This is not a new phenomenon, as I can attest! As a pre-teen I could never find jeans long enough. Some brands were so-so, some not. Every size fit differently.
Levi's jeans have no space for your backside, so if you have one, don't look at that brand!
I was in a 16 (St. John's Bay from JCPenney) last winter. Fit pretty well. Back to a 12, I can wear that brand in 12, also Gap. But, nothing else!
Yet, I have Gap shorts that are just now getting loose ... size 14! Go figure. Really.
They don't cut everything the same every time, and even three pair of the exact same size and exact same brand will fit differently. Robots are not perfect, it seems.
I spoke to a clerk in a store the other day who resorted to buying men's jeans because she can depend on the sizing. She can't understand why women's clothing doesn't go by sleeve length/bust size and waist/hip/length ... similar to men's clothing sizing.
In Japan you get everything special ordered to fit -- saves on the waste, I'm sure. How often have you seen end-of-season clearance racks with all Smalls and Mediums leftover? Who wears those? Even those who do take those sizes opt for the larger ones for comfort.
It's annoying.
And, those of us who are tall can usually not find enough length to cover our ankles. Jeans have improved, but they don't make crop pants that don't look stupid on me, no matter what brand I try. I love the look of long skirts and dresses, but the ones that are long on catalog models are mid-calf on me! I have found success here and there in some brands at certain times, but it's all luck. I can't go in year to year or season to season and know I'll find what I'd like.
Sheesh!
---Amy