Clothing and footwear sizes

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Linuxluver

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#1471599 15-Jan-2016 09:05

For example, why do we have so many emergency services numbers? NZ does not even have the same one as Australia.

I think we have 111 because it was the fastest possible number to dial on the old rotary phones that went from 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 counterclockwise around the dial (US was the reverse).

But once the rotary phones were gone.....no physical reason for any particular number except perhaps to repeat the same number.

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linw

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#1471763 15-Jan-2016 11:14

Certainly, shirt sizes are a crapshoot, with the trend as the OP states. I carry a piece of knotted string in my wallet that is my size across the chest and I hold that against any prospective purchases! Saves wasting time going backwards and forwards to the dressing room.

trig42

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#1471778 15-Jan-2016 11:28

This is frustrating.
I take a 3XL T-Shirt, but some retailers who actually sell a 3XL have bought from a supplier that I think just guesses this size.

Farmers T-Bone (which is the larger sized Chisel) is accurate - their 3XL stuff fits fine and wears well.
I purchase a lot of 'brand' clothing from Amazon now - and 3XL from there generally means 3XL (and reviews show how it fits - too big/too small etc). I buy LRG, Levis, Ecko amongst others from Amazon and the sizing has always been right (and cheaper than buying here).

Hallensteins is hopeless (not that they stock anything much bigger than 2XL anyway) - I think their suppliers only thing that tall skinny people exist and deserve to wear their product.
The Warehouse will occasionally have something that fits that I want to wear, Postie Plus also. I have learnt that if I see something I like that I can fit into to buy it, because it will be gone next time I go there or if I go to a different branch of their store.

As for shoes - I take a NZ 12-12 1/2. Which is about a US14. I cannot buy shoes from the Warehouse or No1 Shoes (apart maybe for Sneakers/Trainers). I either have to go expensive in NZ, or Amazon again. Skechers here fit me OK, and if you can get them on special/clearance they are a good deal. I have a pair of Skechers Chukka style boots that fit fine. Got them for about $120 delivered I think.

nzkiwiman

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#1471973 15-Jan-2016 14:47

I've been looking at clothes again since loosing some weight and have found the same issue
There doesn't seem to be any consistency between XL or 2XL and even in the same style (where only the colour is different) there seems to be large differences

I have two Polos, one in blue and one in black
Both 2XL. The black is considerably larger than the blue ... the blue is almost skin tight which I can't stand (being of a large build)

lagbort

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#1471982 15-Jan-2016 15:09

I have found the same issue recently, shirt sizes have moved up from XL/2XL to 3XL/4XL even though I have lost a bit of weight..

The one that really baffles me though is motorcycle gear, my last helmet was a 2XL and was relatively tight, my current helmet is an L and is a slightly more relaxed fit.
My motorcycle jacket is a 6XL!!!! but has no more room inside than 2XL rain jackets I own, similarly my motorcycle overpants are 4XL! and are no more spacious than 2XL Jeans, it seems that manufacturers just roll the dice as to what size they will label the gear.

Geektastic

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#1471985 15-Jan-2016 15:19

richms:
Geektastic:

For example, why do we have so many emergency services numbers? NZ does not even have the same one as Australia.

There is. 112. About 20 year now. Not sure why they still promote the other ones instead.

A single number, worldwide, would make much more sense.

The ones I feel sorry for are American scientists. Science is wholly metric and so they fully live in a metric world - until they want petrol, milk, plywood, a house design etc etc. Hard to believe that there are only two countries in the world not officially metric. (The UK is officially metric under EU law but has dispensation to use miles and pints etc but in every case except miles and beer the metric equivalent is usually stated)

Feet and inches are fine to work in, and in many ways for hand made furniture and building are better units, particually with sheet materials and building systems being based on them. Inches are great for TVs since its a unit people are familiar with.

If you have always worked in them for that purpose noone really thinks twice about the unit. Many of them just become standards, like a 12" subwoofer or wheels etc, if you were to metricize them then you would have a bad time, like whatever that car company was in the 80s that made a car noone could get tires for its stock wheels for.

112? Really? I've never seen that promoted.

