vanity sizing
English
[edit]
Etymology
[edit]Earliest known use is from 1990 by Pati Palmer and Susan Pletsch.[1]
Noun
[edit]- The phenomenon of ready-to-wear clothing of the same nominal size becoming bigger in physical size over time, to flatter the wearer by making them believe they are thinner than they are.
- Synonym: size inflation
References
[edit]- ^ Pati Palmer, Susan Pletsch (1990) [1975] Mother Pletsch's Painless Sewing: with Pretty Pati's Perfect Pattern Primer and Ample Annie's Awful but Adequate Artwork, 13th edition, Portland, Oregon: Palmer/Pletsch Associates, page 63:
- The only size standards manufacturers follow is "the more you pay, the smaller the size you can be.’’ Pati’s size 14 derriere got into a size 8 Anne Klein pant that sold for $180. She almost bought them! We call this vanity sizing! However, when Susan fit into a size 0 she wasn’t necessarily flattered.