Why I Don’t Use “Clothes Fit” as a Progress Tool (Anymore)

Today in my IG Stories, I asked a question about weighing and tracking… and someone replied: “I don’t weigh myself. I use my clothes as a guide.”

Totally understandable. It’s a common strategy. It also sounds simple and intuitive.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized: clothes fit is not a reliable feedback tool for most people anymore (and it’s especially unreliable if you live in leggings, athleisure, or anything with stretch).

Here's why:

1) Modern clothes are built to “forgive” you

A lot of people think they’re using clothing as a “measurement,” but what they’re often measuring is… fabric technology.

In the 1950s, most everyday clothes didn’t stretch like this

Mid-century clothing leaned heavily on woven fabrics (cotton, wool, rayon, silk) with minimal stretch unless it was bias-cut or had elastic only in specific areas (waistbands, edges). Stretch wasn’t the default.

The fiber that changed everything—spandex (elastane / LYCRA)—was developed at DuPont in 1958 and didn’t enter broader consumer use until the 1960s.

Spandex can stretch dramatically and return to shape (up to about 500% stretch gets referenced often), which is why a tiny percentage in a fabric blend can change the entire “fit experience.”

What this means in real life

If your pants contain elastane (even 1–3%), you can gain a meaningful amount of body mass or water retention and still “fit” into the same size… because the garment is literally engineered to accommodate fluctuations.

So the feedback you think you’re getting (“I’m fine; my clothes fit”) can easily be false reassurance.

2) Athleisure breaks the “clothes fit” method completely

This is the part that made me laugh at myself because… I live in spandex.

Leggings are designed to:

• stretch

• compress

• smooth

• recover

• move

That’s not a “measurement tool.” That’s performance gear.

If your “progress metric” stretches four ways, hugs you, and rebounds… it’s going to be late to the party when it comes to telling you anything useful.

3) Stretch denim changed the game, too

Even jeans—historically the “truth serum” garment—aren’t what they used to be.

Classic mid-century jeans were rigid cotton denim. No elastane. They broke in slowly and molded over time.

Stretch denim started showing up later (end of the 1970s is commonly cited), and then it exploded into mainstream fashion after that.

Today, many jeans have 1–3% elastane, which is enough to make them feel comfortable while still looking like denim. So even “jeans as a guide” is not the same guide your mom (or grandma) had.

4) Vanity sizing makes clothing labels meaningless

Even if fabric stretch didn’t exist, modern sizing is not standardized.

Brands intentionally label larger measurements with smaller numbers (because it flatters consumers and sells more clothing). A woman’s size 12 in 1958 being closer to a modern size 6 is a widely cited example of how much sizing drift has happened.

So if you’re using “I’m still a size X” as a data point, it’s not actually a stable unit of measurement. It’s marketing.

5) Clothes fit measures too many things at once

Even if we ignore stretch + sizing, clothes fit is still influenced by:

Water retention & inflammation

• sodium

• travel

• stress

• sleep

• menstrual cycle / hormonal shifts

• hard training sessions

You can feel “bigger” in clothing without gaining fat.

Where you store changes

Your body can change without your “signal clothing item” changing much. Some people gain in hips/thighs first, others in midsection, others evenly.

“I can just choose different clothes”

This is a big one people don’t say out loud: you can unconsciously avoid feedback by choosing more forgiving outfits—especially in a world where oversized styles and stretch are everywhere.

6) Clothes also change shape over time

Here’s an underrated factor: garments fatigue.

Elastane loses recovery with repeated stretching, heat, washing, and time. Even when it still “fits,” it may not be holding the same way it did when it was new.

So now the tool is drifting again, because the measuring stick is literally changing.

So what do I recommend instead?

First: I’m not moralizing any of this. Some people should not use a scale. Some people do spiral. If that’s you, protect your peace.

But if your goal is informed decisions, you need feedback that’s:

• consistent

• measurable

• trackable over time

Better options than “clothes fit”

1) Scale trends (not daily drama) The scale is noisy day-to-day, but useful over weeks/months. The point is the trend, not today’s mood.

2) Tape measurements Especially waist, hip, thigh, arm—taken consistently (same time of day, same conditions).

3) Progress photos Same lighting, same pose, same distance.

4) Performance markers Strength, endurance, recovery, steps, resting heart rate, sleep quality, etc.

5) Body composition tools (optional) DEXA, bioimpedance—unpredictable, calipers—imperfect, but still useful if you treat them as “directional data,” not identity.

If you really want to use clothes as a tool…

Here’s the only way I think it has a shot:

• Pick one non-stretch “sentinel item” (a rigid pair of jeans or a structured skirt).

• Do not rotate it with 10 other forgiving pieces.

• Use it as a periodic check-in, not a daily obsession.

• And still understand: it’s one data point, not a verdict.

The takeaway

“Clothes fit” used to work better when clothing was less stretchy, less forgiving, and more consistent.

But in 2026, with elastane everywhere, vanity sizing in full effect, and athleisure as daily uniform… clothes fit is often measuring your wardrobe, not your body.

Body trust and data can coexist. The goal isn’t to outsource your worth to a number. The goal is to have enough information to stay honest with yourself—without spiraling.

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FAQ

Is “clothes fit” a reliable way to track progress? Not consistently anymore. Modern clothing often contains elastane/spandex and is designed to stretch and recover, so “still fits” can lag behind real changes—or mask them entirely.

Why do my clothes still fit even if my body changes? Stretch fabrics, compression, and forgiving cuts can accommodate shifts in weight, water retention, and body composition. Plus, garments can loosen over time with wear.

Does vanity sizing make “clothes fit” less accurate? Yes. Sizing varies wildly by brand and has shifted over decades. Your label size isn’t a stable unit of measurement, so it’s a noisy progress metric.

If I don’t use clothes fit, what should I track instead? Pick 1–3 consistent metrics: weekly trend weight (if it’s not triggering), tape measurements, progress photos, and/or performance markers (strength, steps, conditioning, recovery).

What if the scale is triggering for me? Skip it. Use measurements, photos, and performance markers instead. The goal is informed decisions without spiraling—your tools should support your nervous system.

Is there any way to use clothes fit well? Yes—use one “sentinel” item that’s non-stretch (rigid denim or a structured skirt), check it occasionally, and don’t rely on stretchy athleisure as your primary feedback tool.