What size do you wear?

[shg]

I am not sure that all the beautiful fashions you post here would work for every/most size(s). I am size 10/12 and find that most of the fabulous clothes that you post here don't work for me.. Is it me or does everybody here is smaller and can pull it off better?

[Raven_Girl]

Maybe its the style of the clothes. If you have hips wearing certain styles don't work for you. Of if you're busty same problem. I have friends your size the biggest problem is the style was not made for their body shape.
maybe the clothes you're after aren't for your body shape.

[karlatta]

I have the same issue - I'm a 10/12 and a lot of the clothes posted in various threads just won't work for me. For me, it's an issue of body shape - I have a large chest.

[isign]

I'm a 16/18, and really curvy - big boobs and hips. Most of what's posted on CC, except for the plus size threads doesn't even fit, and the plus sizes run big since I'm "only" 5'5 and plus sizes assumes that you are 10 feet tall.

[PinkMartini]

Prior to having my DS I was a 6/8. Now I'm a 10/12 and definitely can't wear the things I used to.

[KK812]

I'm a 4/6 and I still can't wear most stuff posted here. I have a pretty severe hour glass shape, and it's not all it's cracked up to be. I can't wear something that fits in my waist without having my boobs pour out the top, and I'm not into that. Skinny jeans and leggings would never do for me, either, since my hips are so wide

[BlackMagicRose]

I am also around a 4/6 and most of my fat sits on my thighs, hips and butt, so no leggings or skinny jeans for me either. Plus, I am 5'3" and everything is too long for me! I have a small waist and I love to wear skirts, but they usualy are too small for my hips, but a bigger size is always too big on my waist! Blech.

[jay&erinn]

I'm a 2/4 and a lot of current styles don't work for me. I have an hour glass shape with DD boobs- trapeze style tops make me look huge on top, and finding clothes that fit both in the waist and the hips is nearly impossible. I also have to rely on petite sizes which narrows the choices even more.

[thyme]

I'm about a 10 in the hips, an 8 in the waist, and at least a 12 in the bust, which makes shopping difficult. However, I'm 30 and have been this shape since high school, so at this point it isn't all that stressful. I know what works on me and I don't worry too much about the trends that don't. I think it's a matter of accepting that I'd rather look good than look like I'm good at buying what this month's InStyle told me to.

[udsweetpea]

I'm a 12/14... big bust and a muffin top. I can't wear the stuff posted here either. I buy most of my clothes from The Limited and Old Navy.

[myshel]

Honestly, I don't really know what size I am, because I just buy stuff in the size that fits. I have a variety of sizes in my closet right now.

That said, I'd probably say that I'm an 18 on the bottom (some back fat, a really poochy belly), but much smaller on top. Because of my size, I tend to shop at Old Navy. I did just pick up a pair of jeans from Lane Bryant today (sadly, none of the tops fits there). So, no, I can't wear most of the clothes people post about, but that's okay. I think we should embrace the size we are and dress to kill regardless.

[Kanga]

I can't even keep up Junior's clothing. I can still wear a girls size 16 jeans. Joking!! Where's Vorian's Leronica when we need her;)

I don't really know what size I am...shopping for me hasn't been a priority post kids so I have no idea what brands/sizes fit me best. I have everything from a 0 to a 10 in my closet though the 0 definitely doesn't fit and hasn't for quite some time. I'd say probably a 2/4/6 depending on which brand. I've tried leggings, but they make me look shorter than I already am. I don't have much of a butt, but do have some hips so i usually run into the problem of a saggy butt/crotch, go down a size, can't get them up. I know, I know, I should just alter them, but I'm too cheap/lazy to go to all that hassle.

[Ferris]

Before I was pregnant I was a 8/10 depending on the piece of clothing and were they fall on my hips. I have a long torso and big thighs so not to many trendy things fit me.

[shg]

I can't wear most of the clothes people post about, but that's okay. I think we should embrace the size we are and dress to kill regardless.

myshel I couldn't have said it better myself!

Ladies!

Thanks so very much for your responses! Keep them coming.I'm glad to know that I am not the only one.

[mkredhead]

I'm a solid 12 and have been since about sixth grade. I swear I went from a 14 junior to a 12 misses overnight. I used to be very self-conscious about my size - taller and heavier than nearly everyone in my class in junior high - but have definitely come to embrace and love my body as I get older. Sure, I wish I didn't have a poochy tummy or a big behind, but I'd rather buy clothes that fit than try and squeeze into a smaller size.

