NPCER: can somebody explain pant sizes to me, please?

[mominatrix]

OK, so losing weight... yay!


When this journey started I was a 22W.


I've made my way down to wearing 18W jeans at the moment (I have a few pair by NYDJ and Kut), but they're big on me...  I also have a pair of Gap jeans in a 20 (curvy low rise); they fit, but I don't like HOW they fit.

I'm so confused as to WTF I'm supposed to be doing next.

...I'm probably realistically solidly a 16W now, but thinking I should be buying the next size down, for my next jean/pants buy... so that means, 14W?

14W seems redonculously hard to find... but what's the not-W equivilent? A 20, an 18? Will they fit like the Gap ones?

And why the huge difference between W and not-W sizes, anyway... I picked up a pair of NYDJ in a 16 (no W) and they're TINY, like I can barely squeeze into them, and I'm long LONG LONG away from being able to button or zip them. 



Can somebody please to explain what I'm going to need next?
How do the sizes between W and not-W compare, when do I switch?

Any recommendations?

[cville]

I don't have clear recommendations for you. I've been around about the same 2 size/10lb variance for about 15 years and I have pants in 4 different sizes in my closet, depending on the brand. I think for anyone of any size it's hit or miss everywhere.


ETA:  and congratulations!  That's awesome.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

CONGRATS on the loss.

Have you considered going to one of the stores and asking for shopping help? I THINK Lane Bryant has sales people that can help you shop and try things on.

[mominatrix]

Mar 30, 2015 13:25:25 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

CONGRATS on the loss.

Have you considered going to one of the stores and asking for shopping help? I THINK Lane Bryant has sales people that can help you shop and try things on.

yeah, I could...

I guess the problem is this: 14W is about as small as stores like Lane Bryant sell.... but what's next? It's looking like I'm back up to an 18-ish in not-W sizes, which is nearly impossible to find.

(very few brands do it, and if the NYDJ's are any indication, there's no way I'm going to be in a 16 not-W any time soon)

[mominatrix]

Mar 30, 2015 13:28:47 GMT -5 @smorriso said:

This probably won't be the answer you'd want, but it all depends on size, brand, and fit.

It is a bit trickier to find a style when the majority of the sizes you're in between are online only. It's not as easy as just going to the store to try. So, try to have patience (I know that's easier said than done). Use the sizes as a guides instead of absolutes.

There was a recent article on denim for a size 16. Maybe refinery.

If you find a fit and style you like, I'd buy washes of it you like. Also keeping in mind that even in the same fit, brand, and size, there could be a few inch difference.

It might help to look up some size 16+ bloggers for any denim recs.

I guess I'm just frustrated that it seems way easier to find stuff in a 22W than in the size I'm coming into... which is like, what, a 14W/18 not-W??

It's kind of a dip... lots of lines just aren't there...




Right now, because I'm only in sizes for a few months, I'm REALLY trying to keep it to thrifting. I've been lucky. Like the jeans I'm wearing at this size are all NYDJ and Kut, both brands I love the styling and fit of.

It just seems so weird to go so dramatically down in numbers... only to go back up again.  And to have it be so much harder to actually find stuff in those sizes. This is weird for me.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Mar 30, 2015 13:30:19 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

Mar 30, 2015 13:25:25 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

CONGRATS on the loss.

Have you considered going to one of the stores and asking for shopping help? I THINK Lane Bryant has sales people that can help you shop and try things on.

yeah, I could...

I guess the problem is this: 14W is about as small as stores like Lane Bryant sell.... but what's next? It's looking like I'm back up to an 18-ish in not-W sizes, which is nearly impossible to find.

(very few brands do it, and if the NYDJ's are any indication, there's no way I'm going to be in a 16 not-W any time soon)

Unfortunately it's like what pp said, it's a lot of trying things on to see what you like best and what fits you most comfortably.  You may just be at that in-between size and having to get the larger sized things altered may be your best bet at this point. But that's just my opinion. 