So that's 911, 111, 112 and 999 that I can think of off the top of my head...no doubt there are a fair few more.

richms

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#1472142 15-Jan-2016 18:31

Linuxluver:

For example, why do we have so many emergency services numbers? NZ does not even have the same one as Australia.

I think we have 111 because it was the fastest possible number to dial on the old rotary phones that went from 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 counterclockwise around the dial (US was the reverse).

But once the rotary phones were gone.....no physical reason for any particular number except perhaps to repeat the same number.

No, it was the slowest, 1 is 9 pulses here. 0 is 10 so would be one slower again, but that would be a problem for international calls if someone stuffed up the number of 0's, not sure how aussie get on with that.

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richms

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#1472143 15-Jan-2016 18:32

Geektastic:
112? Really? I've never seen that promoted.

So that's 911, 111, 112 and 999 that I can think of off the top of my head...no doubt there are a fair few more.

Its part of the GSM standard, and adopted on most fixed networks where its compatible with their dialing plans.

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1eStar

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#1472232 15-Jan-2016 21:25

I think it depends whether you are buying western sizing or Asian sizing. In think icebreaker mucked up and got Asian sizing a few years back. I have two outer jackets from them the same size, one marked xl and one s. The xl I got about 4years back, the s recently. Always was an s with icebreaker originally.

Aredwood

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#1472304 15-Jan-2016 23:25

I have a similar problem but with jeans and shorts. The issue I have is finding jeans that large thighs but without a ridiculously large waist size. I normally have to go at least 50cm larger, sometimes as much as 100cm larger on the waist. Just to get something that I can actually change into. Let alone be able to move around in. All because I happen to do resistance training (weights) at the gym.

I went to every store that sells men's clothing in the Albany westfield and mega centre. Turned out that only Kmart of all places had jeans that were close to fitting me properly. Went back there a week or so ago - no longer stock those jeans anymore.

I will be seriously considering getting jeans custom tailored when I next need some. But surely I cant be the only person in Auckland who goes to the gym? If anyone manages to contact Ma'a Nonu. Could they please ask him where he buys jeans from as well. Please and thanks.

richms

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#1472306 15-Jan-2016 23:27

Friend had a chinese friend find a taylor on taobao - got them all their measurements and got some great pants and shirts made for about what generic mid range ones cost here. I would give it a go but I want to get less fat before I put a signifigant investment into clothing.

Richard rich.ms

pbgben

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#1472331 16-Jan-2016 00:01

I find it difficult to find good jeans that fit, I'm a 34W and 28/29L... Yeh, I'm short.

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pctek

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#1473172 17-Jan-2016 14:19

You shop....I use Ship2U.
As for sizes.....I see this with granddaughters stuff, anything between size 9 and 14. 14??!! But it fitted her like her usual size 10.
I've also seen incredibly bad sewing, one item with a side zip, the material either side of the zip sewn almost into the zip itself - except the bottom third, there the zip wasn't attached to the material at all.

Rubbish chinese stuff.

My sizes? been 16 for years, no changes there.

TwoSeven

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#1473212 17-Jan-2016 15:45

lagbort: I have found the same issue recently, shirt sizes have moved up from XL/2XL to 3XL/4XL even though I have lost a bit of weight..

The one that really baffles me though is motorcycle gear, my last helmet was a 2XL and was relatively tight, my current helmet is an L and is a slightly more relaxed fit.
My motorcycle jacket is a 6XL!!!! but has no more room inside than 2XL rain jackets I own, similarly my motorcycle overpants are 4XL! and are no more spacious than 2XL Jeans, it seems that manufacturers just roll the dice as to what size they will label the gear.

I would suggest that when buying clothes, get measured first (or learn how to measure oneself) and then learn how to apply the measurements. Using generic clothing sizes will probably lead to bad fitting clothes.

For example, with jeans you have a thing called 'rise' which is the crotch to waist band, this measurement along with the waistband and inseam measures are key to getting good fitting jeans. There are different styles of rise, just like the leg style and it helps to know how to match with the inseam ratio.

Most brands (or decent stores) will have a sizing chart on the wall which converts the brands generic size to either European, UK or US.

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