Stop using Marilyn Monroe as an example of how "standards have changed"

[GirlontheLam]

To be honest, I don't really care for my hips. I have the WORST time with jeans, because they go by waist size, but if you're wearing hip-hugger jeans, you really need to go by your largest measurement, the hip. If there was one thing I could change about myself it would be the hips.

 

PZI jeans might be your bff. Or the ones called "curvy" from gap, old navy and I even say some from INC. Levi's curve ID too.

 

Most clothing today is cut for a less curvy figure.

 

If the "average" american woman wears I size 14, and has a waist of 37 inches, then that means the "average" size 14 pants is cut for someone with about 43 inch hips and a 37 inch waist. When previously, they same hip measurement would have meant a 33 inch waist apx. So if you have the "10 inch gap" in hips/waist, the waist will be way too big in modern clothing.

[CopingGal]

Saw that in another thread and I'm so sick of it!

 

No, she was never "fat" or even chubby! When she was at her height of stardom she weighed like 115 or something. Her waist was TINY! Like, I'm thin but it has never been as tiny as hers! It was like less than 25 inches or something.

 

Yes, she had curves. Curves. Not ROLLS. I hate when people call being overweight "curvy." She had curves: bigger boobs, tiny waist, and nice hips.

 

I read this thing about how someone saw an old dress of MM's in a museum and this person was like, dang, that woman was tiny! Not chubby like people like to say.

 

It bugs me so much when peeps say that she wouldn't be considered attractive today. Umm, yes she would. Her face was perfect. And she was smaller than some big stars of today, like for example Kim Kardashian...who is also not stick-thin but is hot and NOT FAT.

 

I read that Marilyn Monroe had plastic surgery. So what you say about her is irrelevant. Kim Kardashain has had plastic surgery too. You need to get real.

[FitChick]

I read that Marilyn Monroe had plastic surgery. So what you say about her is irrelevant.

 

Marilyn had a chin implant and nose job from what I read. I don't know that I'd have ever noticed because it was so subtle. Nothing to do with her body.

[Lauriebell82]

I've always had the "curvy build" and been compared to MM (big breasts, small waist, big hips). I often get "your waist is so skinny" NOT " you are so skinny. I do think the standard has changed, not because MM was overweight, but because being skinny nowadays is viewed as having no hips, small waist, small breasts. I know I have always looked bigger then my "no hips" friends, even at a comparable weight.

[Silly_Girl]

Marilyn wasn't a skeleton, that's all. Whole-heartedly agree with the OP.

 

I have a skirt from 20 years ago, it's a small smaller than the same size now. I have a vintage tea-dress, it's almost 2 sizes smaller. We're fatter.

[kiss_andmakeup]

She may have been a size 12 in her time, but that's probably about a size 6 now.

 

Size inflation is ridiculous. I've always purchased much of my school/work attire at Express. 7ish years ago I wore a size 3/4 there (still have a little black dress that I bought there for a recital when I was 18...labeled "size 3/4" and still fits; I now wear it to work regularly). Over the years I've had to go down to a 2, then a 0. The other day I was at Express trying on pencil skirts because I needed a new one...and a size 00 was too big.

 

I have weighed the exact same amount this whole time (as evidenced by the fact that my size 3/4 dress from 7 years ago still fits). So in 7 years I've gone from wearing a size 4 to wearing a size 00 (or smaller)...at the same store...without my weight or waistline measurement changing more than +/- 5lbs or +/- an inch.

 

The size inflation in womens' clothing is absolutely insane.

Edited October 12, 2012 by kiss_andmakeup

[KraftDinner]

I read that Marilyn Monroe had plastic surgery. So what you say about her is irrelevant. Kim Kardashain has had plastic surgery too. You need to get real.

 

I don't think it's possible for you to have missed my point more!

[Leigh 87]

She may have been a size 12 in her time, but that's probably about a size 6 now.

 

Size inflation is ridiculous. I've always purchased much of my school/work attire at Express. 7ish years ago I wore a size 3/4 there (still have a little black dress that I bought there for a recital when I was 18...labeled "size 3/4" and still fits; I now wear it to work regularly). Over the years I've had to go down to a 2, then a 0. The other day I was at Express trying on pencil skirts because I needed a new one...and a size 00 was too big.

