how many sizes is that, anyway?

Odd sizes are junior sizes (1, 3, 5, 7, etc). Junior sizes go up to a size 19 which is an XXL. As a rule, junior sizes are designed for young girls who don't have much in the hips/butt area. The pants are generally low rise and the shirts are usually designed to be tighter and form fitting.

Even sizes are misses sizes (2, 4, 6, 8 etc). The largest in misses sizes is usually a 16. Sometimes an 18, but as a rule a 16 is where misses top out.

Plus sizes are even sizes and usually begin with an 18, though some brands start with a 16W. The difference between a 16W and 16 are usually how they are cut through the hips/butt/thigh area. 16W are usually a roomier cut.

I used to be an 18/20 and now I'm an 8/10. I don't usually say "I've dropped X number of sizes" since sizing is confusing. I'll just say "Oh, well.. I went from an 18/20 to an 8/10".

At my heaviest I was 235 and I wore a size 24. Now I'm 189 and 18s are starting to feel big.

And I think odd number sizes are junior sizes and they do fit a bit differently than the evens. I'm not sure why they have that distinction, a pair of jeans is a pair of jeans to me.

I was a size women's 22 and I'm now a women's 6/8. So I lost 7-8 pants sizes. Jeans and pants are pains in the butt, they are all fitted differently and I have to try on a million pairs to find one that fits...haha! I swear, for me, pants not fitting right has haunted me through every weight

IMO, if you've gone from a size 24 to a size 12... you've gone down 6 sizes.

If you typically wear a size 10 and you move to an 8... that's one size since (as you said) there is no size 9.

Women's sizes aren't "standard" so to speak. When I went to K-Mart for jeans I tried on until I got to 24W, which fit just right. Then I went to Macy's and fit my size 24W K-Mart *kitten* into a size 18 regular. What's with that? (K-Mart $20, Macy's $75) If you go to expensive stores, they know just how to get you to buy. If someone asked you what size you wear, would you want to say the size you bought at K-Mart or the size you bought at Macy's? The more expensive the store, the smaller size you will (usually) wear (especially if you are a Plus size). I wish women's sizes were more like men's; by measurements. Of course if you order from a catalog, you never know what you'll get even if you go by the size charts. :huh:

Women's sizes aren't "standard" so to speak. When I went to K-Mart for jeans I tried on until I got to 24W, which fit just right. Then I went to Macy's and fit my size 24W K-Mart *kitten* into a size 18 regular. What's with that? (K-Mart $20, Macy's $75) If you go to expensive stores, they know just how to get you to buy. If someone asked you what size you wear, would you want to say the size you bought at K-Mart or the size you bought at Macy's? The more expensive the store, the smaller size you will (usually) wear (especially if you are a Plus size). I wish women's sizes were more like men's; by measurements. Of course if you order from a catalog, you never know what you'll get even if you go by the size charts. :huh:

I can wear a size 10 at any store - from Macy's to Wal Mart. I just bought 4 pairs of size 10 shorts off the clearance rack and didn't try them on - got home and they fit perfectly.

I have issues with a size 8. For some reason, some brands (and I've found it to actually be some of the higher end brands!) cut their size 8's way too narrow in the hip area. Look. My waist is tiny and my hips aren't - how about cutting us hourglass women some slack? I hate having gapping waists, but if I can't get the pants over my hips - I have no choice but to wear a belt!

i started off at a size 16 (nearly an 18) and now im a size 10 hoping to get to comfy size 8 :bigsmile:

First of all, congrats on your amazing progress. That's quite an inspiration.

In answer to your first question, I think you've gone down 6 sizes if you went from a 24 to a 12.

I've lost quite a few sizes myself and my issue now is that I can no longer shop in the women's / misses dept. in most stores. Today I went to JCPenney's to look for my favorite Levis (545's) in a size 0 and they don't carry anything below a 4 in women's. So unfair. So, I was forced to shop in the Junior's dept but their jeans have far too much "bling" for a 40 year old mom like me. I realize that I may not be a typical size but I'd wish they'd just stock a few in my size in women's. Now I'm forced to try and shop online.