December 16, 2009Banana Republic has the most ridiculous vanity sizing I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.
Clearly I am a size 10 (size 8 after a nine-day stomach flu), and clearly I'm okay with that. But when I go to Banana Republic? Size 6.
Size. 6.
I'm 5'8" and weigh 150 at my hottest. I weight 155 when I'm going through a donut phase, and when I happen to weigh in at 145 I can often be heard saying things like, "Dude, Cindy Crawford has totally let herself go," and "I think I'll take a trip back to the old Alma Mater and slut around the cafeteria for a little while."
In other words, 145 is my knock-em-dead-I'm-too-hot-for-my-own-good weight. 145 is when I whip out my favorite skirt from my college days--you know, the one my mom put through the wash, hung on the clothes line and said, "That's a really cute neck warmer, Amy."
And I said, "That's not a neck warmer, it's a skirt."
And she said, "You're grounded."
And I said, "You're jealous."
And she said, "You're still grounded."
And guess what size that skirt is. That's right! I don't remember what size that skirt is. But I can abslo-friggin-lutely guarentee that it's not a size 6, and that was never a problem for me. Back in the day the boys didn't care what size that little number was, all they wanted to do was pull that skirt off my bum, poke a couple of eye holes, and wrap it around the exposed skin on their faces so they could go snowmobiling.
I know, Maine is weird.
All I'm saying is this: Girls who are 68 inches tall and weigh 150 pounds are not a size 6, they're a size 10. And dude, that's cool.
But at Banana Republic? Size. 6.
Ridiculous.
RIDICULOUS!
And that is why I will continue to pay obscene amounts of money to purchase my jeans from that fine institution. When I'm above my donut weight, nine weeks post-partum, and comfortably wearing a size 6 jean? Well that's just priceless.
Haven't met a girl yet who isn't a sucker for a size 6--even if it just an illusion.
26 comments:
Love it! I love how comfortable you are in your own skin, Amy. Fantastic.
I am SO shopping at Banana Republic from now on... I finally finished listening to your podcast and it was great. I was thinking as I was running up a snow covered hill that at least I'm not the only one who runs up snow covered hills. Do you wear spiked shoes or yak trax? Also, do you have a required minimum temperature? You know...a temp that you refuse to run in if it is below said temp? Inquiring minds want to know...
PREACH IT! I remember the first time I thought I fit into a smaller size, it was at Banana Republic, and you better believe I threw down $98 for those pants. Sucker, party of one.
Is that a photo of you?
I'm with you on this one, and I think I am going to start shopping at BR. :)
You wanna know who's worse? Ann Kline. I got a little black dress and Ann Kline loft and that little number says I'm a size 2!!! And maybe I WAS a size two back in college....but not anymore Amy...not anymore!
Do you mean Ann Taylor? Because Ann Taylor also claims that I'm a 6 (that sneaky, little byotch!!!)
I knew it!! Size does matter!
I have nothing further to add to this post.
Amy, you're back with a vengeance... you must be staying up way past your bedtime with a baby attached to your boob, thinking up funny things to make me laugh. LOVE this post, and I totally know what you mean. My favorite jeans have a number inside them that is NOT the number I usually wear... and I'm not saying if that is the reason they're my favorite. ;)
twice in one sitting...why did I bother just cleaning the keyboard...when I saw that size 6 booty....That is way funny Amy. And as for BR. ..the only thing I think I have from there was a pair of way marked down black capris...w/ all the zippers on the legs and pockets.wore them to see you in Dallas when I turned 50....thought they made me not look 50 yet? and the alarm kept going off at the airport.
Totally agree! Purchase on!
Yup, might be ann taylor.
Remember how I said my Levi's were so INSANELY vanity sized? That I was in a size 4? Right. I just went to OLD NAVY, KING OF THE VANITY SIZING EMPIRE, and was a size 8. EIGHT. Meaning, in real life sizes, I'm somewhere around a 10. Good lord. The fact is I'm smaller than when I started, but still...
Where did you get a picture of my butt?! If only. :-)
Long Live Banana Republic!!!
Okay so I totally love and hate you. Because I'm 5'8 and when I'm not carrying around my 3 year old pregnancy weight (don't judge) lol I am 150-155 and you are right that is totally a size 10. Not a size 6. I hate you for not telling me about BR's vanity sizing sooner. I would have totally shopped there and paid the over priced prices if I knew I could feel the joy of a size 6.
Unfortunately I'm not a size 10 anymore. But give me another year. I am going to lose it I promise.
Maurices offers the same fantastic sizing. Size 5... Say hello to my new favorite store.. It's sweet sweet victory.
I'm TOTALLY going shopping there. I could use some uplifting sizing :P
At my "best" I was 140lbs and a size 8... So at Banana Republic I would have been like a 2, that might have been fun for awhile.
I *heart* the Banana very much for a whole host of reasons. They do vanity size in the extreme - I have to buy all size XS tops. I'm a small, and a medium if I want something to fit "roomy."
The Banana rocks.
Still snorfling over the skirt/mask/snowmobiling thing.
COMIC GENIUS you are.
Sizes are completely confusing to me these days. I wear a range from size 4 to 10 now depending upon the store. WTF??
BODA weight loss
LOVE this post and am going to be linking to it tomorrow--hope you don't mind :)
Holy CRAP! I'm totally making a visit to this fine institution tomorrow. My size 16 a** yearns for a 10. Truly.
Just found your blog through Tales of a Recovering Disordered Eater.
I love this post. You are a great writer. As a fellow 5'8" gal, I can't help but relate :)
Rock on for the ridiculousness that is Banana Republic!
I've been rockin' the size 6 BR jeans shamelessly since I discovered them in 2003. I paid $80 for that first pair and if it weren't for the hole my chubby upper thighs rubbed in them I'd still be wearing them in public. They're still in the closet, I just wear them around the house now.
I just want to say I am totally jealous of 5'8!
Somehow, in high school (15-20 pounds lighter than now) I wore the same size that I do now. What size is that? 6 of course ;) 5'4 140 shouldnt be a 6 either - it is an 8. But Ill take it Banana and J Crew! :)
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