 

I have weighed the exact same amount this whole time (as evidenced by the fact that my size 3/4 dress from 7 years ago still fits). So in 7 years I've gone from wearing a size 4 to wearing a size 00 (or smaller)...at the same store...without my weight or waistline measurement changing more than +/- 5lbs or +/- an inch.

 

The size inflation in womens' clothing is absolutely insane.

 

 

 

OMG.

 

In some stores, I AM THE SMALLEST SIZE.

 

And although I look slender when I work out, 120 lbs is the lowest I go; I am 5 '5 and CURVY. 120 lbs is the lowest HEALTHY weight I CAN get to when I work out five days a week and eat 2000 cals.

 

It is RIDICULOUS that I am considered a SMALL by ANY clothing stores standards!!!!!!!!! When I am a normal build.

 

People are just fat. Sorry, but that is WHY a girl like me can now walk into SOME stores, and be the smallest or ONE OF the smallest sizes!

 

OF course some stores are NORMAL and I cannot fit into their smallest sizes at all...

 

Just the fact I can fit into sports stores smallest sizes worries me: what do the truly petite women do? I suppose they check out the kiddies section! :lmao:

 

I am an Aussie size 8 in everthing. And I am not remotely "thin" (rather, slender for my build and curves I have)

 

I would personally rather be an Aussie size 12 or 10, rather than the inflated size 8 I know I falsely am. Lets get real.

 

 

.............I got a reality check when i went into a propper jeans store, where the traditional sized had not changed over the years.

 

A size 8 would not get up my leg; neither would a size 9 or 9and a half...

 

A size 10 was very tight.

 

I wish more stores used traditional sizing. I seriously think it is unhealthy to have some women thinking they are healthy when they do no exercise, and feel slim in a size 18 at 5 feet 2.

[Lauriebell82]

OMG.

 

In some stores, I AM THE SMALLEST SIZE.

 

And although I look slender when I work out, 120 lbs is the lowest I go; I am 5 '5 and CURVY. 120 lbs is the lowest HEALTHY weight I CAN get to when I work out five days a week and eat 2000 cals.

 

It is RIDICULOUS that I am considered a SMALL by ANY clothing stores standards!!!!!!!!! When I am a normal build.

 

People are just fat. Sorry, but that is WHY a girl like me can now walk into SOME stores, and be the smallest or ONE OF the smallest sizes!

 

OF course some stores are NORMAL and I cannot fit into their smallest sizes at all...

 

Just the fact I can fit into sports stores smallest sizes worries me: what do the truly petite women do? I suppose they check out the kiddies section! :lmao:

 

I am an Aussie size 8 in everthing. And I am not remotely "thin" (rather, slender for my build and curves I have)

 

I would personally rather be an Aussie size 12 or 10, rather than the inflated size 8 I know I falsely am. Lets get real.

 

 

.............I got a reality check when i went into a propper jeans store, where the traditional sized had not changed over the years.

 

A size 8 would not get up my leg; neither would a size 9 or 9and a half...

 

A size 10 was very tight.

 

I wish more stores used traditional sizing. I seriously think it is unhealthy to have some women thinking they are healthy when they do no exercise, and feel slim in a size 18 at 5 feet 2.

 

I think it's perfectly normal to be different sizes at different stores. Also the cut of the pant/jean makes a difference as well. "Skinny" jeans usually run small then regular jeans. It's the way they are made. The waistline on dress pants are higher, therefore another size may be needed depending on the women's build.

 

Personally I think that fitting in a smaller size in a store is MORE motivating and makes you feel better. I was a size 2 at American Eagle the other day, at Aeropostale I was a size 4. In skinny jeans I have to take a size 4, but have to wear a belt because the waistline is too big.

 

Yes, people are "fatter" nowadays, but for me fitting into a smaller size makes me feel awesome and it would never cross my mind that I do not have to work out or watch what I eat because I fit in smaller sized jeans.

 

I think that unless you are very very skinny, most likely you will take different sizes at different stores. I'm sure that it happened in Marilyn's day as well!

[kiss_andmakeup]

I think it's perfectly normal to be different sizes at different stores. Also the cut of the pant/jean makes a difference as well. "Skinny" jeans usually run small then regular jeans. It's the way they are made. The waistline on dress pants are higher, therefore another size may be needed depending on the women's build.

