What does the AE shorts size fiasco mean for women?

With the warmer weather and shining sun, that means it is time again to try on our summer clothes and hope they fit as well as last year. Whether you’re buying some new summer clothes to get the right size or just because you want something new, check the sizing before you buy. In case you haven’t seen the Facebook post by Missy Rogers that went viral. The New Jersey native recently went to buy a new pair of shorts from her local American Eagle store. When going to try on shorts, she realized that her normal size four wasn’t going to fit past her knees. After trying on a couple different sizes, she ending up taking home a size 10. Discouraged from having to go up three sizes, when she got home she decided to compare her old pair to the ones she just bought after questioning if she had gained any weight. The picture below is of the shorts she bought and owned.

The black pair is a size 4 and the maroons a 10. They are the same pair of shorts just with a different number on the tag. Same waist and width. Now although Missy realized that they are the same size with a different number, imagine what this could possibly do to a girls self-esteem. For a 14 or 15 year old girl this can be devastating for her confidence. Going into a store thinking you are one size and coming out with a pair of shorts that are three times the size you normally wear can be very upsetting. Especially if you know that you haven’t gained any weight.   And also, what good are the clothing companies doing for their sales if they change their sizing charts so drastically? Many stores only carry up to a size ten. So if  you are actually a size 10 and you can’t fit into your normal size, consumers are now forced to look at different store in hopes of finding a pair that fit.

The media’s portrayal of the “perfect body” is becoming more and more impossible to achieve. Unless you are born with impeccable genetics that gave you mile long legs and a speedy metabolism the chance that you are going to look a Victoria secret model are pretty slim. Thanks to Missy for pointing out AE’s flaw. And be aware the other stores may be doing the same thing. Know that whether you are a size 00 or a size 14, you are all 10’s. No matter what the tag says, be confident in your own skin and if you feel good, you look good!