While this may seem like going full-throttle into uncharted depths of mundania, I was shocked today by how much my t-shirts shrink. Below is a 2-year-old J.Crew undershirt laid on top of a brand new J.Crew undershirt.
Both are the same material and same brand and same size (men's medium). The old shirt has always been washed in cold water and dried on medium heat, so it's not like I've been cooking the thing. Amazing, no?
While I don't doubt that the older shirt endured a certain amount of shrinkage, I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the clothing industry's recent tendency to alter sizes. For example, you know that I'm a big guy. I certainly have not gotten any smaller. Yet, on a trip to Disneyland last year, I could find no 3x shirts in their stores. That's the size I lean toward, because I like them to be comfortably loose. I reluctantly purchased the 2x, thinking that some day I might lose a few (dozen) pounds, but when I tried it on, it fit GREAT. It STILL fits. I've heard this from other sources as well. Clothing companies are calling clothes a M when it's closer to a L, or a 2x when it's closer to a 3x. I seems silly to me, and kind of annoying that I can't even reliably buy a big/tall shirt and not have IT be too big. Maybe it's more prevalent in larger sizes, but I've heard of it being ALL sizes from some people. You're a small guy, Craig... are you wearing kids sizes yet? ;-)
That's a good point, Greg. I know it happened with shoes. Years ago, when I was in high school, I wore a men's 8 or 8.5. Now, because the industry has rescaled their sizes, I have to buy a 7.5, sometimes even a 7. It's ridiculous...you're right, I may have to go back to the kid's section! :-/