A* TAY* is a BIG FAT LIAR

Last January, I went to do some post-holiday shopping and I just happened to go into an "upscale women's retail" store in Indianapolis. After finding a skirt I really liked, I grabbed one in the size I THOUGHT I wore, which was a 6, and took it into a dressing room.

The skirt hung lifelessly on me. I pulled it off without unzipping it. This, after a week's worth of eating waaay too much holiday home cooking at my parents' house.

The fitting room attendant, who was doing her job with due diligence, asked if she could help me. I said, "Yeah, can you please bring me this in uh.... a smaller size?"

She darted back to the sales floor, quickly bringing back for me a size 4. Then a 2.

They were both too big.

She brought to my dressing room the last skirt, the smallest one they had, in a size 0.

It fit. Not even snugly, and with no elastic or Spandex ANYWHERE on or in the garment. I looked at my reflection in the mirror (also, by the way, a "skinny mirror), aghast at my seemingly normal body wearing a completely abnormal size.

I would just like to say, for the record, that I am not, nor have I ever been, a size 0.

Furthermore, where do the unfortunate women who are smaller than me shop? There are plenty of these little waifs out there.
A* T* may not be the only clothing manufacturer who is doing this "vanity sizing" thing, but this was by far the most blatant example I had ever seen. As I told the saleslady on the way out, "Boy, are your sizes messed up. I know it's only done to sell clothes, but this is ridiculous."

She gave me a knowing wink. "Yes, our sizes are a little generous," she said, completely without irony as if this was "our little secret."

I have come to the conclusion, after this little shopping trip, that Nicole Ritchie must be shopping at Baby G*. From which, if this sizing theory of mine is correct, she would be buying clothing in about a size 2-Toddler.

Learn more about this author, Beth Lano.
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