Jeans shopping can be a veritable nightmare, requiring us to try on a zillion different pairs in every conceivable style before we finally settle on something. The most maddening part is that the right size seems to change with every outing (a size 6 fit last week, but now it’s an 8 or a 10). If your first inclination is to blame yourself—“if I hadn’t eaten that bag of chips/skipped the gym/inherited my mom’s hips, these babies would fit”—think again: According to several studies, such problems aren’t necessarily your fault. Many designers have long reputedly engaged in “vanity sizing,” the practice of labeling larger-size clothing with smaller-size numbers. According to a University of North Texas study, the differences between actual dress sizes and the ones stamped on the tags can be as much as 13 inches, ensuring a consistently inconsistent fit among brands. A similar study conducted at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism suggests that numerous major U.S. retailers use the more flattering-size labels in an attempt to influence consumer-spending decisions. For denim seekers who’d forgo the sizing sweet talk in favor of a dependable fit, there are several online retailers, such as the Victoria’s Secret Catalogue (victoriassecret.com), that offer true-to-life size guides with actual waist, hip, rise, and inseam measurements. The best part? Kissing those cramped dressing rooms and erroneously labeled jeans goodbye forever. —Juliette Miranda

Photo credit: Ambidox