Vanity Sizing and Fat Americans in Denial
Okay. Let start out by saying AMERICANS ARE FAT ASSES. But, the best part is that there is always an excuse…”I’m just big boned” or “I have fat genes” or “I have chronic fatique disorder, so I’m too tired to excercise” or “(insert lame excuse here)”. News flash!!! It’s the fuckin’ McDonalds cheeseburger you ate for lunch and then the last 5 hours you spent sitting on your ass watching TV and eating Doritos didn’t help either. I always get so annoyed when fat people tell me, “your so lucky that you’re naturally thin”. Oh yeah, your right…The 2-5 miles I run 4-5 days a week and the fact that I don’t eat fast food have nothing to do with it. Yep, pure luck (and the desire to not be slovenly).
So, this brings us to my point (almost) and to a rad little thing called “Vanity Sizing”. Vanity Sizing is when US clothing manufacturers put smaller sized labels into bigger sized clothes. For example, measure the waist of your pants and compare that to the size on the label. Does a size 36 pant measure 36″, you bet your booty that it does NOT. If you’re wearing a size 36, the actual waist size will usually measure some where between 38″ – 42″. And, since I sell belts on the internet, this brings us to our:
Here is the 1st email I got from Aaron Phillips of Corvallis, Oregon:
“Alright, so I got the belt today and it way doesn’t fit. Your auction says a medium fits size 34-38 and I am a 34 and it DOES NOT fit me. So I was wondering if there is any way to echange this for a larger size. Thanks.”
I so kindly responded with:
“Hello there,
Sure thing. Just send the belt back to:
Vicious Enterprises
3120 Madison St
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Please include a note indicating what size you’d like to exchange it for and $3 to cover return shipping. Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Summer
Vicious Enterprises”
The next email I got from Aaron:
“well its too late, I already gave it to a friend whom it will fit. I think that is rediculous though that you would charge me to ahve you replace it when it was your fault that it was advertised to fit a size that it doesn’t. But no biggy im still going to give you positive feedback because of the quick service. I just hope you werent delibritly being misleading. have a good one.”
I responded with:
“Hi Aaron,
I wouldn’t charge you if the size in the auction was wrong. You’ll notice that I specify sizing in actual measurements and the medium will indeed fit 34″ – 38″ (I measured it myself). The problem here is a little something called “Vanity Sizing”, which is basically when clothing companies put a smaller label into bigger clothes. In the USA, a size 34 is not actually 34″ any more. If you don’t believe it, measure the belt, or the waist on your size 34 pants. I hope that helps and thanks for the feedback!
Cheers,
Summer
Vicious Enterprises”
This next email from Aaron is where it starts getting good (and pretty damn funny):
“hey dickhead, the problem with the belt is that it is too small not
too big. If anything, I have a bigger waist then a 34 which is the
size my pants say so dont talk to me like im some moron. Also I gave
the belt to a friend of mine who wears a 32 and it just barely fits
him. So either you mislabled this belt or you are completely fucking
retarded.”
Now, normally, I try to contain myself because many people are just really dumb, but today, I was over it, so here is the email response I sent:
“Your email is *so* funny! Perhaps you should read my email again “dickhead”. Yes, I realize the belt is too small for you, but it’s not too small for someone that has a 34″ – 38″ waist (perhaps you are confused…” <--- that symbol right there means inches). Now you are telling me that you have a bigger waist then a size 34 (no kidding), but in your 1st email, you claimed to be a size 34? Let me explain Vanity Sizing to you again, since you obviously didn't understand (putting a SMALLER size label in to BIGGER size pants). Clothing companies will put a size 34 label into a pair of pants that waist measures 37"-39" (usually around there). So, measure the belt and don't ACT like a moron and I won't have to talk to you like one.
Cheers,
Summer
Vicious Enterprises
p.s. You made my “stupid email of the day”…Congrats!
http://www.viciousenterprises.com/summersblog “
http://airphillips03.blogspot.com/
Hahahaha…. I fell into the trap of dumb email posting. I should have known better then that. Well… we will blame it on it being late and me being drunk last night, so I apologize. But I still believe I am in
the right. I did measure the belt and its 33″ to the middle hole of the belt, so that means even with the two next holes it still only goes to 35″ not 38″ as you claim. And to put my waist size to rest too I measured myself and I am a 35″ and yes I can put your belt on the last hole but it looks really shitty like that and it’s not that comfortable. But its no big deal really, I just gave it to that friend and he enjoys it so I don’t have to buy him a Christmas gift. Oh and I never claimed not to be fat. I am totally aware or my “beer” gut but that can be expected of a college student who gained 15 pounds his freshman year, but at least I’m working to fix it now. By the way I hate fast food so please don’t stereotype me. Anyways you seem pretty cool from what I have read off your blog (good choice in movies and right on to Rollins) so I apologize again for being a drunk moron and sending that email, next time you are in Oregon come by and toke some bowls on me or I will buy you a drink or something to make up for it. Until then take it easy.
