Women's pants sizes

[Sam(my)I am]

I just simply don't get it XD I was shopping recently and took a look around (shop is set up so I would walk through women's regardless) and I did some quick math and sizing up and from what I understood I'm a 6/7, is that bad? and could someone please explain how the heck they decided on doing sizing like this?
Jeez I think I'll miss the straightforward men's sizing >.>

[JenJen2011]

I just simply don't get it XD I was shopping recently and took a look around (shop is set up so I would walk through women's regardless) and I did some quick math and sizing up and from what I understood I'm a 6/7, is that bad? and could someone please explain how the heck they decided on doing sizing like this?
Jeez I think I'll miss the straightforward men's sizing >.>

If you're a 6/7 then you must be in good shape. It is more confusing but you'll get use to it over time.

[Sam(my)I am]

If you're a 6/7 then you must be in good shape. It is more confusing but you'll get use to it over time.

well I'm in decent shape... I do martial arts and yoga and eat relatively healthy (except those occasional cravings )
I heard that it's called vanity sizing?

[A_Dresden_Doll]

Basically, in American sizing charts for pants, a size 0=24in. Every size adds an inch.

[Ann Onymous]

generally, the odd number sizing (at least in the States) will put one in the Juniors department while the even number sizes could put one in Misses or Petites or potentially even in what they refer to in some stores as the women's section (often size 16 and larger). 

For many years, I wore a Juniors 3 or 5 in jeans...but then in my mid-30's, I started putting on weight because I was spending more time in an office environment and had given up a sport I had been very active in for many years...that gain would ultimately see me balloon to a Misses 10 then a 12.  When I could not get a jacket on a size 12 suit to button, I took steps to lose some weight and am now back down to an 8 for shorts and slacks within just a few months of having begun that effort, with a potential of being able to get back into some of the juniors size stuff still in the closet... 

[Mahsa Tezani]

I wear 28/size 8 generally. I only wear skinny jeans. They go well with flats, boots, etc.

[Sam(my)I am]

generally, the odd number sizing (at least in the States) will put one in the Juniors department while the even number sizes could put one in Misses or Petites or potentially even in what they refer to in some stores as the women's section (often size 16 and larger). 

For many years, I wore a Juniors 3 or 5 in jeans...but then in my mid-30's, I started putting on weight because I was spending more time in an office environment and had given up a sport I had been very active in for many years...that gain would ultimately see me balloon to a Misses 10 then a 12.  When I could not get a jacket on a size 12 suit to button, I took steps to lose some weight and am now back down to an 8 for shorts and slacks within just a few months of having begun that effort, with a potential of being able to get back into some of the juniors size stuff still in the closet...

aaauugh I didn't even look at the "junior" section figured I wear mens I'd wear womens e_e
seems like clothes shopping can ever be enjoyable and simple.
and that's great that you lost weight

@dresden hmm going by that I am then either a comfortable 6 or a overly baggy 8
darn I'm always in-between sizes 

seems that I'm gonna have to sneak a pair of women's jeans into my line of try ons 

[Ann Onymous]

aaauugh I didn't even look at the "junior" section figured I wear mens I'd wear womens e_e
seems like clothes shopping can ever be enjoyable and simple.

Juniors was limiting for me in some respects simply because a lot of what was in there was too young for me.  But my experience working retail in the mid 90's as a second source of income also taught me that there are a number of adult women who shop over there and that I was not alone. 

and that's great that you lost weight

thnx...I know I won't ever see 120 again, but it looks like I can at least get to a comfort zone.   I was never what people perceived as overweight, but it was certainly unsettling to have outgrown yet another size and THAT was the wake up call in that regard.  I can live in the upper 140's to low 150's and be comfortable knowing that it would put me squarely in range with other women my age and consistent with some of the other athletes I am still friends with...

@dresden hmm going by that I am then either a comfortable 6 or a overly baggy 8
darn I'm always in-between sizes 

which is where the Juniors Dept can come into play...the stuff there is designed for the lack of hips or ass, which is often more aligned with the Misses Dept. 

seems that I'm gonna have to sneak a pair of women's jeans into my line of try ons 

why sneak?

[Sam(my)I am]

hrm seems like juniors will have to be something I explore... though I don't exactly have a lack of butt >_< as my ex always gleefully pointed out when shopping 

and sneak because I don't enjoy the idea of being an obvious guy buying girls clothing... hard to explain
also whenever I'm shopping I run into familiar faces (employed and other shoppers)

[spacial]

Clothing sizes seem to have a number of different standards.

