How do you determine your pant size?

For instance, I can fit a size 12 in gap jeans, but only in one particular "style". I consider myself a size 12. But I know damn well that I can't fit EVERY size 12 jeans or pants.

So how do you determine what size you are? A consensus amongst various articles of clothing? Do you pick one style and use that as your "measuring stick"?

I pick the smallest I can squeeze into.

Guide to determine your pant size:

Step 1: Write a bunch of numbers on small pieces of paper.

Step 2: Throw into a bowl.

Step 3: Pick one out.

Viola!

Seriously though, there's NO telling! Different stores, different fits, different styles. I can were anything from a 4 to an 9. I say 6 because it's kind in between, but there's no consistency.



HA! Totally!

I SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZED into a size 2 once. It was NOT pretty. Therefore I am size 2.

This is the strangest thing for me. When I was 255, 265, 275. I wore one size - not several sizes - in all brands. At 265 the 20s were perfect. at 275 the 20s were TIGHT. At 255 I was in between an 18/20 and a 2X shirt - always.

When I was at 165 with very little fluff left on me I had 4s, 6,s 8s, 10s, 12s. Seriously!!!! But at 165, the most common size that fit me was 8 - so if I were to go to the racks, there was a 50-60 percent chance the 8s would be the right fit. So, I said I wore 8s.

It got worse the smaller/thinner I got as far as what sizes I would wear in CURRENT fashions. Crazy!

I generally wear a size 6 at this point. However, I've got 4's from Eddie Bauer and Old Navy that are almost too big and I've got a size 16 pair of Gap jeans that are 25 years old that still fit great, although the acid wash means they only get worn for gardening duty.

I call myself a 6 because that is the first size I pick off the rack to try on. Then I go up or down based on fit. The size thing stopped having so much power over me when I realized there was no consistency. Now it's nice, but it's just a guide. I'm perfectly aware that my happy size 6's were a size 10 a decade ago and who knows what they'll be ten years from now. If I live long enough, I'm pretty sure I'll be a size 2 at some point.

Anything from a 3-9 will fit me and my hips r 36 and waist is 27. I usually buy cheap jeans at little stores so most are 5 and 7 but I know they run small. I am happy to be in a 5, though. No jean sizes r created equal!!!

I'm a size range so I indicate as much, generally. If most of my wardrobe is size 12 then I'm a size 12, even if I have a 14 skirt and a 10 pair of slacks in there. But I do definitely note the 10 as a NSV for morale's sake

I go by the majority of clothes I have/try on. So if I were a size 12, that would mean that the vast majority of size 12 pants would fit, although a few outliers might be too big or too small.

But I'm also different sizes top and bottom, with a big difference in sizes. And in reality, misses sizes almost never fit me properly anyway - I am goblet shaped with a wide middle but (relatively) slim hips and no butt and usually, anything that fits around the middle is way too big everywhere else. So as I get smaller, I'll be buying juniors sized pants for the most part. Unless my shape changes more than I expect it to, of course. So am I going to be a size 11 on bottom and a 16 on top or some other similarly weird combo? If so, does that mean I will be a 13.5?

Everyone (manufacturers) sizes differently. Generally, the cheaper and more mass-market, the bigger each size runs, and the more expensive and exclusive, the smaller. So a Target / Old Navy 4 would be like a Chanel 14. I think most people just go by what size they wear in the brands they wear the most.

In my experience, knowing your body measurements (i.e., bust-waist-hips) and going from there has been much more convenient than having a "size". I have clothing ranging from size 0 (lollll!) to 6 in my closet, but I generally tend to be a 2 (with the random 4 thrown in there from time to time). I definitely have my "go-to" brands that I tend to stick to because I know the sizing schemes, but when it comes to trying something new I will generally scope out sizing charts online and guess-timate which size range would likely work. Most of the time I still have to troubleshoot from there, because even the sizing charts can be way off.

Such fun, right?

And then let's toss in! Are they dress pants, polyester, stretchy? Linen? Jeans 100% cotton? Jeans with spandex? A higher cut waist or low cut/hip huggers? Slim cut, relaxed fit, horse back riding jeans? I could go on and on.

Like a lot of the other ladies, I go with the size that usually fits the best and go up or down from there. Depends on rise, cut, fabric and style.

If you were to ask me, given the brands and styles most commonly available here, I am a junior 11/12 and a ladies/misses 10 and in mens a 30 waist/34 inseam.

My personal favorites are Cruel Girl Jeans in a midrise cut, junior 11/12. Fit like a glove and look hot. A bit pricey at around $60 a pair so I save them for good!

44" waist. 30 inch leg. Loose fit. And a belt. Generally an online order.

I'm hoping to work a little on that 44".

Go Ian--and welcome!! (I'm from D.C. originally, too! :-)

I'm starting to experience this. I used to be able to order pants from a catalog. No more! I have to go and try them on. In one pair of jeans, I'm down to a size 18 and those are already starting to get a little loose. On the other hand, a size 20 pair of jeans that I ordered and received a couple of months ago are still too small for me. When I was shopping for an interview suit last week, I was actually able to put on a pair of size 16 pants. I didn't get them because I didn't like the cut but....size 16???

I find this super frustrating. I think that I'm officially out of women's sizes. I haven't really gone shopping in awhile but if I did, I'm hoping that I could squeeze into a 14. Most of my pants are 16s and they're starting to be too loose. Most of my tops are Ls but I'm not quite ready to make the jump to Ms.