Why am I a size 16?

sskilton

I am 38, female, 5' 6". Waist 28.5cm and Hips 37.5cm and weight 10st 10lb. So how am I a size 16 when the size guides I have looked at say at most I should be a 12. What is wrong with me?

LinnaieOlson

Before I decided what my size was, I went to the website of one of my favorite clothing stores (in this case NY Co) they have their size charts posted from tiny to tent-sized. There are petites and grands. Short and tall, so many things determine what size you are. Then I asked my personal coach what she thought--and was reminded that toning exercises will reduce waist sizes and tighten bust sizes. So...there is a few ideas "why." Insurance guides do not seem to reflect the real world, but the size of actual clothing seems to be more realistic. Hope that helps.

wolfchild59

Because different people carry their weight differently. I can wear shirts that are the same size as people that weight much less than I do, but I tend to run larger in pants. I have larger hips and thighs, so I typically end up in pants that are a size higher and wear a belt because the smaller size will be too tight around my hips/thighs.

I've found people, both local friends and online, that I have very similar stats to and we wear totally different sizes.

Body composition is a big factor as well, in addition to just genetic body shape. If someone with your stats has a lower body fat percentage than you, then their clothing sizes will be smaller. You can have two people that weigh the same amount, but person A has 20% body fat and person B has 35% body fat. Person A may be many sizes smaller than person B simply because the have more lean muscle than person B.

BunkyBumBum

Women's sizes are not standardized. I can wear a size 8 jean in some brands, and in others I'm a 12. On average, I'm a size 10. You can't look at the number because it means nothing at all!

Just buy the size that fits properly, don't worry about "ugh, I don't want to buy an 18!" or "I need Levis because then I'm a size 12!" You always look better in clothes that fit you properly, and no one sees the tag, so buy based on what it looks like, not the number!

Doctorpurple

I am 38, female, 5' 6". Waist 28.5cm and Hips 37.5cm and weight 10st 10lb. So how am I a size 16 when the size guides I have looked at say at most I should be a 12. What is wrong with me?

When you say cm? you mean inches right? 28.5 cm waist is like 11.22 inches:noway:

With inaccurate units out of the way, people carry their weight differently. I'm assuming you are trying on pants. The waist and hip measurements don't account for the size of your things which plays a major role in pants. If you are talking about dress sizes, you completely omitted the top measurement of your body which could be why you are fitting into larger sizes

kellyjkaylor

i am 35..weigh 175 and am 5'7" i was in a size 18 weighing 224 and i am now in a 12...not sure of my measurements cause i have never checked that....hmmmm

dym123

According to the Banana Republic measurement guide I am a size 10, I wear a size 14, but couldn't even fit into a size 16 at Banana Republic, though probably could now. Yeah, I don't get where they come up with these measurements.

djshari

I saw a photo on fb today that showed 5 different women at 150 lbs and the difference in heights and clothing size, it was pretty interesting. What everyone else above said. I actually went down a size at the store last night because the size I bought last time fit ok on the waist but the thighs were really baggy - I mean a LOT. Kinda weird so I went down a size and they are a big snug but they fit a lot better.

ThisGirl2013

Depends on the brand of clothing and how you carry your weight, I would guess..

axialmeow

Give an example of a store where you are a 16. Because they are all different

cmriverside

dym123

Never mind, someone beat me to it.

stonel94

I have pants that are a size 2 to a size 8, and jeans ranging in waist stize 26-29 (and I feel like at least waist size should be measured the same all the time), I have jackets that are size small and jackets that are size 10, I have shirts child's Large to adult XL, shoes from 7-8.5, sizes are not the same in all brands, and often times not even consistent within a brand.
But also, if it's saying you should be a size 12 if you like your clothes looser it might just be saying like this should fit you if it's your exact measurements, but people don't wear everything skin tight. I probably could buy a small in tshirts, but I usually buy at least a medium but a lot of times (for fashion tees, not like workout tees) buy a large cause I don't like skin tight ones.

celb500

your shape and height are probably a factor. sizes dont tend to take into account height and body shape.

As long as youre happy with yourself though who cares what the label in your top says!

TavistockToad

I am 38, female, 5' 6". Waist 28.5cm and Hips 37.5cm and weight 10st 10lb. So how am I a size 16 when the size guides I have looked at say at most I should be a 12. What is wrong with me?

Everyone is different, I am 5ft5 and similar stats (27 inch waist, 38inch hips at widest part round my bum) and I am about 9st 4 and a size 10.

