Size Labels on Clothes Make Me Feel Fat & Unattractive

Like most women in the general population, I L-O-V-E to shop, and I really love to shop for new clothes. There's nothing quite as satisfying as finding a few classic pieces to add to your wardrobe that make you look and feel like a million bucks.

But as much as I love to hit up my favorite stores in the hopes of picking up some cute new duds, I often find myself entering the store feeling hopeful and excited, but leaving feeling like something just one notch above complete sh&%.

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And yes, I know exactly why -- it's because I'm all caught up in what the size label on whatever I'm trying on says and whether it's "telling" me that I'm fat and unattractive or not. Because if that number is anything bigger than the "cutoff" number I have designated in my head as to what is acceptable for me -- I won't buy the outfit, no matter how well it fits or how great it looks.

(Go ahead and call me shallow and/or vain -- I don't care.)

Yes, I know I should stop focusing on that stupid little number, which is completely hidden from anyone's view but my own, but somehow I just can't. Because even if no one else knows I'm wearing something that's a size or two bigger than I wore last year at this same time -- I know that it's a size or two bigger, and all that number does is REMIND me even further that I'm a size or two bigger, which makes me want to sit in a dark room alone and cry (with or without a pint of ice cream to console myself). I mean, in my head I know that sexy is not a number, but in my perception of myself, it kind of is.

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God only knows how many perfectly cute outfits I have refused to buy because they weren't the size I wanted them to be. Come to think of it, I've also purchased plenty of slightly hideous pieces that don't look good simply because they happen to be a smaller size that I never dreamed of squeezing into.

Um, doesn't that sound kind of insane? I think it's time to stop the madness, people. But I'm afraid the only way I'm ever going to get past these damn sizing labels is if retailers ditch the numbers altogether.

Why can't they simply name the clothes instead of numbering them?

I'm no marketing professional, but as a woman, I can't help but think that we'd all be more inclined to buy clothes that look and feel good if the label offered us a bit of an ego boost -- regardless of size.

Wait -- hear me out -- because I don't think this is all that crazy.

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Instead of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and so on and so forth, why not start with Beautiful, and then move on to things like Sexy, Intelligent, Gorgeous, Remarkable, Amazing, Strong, Spirited, Attractive, (insert any other complimentary term here)?

Wouldn't you rather swap a Gorgeous for an Amazing than xyz size for a larger xyz size?

I sure would. And I really think I might be on to something here. (Note: If this really does happen, it was MY idea.)

Do sizes deter you from buying clothes?

Image via Kimco Realty/Flickr

Written by Mary Fischer for CafeMom's blog, The Stir.

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