[maxandmolly]

I'm an 18(ish) right now on bottom. A 22/24 on top. I used to a 14 bottom, 16 top, and thought I was fat. I long to be that "fat" now. I am all boobs, no curves. I go straight down from chest to thighs-no hips to speak of, not much ass compared to others my size. Which is why I love, love, love, LB's RightFit jeans. FINALLY, jeans that fit me properly!

[diam124]

I'm a solid 12 and have been since about sixth grade. I swear I went from a 14 junior to a 12 misses overnight. I used to be very self-conscious about my size - taller and heavier than nearly everyone in my class in junior high.

You sound like me - I was 5'8" and a size 12 in 6th grade. I've actually gone down a little (or maybe I'm more comfortable with my body and wear my clothes more form-fitting). I'm usually a 10 for pants and 8 for tops.

[Rose]

I'm a 2/4 and a lot of current styles don't work for me. I have an hour glass shape with DD boobs- trapeze style tops make me look huge on top, and finding clothes that fit both in the waist and the hips is nearly impossible. I also have to rely on petite sizes which narrows the choices even more.

Ditto, although I'm a D cup. I like a lot of the styles but a lot end up making me pregnant or sloppy.

[eponymous]

I can't even keep up Junior's clothing. I can still wear a girls size 16 jeans. Joking!! Where's Vorian's Leronica when we need her;)

I know you're being sarcastic about a former member, but it's difficult finding clothing that is appropriate for professional settings when one is that short and has a child's body. Sure, being 5'10" and 105# gets you a modeling contract, but being 5' and 100# gets you t-shirts that say "I want it. You buy it. Okay?"

[laura]

I don't see many things posted here that I 'must have', but I use some of the things that are posted more for idea of color/shapes/patterns that are "hot" this season. I know what stores fit me best and what styles, so I just pass over things that don't fit those criteria. I'll be honest, I really don't understand this thread.

[phoenics]

I'm probably an 18-ish in size on the bottom and smaller up top. I'm very pear shaped. I have also learned about which clothes look best on me through time and patience.

I may not be able to wear everything that is posted in the threads here, but I wouldn't necessarily want to. I just find something that I like, but then I search for it in my size, or I consider having it made.

I'm retooling my wardrobe to only include clothing that I look absolutely smashing in, no matter what my size. It's tough work, but I really think it pays off in the end.

[ysolde]

I am really short. Really. Short. 4'11". I am an hourglass, so nothing fits, really. And I have gained some weight, recently. So I wear a six P, which is too big round the waist, but fits the thighs and the girls. I don't wear pants, since even petites are much too long.

[lilo]

Isn't the grass greener on the other side? :)

Honestly, I wear anything from a size 4 to size 8 depending on the brand. These days, designer labels vary soo much, it's amazing. For example, I find that Ann Taylor runs really large and can wear size 4 and small tops very easily. However, I find Theory pants run really narrow and wear a size 8. So go figure.

That being said, there are a lot of styles I can't wear and look ridiculous in because I have a super small bust and look younger than I am (i.e., I don't want to 'old' but I also don't want look like I'm still in college!). For example, I can't wear anything strapless or anything that can't be worn with some sort of bra. I also can't wear those flowy, blouse-y tops that are all the rage this season. That style looks awful on me and makes me loo too young. I also can't pull off many of the more 'modern' styles like super straight leg or pegged jeans. I will always wear jeans with a tiny bit of boot cut no matter if they're in style or not. That style just works well with my body and I feel good in them.

Leggings, nope. It looks horrible on me and again, too young. Deep v-necks don't look great on me either because of my small bust so again, it comes down to body type.

I'm very similar to Laura in that I know what stores, what brands and styles look good on me and I stick to that.

Like a PP said, I think women should embrace their shape and dress in clothing that accentuates the good and forget about what's particularly 'in' for that season. If you feel good in your clothing in terms of fit and quality, I don't think you'll care whether or not it's the new 'trend' or whether it's what everyone else is wearing.

[starxed]

I'm a size 6 and I think everything looks like s**t on me that is cute. I think my arms look fat in all of the cap sleeves that are so cute and I have a bubbly butt so I don't like things being too clingy or tight there. I have a hard time shopping. Well I take that back, I'll buy a ton of cute things, but then they'll sit in my closet because I don't think they look good on me.

[bethnjim]

Most clothes don't work for me too. My cup size is a DD...and my pant size is a 16...sometimes a 14 depending on the cut. I can't wear dresses at all unless they are stretchy!!