[mominatrix]

...maybe I just need to go see the nice people at Nordstrom.

They'll make everything better, won't they?

[eponinepontmercy]

In my experience, there isn't anything equivalent to a 14W. I've found that size in Kohl's and Target. The W sizes seem to be cut for bigger hips/ belly, which is exactly what I need. A 16W fits me SOOO much better than a 16, at least since I gave birth. It's hard to be inbetween sizes, especially when you throw the W stuff in there.

Also, sizes and cuts vary so much among companies. I can buy shirts pretty much off the rack, just holding them up to make sure hey are long enough. I have to try on every damn pair of pants I see, even different cuts from the same company.

I have some AE jeans that are pretty nice and comfortable - one is a 16 and the high rise jeggings are an 18. However, I bought another pair of stretch jeans in a 16, and they didn't fit at all. It turns out that the ones I have are "super stretch" while the new ones were just "stretch." So event he kind of denim matters.

Congratulations on the weight loss!

[eponinepontmercy]

Mar 30, 2015 13:36:02 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

...maybe I just need to go see the nice people at Nordstrom.

They'll make everything better, won't they?

[LoveTrains]

Mar 30, 2015 13:30:19 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

Mar 30, 2015 13:25:25 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

CONGRATS on the loss.

Have you considered going to one of the stores and asking for shopping help? I THINK Lane Bryant has sales people that can help you shop and try things on.

yeah, I could...

I guess the problem is this: 14W is about as small as stores like Lane Bryant sell.... but what's next? It's looking like I'm back up to an 18-ish in not-W sizes, which is nearly impossible to find.

(very few brands do it, and if the NYDJ's are any indication, there's no way I'm going to be in a 16 not-W any time soon)

It depends on the brand you are wearing. I can wear a 20 pant in gap and old navy (please note - a regular 20) but I wear a 20W in Lands End or Lane Bryant. 

If you are looking for regular 18s (not 18W) those can be found at Old Navy, JCP (worthington line for work), Land's End and LL Bean. You can also look at their size charts and they do show you the difference. 

For example at Land's End, a regular 18 is XL 18 37 - 38 1⁄2 (waist) 46 1⁄2 (hips) and an 18W is 1X 18W 40 - 41 (waist) 48 (hips).
Most plus retailers make a 14W and on up from there. 

[AJL]

First, I finally accepted that my pants size is a 12W - 20 regular. That's a HUGE range of sizes and it's all brand and cut dependent. 

The difference between a misses size and a women's size is roughly 1/2" to 2/3" all around the garment. Each brand has their own measurements for what makes up their sizes. 

The very best advice I can give you is to measure your body as accurately as possible. I keep a little notebook in my bag that has my current measurements.  Then I'll spend some time looking up brands online and checking their size charts. I write down the sizes that match my measurements.

I've found that NYDJ are too big in the women's sizes for me. The smallest size in plus seems to be a 14W. However, their 18 regular size is a little snug. I can get away with it in certain cuts like trouser and straight. No way can I comfortably wear their skinny jeans.

Old Navy never fits me because the rise is always too low. Suki jeans (Dillards) fit OK, but again, rise it too low.  In Lane Bryant pants, I can wear size 14 - 18 depending on the style and material of the pants.

My current best fitting jeans are Code Bleu Maya slim straights, size 14W (online or at Dillard's), and Target Pure Energy brand boot cut style, 16W. 

[cattledogkisses]

Congrats on the weightloss momi!

I agree with cville that pants are kind of hit or miss for everyone, unfortunately. I've been pretty much the same weight all my adult life, and I have a whole range of pants sizes in my closet. It makes no sense, and it's frustrating, and it makes me hate pants shopping. The only foolproof way is to try stuff on, and then when I find something I love I buy a million pairs so I don't have to shop for pants for awhile, lol.

I want to lead a crusade to start sizing womens' pants like they do mens', with separate waist and inseam lengths. It would be infinitely better than the current system of guessing.

