Don't flatter yourself. Vanity-sizing is messing with your head

It's been going on for years. Vanity sizing - you know… labeling a piece of clothing a size or so smaller than what it actually is to make it more appealing. But it is way out of control lately and I don't like it. I was looking for new jeans a few weeks ago. But when I tried on a pair of my usual size 28-inch waist, they were WAY too big. And it's not because I've lost any inches. Nope. It's because the jeans were really 31-inches. I measured them and they were a three-inch LIE.

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Then I came across this article from Esquire. It seems vanity sizing is huge (pun intended) among popular brands like H&M, Gap, and Old Navy - anywhere from a lie of one inch to a bigger lie of up to five inches or so.

Now, don't get me wrong. I like flattery just as much as the next person. It feels good when someone tells you your hair looks fabulous or that your shoes are smokin' hot or that you're down a size. But not when it's a lie!

It's like somebody telling me I would look good as a blonde. LIE.

Or with bright orange makeup. Double LIE.

I suspect part of the reason for the soaring size lies is because we, as a nation, are bigger. And maybe we are more likely to splurge on stylish pants if we think we're a size or two smaller.

Also see: Obesity rates up in 28 states. Is yours one of them?

Wearing a pair of jeans that says they are five inches smaller than they really are might make you feel good. But hello???! Snap out of it already. There's an obesity crisis in this country and hiding from it with this vanity sizing stuff is not helping. This country is in desperate need of a reality size-check.

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