[Niobe]

I'm a 2/4, sometimes 6 depending on cut, barely-B and no hips. I have the same problem as lilo, everything looks "old" on me. Anything tailored makes me look like I'm playing dress-up in my mom's closet. Empire waists make me look twelve, or pregnant, or both. I've just decided to embrace the fact I'm still fitting better in juniors then misses and dressing like a college kid. Whatever, it's way cheaper and leggings are comfy. ;)

[Asha]

I don't really know what size I am...shopping for me hasn't been a priority post kids so I have no idea what brands/sizes fit me best. I have everything from a 0 to a 10 in my closet though the 0 definitely doesn't fit and hasn't for quite some time.
ditto, except i have never been a zero. i'd say i am probably a 6 - 8 right now. bf'ing boobies and poochy tummy made poochier by c-section scarring and pregnancy makes it very hard to find clothes that flatter me. if it fits in the tummy, my butt is swimming in the pants and you can hardly tell i even have legs. anyone know of slim leg pants that fit a bigger tummy. i love gap long and lean, but i hate how all their washes look faded now. i ain't spending money on pants that look used if they are not.

since i can't find clothes that fit and flatter, i thought i'd fool everyone by wearing really cute shoes.
http://www.target.com/Xhilaration-Sigrid-Buckle-Flats-Brown/dp/B000XU7YBA/602-7048706-6908665?ie=UTF8&node=13848791&frombrowse=1&rh=tgt%5F1%3AFlats&page=1

[boilermaker]

I'm a 4/6 (and 5'7" so not short at all). But I have a very short torso and large bust. So the popular style of wearing a belt cinched around my waist is definitely a no go! But I knew that and never even bothered trying to make it work somehow.

The only thing I would say is that attitude makes as much of a difference in whether or not you can wear certain styles. If it doesn't match your personality, you won't be able to pull it off. But if it does match, you can prob find a way to make a trendy style work for you.

[pontmarie]

Size 6, same as I was pre-babies, but the boobs are bigger and so are the hips. Button down shirts are impossible. Empire waists make me look pregnant. Stovepipes or skinny jeans, ha ha ha, as if! :D I like straight-legged pants/jeans, and v-neck, 3/4 sleeve tops, that's what works for me right now. And none of the Jovovich-Hawk type, layery boho stuff.

[Ribbit]

Shopping is a nightmare! I am 5'7" with short legs and a long torso. My legs aren't quite short enough for petite sizes, but regular pants need to be hemmed or worn with 4" heels. My arms and waist are long enough that shirts can look unintentionally shrunken on me...I love that there are lots of long layering tanks in style now, and 1/2 - 3/4 sleeves are a godsend. I also have broad shoulders and big arms, but a tiny little ribcage and barely B bust, so shirts that fit my body are often too tight on my arms, and shirts that fit my arms make me look like a box from shoulders to hips.

Heh...all this describing makes me sound like some sort of malformed creature, but I think my body looks pretty average. I, too, have learned what brands/cuts work on my body, and know what trends to avoid. Sure I'm envious of my stick thin, long legged, or big boobed friends, but they all have their own shopping issues to deal with, too.

[mamax2]

4/6 petite, but I don't have the shopping time or financial means to worry too much about trends ;)

That said, I did hit a few stores today and I'm absolutely disgusted! Everything is polyester and all the dresses look like a sack or the tops tie in the back. I am NOT pregnant and don't want to look it. Why couldn't this style have been 'in' when I was pregnant? :rolleyes:

I just want comfortable, affordable, grown up clothes that don't make me look too old or frumpy. I'd prefer they not require ironing either. That's not too much to ask, is it? :p:D

[BlackMagicRose]

For those of you who have found a things that look good on you...how did you do it? Was it just going shopping and trying a bunch of stuff on? Are there any advice websites out there that are good to look at? I could use some help in the styling area!

[2kCougar]

I'm 5'9" and take a 0/2. I can buy from Ann Taylor and 9 West. That's about it! I have a really small frame with curves. I have trouble finding stores that carry sizes small enough. I'd swear that clothing is getting larger, but the sizes are staying the same.

[Pine Tree]

When I shop I just assume that what I buy will have to be tailored. I learned this from What Not to Wear and it has changed my life. I'm short so of course I will have to hem pants. Pants that fit in the thighs and hips but not the waist are to taken in. I have a very long torso but I'm short so I often have to hem sleeves. I no longer expect something to fit - I really look to fit my largest parts (eg my thighs) and then look at the piece to make sure it can be altered. Usually I can do it myself or I just think about whether the item is worth an extra $20 for alterations.

