I hate our local plus size stores. The people there are just rude rude rude and of no help - thankfully Old Navy carries my size....I bought a size 18 there - and I am 5'6" - and have never had to worry about length. Things are never too long or too short. So the "regular" was like 10" too long, NO KIDDING. I took them back and got a SHORT - and that's fine - but they are really loose on me. I can actually take them off without having to unbutton them. For every 2 steps I take, I have to pull them up. So I tried on a 16 - WAY TOO TIGHT. This is frustrating. How do you handle new clothes when you are a work in progress? I should be happy the pants are falling down - but I don't have that many clothes - and don't want to buy a whole lot - as obviously I want to save the $$$ for skinny clothes this time next year

With Old Navy at least, it's worth trying on a different size 18 or 16 or two. Their sizes are just very inconsistent, I think it's poor quality control.

You could go to the dry cleaners and get the pants taken in by the tailor typically for about 15 dollars and you could then wear them for a bit longer.

Seconded. Old Navy's quality control is definitely notorious... I would try a TJ Maxx or Marshall's (which sell overstock of other stores) or whatever the equivalent is in your area. Go for a pair with some stretch -- you'll be thankful that they feel a bit tight now once you've shrunk inside them!

I agree. Old Navy is totally inconsistent. Everything they carry is made by 5 year-olds in Bangladesh or something.

I shop at thrift stores. I can find clothes that fit whatever size I am. AND I have the added benefit that everything has been washed already so I don't have to worry about it shrinking, stretching or fading. Plus I'm not wearing the same clothes as everyone else that way. I have my own style. A few stores even give you a coupon if you donate your old clothes. So if clothes get too big you can get rid of them and get new stuff in the same trip! ^_^

This past year i've gone from a 24 to currently a 14/16 (and still shrinking), I really understand not having any clothes that fit properly. When I'm in between sizes, I just dealt with the ill fit, knowing that in a few weeks I'll be a different size anyways so it doesn't make sense to buy new clothes.

Thankfully I kept some of my 'skinnier' clothes so until recently I always had clothes to wear. Of course, now those skinny clothes are a full size (or more) too big. And I'm also stuck with having to buy new clothes. Since I plan on losing another 60-70 lbs, it seems wasteful to buy a whole new temporary wardrobe (plus I can't really afford to spend that much money).

I've been shopping thrift stores with mixed results trying to get some basics that fit (jeans, black dress pants, khakis...). Also, if you don't mind buying online, I'd highly suggest ebay. A few weeks ago I bought a mixed lot of clothes sized 12-16 for $125 (including shipping), it had 35 pieces (tons of tops/bottoms and a few accessories) and all was gently worn, and better quality than I found in my local thrift stores. Finally, if you don't want to spend too much money you can always try outlet stores, places like tj maxx, ...

Good luck!

I agree with the quality control issue and old navy... hmmm maybe they need to get that under control.
The way I get along with being in between sizes is if the 10 is perfect I buy the 8 bc I am still losing and I am cheap haha. I wear these around my home for a little while to streach them out and then I can leave the house with them. I never dry jeans that are the perect fit or a little stug, I just pull them out of the washer and hang them to dry. For jeans that are too big which I have many of now, inesting in a few belts is a must! I have a black leather one a brown leather one and a navy and white cloth one. I also dry bigger jeans in the washer and it works for a few hours until they get streached out again.

I am exactly between a 16 and an 18, so I know what you mean... 18 is baggy but 16 is still too tight. I think it's important to wear clothes that make you happy even while you're on the journey. It helps to keep on track when you're happy with how you look.

I work at Old Navy and I can't wear the jeans at all. They're designed for people that have a butt and hips, which I don't have, but have a tummy. The 16 doesn't fit me anywhere, but the 14 is way too small. So don't feel bad there, there's a lot of customers that have issues with fitting in them.

The Gap is a little better, but not by much. Old Navy, especially the knits tend to stretch out A LOT. The only thing I buy from them is khakis (they seem to fit better), sleep pants, or under shirts. I buy blouses if they're not made of stretchy material.

Do you have any thrift store nearby? Personally, I am not big on thrift stores although I have a few fleece sweatshirts from there and also one groovy tank top for the gym. If you can, look for jeans there. I know how hard it is to find a well fitting pair of jeans every two months or so.
I would have LOVED to shop for jeans there except I am almost 5'9" and everything is too short for me. I had to start buying jeans at the Gap because they carry 34" inseam.

(I tried Tall Girl [by the way, I am in Canada, I am not sure if Tall Girl is in the US as well) - their jeans are all 35 or 36" inseam - too long for me but I would gladly adjust the hem - BUT the smallest size they carry is size 8 which is too big for me).

While Old Navy does have poor quality control, if their cuts fit you, you should just try on several pairs in the same size. Stand at the shelf and match up the waist bands to make sure you have a variety. If you don't know your size do it for two. That's how I ended up with a 10 and an 8 that both fit well, while others of their ilk failed during the same fitting. I find the minor annoyance worth it for pants that are inexpensive and actually fit.

An earlier poster said they can't wear ON's jeans because they have a tummy and no butt. That's funny, because I am the same, no but, narrow hips, and big tummy and I have the best luck finding pants at ON, no problems for the past 4 sizes since I started shopping there. Their straight cut works well for me, and they have short length, which is awesome.

If you want to buy jeans from Old Navy, you may just have to keep trying on the same size and style until you find ones that fit. It's seriously ridiculous.

I once tried on a size 6... too small... but then tried a size 4 in the same style but different color (by accident, I thought it was another 6) and they were too big. The 4's... were bigger... than the 6's. (This was at my lowest weight, lol, I'd love to see numbers like 4 and 6 right now!)

What is it with the whole 16/18 size range? 16? 16W? 18? 18W? I don't have any idea what I am! 18 W and 16 W are both huge, or at least sloppy. 18's don't fit right. They're gigantic in the waist and tight in the hips. And forget 16's. I can't get them zipped.

So what the heck size am I?

I feel ya. I do not like this size. It makes me feel like no other woman on the planet is the same size I am, whatever this size is. There seems to be a huge leap from 16 to 18, especially in the waist.

I'm actually having this problem right now!! It's so irritating.. my issue is that I have a rear end so I have to buy jeans that come back in over my rear. I found some at Kohl's that fit perfect a while back, so I bought in the size I was and the next size down (same cut/style/etc) for when I got there, since the fit was so good. the ones that used to fit are too big now and the next size down is still small enough to give me a muffin top, so I won't wear them yet. My best investment? A belt! lol It's irritating to have the extra fabric bunch up on me, but better than having to keep pulling my pants up.

In regards to Old Navy fit... I can't wear their jeans! I have a butt and they never fit over it. My rear isn't HUGE, but I guess I just wasn't meant to buy jeans there.

Old Navy doesn't sell a straight legged jean. There's Boot cut, flare, and skinny. Those are the standard. They also sell super flare, relaxed, and trouser seasonally. I can't get their jeans to fit me. I have to wear a walkie-talkie while I work there and they pull my pants down with them. I did actually have luck with some of their trouser jeans a few years ago, but I then grew out of them.