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This teenager's viral photo shows the dramatic difference in high street clothing sizes


February 7, 2017
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We all know the pain that trying to find the perfect pair of jeans can cause, with sizing and fits differing greatly from shop to shop. Now one teenager has showed just how much discrepancy there is between retailers with a Facebook post comparing jeans from New Look and River Island.

STORY: ASOS now recommends sizes based on your previous orders

Lucy Horsley shared a photo on social media to show a new pair of skinny jeans that she had bought in a size 18 from River Island, which were smaller than her size 14 denim from New Look. She explained: "So the black jeans are a size 14 from New Look and the blue ones are a size 18 from River Island. How on earth can the bigger size be smaller?! No wonder so many girls have confidence issues and hate buying new clothes, why can't the sizing be the same in every shop??"

Lucy's size 18 River Island jeans were smaller than a size 14 from New Look

The teen added: "NOTE – as this seems to be causing arguments, both of these jeans are high waisted, super skinny and super stretchy with the exact same fastening." Since being posted on social media Lucy's photo has been liked over 21,000 times and shared by almost 19,000 Facebook users, many of who shared their own experiences of struggling to find jeans that fit.

STORY: River Island launches first ever plus size line

Lucy has since told Mail Online that although she knows that the size of clothing she wears shouldn't matter, she had been "embarrassed" to have to buy jeans two sizes bigger than usual. "I realised it wasn't me and it was the clothing itself. I was so shocked by the difference, it's disgraceful. From being a girl who has always fluctuated with weight, it really hurt me," Lucy said. "I felt embarrassed buying size 18 jeans. I know people say it doesn't matter what it says on the label, but to a lot of women it does and I feel I can speak on behalf of the majority of women, that sizing does matter and has a huge influence on your confidence and self-esteem."  

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