Woman calls out H&M sizing after largest jeans on offer don’t fit her

A woman has expressed her outrage over H&M’s “unrealistically small” sizing, in a Facebook post that has amassed over 8,250 shares and 65,000 reactions.

Ruth Clemens, who studies a doctorate in Comparative Literature at UCL, was shopping at H&M in Leeds when she spotted a pair of size 16 jeans in the sale. She is normally a 14, but seeing as the jeans were only £10, she tried them on.

She was appalled to find the jeans could only just fit over her hips, and she couldn’t even begin to zip them up.

The photo below shows Ruth unable to do up the pair of size 16 jeans in the changing room.

In the post accompanying this photo on Facebook, she said:

“Dear H&M,

“I was browsing your sale items in your Leeds store and spotted this pair of kick flare jeans. They were only a tenner – bargain! – and a size 16. I’m normally a size 14 on my hips (occasionally 16 if buying trousers) so I thought I’d try them on. It did not go well.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, size 16 is the largest size you stock (apart from in your plus size range, which is very limited in store and does not offer the range of styles for the fashion-conscious that are available in smaller sizes).

“I am not overweight (not that that should matter) and although I’m 5 foot 11 my body is pretty average shape-wise. It’s already difficult enough for me to find clothes that fit well because of my height, why are you making jeans that are unrealistically small? Am I too fat for your everyday range? Should I just accept that accessible and affordable high street and on-trend fashion isn’t for people like me?

“You might recognise the top I’m wearing – it’s one of yours and it’s a size Medium. Sort it out would you. #whatdoesplussizeevenmean #bodypositive #fashionforall”

She added at the end: “Also, vote remain”.

H&M has responded in the comments, saying: “Hi Ruth, thank you so much for your feedback. We are sorry to hear about your experience in store recently. We always want our customers to have an enjoyable time when shopping in store and to leave feeling confident in themselves. At H&M we make clothing for all our stores around the world, so the sizing can vary depending on the style, cut and fabric. We value all feedback and will take on board the points you and other customers have raised.”

The Tab has contacted Ruth for more information.