Basically, the author surveyed his/her readers about their measurements and what size of clothing that they wear. I found the spread in measurements really surprising! I wish the author would have asked for a specific brands because it might have been more telling because there's going to be a huge difference is one is shopping for designer jeans vs. Old Navy (who is notorious for vanity sizing).
I also thought it was interesting to see how I fit in there. I have 42" hips and so I typically wear a size 12 right now (sometimes 10 if we're talking about a lot of vanity sizing). But my waist is way above average for a 12 (33" so only 5% of the readership). But it seems like it would make more sense to talk about your lower belly since that's where most pants hit now-a-days. Also, my weight is way above average but I also wonder too if many of the responders actually have weighed/measured themselves recently?
That's interesting as I'm JUST entering size 12 territory. 14s are fitting just right or a tad loose, so I decided not to buy any 14s for my fall wardrobe. I can fit all the 12s I bought, but they are slightly snug. I have one skirt in a 10 from JJill as their 12s fit perfect now and I can fit into a 10.
My weight is 189 (still TTOM). And my measurements haven't changed from last month 42-35-43. I just checked... though I think I'm holding a bit of water. Cup size is a DDD (or F).
I KNOW that I'm 'big' for being able to fit into 12, but that has a lot to do with my body build I figure. I'll fit into 12s perfectly with an inch off everywhere.
Brands that I have tried on in size 12 and they are wearable are: The Limited, Larry Levine, Tahari, Anne Taylor, Calvin Klein, Talbots, Alberto Macali, and most others. I fit into 10s at JJill. And of course, there are many I wear 14s (more teeny bopper stores). One of the pants I got a Tahari is a 33.
I just now can fit my Lilly Pulitzer size 14 pants.
Last edited by berryblondeboys; 08-29-2011 at 12:44 PM.
Very interesting information. I started my journey at 202.8 pounds in a size 16. Now, in the middle of my journey, I weigh 162.6 pounds, and I am in a size 14.
Hmm...according to that I'm barely on the tippy top of 12, but I'm a comfy size 12 in my old clothes before a lot of vanity sizing. I'm a 10 now in places with vanity sizing.
I think it is funny that Old Navy is "notorious" for vanity sizing - I can not squeeze into their size 14 jeans - I tried a couple of different styles - but I have no problems at all now with my size 12 Lee jeans. And in pants for work, I am a 12 (just fit/slightly tight) or a 14 (somewhat loose, but not quite unwearable) in most department store house brands.
One thing that would have been really interesting to know with this survey was the waist-to-hip ratio too. I wonder how many women who are at the lower/higher extremes have measurements for their hip/waist that are at the other extreme or at least right on target.
So like for me I'm in the 5% for the waist (having a bigger waist than average) but am pretty average for hips at 19%. I wonder if some of the women reporting 28" waists or lower for a size 12 don't also have larger hips?
I do question to some extent how well the women measure themselves and know their own measurements. I measure OFTEN because I'm in the process of losing weight and I've learned from trial and error how best to measure but that's after months and months of doing it (I actually recently added an inch to my bust in my signature because I realized I wasn't measuring it correctly)! If you're at a stable weight you don't do that very often (and might not even own an accuarate measuring tape) so I wonder too how much guess work went in it or also maybe some women just looked online at the size chart at old navy or something and put in those measurements?
It seems like a simple way of doing this study is just grabbing a bunch of women off of the street, measuring them and have them try on some jeans to see what fit (you could have some stashed away). It'd take about 5 minutes of the woman's time and you could get some interesting stats from that.
What I don't get about the clothing industry is why don't they just list the measurements on clothes? Is it so hard to just put Bust: 40", Waist: 32" etc? Then brands could cater to whoever they want but it would make shopping online INFINITELY easier.
I think it is funny that Old Navy is "notorious" for vanity sizing - I can not squeeze into their size 14 jeans - I tried a couple of different styles - but I have no problems at all now with my size 12 Lee jeans. And in pants for work, I am a 12 (just fit/slightly tight) or a 14 (somewhat loose, but not quite unwearable) in most department store house brands.
Just curious but do you wider hips/thighs? That always seems to be a deliniating factor in pants... Also one thing about Old Navy pants is they have A LOT of stretch so while they might feel tight in the dressing room the could be falling off of you later on the day...
Regarding Old Navy, I find that their sizing—just like any clothing store—varies depending on color, style, etc. Their measurements listed on their size chart seem to match up with others (although Old Navy seems to run a little smaller than the Gap and a few other places). I'm a size 8 in Old Navy clothes and I'm a size 8 in other brands as well (recently fit into a size 6 in another store though).
I guess it's just like any other clothing brand. You need to try stuff on to determine if it could fit. It would be lovely if we could just grab things off the rack and go, but unfortunately that's not the case.
Very interesting. I wear a size 10 or size 8 and my measurements are 38-28-37. I'm 5'8" 163 lb.
I don't get sizing at all.
I am about as tall as you but I am still heavier and my measurements are bigger too. I wear mostly 10 now with the occasional 8 (e.g. Hilfiger) and 6 (!!) at GAP.
What I don't get about the clothing industry is why don't they just list the measurements on clothes? Is it so hard to just put Bust: 40", Waist: 32" etc? Then brands could cater to whoever they want but it would make shopping online INFINITELY easier.
Actually, some are. Some higher priced stores, or European copy cat stores are beginning to make pants by waist size. I just bought a pair of 33" khakis by Tahari and i saw a bunch of them at Nieman Marcus Last Call earlier today.
Just curious but do you wider hips/thighs? That always seems to be a deliniating factor in pants... Also one thing about Old Navy pants is they have A LOT of stretch so while they might feel tight in the dressing room the could be falling off of you later on the day...
Very muscular thighs, not wide hips. I read a lot of people saying they fit into smaller sizes in ON, but for me they would have to be 2 sizes larger and then they'd be frickin' HUGE in the waist. My waist to hip ratio as of my last measure is 0.8.
Thanks for the post. I raised this question about sizing the other day. I'm in a 10/12 size but my upper midsection is small and my bust is large so it makes for an interesting fit with everything. I need to get some measuring tape.
Size 10-12 measurements
