Jams421 said:
Not to hijack but actually in the last 1-2 years sizes have actually gotten smaller. At the large retailer I work at they have just cut all girls sizes 16s and 18's and have plans to cut 14's. They are now: girls size 14 = womens size 0, girls size 16 = women's 1 and girls size 18 = women's 2 etc. Same thing is happening with boys clothing. In addition women's size 12 and 14 are going to be made into "plus" sizes as they can charge more for them.
Reason womens clothing sells for more money. More companies are doing this and have plans to.
I bolded this part because I'm not sure what you mean by this. With so many stores adding larger sizes in the past 5 years, I doubt they would remove them from their regular stores and open plus sized stores. Do you mean they'd add some extra money to the price tag but they'll be on the shelf with the others? That doesn't seem right, either.
I think this probably depends on the nature of the store. To me, this sounds like you might be referring to juniors sizes. I can understand them cutting larger girls sizes for financial reasons but I don't really like the idea of a larger, curvier middle schooler trying to fit into a women's size 0 as they may have a hard time finding age appropriate attire.
As far as women's 12's and 14's becoming plus sizes, this is far from an exact science. A 14 at Lane Bryant fits me easily, the tops are even too big. A 14 in NY and Co. or J. Jill usually fits well. A 14 at Old Navy won't fit because it is cut too straight- no curves for my hips so it will pull and bunch and their 16's have about three extra inches in the waist if they fit in my hips and thighs. A 14 in Wet Seal or Charlotte Russe or the Juniors sections is hopelessly far from fitting me. I took a "size 15" pair of board shorts from a surf shop and they didn't even look close to fitting me, yet the Lane Bryant size 14 jeans I had on were starting to get baggy. My point is- sizing is so incredibly different from store to store that it is hard to make decisions as to what is plus sized without an even playing field.
I have noticed a movement in stores like NY and Co., Jones NY, Old Navy, Gap, etc. to include larger sizes in theri mainstream stores. The highest used to be a 14, now it's 16 or 18 and even a 20 in some stores. With them adding more sizes to appeal to more people, it wouldn't make sense for them to cut these sizes from their market. That's not going to happen.
Lane Bryant has begun adding 12's in certain items, such as their panties because there was a market for them. Many people loved the fit and wanted a pair in a 12 as they lost weight. Now, these 12's might be the same size as another store's 14's, but people will go to Lane Byant, feel good about being in a size 12, and enjoy clothes that are cut for curvier people specifically, not just a larger cut of a size 2 pattern.
But I have no incentive to be lower than 145, because I won't drop a size. My hips are too broad and my upper arms are "fat" no matter what so nothing bellow a 10 will ever fit. So theres no point, my clothes will just be baggy in some spots and fitted in others.
