Sizes. And a first word!

1. Look out because here comes a vent:

I just exchanged on Friday, for the second time, a skirt that I purchased earlier last week. I've been the same size for years (aside from the pregnancy thing, obviously), and I'm very true to size, to the point where until recently I rarely needed to try on anything because I'm always the same size and virtually everything fits. I realize that I'm unusual in this regard, but again I think it makes me extra-qualified to vent. Stick with me:

The baby was with me when I purchased the skirt, so as usual I didn't try it on. Got it home and discovered it was nearly falling off me. So I went back and exchanged it for the next smaller size. Same problem - huge on me. So on Friday, sans baby, I finally went back to the store and tried it on. The skirt I finally selected was still a little big on me but was two sizes smaller than I normally wear! When I mentioned this to the sales associate she said, "Yes, isn't that great?" As though by suddenly being a size 2 I should be really happy with myself. Huh? When I was in high school I was a size 8 or 10. I certainly haven't lost weight in the past 19 (whoa!) years. But ok, sizes have changed and I'm now usually a small 6 (large 4 if the sizing is weird). I think that's a little ridiculous to begin with. But size 2? You've got to be kidding me. I'm 5'8" and thin, but I'm no supermodel. What size do thin, 5'2" women wear: minus 4? Really, let's get a grip here. Wearing a smaller size does not make me thinner or more attractive. It doesn't sell me more clothing. It just makes me, as a designer, feel really silly. Who are we fooling here? Maybe women who are larger sizes than I am really do feel better buying a smaller size, but does it really make sense to keep decreasing our numbered sizes? Where is this going to end?

Ok, you've heard enough out of me. But here's my suggestion to the fashion industry (who isn't listening, I know, but it's fun to expound all the same): let's just establish a standard set of measurements and make it stick. It would be much simpler and more straightforward for everyone, especially the customer. Plus, then I could shut up about it and write about more interesting things. And I wouldn't have to make three trips to the same store in one week.

2. Yes indeedy, we have a first word at out house! The baby is saying "Mama" and meaning ME! Todd told me she was doing it last week, and our new sitter (glory be! Five whole hours to myself every week - absolute heaven!) confirmed it on Friday. She goes to the door and says "Mama"! And obviously I couldn't be more thrilled about her choice of first word, although I thought it was pretty darned cute when I heard about another New York baby whose first word was "taxi"! We're pretty low-maintenance over here and we walk or take the subway everywhere, so I didn't really expect her first word to be taxi, but I was secretly hoping for something sort of urban sophisticated like "museum" or "gallery". I'll happily take Mama instead.