[LoveTrains]

And at Lands End it appears that the most comparable size to the 18 regular is a 16W: 1X 16W 38 - 39 (waist)46 (hips).

[LoveTrains]

Mar 30, 2015 13:43:35 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Congrats on the weightloss momi!

I agree with cville that pants are kind of hit or miss for everyone, unfortunately. I've been pretty much the same weight all my adult life, and I have a whole range of pants sizes in my closet. It makes no sense, and it's frustrating, and it makes me hate pants shopping. The only foolproof way is to try stuff on, and then when I find something I love I buy a million pairs so I don't have to shop for pants for awhile, lol.

I want to lead a crusade to start sizing womens' pants like they do mens', with separate waist and inseam lengths. It would be infinitely better than the current system of guessing.

the problem with this for me is the hips. Most pants that fit me in the hips gap in the waist. 

I agree with the suggestion to know your measurements. I had to do them for an eshakti dress and I check them anytime before I buy clothing online now against the size charts. 

[mich1]

I wear a size 16 normally, and you really just have to try the pants on. Once you find a style/brand, you *might* be ok.

One of the things I have discovered is that if a 16 doesn't fit, an 18 or 20 won't either because there is something in the cut that just doesn't fit my body right. I have found this true especially in buying jeans. I found a great pair at EB and a 16 was just a bit too tight, so bought an 18. The 18 was too tight too, but was too big in the waist!

I hate buying pants.....when I find a style that fits, I buy them in multiples.

I have also found that W jeans just do not fit my body at all.

[mbcdefg]

Congratulations! Great work

I would just go try on different brands, styles, and sizes. Everything is different. It can be a real mind fuck. 

I bought myself a pair of size 16R Tommy Hilfiger jeans last year that fit pretty well, but I had to get them hemmed since I'm short. MH bought me the EXACT same pair, just in 16 Short, and I couldn't even pull them over my hips. I wear an 18 in some other brands. Sometimes I can't get a 16 OR an 18 to fit. As a result, I rarely buy clothes

I bookmarked this article, where a plus size model tries on the same size jeans but from different stores and in different cuts: www.buzzfeed.com/mariesouthardospina/what-does-a-size-16-look-like-in-10-different-bran-17s7s?utm_term=.ts32LJBD1&sub=3566372_4608434&pp=1#.qn6kL0g9E 

[penguingrrl]

Mar 30, 2015 13:43:35 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Congrats on the weightloss momi!

I agree with cville that pants are kind of hit or miss for everyone, unfortunately. I've been pretty much the same weight all my adult life, and I have a whole range of pants sizes in my closet. It makes no sense, and it's frustrating, and it makes me hate pants shopping. The only foolproof way is to try stuff on, and then when I find something I love I buy a million pairs so I don't have to shop for pants for awhile, lol.

I want to lead a crusade to start sizing womens' pants like they do mens', with separate waist and inseam lengths. It would be infinitely better than the current system of guessing.

The sad part is that men's pants are becoming vanity sized as well, so a 32x32 isn't really 32" at the waist anymore. It's insane!

Momi, congrats on the weight loss! That's fantastic! No advice on pants shopping other than that you kind of have to try things on because different brands and styles run so different that it's hard to say.

[aprilsails]

Yes men's pants are becoming vanity sized too! DH was complaining about this after I bought him a boat load of pants in his regular size (that fit before - just new replacements) and they were all huge on him. Same manufacturer, same cut, 1 or 2 years later.

Congrats on your weight loss! If your existing, nicely fitting pants are just becoming a but loose I would really suggest getting them taken in. It will probably cost as much as buying new, but it will likely get you over the size gap you need with minimum shopping (I hate shopping). I feel comfortable taking in waist darts myself, but if you need the hips brought in a professional can do it to suit you.

[darnkatz]

Check out Lucky Brand jeans at Macy's. I bought a pair of 14W there last year, I think. They are great. 
Also, congratulations on the weight loss. 

[wawa]

And this is all why I'm quitting pants once I go back to real waist bands.