 

Personally I think that fitting in a smaller size in a store is MORE motivating and makes you feel better. I was a size 2 at American Eagle the other day, at Aeropostale I was a size 4. In skinny jeans I have to take a size 4, but have to wear a belt because the waistline is too big.

 

Yes, people are "fatter" nowadays, but for me fitting into a smaller size makes me feel awesome and it would never cross my mind that I do not have to work out or watch what I eat because I fit in smaller sized jeans.

 

I think that unless you are very very skinny, most likely you will take different sizes at different stores. I'm sure that it happened in Marilyn's day as well!

 

This is why the stores make their sizes run smaller...'cause we women eat it up...then the sizes at the bottom end eventually begin to disappear.

 

Unless I go to Neiman Marcus and shop for a Gucci dress. Then I'll probably be a size 6.

[ShyOne82]

Who cares about how big or small she was... She had poor hygiene. That's worse.

[KraftDinner]

Who cares about how big or small she was... She had poor hygiene. That's worse.

 

Interesting...I've not heard that. What have you heard?

[threebyfate]

According to Marilyn's dressmaker, the below were her varying measurements:

 

Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches

Weight: 118-140 pounds

Bust: 35-37 inches

Waist: 22-23 inches

Hips: 35-36 inches

Bra size: 36D

 

According to modern BMIs, Marilyn varied from 22.7 to 26.9 where BMI ranges are:

 

18.5 - 24.9 Healthy

25 - 29.9 Overweight

30 or greater Obese

 

So, yes, it appears that Marilyn who wasn't muscular, was overweight for a portion of her short time.

[Chocolat]

She may have been a size 12 in her time, but that's probably about a size 6 now.

 

Size inflation is ridiculous. I've always purchased much of my school/work attire at Express. 7ish years ago I wore a size 3/4 there (still have a little black dress that I bought there for a recital when I was 18...labeled "size 3/4" and still fits; I now wear it to work regularly). Over the years I've had to go down to a 2, then a 0. The other day I was at Express trying on pencil skirts because I needed a new one...and a size 00 was too big.

 

I have weighed the exact same amount this whole time (as evidenced by the fact that my size 3/4 dress from 7 years ago still fits). So in 7 years I've gone from wearing a size 4 to wearing a size 00 (or smaller)...at the same store...without my weight or waistline measurement changing more than +/- 5lbs or +/- an inch.

 

The size inflation in womens' clothing is absolutely insane.

 

Amen!

 

In high school, which was 10 pounds and 3 babies ago, I was a size 7.

 

Last week, I tried on a pair of "curvy" pants in a size 2 and they were too big.

 

At the rate we are vanity sizing clothes, I'll have to become a nudist soon.

Edited October 15, 2012 by Chocolat

[Chocolat]

Personally I think that fitting in a smaller size in a store is MORE motivating and makes you feel better.

 

Yes, and this is why vanity sizing exists -- so women can say they are a size x, which lets them ignore the pounds they have put on (not you specifically LB, but in general).

 

It would be far better to size clothes by inches, as is done with men's clothing.

[KathyM]

The beauty about Marilyn Monroe is that she was basically a natural beauty. With a figure and face that she was genetically gifted with, and which was not surgically enhanced, as far as I know. The only thing fake about her was her hair color, but then most blondes are "bottle blondes" (80%). Compare that to the stars of today, whom most have had various plastic surgeries done, and I think it makes you appreciate more those who are natural beauties. Hard to find in Hollywood today, where everyone is getting something surgically fixed or enhanced.

[Lauriebell82]

Yes, and this is why vanity sizing exists -- so women can say they are a size x, which lets them ignore the pounds they have put on (not you specifically LB, but in general).

 

It would be far better to size clothes by inches, as is done with men's clothing.

 

Some women may think they "get away with it." i have been fat the thin then fat again then thin again. Until I went clothes shopping I didnt realize the weight/size variation. Its been my experience that even though sizes vary, overweight people wear a bigger size, thin people wear a smaller size.

[KathyM]

Oops, I stand corrected. I googled it, and Marilyn Monroe did have work done on her face. A nose job and a chin job, but her body was naturally well proportioned.