RETAIL DETAIL | So much of a person’s identity can be reduced to a number — his or her size. For women it’s dress size, for men it’s waist and inseam measurements. Many shoppers use those numbers as a guide whenever they descend on clothing racks, but can we trust the numbers? It depends.

The retail industry uses the term “vanity sizing” to refer to a clothing maker’s practice of inflating sizes so that shoppers will feel better about the clothes. The classic example is Marilyn Monroe, who was a size 12 back in her day. That sounds huge by today’s standards, but it really equates to a modern size 6 or 8 (not huge at all). It seems as if “fitting into” a smaller size can boost self-esteem and create loyal shoppers. To read more on this, check out this article by Melissa Cassut of The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

So are we really the “size” we think we are? The blog, Fashion-Incubator, argues that vanity sizing doesn’t exist because it would be pointless and nearly impossible to establish standard sizes (which used to exist in the United States) because not all clothing is designed the same or for the same body parts.

I have been buying the same size since high school even though I’m about five to ten pounds heavier and one and half inches taller. My body changes from time to time thanks to my inconsistent diet and exercise habits. When I get a little bigger, I just don’t buy new clothes until I lose weight or inches. I will, however, buy smaller sizes during slimer periods.

I just can’t bring myself to “move up” to a bigger size. I clearly have some sort of complex. I mean, what if someone examined all the tags in my closet? Would they think I’m fat? Would I think I’m fat? Wait, why am I talking about “fat” when I was talking about clothes sizes?

I know people who buy clothes without trying them on because they are so sure of their size in a particular brand or store. Then they get home and realize that while the clothes may fit, they look terrible or don’t fit well.

It seems that yes, size matters, but it shouldn’t define who we are or effect on our self-esteem. My advice: spend your money on what looks good on you, not the tag.