Uk size 10!

DawnieB1977

I am 38, female, 5' 6". Waist 28.5cm and Hips 37.5cm and weight 10st 10lb. So how am I a size 16 when the size guides I have looked at say at most I should be a 12. What is wrong with me?

When you say cm? you mean inches right? 28.5 cm waist is like 11.22 inches:noway:

To the OP - I assume you are British? My measurements are slightly bigger and I am mainly a UK 12 (US 8). Do you have big boobs, or carry weight in your stomach? It also depends on the shop.

krickeyuu

I wear pants from size 10 to size 4 depending on the cut, fabric and manufacturer. No one is looking at the albels to see what size I am wearing, they only know if the pants/shirts/dresses look good on me. Fit is more important than size. I often have to wear a size 12 dress or jacket because I am chesty and have a broad back. I have no hips so I can wear a size 4 pant if it is stretchy material. I don't really think much about it. I usually grab a size 6 and a size 8 pants and see which one fits better.

toaster6

There shouldn't be variances if you are going off measurements alone; make sure you are measuring properly. If the measurements are correct, perhaps you are just wearing your clothing looser than they were meant to be. My cousin wears a size 4 but she buys lots of things in a 6 because she prefers looser/ baggier fits.

SoViLicious

Hmm... I need this on my feed.

Runs4CupCakes

vainty sizes now days or depends on brand my 90 pound 4 foot 6, 7 year old wears a med in hollister and abmercombie it depends on the compnay

on another note make sure your measuring right and there is not a thing wrong with being a 16 just throwing that out there

Doctorpurple

To the OP: Also don't worry so much about sizing. It can vary from store to store as well. Depending where you shop you can fit into different sizes. I would just track your progress and don't obsess so much about sizing.

infamousmk

I was a size 16 because I ate too much and didn't move enough.

TigressPat

you'd be dead with a 28.5 cm waist.

maybe you need someone else to measure you?

otherwise you need to shop somewhere else.

Lt_Starbuck

there are american, british and medieval measurements happening all over this - i have no idea what is happening

PurpleTina

To the OP, There is nothing wrong with you , but I have found that clothing sizes vary wildy. I have clothes across about four different sizes and they all fit. I even bought two identical pairs of jeans from the same shop where one fit and the other didn't (Marks and Spencer, so not 'cheap' clothes either).

Dianemustang

My daughter said - forget the number - go with what looks and feels comfortable.....I have to go buy jeans this week....probably still a 14 in some, but hoping for a 12....but as long as they are not baggy, like I am wearing now....it is all good.

KoGettinFit

Where you carry the weight has a great deal to do with size. Not to mention the fat to muscle ratio. For instance I am 5'5.5 & my cousin is 5'3 she weighs roughly 30lbs less than I do. However, we both wear a size 10 in most jeans & Medium shirts. It still blows my mind we are the same size but we have shopped together & share clothes so we both know we aren't lying about it.

maab_connor

only you see the number on the tag. the world sees the fit. you will look smaller in the correct size. don't let the number get to you - with vanity sizing and realism sizing, no two stores are the same. just make sure the fit is right.

Cmredden

I've learned the hard way that weight doesn't always correlate with sizes. I used to wear a 10 and thought I was huge then but now I've gained about 50 lbs and sometimes wear a 16 sometimes a 18 and even sometimes a 22. I would agree with some of the women on here it doesn't matter what you wear as long as you look good in it. That's always what I've said I don't really care what my weight is I just want to look good. I mean who goes around asking people what size they wear. It ll be ok girl. We all know you can do it.

RumpusP

As said, it's not unusual to have your size vary all over or not fit what it seems it should by measurements.

I went by the same measurements on a site recently and one item was too tight to even get on and the other one was hanging off me too big.

Body shape and just the slight variation that can occur at times in even automated production can make for weirdness.

Even if you have the right measurements according to a store's chart the articles of clothing might not fit right. I've shopped at Torrid and Lane Bryant (online and physical stores) for years and I just have to pray the pants fit me when I try new ones according to their size measurements... it can vary by 3 sizes.

As it is now, my clothing sizes run from 16-20 at different places.

Best thing you can do: stop fretting about the size number, it's basically never gonna make sense or be particularly reliable. Just order/buy from stores with a good return policy.

sasu27

I wear between a 16 and a 26- What I have learned is not to base my progress on the size of my jeans, because there is no universal size that manufacturers use. For that fact I own 3 pairs of the same pants, same size,brand and style and yet every one of them fits differently.