I've seen as low as a 12W but I don't know where they actually start. I think Women's (or W) is wider in the hips and legs. It's sometimes wider in the waist too. I am a size 14 and sometimes a 12 but today at JCPenney the 12W fell off of me.
the sizes with the (W) are cut more generously through the hip/thigh/waist areas...they take more account for women who have say, given birth (wider hips) things like that...not like "junior" sizes that are made for teens who have not been pregnant, or matured physically yet.
Thanks for the replies. I know misses sizes go up to a 16/18 so I was wondering if after a 18 came a 14W. When I was a 14 I tried on a 14W and it fell off of me which really made me wonder. Another mystery of life solved.
Now if I could only figure out bra sizes...
What I hate is that wherever you go, the sizes change so much! Like I squeeze into an 18 in some stores, and then other brands I can easily fit in 14's.... what is that all about?