[salysaturn]

Everything is big (I am a little over 4'9"). I work PT at Target, and my clothes for that are from the kids dept(shirts XL boys, pants, anywhere from a 12.5 girls-14)...for dressy stuff, I get everything hemmed.

[Ribbit]

For those of you who have found a things that look good on you...how did you do it? Was it just going shopping and trying a bunch of stuff on? Are there any advice websites out there that are good to look at? I could use some help in the styling area!

I have a very honest friend who's style I admire...I take her shopping with me, and she picks out stuff she thinks would look good, and then I go try on her picks and my picks and model them for her. If I'm shopping alone, I've been known to ask random put-together looking women for their opinions on color choices or accessories...you know, things you don't have to be in the dressing room to ask. Sometimes it just really helps to have a second opinion from a trusted eye...otherwise I can be so hypercritical of myself that I like nothing, or swing the other way and am so determined to get a "look" I don't pay attention to how it actually fits my body.

[andy's di]

I have trouble finding stores that carry sizes small enough. I'd swear that clothing is getting larger, but the sizes are staying the same.

You're right, clothes are getting bigger and I think it has a lot to do with North American's expanding waistlines (but that's for another thread all together!).

I'm now a size 12, was a size 18 and am hoping to get down to size 8 by the end of my weight loss journey. I'm curvy, big thighs, big chest, teeny waist. I tend to not follow the trends and find classic pieces that fit, and that comes with a lot of trial and error. I've given up entirely on button up shirts (thank goodness my office is pretty casual) and any loose fitting flowy tops and skirts, they just make be look huge! I can't wait for those pieces to fall out of style.

[Anna Low]

I'm 5'8 and wear a 0-2 (0 on top, 2 on the bottom) and have a very hard time finding things to fit. So many normal priced brands these days start out at either a 4 or 6, which usually swallows me. As a result, clothes are harder to find and usually more expensive.

[MrsTazlvr]

Everything is polyester and all the dresses look like a sack or the tops tie in the back. I am NOT pregnant and don't want to look it. Why couldn't this style have been 'in' when I was pregnant? :rolleyes:

I just want comfortable, affordable, grown up clothes that don't make me look too old or frumpy. I'd prefer they not require ironing either. That's not too much to ask, is it? :p:D

I could have written all of that. Especially the shirts that look like maternity shirts. I HATE THEM!!! LOL

[boilermaker]

When I shop I just assume that what I buy will have to be tailored. I learned this from What Not to Wear and it has changed my life.

I 100% agree with this! I have a wonderful alterations lady and it has made my life soooo much easier!

[tlew12778]

I wear a 0/2 - 36/38. I'm 5'0".

Experience will teach you what looks good and what doesn't.

[jenji]

It's hard for me to find clothes that look right on my body. I'm a 10/12 and 5'9". My boobs make the majority of tops ill-fitting and it's hard to find bottoms that are long enough.
ETA: www.missussmartypants.com was really helpful for me in finding clothes that fit my body type. you pay for the season and get weekly e-mails with real clothes from real stores for your body type plus just general tips on how to put together a wardrobe and make the most of it

[lilo]

I could have written all of that. Especially the shirts that look like maternity shirts. I HATE THEM!!! LOL

ditto. I refuse to wear any top or dress that ties in the back. Those scream maternity to me and I do not want to 'look' that part since I am no longer pregnant!!!

and I agree with the PPs about alterations. Most button down (ie, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor) shirts are too large in the bust area for me, no matter what size, so I take them to the tailor to get them altered a bit. Same with skirts that may fit perfectly in the thigh area but is a little too large in the waist or just doesn't hang right. I think 'fit' is key. It definitely makes a difference no matter what the price.

blackmagicrose: Yes, I think it's a combination of just going to different stores and first seeing what 'style' suits both you and your lifestyle best. Then get a feeling of what size works best on you in that particular store or brand and how much mileage you can get out of each piece. I think most women look great in classic, tailored pieces like Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor loft, etc. And don't be afraid to get things altered if you love a particular dress, let's say, but it's a little too long or it's too A-line. Get it altered!! I just bought a beautiful Tory Burch linen dress but it definitely needs a little alterations for the fit to be perfect. I'm picky and I'd rather get it altered to fit my body type great than wear an ill-fitting dress. I agree that taking an honest friend shopping can help too.

Do you read any fashion magazines? Magazines like Marie Claire and Glamour are great for "real women" style tips too.