What does "full figured" REALLY mean

april1lowe

This is kind of a dumb question but I'm curious......

I've always thought of "full figured" women as the women in the Lane Bryant commercials. Beautiful, curvy but not super skinny! I can in no way fit in Lane Bryant clothes anymore (bittersweet really) but still have friends say I'm still "full figured". I was just wondering what does that exactly mean? Does it mean bc I have larger hips, bust, thighs that I'm still full figured? Or is full figure women larger then a 16? When do you go from full figure to curvy?

It all boils down to how YOU feel about yourself, and right now I'm feeling better then ever with my weightloss this was just a question I thought I'd throw out there and get different opinions on.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

april1lowe

That's a good way of looking at it!

sunkisses

Full-figured is their PC way of saying "overweight". It's one of those phrases that when you say it, you can't even find meaning in the literal translation of the words.

Curvy doesn't work the same way. People of any weight can be curvy. Even when I'm thin, I'm still referred to as curvy because I have an hourglass figure.

Iamkim73

Full-figured is their PC way of saying "overweight". It's one of those phrases that when you say it, you can't even find meaning in the literal translation of the words.

Curvy doesn't work the same way. People of any weight can be curvy. Even when I'm thin, I'm still referred to as curvy because I have an hourglass figure.

agree with this^

april1lowe

I hear a lot that I have an hourglass figure but I am a size 12 so that's where my confusion is. I found some links defining size 12 and up is "full figure" with larger bust, thighs and hips (as I have) but no defined waist, I do have a defined waist. Where as the "curvy" description is a woman with an hour glass figure, in shape but with curves, such as Beyonce, Mariah Carey. Salma Hayak etc. According to those definations, I'm kind of in between lol

karenjoy

Not trying to be controversial, but to me, 'full figured' is a polite way of saying 'fat'

Edited to say I live in England and we don't have the same way of dress classification as you, so to ME if someone said that, is what I would think x

rubygarcia86

full figured is the nice expression for plus size. anything over 10 is considered plus sized. i hate that term 'FULL FIGURED'...just call me plumpy haha.

inammorata

Sure, I thought it was a nice way of saying "overweight" and I was always under the assumption that Plus Sizes started at 14.
I can't remember where it was but lately they've called a size 10, even an 8 "Plus Sized" Now that I don't agree with, I find it hard to believe more women are ranging into the size 0 category

christine24t

I have to agree with the poster who says the Lane Bryant models are full-figured. I would say curvy is where you have a very defined waist, butt, etc. When I think curvy I think Kim Kardashian or Christina Hendricks. They're not "fat", nor do they have stomachs (and if they do they're minimal) but they just have bigger everything.

sister_bear

"Full figured" means my breasts spill out the top and sides of a regular bra though I'm wearing the correct size.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

My rheumatologist says I'm a little fluffy. I don't know what the heck that's supposed to mean. :P

adjones5

"Full figured" means my breasts spill out the top and sides of a regular bra though I'm wearing the correct size.

This is what I always thought full figured meant. The only place I've really encountered it is when shopping at victorias secret online where if you have boobs bigger than a DD you can find something that fits.

skylark94

"Full figured" means my breasts spill out the top and sides of a regular bra though I'm wearing the correct size.

If you're spilling out, it's not the right style or size. You need something with more coverage.

My definition of full figured has always been overweight. Curvy is a healthy weight with a round butt, hips, and boobs. Fluffy is also just another "polite" way of saying overweight.

sister_bear

"Full figured" means my breasts spill out the top and sides of a regular bra though I'm wearing the correct size.

If you're spilling out, it's not the right style or size. You need something with more coverage.

Correct size. Not "full figured," so there you go. Since I guess I should have elaborated... Juniors sizes are smaller than Misses sizes are smaller than Women's/Plus sizes. "Full figured" tends to also fall within the Women's/Plus size range. In lingerie, it tends to be wider/higher cut. Go try on a XL in Women's/Plus and compare it to a XL in Misses. You'll find the Misses XL to be snugger/less forgiving even though they're both a XL. Same thing with two bras of the same size. If one is full figured, versus one that is not, you'll find a difference in size even though they're both labeled the same size. Do the same with a regular size 18 versus a plus size 18 and the plus size will be a larger fit.

Lane Bryant is the 'big & tall' of women. I could never wear their pants because I'm short and not hemming a pair of pants 6". Now I'm fitting into petites... I forgot to mention these above. They tend to be Misses sizes cut shorter.

Sizes aren't totally standardized. Go look at some size charts of different brands and you'll see some subtle variations in how many inches means what. This is why you may find one brand of jeans fits better than another. Full figured is just an industry term for 'a little bigger.'

drvvork

Asking of the male persuasion - they define full-figured as a woman (note: not girl) with all the right ingredients to catch the eyes... firm large busts, perky behind, strong thighs and slender waist... and (it was given as an after thought in all occassions of my asking) a womanly glow of confidence. So, I take it that it is a good thing... I don't fit in at all in any of these... but I was curious as to what the meaning was these days. As a young person it was simply a busty woman - guess it got more complicated over the years.

april1lowe

Sure, I thought it was a nice way of saying "overweight" and I was always under the assumption that Plus Sizes started at 14.
I can't remember where it was but lately they've called a size 10, even an 8 "Plus Sized" Now that I don't agree with, I find it hard to believe more women are ranging into the size 0 category

It really sucks if they think a 10 is considered plus size, I've always heard 14 as well. I'm currently a 12 and though I can afford to loose more weight....and will.....I by no means feel "plus sized".