Mellowmom you are right on the money!
It's one of my biggest pet peeves....I wish I could blame the clothing industry for the fact that I didn't know I was getting fat, but I can't do that, but I will tell you that I gained alot of weight and my clothing size didn't go up very much. I had 3 babies in 6 years and during that time I went from skinny jeans(in 9/10 weighing about 150 lbs) to maternity, to sweats, drawstring pants, dh's sweats, yoga pants, and big baggy sweatshirts back to maternity...3 times And never bought any clothes...then I started working and had nothing, so I went shopping with a friend and I fit into 14w's. LOL! I was 60 lbs heavier....then gained more weight and went up to 16's and some 18's. So yeah...clothing sizes are messed up.
I have some old jeans from the 1980's...I saved my favorite jeans....I got rid of 99% of the stuff, but saved them all these years. When I can fit into those, I'm done.
I have no idea what size I'll be in today's clothes, but that's what I'm shooting for. How big I was when I met my dh. I can't button them now....slim fit, tapered leg. LOL! I can barely get my foot out the leg hole. Real beauties.
But they are my gauge.