A couple of months back I decided it was time to invest in some new Clothes in a smaller size. I went to one of my favourite high street shops looking for a new pair of sexy skinny Jeans. Well I was going from a size 16 to a size 14 but having picked up a pair of 14s off the rail, I turned to my husband in disgust and commented how tiny they looked. I'm not going to lie it really put me on a downer. Wanting to cheer myself up, I headed over to the sale rail in the hopes of picking up a cute top or something with a bit more stretch. Then I spotted them.... A beautiful pair of marle grey skinny jeans. I pulled them out of the sale rail checked out the price. £11! Bargain! Then the size caught my eye. Another size 14. Sigh. But something seemed off. They looked much bigger than the other pair. I decided to risk trying them on in the hopes that I wouldn't disappoint myself. Up they went, and in through the hole went the button. They were like a dream. I was in size 14 jeans!!!! But I just couldn't shake the feeling that they were bigger than the new season full price jeans. So I went and grabbed the other pair and held the two up together. The result? Well take a look.

Cut to today. We went shopping to try and find my dad a birthday present. Cue Dale's jeans making a break for his ankles. That's it, it's time for new jeans!!! So off we headed to buy him some. Now Dale has not got a conventional body shape so isn't the easiest to buy clothes for anyway but also not impossible. He tried on two pairs in the same size. One fits, one doesn't. Both in the same shop. Again we compare there two pairs of jeans. Now bare in minds men's clothes are sized differently to women's. The are both sized at a 40 inch waist. It actually states a measurement. There was at least an inch difference in the two pairs!!! Dale's response was "Wow the fashion industry's a bas**rd. No wonder people grow up with complexes." Now he understands what I got mad at.

And he's right. I'm fashion savvy enough to know how the industry works and that sizes are shrinking (even though shops claim they aren't) but Dale on the other hand is not. Had I not been there, he would have come away from that shop with nothing but a broken heart. He would have only tried on the one too small pair and decided that clearly he is not yet down into 40 inch waste jeans. Even though he had to empty the pockets of the 42 inch pair he was wearing because they were dragging the jeans down to his ankles!!! 

Imagine an Impressionable Young Teen (male or female, both are equally at risk), heading into their favourite shop to buy new clothes. Last time they went in they knew exactly what size they were, but the new season stock is out so the head into the changing rooms with some super cute new outfits all in the size they think will fit. Low and behold, nothing fits, even though they have not changed size. Now would that impressionable young teen realise that the shop has changed the sizes? Or would they believe that they have gained weight? Maybe go off and start some unhealthy faddy diet. Put a massive dent in what could already be a very delicate self esteem. What psychological damage is these shrinking clothes sizes doing to people? Of course I have taken this example as young people however really it could be applied to anyone. 

Now let's try and end this post on a positive note. No numbers in the world can measure how beautiful a person is, whether they be on the scales or the clothing labels. Concentrate more on how the clothes make you feel rather than the number inside. No one else can see that number when you're wearing your clothes so what does it matter? If you think that pair of jeans makes you look damn sexy then you rock those jeans. That flirty little dress makes you feel like a princess? Then wear that crown with pride. That fine shirt makes you feel you should be walking the streets of LA? Then you strut your stuff my friend because they only person who can judge you is you! 

Hold your head up high you sexy beast!!!

Until next time

Emma