What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. (how can we tell?)

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What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. (how... - 11/13/2013 11:41:23 PM

Ilyrium

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I pretty much only know men's sizes, in so much as we have a height and a weight and, if it ever gets to that, a sleeve and collar size and a waist and inseam length, all of which are literally in one-to-one inches.

Yet, women seem to go by something odd. They go by these "sizes" numbers. 8. 12. 16.

Other than smaller numbers being smaller than larger numbers, is there a decent comparison chart or a resource on the web that you'd recommend that gives me an idea of what a 12 is versus, say, a 10 or whatever?

Post #: 1

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 12:13:26 AM

TheHeretic

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It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

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RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 9:33:29 AM

Lynnxz

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

I never knew that.

However, a lot of places have this idiotic 'vanity' sizing thing going on, and I never know what size I wear from store to store. Men seem to have the advantage in that aspect. I hate buying clothes online, you never know when that "small" is going to fit no one but the cat, or be large enough for you and a friend. :-/

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Post #: 3

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 11:35:16 AM

DesFIP

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Every damn manufacturer sizes things differently. We always need to try something on first in order to know if it will fit.
However, most online sellers will have a sizing chart.

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Post #: 4

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 11:45:37 AM

AthenaSurrenders

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

What units are you using?That seems small, even for English sizes which are typically smaller for the same number. (As in, USA 10 would be UK 8)

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Post #: 5

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 11:51:45 AM

PeonForHer

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quote:

However, a lot of places have this idiotic 'vanity' sizing thing going on, and I never know what size I wear from store to store. Men seem to have the advantage in that aspect. I hate buying clothes online, you never know when that "small" is going to fit no one but the cat, or be large enough for you and a friend. :-/

Oh no, it happens for men, too - only the opposite way. That is, every man is at least 'Medium' across his chest and 'Small' is very, very small indeed.

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Post #: 6

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 12:07:18 PM

OsideGirl

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From: United States
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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

Size 8 +14 is 22 inches.

With a 27 inch waist, I was wearing a size 8 or 10 pair of jeans.

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Post #: 7

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 12:09:57 PM

AthenaSurrenders

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quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

Size 8 +14 is 22 inches.

With a 27 inch waist, I was wearing a size 8 or 10 pair of jeans.

The difference between sizes is also not always constant. As in, there's a smaller difference between a size 2 and a size 4, than there is between a size 22 and a size 24

Edit: OP you might find this site helpful: http://www.mybodygallery.com/ you can input height, weight, clothes size etc and see real women with those measurements. You'll notice even women the same size can look very different.

< Message edited by AthenaSurrenders -- 11/14/2013 12:10:49 PM >

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Post #: 8

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 12:49:48 PM

MistressDarkArt

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quote:

ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders

OP you might find this site helpful: http://www.mybodygallery.com/ you can input height, weight, clothes size etc and see real women with those measurements. You'll notice even women the same size can look very different.

OMG, that is a great site! Thanks, Athena!

(in reply to AthenaSurrenders)

Post #: 9

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 1:19:15 PM

MercTech

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Aren't odd sizes proportioned as "juniors" and even sizes "women"? Or is it the other way around? I remember one is for skinny teens and the other for a mature figure.

And sizing changes over the years. "A perfect 10" was originally a reference to Marilynn Monroe who wore a size 10. These days, fashion magazines tell you a 10 is obese. But, the average size of dress is a 14 in the U.S.

Decoding hat sizes is cake compared to decoding women's fashion sizes.

(in reply to MistressDarkArt)

Post #: 10

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 1:36:28 PM

AthenaSurrenders

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech

Aren't odd sizes proportioned as "juniors" and even sizes "women"? Or is it the other way around? I remember one is for skinny teens and the other for a mature figure.

And sizing changes over the years. "A perfect 10" was originally a reference to Marilynn Monroe who wore a size 10. These days, fashion magazines tell you a 10 is obese. But, the average size of dress is a 14 in the U.S.

Decoding hat sizes is cake compared to decoding women's fashion sizes.

A size ten now is much bigger than when Marilyn Monroe was around, to further complicate things.

It's a popular myth that gets passed around on 'love yourself' blogs and emails that Monroe was a size 12/14/16 (depending on which version you hear) but when you actually look at her measurements, she was nowhere close to today's version of that size.

I'm all for the message these things promote about loving yourself no matter what your size, but I think it's insulting to women when they use blatant lies to make their point. (Not you, Merc, just ranting)

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Post #: 11

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 2:13:31 PM

IvoryPearls

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Joined: 9/7/2013
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I used to collect vintage 40s and 50s fiction and I can't tell you how many times the phrase "a perfect size 14" was written. You're right - today's size 14 is not the same.

