People shocked after realising XXL and 2XL aren’t the same size

It's long been a source of irritation that dress sizes seem to vary so greatly from store to store - especially in women's cases.

What is described as a size 10 in one shop can somehow boast the same dimensions as an XL in another. Like, how haven't we managed to contrive a universal system for clothing sizes yet?

With this in mind, it's no surprise that a number of shoppers had no idea that there's actually a pretty huge difference between a size 2XL and a size XXL. Yep, it's true. They're not the same thing.

So, if you've ever felt disheartened when the XXL you try on in one store feels a lot tighter than your usual 2XL, there's a reason why.

An XXL is the next size up for when an XL (extra large) feels slightly too snug.

Then, a 2XL is the next size up from that.

Apparently, clothes with an XXL label are cut in the exact same way as smaller sizes in terms of dimensions, but just slightly bigger/longer in every direction.

In cases of 2XL garments, however, these garments are reportedly cut with plus-size bodies specifically in mind, meaning the dimensions aren't just made larger, but the entire pattern is altered to make it a better fit.

The point was raised by a TikTok influencer, who showed off just how greatly these two sizes differ, and emphasised that they're not just two different ways of describing the same thing.

Taking to the video-sharing app last year, @samyra - who boasts over 2.3 million followers online - tried on three different outfits, a top, a shirt and a dress, in each of the two sizes.

When wearing the XXL, Samyra complained that the waist of the first top sits too high under her bust, that she can't button up the shirt in outfit number two, and that she couldn't get the final pink dress on comfortably.

She then tried each garment on in a 2XL, showing off just how much baggier the garment appeared, as well as the increased amount of material used to make it up.

However, many of the social media star's followers appeared to have no idea that there was such a difference in these two sizes.

Taking to the comments of her viral clip, one fan admitted: "Damn I never knew it was that much of a difference in sizes."

Another explained: "XL VS 1X is how I learned I was plus size in clothes!! That XL wasn’t getting nowhere on this body."

A third penned: "Soooo XXL and 2XL are two different sizes... that explains some things."

Meanwhile, someone else went on to gush: "This was really helpful bc i never really seen the difference until this vid - thank you queen."