I'm 5'5" and I am now comfortably fitting into all my size 24W pants. I only had 2 pairs of 26W and now they are sliding around I had some "forgiving" 24Ws that were 'ok' but not great before I started losing. I also had some "small 24s" if you know what I mean, and I'm happy to report that they now fit.
Obviously the clothing manufacturer, the wearer's muscle tone, height and body shape all come into consideration ... but still I'm curious. The smallest I've ever been was 147bs in college. I was very active and not 'too flabby'. I was most consistently a regular size (Misses) 14, occassionally a Misses 12 (dresses or elastic waist pantsuits). I never have had much of a waist, and even at 147, if pants fit in the waist they bagged at the hips, and if they fit at the hips, they were tight in the waist. Same thing today.
Yet ... I occassionally I see weightloss ads (I know, not realistic) where people claim that they lost 40 pounds and went from a size 16 to a size 6. Or you see somebody who says they are 300+ pounds and wearing a size 18. I wear an 18 at about 180lbs maybe that person is 6 1/2 feet tall?
I hate tight clothes (no matter what my size) ... so maybe that factors into the sizes I buy. I'm just curious ... what do you think about these things?