IP~

(in reply to AthenaSurrenders)

Post #: 12

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 2:50:48 PM

susie

Posts: 1699
Joined: 11/21/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

What units are you using?That seems small, even for English sizes which are typically smaller for the same number. (As in, USA 10 would be UK 8)

I think it is the other way round. A UK 8 is a USA 6. One reason I loved buying clothes in the US as I could go back to the UK and say I was wearing a size 6 skirt and the other girls would be jealous.

(in reply to AthenaSurrenders)

Post #: 13

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 3:11:25 PM

TNDommeK

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I hate buying clothes online! They never fit right!!!!

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Post #: 14

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 4:08:18 PM

needlesandpins

Posts: 3901
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I hate the fact that clothes are made from a standard size 10 and then scaled down and up. that's ok for the down sizes, but it's next to useless for the up sizes as it doesn't allow the fact that curves happen as a woman actually looks like a woman and not a boy. having worked in the clothes making industry I know that we had to be very picky who we used as models to show a new line off to a client before the order went to run. it was a nightmare.

sizing is just another way to make women paranoid about how they look and what they weight. I can't, and will not buy anything that I can not try on first. My wardrobe ranges from 3 sizes at any given time depending on what item it is and where it's come from.

needles

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Post #: 15

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/14/2013 4:29:30 PM

PeonForHer

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FR

Time for a song. Obvious, really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWjDZkY1ILU

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Post #: 16

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/15/2013 2:12:11 PM

kalikshama

Posts: 14805
Joined: 8/8/2010
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quote:

You'll notice even women the same size can look very different.

Ya, size 10/12 is a good size for my frame, but my 5'1" small-boned girlfriend was plump when she was borrowing those sizes of mine.

(in reply to AthenaSurrenders)

Post #: 17

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/15/2013 11:10:15 PM

AthenaSurrenders

Posts: 3582
Joined: 3/15/2012
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quote:

ORIGINAL: susie

quote:

ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

It's based on the body circumference for the area between the hips and the tits. Add 14 to the size number, to get the actual measurement.

What units are you using?That seems small, even for English sizes which are typically smaller for the same number. (As in, USA 10 would be UK 8)

I think it is the other way round. A UK 8 is a USA 6. One reason I loved buying clothes in the US as I could go back to the UK and say I was wearing a size 6 skirt and the other girls would be jealous.

Sorry, you're right I got my numbers the wrong way round.

I always feel guilty when I send clothes as gifts to my mother in law in the US - I don't want her to think I'm calling her fat by sending bigger sizes.

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Being your slave, what should I do but tend
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Post #: 18

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/16/2013 4:38:49 PM

Dreamless

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Joined: 7/30/2010
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There isn't really any consistency. I always figured for larger sizes, you just doubled the size. 16 = 32 inch waist, 18 = 36, 20 = 40. It seems to work out pretty well, because I can tell you that a size 20 is most certainly NOT a 34 inch waist, that "add 14" rule doesn't work for larger sizes. Though maybe sizing is a bit different in Canada, I know I found when I was shopping in the States, I could wear a large in a lot of places, but here I usually get an XL, and... well, depending on the brand I can wear everything from a 14 to a 26. (throws hands up) I won't wear clothing I can't try on first. If it's online, I'll check the size chart and I've bought teeshirts that way, but nothing more complex than a teeshirt or a loose skirt.

I completely ignore the numbers, in short. Every brand is different. I have XL shirts I bought when I was 14 and hated my body, and I compared them to some XL shirts I bought now that I'm an adult and I'm quite fine with my body. The ones I wore when I was 14 and 130 pounds were way larger than the ones I got now that I'm an adult and many more pounds than that. But still the little tag on them claims they're both size XL, both size 18 teeshirts?

There is no way to tell. Go by the size chart where it says their L = 36 inch waist or whatever and pick the closest size. Or try on sizes and get over your need to brag about or bawl about the number on the tag, just buy the one that's comfortable and let your self confidence speak for itself.

Men's measurements for clothing make so much more sense.

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Post #: 19

RE: What is a size 12, or a size 8, or a size 16, etc. ... - 11/16/2013 4:46:20 PM

slavekate80

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The add-14 seems like a fair estimate for pattern sizes, i.e. what size you'd need to use if you're making clothes from a McCalls or Simplicity pattern. But those don't correlate to numbered sizing in the US, or even in the UK from what I've seen and heard. By that calculation I'd be roughly a size 12 - which I think is about right for clothing made directly from sewing patterns. But off the shelf in American stores, I'm usually a 4, with some variation up or down between brands. That's a big deviation from pattern sizing, and it's partly due to the numbers creeping down over the years, but even 20-30 years ago they didn't match patterns exactly.

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 20

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