Let’s pretend it’s yesterday.

So, last week while we were in California visiting friends and family, my mom, the baby & I made a trip to the mall. The purpose of the trip was ostensibly to show my mother what types of clothes (pattern, style, color) the husband & I like and don’t like for the baby. We did that, but spent most of the time in J.Crew shopping for moi! Getting so close to my goal weight has me giddy and in shopping mode. I tried on this awesome silk dress, which I intend to style just as in this pic – navy blazer & pearls – with nude heels, in my regular size 8. (I normally wear an 8, sometimes a 6, and when S-M-L, usually a medium.)

Now, I have broad shoulders (and a wide-ish torso to match). I cannot tell you the number of times that I was asked as a teen whether I was a swimmer; I did not take this as a compliment at the time.

The dress was snug across the chest, under the arms. So I reluctantly tried on the 10. Great fit. So I had a little talk with myself. “Regardless of the number on the tag, it will look best. And certain things, such as dresses, require you to size up for your shoulders/torso. Sharyn, it’s just a number.” And I truly bought into this, which I think is a good attitude. Besides, paying too much attention to the number is ridiculous and, quite frankly, unreasonable, as there is no standard sizing (as evidenced by the fact that I have S, M and L items in my closet, 4s, 6s, 8s, etc.). Finally, nearing the midpoint of my 30s, I can get over the sizing thing.

And so it was. Until today. I received a Banana Republic order in the mail this afternoon, which included a chambray button-down shirt* in size 8. Whoa, way too tight across the chest – it didn’t even button. Took it back to the store expecting to exchange it for a proper fit in a size 10. Whoa, still way too tight across the chest – barely buttoned. Okay, I thought, I could get a 12. Hell. No.

So much for my good attitude and reasonableness.

* Just read the shirt’s product reviews and there are several complaints about the shirt’s poor sizing, including one from a girl who says she is usually a size 6 or 8 and had to go up to a 12. It’s not just me.