So you remember last week when Kirstie Alley gave her latest weight loss update? The one where she claimed to have lost 100 pounds and also said that she is now a size 4? Yeah, so does Tim Gunn. And you know he’s not going to let that fantasy fly:
In an interview with Tampa radio station 98.7 FM, the Project Runway star shed some light on the actress’ size claim saying, “There is a phenomenon out there right now that I call the lying deceptive shell game of vanity sizing. In fact a 4 is really a 6 or an 8.”
The chief creative director for Liz Claiborne explained his theory, which was based on an experiment he did at Parsons.
“We took a size 8 dress from 1980 one from 1990 and one from 2000 and compared them — the difference between them was two and a half inches in the waist alone!” said Gunn.
As for Alley’s true size, the fashion guru guesses that she’s between a size 8 and a 10.
“But she looks fabulous,” he added. “People are too size conscious.”
As usual, Tim Gunn is absolutely right. And of course it doesn’t matter what size Kirstie really is, and of course she looks fabulous either way, but, as Tim said, people are too conscious of this kind of thing, and it gets old quick. For example, there are a good few plus size stores that have their own sizing charts, right? I found this out when I was in a show a few years ago. The costumer gave me a dress to try on, and the label claimed it was a size 2, and I was like “ain’t no way that me or this dress is a size 2.” I’ve never understood that, or even why women’s clothing can’t be like men’s and, you know, go by actual measurements. Does the clothing industry really think we’re that scared of real numbers? Or is it that people actually are that scared of them?
I know this talk is getting really real, you guys, so if instead of answering this question you’d rather just post funny pictures of bears in suspenders or something, that’s ok too.
We like to lie to ourselves. We try to say, “sure it’s fine to weight 200 lbs…she feels good about herself! That’s what real women look like!” …if that was and is the fact, the people…we are just fat. We are fat as fuck and no number stitched on the back of a sweater is going to change that. Lying to ourselves is what we as Americans do best.
Mybey your mean Tim gunn to firgei.
Sizing is just bonkers. Depending on what shops I shop at, I’ll be a size 12 UK or a size 18 UK. It’s just fucked up.
Agreed. I went to a thrift store and found a pair of size 11 jeans that fit me perfectly, while I couldn’t get the size 16 pants over my thighs. And then I found a pair of 14’s that looked like clown pants on me (and were too loose even to stay up on my hips). I hate that. Let’s do what the men do – inches!
Hows it?? Doctor for kristie Alley??