Depressing yet motivating
 

I wear a size 12 in gap jeans. They're a little snug, but not unbearable. So yesterday I went to the goodwill to buy a pair of "motivation" jeans. I picked up a size 10 (the next size down).

I can't even get them over my thighs! They're ridiculously small!!!!

So I'm guessing it'll be 20+ pounds before they even kinda fit :(
I'm bummed but it does give me something to work towards....

I hear ya, Mozzy. My 18s are getting too big after a couple of hours of wear but the 16s could choke me!

I love making progress in my clothes, I try them about every 3 weeks so I don't get too obsessed.

Hang in there!

re:
 

You don't know how old those jeans are at goodwill, and sizes have changed throughout the years. What is a size 10 now was probably a 14 back in 1990.

Jean fits/sizes are all over the place too. Even the same brand of jean in the same size can fit differently. I have the same brand of jeans I wear, but I notice that depending on where that specific pair is made in the Philippines or somewhere in Africa, the fit is different.

This has been linked here time and time again, but it's a great site that gives you an idea of what size is usually occurring around what weight.

http://www.mybodygallery.com/index.html

I have this problem in thrift stores all of the time. I can walk into any store and have the 14s fit. I walk into Goodwill and the 14s won't go over my thighs. Pretty sure it's because even if they don't look it, some of the clothes are old enough to where their size doesn't match the sizes of right now. Still a bummer though!

Exactly what the others said. That 10 could be the equivalent to a 6 now!

I've just recently started shopping in thrift stores (I've been missing out all these years). I try on EVERYTHING. Not knowing how old the clothes are makes such a huge difference in sizes. I've fit into 2s at certain stores (vanity sizing AHOY! totally ridiculous, I'm no size 2), and have barely squeezed into an 8 at a thrift store. I'm solidly into a size 6 and Medium everythings for the most part, but thrift shopping is a whole different animal! Varying brands, varying ages, varying everything!

I wear a 10 now. I CAN wear a few 8s. But I have a 1994 skirt from LLBean that I just wore on Sunday (wool, long pleated skirt) and it's a size 16 and it fits perfectly - even slightly snug!!!! (In LLBEAN bottoms, I tend to wear a 12 as their waists are cut smaller than some other designers).

So... yes, you have no idea what year those jeans are from. Even now in regular stores I frequent (TJMaxx, Marshalls), I look at the 10s, but I also go to the 8s and 12s and do the eyeball test (yes you can tell by eyeballing) and see if they are possibilities. By doing that I have a few 6s that fit that I pulled from the clearance rack as well as a 12... people who normally wear a 6 found those HUGE, so they didnt' sell. Size 10 people don't think to look at 6s, and so on.

So don't fret!

Originally Posted by Vex:
You don't know how old those jeans are at goodwill, and sizes have changed throughout the years. What is a size 10 now was probably a 14 back in 1990.

and that's depressing too... lol... when your old size 11 jeans from 10 years ago don't fit- but then you go in and try on a size 10 in todays sizes and they fit... since it feels like the clothing company's are trying to make us feel better or fool us that we aren't as big as we think. really is all about vanity sizing!

Thanks y'all! I didn't even think about the age or place of manufacturing.

I'll let you know when they fit, hopefully soon :)

A tape measure is your best friend when thrift store shopping. Before you go, write down the measurements of your favorite jeans/slacks - waist, front rise, inseam. When you get to the store, use your tape measure instead of checking size labels.

Originally Posted by Novus:
A tape measure is your best friend when thrift store shopping. Before you go, write down the measurements of your favorite jeans/slacks - waist, front rise, inseam. When you get to the store, use your tape measure instead of checking size labels.

Oh my god. That never would have occurred to me. You have just saved me a lot of time in the dressing room at thrift stores.

Originally Posted by Novus:
A tape measure is your best friend when thrift store shopping. Before you go, write down the measurements of your favorite jeans/slacks - waist, front rise, inseam. When you get to the store, use your tape measure instead of checking size labels.

That's a great idea! Thanks!