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Originally Posted by jillybean720
Aren't Junior sizes odd numbers? I'm pretty sure we're comparing Misses sizes here (8, 10, 12, 14, etc.) because Juniors are the in-betweens (7, 9, 11, etc.). When referring to Plus sizes when not everyone is talking about them, I usually include the W (14W, 16W, 18W). I don't for the higher numbers, though (like the 22 I am currently wearing), because most places don't care above an 18 (or often a 14 or 16) in regular Misses sizes--although I have heard that Old Navy's regular sizes do go up to a 20.
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It seems like I answer this question every week on the 3FC forum somewhere...
I hope what I have to say helps everyone understand a little better. For those of you who don't know me-I am also a costume maker, so I am very familiar with how patterns and manufacturers sizing works in clothing.
There is a DEFINITE difference between Juniors, Misses, and Plus sizes, and the way that they are cut.
Juniors clothing comes in ODD sizes. Juniors clothing, if you ever notice in the stores, is styled for younger, trendier wearers-basically teenage girls, and young women who have never had children. They are cut for "younger" physiques-narrower hips, flatter tummies, etc. Even women who have lost a lot of weight and gotten to goal may have trouble fitting into juniors clothing, or maybe wear a larger size, because they have extra skin in the upper arms area, hip area, or tummy area.
Misses clothing is meant for the average woman's figure. The clothing is cut more "curved" to allow for more shape/curve in the hips, thighs, and breast area. They are meant for "women" and not 15 year old girls.
Plus sizes/Women's sizes are cut to allow for a little extra room/curve where women tend to be a little larger. Besides just having a bigger behind, or tummy, or chest-most heavier women also are larger in the upper arms, the calves, the rise of the pants, etc. and plus sizes allow for this. If some of you are in that realm, you may notice that a 14W/14 plus size, or a 16W/16 plus size fits you-but you have to lose a few more pounds before a 14 or 16 fits you well in Misses sizes.
There are also differences when a woman has to shop in the petite or tall section. The "Tall" section is more than just longer legs in the pants-they are a bit longer in the sleeves, a bit longer in the rise of the pants or length of the shirt (longer torsos on taller women) and a longer torso made into the bathing suit. The complete opposite happens in the petite section. A 4'11" woman is naturally going to have a shorter torso, shorter arms, and such than an average woman, and those things are all accounted for.
As far as what size you should wear when you lose so many pounds-there are SOOOOOO many factors that make this different for everyone. To say that everyone should lose a size after 20 pounds, or 10 pounds, simply isn't true. To day that every woman who is 5'5" and 130 pounds will be in the same size jeans isn't true, either.
~Frame Size~ This is a big factor. There are large framed people, medium framed people, and small framed people. Look at your ring size (7 being average for the ring finger) your wrist size, the width of your shoulders, ankles, and neck. When someone is very overweight, this may be a hard thing to tell, because some of it will be fat-but if you are close to goal or only 30 pounds or less overweight-use this as a guideline:
~What size ring do you wear on your ring finger? Smaller framed individuals may wear a 4-5-6...while a larger framed woman may wear an 8-9-10.
~When you buy a nice bracelet-do you wear a 7" bracelet, or an 8" bracelet?
~Do you have narrower shoulders, or broad shoulders? A broad shouldered person, for instance, may be thin, but still never fit into a size small top because the shoulder/back area is too tight.
~Height~
How tall are you? If you have two women who both weigh 150 pounds, and one is 5'1" and the other 5'8", the taller woman will most likely be "thinner" and in a smaller size, because she is 7 inches taller and has more room to carry this weight.
~Body Type~
Are you an hourglass? These usually are curvier (carry fat) in their hips and thighs, breasts, and possibly upper arms-but have narrower waists. When an hourglass loses weight-it tends to be in the waist and face first. You carry extra weight all over pretty evenly. Clothing manufacturers model their clothing most of the time after this figure type.
Are you an apple? Apples carry extra weight in their faces, their upper bodies (shoulders, chests, bellies, and usually get "back fat" as well-but they have thinner hips, buns and legs. These are the women who can be 40 pounds overweight-but still have KILLER legs. Apples tend to have to fit into small jeans sizes for their weight/height-but can still be pretty overweight. They just carry it all up top.
Are you a pear? These women have thinner faces, shoulders, arms, and chests/torsos. They carry it all down below. These women can wear tank tops and spaghetti straps no problem-but they are usually apprehensive about shorts. They carry their weight in their hips, butt, thighs, and calves. They may easily fit into a size small or medium top at their goal weight-but may still wear a larger jean size.
An apple woman and a pear woman are the complete opposite figure types-so they should NEVER compare jeans sizes. They can both be at the same fitness level, same height, same age-but can be off in jean size by 3 sizes EASY. The grass is always greener on the other side-and the pear wants to wear teeny jeans and the short shorts like the apple, but the apple covets the pear's narrow waist and thin arms/shoulders.
Are you a cylindar? This is actually a body type that is most often had by supermodels. They are usually tall, lean, muscular, and well propertioned. They also usually have long arms and legs, and are very resistant to cellulite. When they gain a few extra pounds-it is usually right in the belly area-but they look great everywhere else.
~Fitness Level~
Let's just say the two woman are both the same height, age, weight, AND body type. They both ate right and got to their goal weight of 140 pounds. One is a size 8, and the other a 10. One might have done more intense exercise, and gained more muscle mass, and lost more body fat-so their body composition is different.
The women who lose 30 pounds without any exercise at all are what I like to call "skinny fat". They may wear a small clothing size-but if you put 'em in a bathing suit, then the "jigglies" are still all there.
Exercise is the only way to get things "firm".
I guess the motto is-don't compare your jeans size to anyone else's. Compare YOUR starting weight and size, and a photo of yourself-to your weight, size, and new photos. You are trying to make a better YOU.
Good luck and love,
Aphil
I did buy a belt though, the old pants are a bit saggy but I don’t want to buy new ones just yet. I’m hoping that by the time I get to 175 I will comfortably be in a 14.
When I was around 200 I was wearing (and still am wearing, but looser!) 18 or 16 depending on the manufacturer. For some reason I can almost always get away with smaller sizes in skirts and dresses, not that I wear them all that often. I guess it’s the girth in my thighs.
... I find this very interesting also...
