Why the size of your clothing says little about your size

Guests: Marie-Eve Faust, Ed Gribbin and Jane Shure

The news that apparel company J Crew is now making a size 000 (that’s two sizes smaller than a 0!) created a stir among some feminists who say the new size idealizes the desire to be too thin. While the company says it is trying to appeal to a petite Asian market, critics say that the move is just another example of the “vanity sizing” trend in fashion – downsizing label sizing so customers, both women and men, feel better about the clothes they try on and buy. Today on Radio Times we’ll talk about how size influences shoppers, how manufacturers make sizing decisions and why the size you wear doesn’t say much about the size you are. Our guests are MARIE-EVE FAUST, program director of the Fashion Merchandising Program at Philadelphia University and ED GRIBBIN whose company Alvanon consults with clothing manufacturers about fit and sizing. We’ll also hear from psychotherapist JANE SHURE about the negative influence of vanity sizing.