Eli5: Why are clothing brand sizes different from each other even though they all use the same scale? (i.e. xs-xl)

Question

If I know that I’m a size L at one clothing store why is it when I go to a different clothing store I’m forced to move to a XXL or M to get a decent fitting option?

In: 14

Answer 1

The terms “small,” “large,” and so on, do not have any meaningful measurements associated with them. The same reason a “small coffee” can change from one restaurant to another. There is no standard or governing body that sets what a “large” means, so that size can vary from place to place, brand to brand, or even shift over time.