think we will be seeing any change soon.
It is possible that if more tweets similar to Chloe’s emerge, maybe there will be some pressure on the industry to change. Social media has allowed for women’s voices to be heard in large numbers. If Chloe’s tweet going viral means anything, it means that women agree, and they want something done. The sizing disparity can be harmful to people’s self-image and make shopping a discouraging experience. Hopefully, the clothing industry will hear the complaints and make a move in the right direction to help make sizes more similar across the board. Until then, try to remember that the number on your pants does not define your worth.