# Ok, I give up: Why do clothes manufacturers make so many XS, XXXL, sizes if nobody wants them?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-i-give-up-why-do-clothes-manufacturers-make-so-many-xs-xxxl-sizes-if-nobody-wants-them/561146>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 18, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-i-give-up-why-do-clothes-manufacturers-make-so-many-xs-xxxl-sizes-if-nobody-wants-them/561146 "2010-11-18T21:16:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-i-give-up-why-do-clothes-manufacturers-make-so-many-xs-xxxl-sizes-if-nobody-wants-them/561146/41 "2010-11-20T20:57:16Z")

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This first set of numbers above is for Womens

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**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-i-give-up-why-do-clothes-manufacturers-make-so-many-xs-xxxl-sizes-if-nobody-wants-them/561146/42 "2010-11-21T01:21:54Z")

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> [@elfkin477](#):
>
> If you look at sizing charts for different sellers, most 8s are around a 28" waist (notably not The Gap or Old Navy that decided 28" is a 6 instead, or some makers of boot cut jeans who decided it’s a 10, but better than 70% of the ones I looked up are a size 8 at a waistband of 28-29"). I measured these once: almost 31".

Uh, the waist measurement in the sizing charts is the measurement of _your body_, not the measurement of the clothes. It is normal for clothes to have at least 2-3 inches of [ease](http://butterick.mccall.com/ease-chart-pages-456.php) for esoteric design reasons known as “comfort” and “being able to breathe”. Clothing is not made with zero ease unless it is in a stretch fabric and designed to be skin tight.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-i-give-up-why-do-clothes-manufacturers-make-so-many-xs-xxxl-sizes-if-nobody-wants-them/561146/43 "2010-11-21T16:35:31Z")

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Numerous abortive attempts at purchasing mens’ pants over the years convinced me that there is a secret but incredibly common subpopulation of males who stand 6’4" and weigh 100 pounds.

At least, this would explain all the 36-inch inseam\* size 28 waist trousers piled up in the stores.

I think that the superskinnies must do their shopping at odd hours when I’m not around. Or else, I miss seeing them when they turn sideways.

\*I began observing this many years ago, long before the fashion of wearing pants with six extra inches of baggy leg material piled up around one’s feet began.

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