But I don't want to be a size X...

This is a bit of a spinoff from Fruitful's disappointed in weight loss thread. Now that that the holidays are over I need to get back to exercising and eating cleaner. But I am a couple of inches loss from being a size 12 in most of the brands I wear. And I don't want to be a size 12, because for whatever reason it seems to be the hardest size for me to find. At least in the stores I go to and online, sizes 14 and even 16, if they carry it, are more available than 12s, which get snapped up right away. Maybe because of vanity sizing the average woman is a size 12 now?

There's no way I'll ever be smaller than a 10, so I'm never going to get to the other side of the popularity bell curve in sizing. and oh, did I mention that the 12s and sometimes the 14s are too short for me, whereas most of the 16s and 18s were long enough? Bah.

12 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So frustrating.

This can work the opposite way, too. When I weighed more, I always, always ALWAYS found sleeves were too long for me. Now, it's not inevitable. Sometimes in my current size they actually fit! Wonders! But, like you, I have put myself into a difficult-to-find size bracket. So it's always BBQ if I see something that might work. Otherwise -- forget it.

12 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Sometimes I wonder if this is due to the fact that we really only notice the size we are. I say this because I used to comment about how difficult it was to find my shoe size, and how I wished I had tiny feet so I could really take advantage of shoe sales. Then my tiny-footed friends informed me that I was mis-informed because they couldn't find ANY shoes in their sizes, sale or not.

Likewise, I often hear how difficult it is for very small women to find their sizes, too. And so I have come to the conclusion that it is like when I buy a new car. If I buy a certain brand or a certain colour, I notice all the other cars of that brand or colour on the road, when I never would have before. Sizing is kind of the same. Everyone feels like their size is the hardest to find because we often see items we would like in a different size, but that may not actually be the case.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I am most concerned with staying the same size so that my wardrobe fits. At a short height, a few pounds can change that so it's an ongoing effort. I do now realize I am pretty lucky to closely resemble size chart measurements. Years ago when I wished for bigger breasts or slimmer legs, I didn't really realize that having most off the rack stuff fit was a blessing. I thought everyone had a size they were, bought it, it fit, and that's that.

12 years ago

Anonymous

Ugh, that sounds totally annoying! If you're working hard to lose weight, it seems like every size smaller should make it easier to find clothes, not harder.

I'm a very short size 8-ish, so I definitely sympathize on the height-size mismatch, since I'm sure things might hit me a little better if I were a few sizes smaller. In a weird way, though, I think being this short makes having the figure I have more convenient because I can be proportionally larger and curvier without having to deal with the frustration of being on the regular/plus cusp, which is where I think I'd be if I had my same proportions and were significantly taller. And Mo's issue definitely sounds familiar!

Echo, I'm a size 5-5/12 in shoes and it really is hard to find shoes! I feel like I have to snap whenever I find something I like in my size. And it's hard to find interesting brands -- it's only the ubiquitous (like Nine West), sensible comfort brands, and really expensive stuff.

12 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

Interesting thread. It seems that again and again cute petite-sized items catch my eye, and I think that petites have better choices than I do. However, my petite friends assure me that this is NOT the case.
I do think that some sizes always sell out before others.
Laura, as a 5'11" woman, I totally feel your frustration about length issues. And you're right that the larger sizes have extra length, which doesn't make sense to me. Just because someone is size 16 doesn't mean their legs are extra long.

12 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, petite plus size (or right between misses and plus) women must be so frustrated because I rarely had length issues when I was in plus sizes, and I'm 5'9", taller than average if not super-tall.

I am sure that really small sizes are hard to find, in both clothes and shoes - I have a friend who's a size 4 and says it's really challenging, especially if you are on a restricted budget. But I've never been that size so I've never looked for it, you know? But the difference between the availability of 12s and 16s, that I notice. *shrug*

Windchime, I wonder about the petite sizes thing too, though - I mean, most department stores at least have a petite section, as do Ann Taylor et al, whereas there's no tall section - usually you've gotta go online to find talls, if they have them at all. These days even plus sizes are easier to find than tall. It's weird that more brands haven't come out with length variations, and more than three, too - we are all not just petite, average or plus!

12 years ago

deb

Veteran

Laura, I am also a size 12 and have been for five years or so. My biggest fear is gaining or losing weight and changing sizes. I like my wardrobe. I usually buy when I see something I like and do not wait for it to go on sale. I wear a size 8 shoe which is also the most common and do the same with my shoes. I guess I am all around average. lol

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I'm falling into the grey zone between a size 2/4/6 right now and it's starting to get really annoying. I didn't know how lucky I was to always be a size 4, but after working out and things, I'm more of a size 6 if I need sleeves, and it makes everything else so baggy. GAH.

And everyone seems to be a size 4 (or it sells out the fastest) - rather annoying.

12 years ago

trix

Active Member

This thread is making me smile because whatever our individual fit issues, we all seem to feel it would be easier to be a different size! I'm hoping for the day when technology makes customization so easy that we can get everything tailored automatically.

Windchime, I do wonder if it's in fact true that petites have more choices than the truly tall. Seeing as the average height in the U.S. is, what?, 5'4", it would make sense that there should be more options for those under 5'4" than those above 5'8" or whatever "tall" is nowadays. But petites still have fewer options than those slightly taller -- I think clothing manufacturers think we'll tolerate things that are just slightly too wide or too long. Sigh.

12 years ago

gryffin

Veteran

Laura - I don't think that there are many of us who don't share your frustration. No matter what our size, off the rack is dicey and usually imperfect. I've found the best I can do is to try and locate brands that are cut best for my body type and aesthetic and try and stick with them first, if possible. I know that's not easy either. Also, and I missed commenting on it, but the post about online vs BM stores. This is why I shop online so much. Stores just don't have my size or even the merchandise that they offer online. It's just easier to ship it to the door and try it on than to make a trip and not find anything to even try on. Perhaps you could start a thread for people around the same size and height, asking what brands have worked for them. So you think that would be of any help?

12 years ago

Anonymous

I'm on Mo's camp. I just want my clothes to fit, that's why I try to stabilize my weight. Going up a few pounds breaks havoc. My weight goes to my bum. Even 3 or 4 pounds sent me to contemplate the next size up.

I don't like to be skinny because my upper torso gets really bony and my face sulks. I figure I will always be perceived as in need to lose a few pounds, so as long I am in that range where my clothes should fit, I am good to go.

In your case, I am not sure. I was a size 10 for years and I could never find my size, same as size 6 and size 8...

12 years ago

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