https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 04 May 2026 20:04:11 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213222 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:48:46 +0000 biscuitsmom 213222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, the usual stores sell them- also places like J Jill, Macy's style&amp;co. NY&amp;Co, GV, etc.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213189 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:35:05 +0000 Sarah 213189@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post, elly. And Maya, you're so right. I don't think people understand what obese really is - it is far more than how many rolls we have around our middle or what the scale says.<br /> I was obese when I first joined YLF and was wearing 12/14. I was still overweight in a size 10. But for somebody else, they could be at a healthy weight in a size 10 or 12. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213181 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:10:24 +0000 Maya 213181@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, thanks for the clarification. My mistake. I guess 20 is the official cutoff point. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213159 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:22:54 +0000 marianna 213159@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>BM is right -- there is "straight size" size 18. Just yesterday I tried on a size 18 jacket at LOFT. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213107 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:59:54 +0000 Elly 213107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Most women's jeans, in the brands like lee, levi, ect and places like kohl's sell misses 18 as the last misses size. </p> <p>I forgot to mention that in addition to online sources some exculsively plus-sized stores start at 12W-- but most misses and plus stores don't (unless I am smoking crack, which is very possible). I can actually wear a 12W in the bust, but have to take it in elsewhere. However, I also have to do this in straight sizes. However, most women's plus sized tops come in 1X 2X ect. sizing of combined sizing (12-14W) and I am generally not large enough for a 12-14W. I don't in any way consider myself plus sized, but I guess that explains how skewed sizing can be.</p> <p>When my mother was in her 20s she had to buy plus sizes for her bust--- even when she has a 26 inch waist! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213103 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:54:15 +0000 Emely 213103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all. I have a better understanding about the topic. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213099 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:50:01 +0000 Maya 213099@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Most brands I typically shop for go up to a 16, so that was my impression. I guess I'm wrong! It happens, shocking though it may be What brands go up to a regular 18, BM? Just curious. Might be helpful information to someone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213090 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:36:28 +0000 biscuitsmom 213090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Um, Maya, I know several missy brands that include a size 18- thats generally what I wear. I believe 20+ is plus size, although like you said, many include lower numbers... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213088 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:33:41 +0000 Michelle 213088@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for making the medical distinction, Elly. Right on. :)</p> <p>emely, for the purposes of your question I'm going to stick solely to fashion parameters. Plus-size clothing is often distinguished by the letter W (for woman) after the numerical size, or by a different sizing system altogether. Elly is right that many plus-size stores offer things down to a size 12W, which is not to be confused with an ordinary size 12. Based on the clothing examples you've provided, you are not even close to being plus-sized. As mentioned before, 12 and 12w are different. A w size is cut a little more generously, usually in the hips and bust area. This is why plus-size items are always more expensive than their straight-size counterparts, too -- they use more fabric and are therefore more costly to manufacture.<br /> The different sizing system I referred to earlier is the plus-size equivalent to xs, s, m, l etc. Those tend to start at something like 0x or 1x and almost always goes up to include 3x or 4x. A 1x garment tends to fit someone who takes a 14w or 16w.</p> <p>I hope this answers your question! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213082 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:27:57 +0000 Maya 213082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Elly. Let's not confuse terms here. Plus size is a fashion retail term, and obese is a clinical/medical term. That article is pretty terrible for using size as a medical reference. </p> <p>That said, I don't think Americans and many other western nations where obesity is the norm have an accurate perception of what obesity is. My mom is considered clinically obese but no one would guess that looking at her. They would just guess she is a bit overweight. After making that realization, she has started a new diet plan and I'm glad for that, but she would not have known if she hadn't researched herself and met with her doctor. She is a size 12/14 (5 feet tall). Would she be obese if she were 5'6? Probably not. My mom is much more petite than most women, so her "normal" is different. It's all relative. That's why using dress size as a gauge for obesity is ridiculous.</p> <p>I think there is some overlap between plus and missy sizes. You can be a 12, 14, or 16 regular...or a 12, 14, or 16 plus. They are proportioned differently. Some brands that are cut smaller might consider those sizes plus sizes. It isn't really standardized. My mom can't wear plus sizes. She has a large bust but they are just cut too generously all over, especially in the arms and shoulders (big bust, small arms and shoulders...reminds me of someone...).</p> <p>18 and over is exclusively plus size though. There is no such thing as 18 or 20 missy. I'd say 18 is the official cutoff point, but plenty of brands start at 14 or 16. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213066 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:07:28 +0000 Elly 213066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, obese and plus sized are two completely different things. There are a lot of athletic women out there that wear plus sizes that no doctor would classify as obese. Obese is a medical classification, usually based on BMI (or weight for height). Most docs will take lots of muscle mass into consideration, separately as well. </p> <p>I generally believe that women's plus clothing usually starts at size 16 or 18--- although there is some overlap with misses' clothing that often also ofter size 16 or 18, however, a women's 16 or 18 will fit different/roomier than a misses' 16 or 18. I know that some brands do carry plus sizes down to a size 12W (usually online or by catalog). Also, it depends if you care which clothes are actually classified as plus sizes, or what sizes are being classified as plus by designers and the "high fashion" industry--- usually plus sized models are a straight size 12 or 14. However, I would never classify someone that wears such sizes as plus and definitely not obese. I am 5'8" and 145 pounds and my dress size is generally a twelve-- I am curvy, but definitely not plus sized. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213059 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:01:04 +0000 Louise 213059@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here in the UK plus size is 16 and over x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-a-plus-size#post-213052 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:54:05 +0000 Emely 213052@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am happy that now people of different sizes are going to have more clothing options, but I want to know what is a plus size? Most people I know to include a good friend who is an athlete wears sizes 12 and 14, is she consider an obese/plus size? I wear all kind of sizes depending on the brand, just got a size 8 pants from BR and size 10 (30) from GAP but I am also wearing a size 12 pants I got from JCPenny. I am confused. </p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11240617" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11240617</a> </p> <p>" Twenty-eight per cent of Americans are now obese - and there is money to be made in catering for the nearly two-thirds of American women who are plus size (over US size 12, UK size 16)." </p>