[auntie]

Sometimes you just have to go into a dressing room with an armload of sizes and try them on.

Generally speaking Plus sizes are cut for people who are overweight and who carry weight disproportionately in places like their belly, waist, upper thigh and upper arm. Misses sizes in the higher numbers are cut for people who are bigger but not necessarily overweight/disproportional in how they carry it. Most plus sizes are larger in the waist relative to the hip and bust measurement.

I recently had one foot in each size range- I'm overweight but not as much as I had been. A large Talbots Store is a good place to see the differences. I could wear either a 14W pant or a 16/18 misses. Their Womens tops didn't work because the sleeves were too baggy if they fit my bust.

Here's their comparison size chart-


www.talbots.com/online/pearlsofwisdom/right_fit.jsp?intcmp=20091119_styleadvisor_leftnav1_rightfit

Lands End is another company the bridges this gap as well-

www.landsend.com/customerservice/size_charts/?rd=true

[ringstrue]

Do you have a DEB?

I wonder if you could try like Zappos and take advantage of their free shipping and nice return policies?

[schitzengiggles]

I lost weight and started exactly where you started. On the way "down" I cut lots of corners by wearing belts and such so that of only have to buy pants every few sizes. Yes, I looked a little sloppy sometimes :-) also this wouldn't work if you have a more professional job. Mine was way casual so it didn't matter.

Unfortunately I don't know the ins and outs of the sizing though. It is confusing and weird, isn't it?!

Btw, I'm now a size 6. I wanted to share to give you motivation that your targets and goals are very reachable!!!
Great job so far!!!

[alleinesein]

Welcome to my world...stuck in the middle of normal sizes not being quite big enough and women's sizes being way too big!

I am a size 16 in jeans at LB and can also wear a size 16 (not W) in NYDJ from Nordstrom. Its only select styles that fit properly and dont bother with any cut that has straight, slim or skinny in the description. Try a few pairs of the bootcut style- they tend to fit the best.

Another option you can use if you find stuff at Nordstrom is their tailoring service. You can always get a pair of pants or jeans taken in if they fit in the waist but are baggy/saggy in other areas.

[shell403b]

Mar 30, 2015 13:45:58 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Mar 30, 2015 13:43:35 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Congrats on the weightloss momi!

I agree with cville that pants are kind of hit or miss for everyone, unfortunately. I've been pretty much the same weight all my adult life, and I have a whole range of pants sizes in my closet. It makes no sense, and it's frustrating, and it makes me hate pants shopping. The only foolproof way is to try stuff on, and then when I find something I love I buy a million pairs so I don't have to shop for pants for awhile, lol.

I want to lead a crusade to start sizing womens' pants like they do mens', with separate waist and inseam lengths. It would be infinitely better than the current system of guessing.

the problem with this for me is the hips. Most pants that fit me in the hips gap in the waist. 

I agree with the suggestion to know your measurements. I had to do them for an eshakti dress and I check them anytime before I buy clothing online now against the size charts. 

Could they do a 3-part measurement (waist-hip-inseam)? Or is that like throwing pennies off a bridge expecting to kill someone? 

[notsocreepylurker]

I have no advice but CONGRATS! on the weight loss!

[josieposy]

Mar 30, 2015 14:49:41 GMT -5 wawa said:

And this is all why I'm quitting pants once I go back to real waist bands.

What I'm getting out of this is that I should quit pants now.

[josieposy]

I can't help with jeans but congrats on the weight loss!

[katfco]

Congratulations on the weight loss, that's wonderful!
I like buying jeans fro CJ Banks/Christopher & Banks. They're cheaper than Lane Bryant but still fit nicely and you can find good borderline plus/not plus size clothes. CJ Banks is the more plus size line, and sometimes the stores are separate. I've found the rest of the clothes sometimes run a bit older than I prefer, but I like their jeans.

[kmpls]

I am a similar size but need short pants as regular length are too long for me. So finding size 18 short is very much my personal circle of hell!

congrats on the weight loss. Can I ask how you are doing it??