I should not complain, I should be happy that my pants are falling off. I've lost 14 pounds and at first I was thinking maybe I was squeezing into a size 18, and I should have been wearing a 20 this past year. But the 18s fall off when I walk..well most of them do. But 16s are way too tight. I swear I will have to lose another 30 pounds before the 16s will fit! And don't even get me started on Old Navy! I have several size 18s from them--- Some are falling off when I walk, some can go on and off without having to undo the zipper, and some are still too tight!! I hate trying on clothes....least at this size. I have tons of 14s and 16s in my closet from the last few years - where I bought them on clearance hoping to fit into them one day. So here I am with all my 18s either too tight or falling off. Long vent, sorry!

I can definitely relate. I also started in 18s, but they were TIGHT, I really couldn't wear them if I was to be sitting lol, I was probably a 20 or 22 for real. I have 1 pair of 16s now that are too big, 1 that fits perfect and 2 pairs of 14s that fit as nicely as the one pair of 16s. I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter what the number on the pants are, they can say 16, but 8 pairs of pants will all fit different, it's obnoxious when you're losing weight isn't it!?!?!?!?!?!!?

It doesn't get better! Lol at least that has been my experience. Having to buy a completely new wardrobe at goal was awful. I figured I would stick with my favorite store, get accustomed to their fit, and VOILA, never need to try stuff on.

And yet here I am, same size and measurements on the bottom for eight months, and IN THE SAME brand I can wear 0-4, petite and regular. I am currently having a shorts crisis. I never even wore shorts for years, and now they are taunting me. Lol I found a pair of adorable dressy denim shorts in a 4P. So i bought the same style, different fabric, in a 4P. Not at all the same. So I bought them in a 4R. Too big. I have them sitting in my van waiting to be returned for....a 2R, 2P, 6P? Who the heck knows!!!

Every pair of pants, capris, shorts and jeans I have bought in the past 8 months has been returned at some point for fit issues. Maybe my body just isn't the norm. Idk.

Sorry for my rant!! I just wish there was some continuity. I would gladly have my tag say 100, if I know all 100s would fit me!

Since I don't wear things as snug as you younger girls do, I don't have too much of a problem, but in the same brand and style, I can go up or down a size quite often and still have a nice fit. If I wore my jeans the way I did when I was 28, I'd be a whole size smaller. There is absolutely no uniformity in sizing. In tops, I'm a medium at Kohls and JC Penneys, but can be up to an XL at the stores geared for younger people like the Gap or Old Navy.

When shopping for a dress for my daughter's wedding, though, I found sizes of "good" dresses to be similar, even when styles varied dramatically.

Lin

Sometimes I think they shouldn't even put sizes on clothes, it wouldn't be any more difficult to find ones that fit.

I think the no size thing is an excellent idea ! That way no one's hung up on a size and everyone would try on to see if it fits

That's an excellent idea - no sizes, or the actual clothing dimensions in inches. Then we can try them on and figure it out from there. None of this weird representative size system that doesn't actually represent much of ANYTHING.

It's kind of what I have to do now - the "hold them up to see" trick.

I second that they use the ACTUAL measurements (often when they give you measurements, but they're way off). That would make my life easier. I already fit clothes weird because I have narrow hips, a small butt, but a pretty undefined waist.

I can handle the actual measurements. It's not like I don't know.

But that being said, I buy the size that fits in the style I want. I HATE wearing uncomfortable clothes. I'll buy the bigger size if it feels better.

If it helps, I remember on another thread like this one a woman who used to work for old navy said they cut their pants in huge stacks so it's not 100% accurate...therefore if you try on 5 pairs of the same exact size 18 jeans or pants from Old Navy, it's possibly they will ALL fit differently!! Crazy huh?

When I started I was wearing 14's - refused to buy size 16 though I'm sure they would have fit. Now I am wearing size 10/M in most [Old Navy, J.crew etc] except Armani Exchange [12] and one or two others b/c I have a wider than usual back.

On a side note, I love compression shorts for running - I just bought Nike one's in a size M b/c the L was a little loose and there are some XL Under Armour ones that feel too tight!! Who knows!!

Try a 16w instead of a 16reg. It is the in between. Like I can fit onto a 14w but not a 16 yet. It's frustrating to me too but I hope it helps.

I love the no size idea!! And never even THOUGHT to buy a 16W. It is so annoying. I have looked at size charts online to compare some plus size stores, like Avenue and Lane Bryant - and they have you measure your waist - at the natural waist line....who wears their pants that high????? So glad that everyone can relate to this frustrating problem! I'm guessing I'll be wearing a lot of stretchy yoga pants this summer!

Yeah I'm your height and have been wearing 16w since about 220. 16 regular is doable now but gives me just a little bit of a muffin top, so I can wait.

Sizes are just so crazy. I keep hoping I'll hit that point where people say you don't have to lose 30lbs to drop a size and it's more like 10. It's certainly not size 16 - must be like size 8 or something..

BTW, I will have NO PROBLEM with that whatsoever.

I am liking shopping more and more (it's a great mommy time away from my kids every once in awhile!) so I'm actually looking forward to buying a new wardrobe and enjoy it every time I have to, but it can take a long time to zero in on my correct size in a given outfit.