Why is it that stores like Hot Topic & Abercrombie & Fitch have L & XL sizes...?

Question

...that are actually much smaller than L or XL sizes in stores such as Walmart & Target? It doesn't make sense and makes it more difficult to shop with accuracy, especially online.

Answer 1

Someone once told me the story of how sizes are given to stores. It seems that a chain will order say 50 smalls, 40 mediums, 60 larges, and 50 X Larges. Well, the manufacturer doesn't have 60 larges to send them. But they have 300 mediums. So...they change the labels on the mediums, making them magically larges.
And places like Hot Topic are really great stores. I go myself. BUT....their sizes are ridiculously small. I believe they have the same method of sizing. If there isn't a REAL size XL, they just make a medium an XL with a new label.
Walmart is a middle america kind of store. It doesn't have the same type of clothing as hot topic. And they hold their manufacturers to a more standard method of sizing. Middle america doesn't buy the specialty stuff Hot Topic sells. It buys basic clothing. And basic clothing comes in real sizes. And even then, you take three or four of the size you need, and measure the waistlines against one another to see which is the best fit for you. A small is not always a small. Neither is a medium always a medium. And a large and extra large is NEVER always the size it promises to be. Even at Walmart!
Online--ask questions of the company. Send them an email asking what the real measurements of what you are buying are BEFORE you purchase the item. Even they, you will find, will vary from brand name to brand name and style to style.

Answer 2

I'm not authority except that I'm a big woman and I much prefer the sizes in the more expensive stores. The more you pay, the smaller the size. I think it has to do with psychology, myself. If I buy something at Target for less, I have to wear an 18 which makes me feel bad, but if I go to Macy's and pay a whole bunch, I can wear a 14...sometimes even a 12. Most people would pay for the miracle. :) Just my two cents worth.

Answer 3

Stores are following a growing trend, marketing to tweens. Kids younger than age 13 have influence over millions of dollars in the economy and one way to attract those spenders is making clothing that will fit them too. Clothes need to be smaller because the majority of these kids have not gone through puberty, so they lack hips and breasts. As a result of that many retailers have smaller clothes sizes. Hot Topic and A&F are popular clothing stores for middle school to high schoolers, so their sizes need to adhere to 12 year olds to 18 year olds. Stores like Target cater to a wider client base, so their sizes, though also small, can afford to be larger without losing money off of the tween market base.

Answer 4

Because most of these stores cater to the young, beautiful and anorexic. By their standards L and XL would be equivalent to a size 7/8.

Answer 5

There are a lot of designers out there that do not want big people wearing their clothes. Versace is one of them. He was actually quoted as saying that if people couldn't fit into a size nine - then they shouldn't wear designer labels. lol. It is a VERY dumb business decsion. Look at all the $$$$$$ old navy made when they started a plus size line.

Answer 6

Trust me, its the same with the Small sizes too.

I fit size 4's in pants just fine from any other store, but a size 4 from stores like Hot Topic or AE (etc etc) are a lot tighter and my butt crack hangs out the top. And the tops are a lot like that too. Small tops from other stores are just fine... but small tops from those stores are way too tight around the underarms and chest area.

Answer 7

if you notice abercrombie doesnt have plus sizes and what not, they are trying to push/encourage the media's idea that its In to be Thin.

Answer 8

they are setting the standard that everyone needs to be thinner, and if you are lucky enough to be thin enough to fit into their clothes then you too can be hip and cool and fit in

Answer 9

because they like skinny anorexics mostly then just don't shop there i guess it depends on your body type. they do fit a little snug though

Answer 10

because of society...they probabbly dont want any big people wearing their cloths.