Aaron
Well it’s nice to see Aaron came and explained himself.
Summer, your last reply is so fucking funny. I almost choked on my ice tea, rotf!
Funny as fuck! Love your work!
too funny! yes, I agree that people need to get off their arses to get a “nice” bod. Otherwise stop bitchin’ about it and just say: yup. I’m a lard arse, do you have a problem with that?
Me, well, I am a drunken wench. At 5ft4 I weigh 101pounds and my body fat is now down to 18.7%. Why? “coz I’m light boned” and I have the “skinny, pauper’s arse gene”… Riiiight.
No. I climb mountains every weekend, do yoga 3times a week, run 10km twice a week, go free climbing or trail running twice a month, and I never eat carbs at night. I’ve maintained this routine for most of my adult life.
And that’s it. Nothing else. If you still have the “obesity gene” after following my very anal routine, I suggest liposuction.
Or just have another drink…
I love it when people are in denial
I have read about BS EN 13402, a labelling standard which calls for a pictogram with body measurements in centimeters. This was drafted in 2003, due in the UK in mid 2004.I have been ready for this since 1975, the year of the Metric Conversion Act. I have been recording my measurements for 25 years, beginning Feb 21, 1980, at age 12. I began using metric for my chest, waist, etc. in 1983, as indicated at BayAreaBiker1.blogspot.com
My measurements in 1980 were originally in inches, later converted.
Right on Vicious! Vanity sizing sucks and it sucks more when it’s done by an online retailer! I followed this retailer’s sizing guide and used a tape measure to measure myself, I choose two items and I even went a size smaller than suggested since I wanted a more snug fit (you don’t want loose fitting swimwear!). When they arrived they were HUGE, and I hadn’t lost weight – I had in fact gained 4lbs since the time I ordered the items – I was confused, what size should I get in replacement? Divide by 3, subtract 2, tarot cards? Meanwhile I am racking up shipping and handling charges which I am hoping will be refunded when this merry-go-round is done and they have completed processing my returns. It’s very very inconvenient! By the way at 5’6 and 1/2″, 125lbs and 27% body fat(pizza) and I don’t look skinny, I wear a size 4? Now that’s some serious vanity sizing right there oh and in a certain clothing store related to bananas the size 2 skirt is slightly loose – that’s out of control vanity sizing! Size 2 is the new size 10!
Tarot card…haha. Seriously! Vanity sizing is so stupid. Since an American size 4 keeps getting bigger and bigger, any one that is not obese is going to have to start shopping in the childrens department pretty soon…
The British Standards Institute has come up with a new size label that has actual measurements in centimeters.
So, Summer, where do you suggest that those of us in the now-negative size range shop?
That’s is a good question…I swear we’re going to have to shop in the childrens dept. Juniors lines tend to have more accurate (but still a bit vanity sized) sizing then missy or womens lines. With pants/shorts/skirts, I find a specific brand that fits good and I can always resort to them and know what their size 5 fits like. For example, I’ve worn a size 5 in Hurley brand pants since high school. I know that I can order Hurley pants online and know the size will fit.
I wear a size 1 according to Express, a size 5 according to Hurley and Levis and a size 7 according to Volcom. It really is SO stupid.
Not really funny. Hope you don’t treat all your customers this way. Even if it was their fault you should let them return stuff with no penalty, unless you don’t really care about your reputation.
I just wanted to say that your blog has made my fucking day.
FINALLY HONESTY!!
xoxoxo, J.
“The 2-5 miles I run 4-5 days a week and the fact that I don’t eat fast food have nothing to do with it. Yep, pure luck (and the desire to not be slovenly).”
So umm… are you saying that if you didn’t run and you did eat junk food then you’d be a fatass too ?
I don’t run and I eat junk… but I’m still not fat.
But I guess I’m just lucky… not to have fatass genes like you.
wow u sound like a cunt. what pitiful customer service.
You know, they have found that there is something that each American is drinking or did drink that contains a substance that causes the stem cells in the body to create more fat cells. Interestingly, each of the “new” fat cells contain insuline. No one knows for sure what is going on, but it looks like somebody’s stem-cell project, and it’s not good!