These links give some information.

http://www.ethicallyme.co.uk/help_sizes.html

http://www.onlineconversion.com/clothing_womens.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_sizes

http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php

I know I have a link for shoe sizes as well, but can't find it. It's an idea to keep a separate folder in your favourites for these. They will probably been needed now and again.

Found it: http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/shoes.html

[JennX]

There is no standard... the only way to be sure is to try stuff on. Some places cut small (like A & F)... others cut bigger (like Michael Kors or D&G) for example. A women's size 6 pair of Guess jeans is not the same as a size 6 pair of Calvin Klein jeans. There is no standard... and it is super frustrating.

[Sam(my)I am]

There is no standard... the only way to be sure is to try stuff on. Some places cut small (like A & F)... others cut bigger (like Michael Kors or D&G) for example. A women's size 6 pair of Guess jeans is not the same as a size 6 pair of Calvin Klein jeans. There is no standard... and it is super frustrating.

I've heard of that a lot, sounds a lot like shoes a 8 can be a 9 with some brands ect. there really should international set sizes to avoid this -_-
ah well if anyone asks for my size I'm saying 6 ^^ though 8 isn't to bad I just don't like bigger numbers

@spacial thanks! ^^ very helpful links.

[A]

The clerk I asked told me women's sizes were exactly the same as men's sizes, minus 20. But then again, it's all very variable. For example, I have a 9 and a 6 and they're about the same size.

[Sam(my)I am]

The clerk I asked told me women's sizes were exactly the same as men's sizes, minus 20. But then again, it's all very variable. For example, I have a 9 and a 6 and they're about the same size.

hrm that's interesting, but I would think minus 20 is a way to get an educated guess across the bored. Though in the end it seems the sizes depend on the brand.

[Just Shelly]

generally, the odd number sizing (at least in the States) will put one in the Juniors department while the even number sizes could put one in Misses or Petites or potentially even in what they refer to in some stores as the women's section (often size 16 and larger). 

WOW!

I thought I got this sizing down. I did not realize this. I do alot of shopping at consignments and thrifts, they'll have jr's and misses mixed. Sometimes I find pants that fit in a 4, a 2, 1 and sometimes even a 0. (That makes me feel good)

The jr's are sometimes the only place I can find stuff my size and that fits. many stores don't stock anything less then a 4 or five, unless your petite.  You are right, they make jr's to fit girls that lack the but and hips. I try to shop for my age its hard in the jr's but can ussually find some cute tops.

I get a kick out of vanity sizing, Target is the worst I am sometimes an extra small, I'm not the biggest but I am definatly not an XS. I usually end up between a 2 and 5 between all the different stores. This is one reason woman try on cloths first!

Shelly

[Cadence Jean]

I second trying on the jeans instead of putting blind faith in the number - I've been burned a couple times that way.  You'll eventually get a baseline.  The store's website probably has a sizing chart that you can reference before going into the store.  Use a measuring tape(the tailor kind, not sure the technical term), measure your hips, waist, etc.  A lot of stores will have directions online.  Try to go off of that.  If you're lacky hips and butt, then juniors may be your best route.  I tend to shop a LOT in juniors since I basically have the figure of a thirteen year old girl.  Most of my cisgen friends shop in juniors too - so it's not unheard of for a woman to buy from juniors.

[JoanneB]

Womens "vanity sizing" has gotten totally carried away over the past 30 years making size charts basically useless, not worth the pixels they are rendered on. I still have in my closet size 12's I can barely squeeze into yet almost all the slacks I recently purchased are size 6! Same for dresses. Even S/M/L is more like mens sizing a few years back. Mens are now super-sized with even smalls swimming on me.

Best advice to save time is bring along a small dollar store keychain tape measure. Takes 4 seconds to measure the waist. It saves a lot of trips to the dressing room.

[Randi]

I wear a men's size 31 or 32 waist and buy size 8 women's pants.

[jessicas37]

I have found the more i pay for an item the less accurate the sizing is. Jeans at lane bryant $19.00 size 16 perfect maybe a little loose. Levis at penny's 38.95 the 16 is supper loose gonna exchange for 14 maybe even 12. I wear a 38/30 in mens.

[Lyric]

I've found that since the 1980s quality control with even top brand clothing manufacturers is so poor that you can almost always find significant size variations within the same size numbers. Add to that the fact that the makers of women's clothing are forever modifying their size numbers to flatter their customers' growing waistlines. Thus, I always try things on in the store. If I buy online it has to be a fantastic deal from a site with a great return policy (like Newport News or Spiegel). Never think you really know "your size".