Things to Know About Vanity Sizing

Do you have a size 34 waist? Are you only sure of this because a size 34 pair of pants fits comfortably around your tummy? We’re not looking for trouble but we know that thanks to “Vanity Sizing” there are good reasons to doubt the intentions of your favourite brand when it labels the size of its clothing. We’re sure you’ve experienced first hand that waist sizes differ from one brand to the next. Hence a garment with a size 34 waist made by one apparel maker may be too small for you while a size 34 of another label will fit you with ease. This is called “vanity sizing” within the fashion industry and is done deliberately by numerous brands to attract buyers to purchase only their apparel.

Stroking The Male Ego Using His Waist

Many if not most brands intentionally show pants with a larger waist size as being 2 or more inches smaller. This trick appeals to men’s “vanity” who show a preference for buying trousers from labels that sell pants of a larger than actually stated waist size. Men who think that the top brands are immune to such manipulation have a thing or two to learn. The best-known brands in the world are the same ones that most heavily employ “vanity sizing” in their garments. Men’s brands that are traditionally considered stalwarts of male masculinity are often the same ones that falsely label oversized garments as smaller ones and sell them to insecure men, fooling consumers into a false sense of comfort.

The Scale of The Deception

Some men reading these words may refuse to believe that vanity sizing actually exists or that it is done deliberately by the top clothing manufacturers in the world. But men make no mistake, “vanity sizing” exists and is done deliberately by apparel manufacturers. The difference in the waist sizes among different manufacturers is not a coincidence, it has been created on purpose. Even the most valued apparel brands in the world partake in this deception. To get an idea of the difference between the sartorial fiction created and the facts, consider that one leading apparel label sells 39.5-inch pants as 36-inch ones. Another even more premium brand markets pants with a 41-inch waist as 36-inch pants.

Men Fall For It

Anyone who still thinks only women are vain has a lot to learn. Men are equally as vain as the fairer sex is. Hence the success of vanity sizing which leads men to feel good about themselves without having to make any real physical effort to do so.  Most insecure men probably make themselves believe that the larger sized pant shown as having a smaller waist size that fits them well is correct while a tight-fitting pant that has the accurate waist measurement is wrong. One can’t hold it against men, as men are as conscious of their physical measurements as are women are about their age. But lying to themselves about the same may have unfavourable consequences.

Living in La La Land

When you’re a man, you measure your waist by the circumference of your pants, literally. Men are highly unlikely to pull out a measuring tape to check the size of their waist because they believe they know the size of they’re waist through the waist size displayed on the pants they wear. But what if many of them have been wrong for the past few years and their waist size, for instance, is not a relatively healthy 34 inches but a larger and unhealthy 36 or even 38 inches? Then rather than being able to enjoy a lavish gourmet filled lifestyle, they ought to go easy and cut down on the portions they consume. In such instances men’s trousers may be misleading them and, unbelievable as it seems, harming their health.

A Simple Solution

Vanity sizing is highly unlikely to go away anytime soon. Pants sold through vanity sizing are too comfortable to too many and make men feel good about themselves. The simplest way for men to not be fooled by the deception of vanity sizing is by pulling out a measuring tape and measuring the size of their waist. Then regardless of whether they wear falsely labelled 34-inch waist size trousers when the actual size of their waist is 36 inches, they won’t be partaking in an unnecessary deception and perhaps may even, if they’ve grown physically complacent, be motivated to lead a healthier lifestyle.