Question on clothing sizes in "normal" stores

[Heather I 500]

Hi! So I have a ways to go to work through my LB stuff I hoarded over the years as I gained, but thinking optimistically here for when I get out of the "plus" department and size out of LB into normal stuff, is a LB 14 similar to, say, a banana Republic/Ann Taylor 14, or is the vanity sizing of LB really a 16 for coming close to an Ann Taylor 14?

I'm fantasy online window shopping and curious when I can take advantage of some post Christmas deals if I've lost enough by then to transition to "normal" stores.

Drooolllliiiiinnnng.

[reree6898 1,164]

Every store is going to vary, I can wear an 8 in some jeans from Macy's but still a 12 in some from Walmart. I have had to not focus on the number on the tag and just go with what fits when I try it on and enjoy shopping in normal sizes at all. [emoji4]

[Healthy_life2 8,322]

Vanity sizing is crazy. As you lose weight always make sure things fit. Try on several sizes.

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[Heather I 500]

Okay. Looks like my days of online shopping might come to an end by spring once I, hopefully, run out of clothes. Goodwill, here I come!

Thanks for the input, ladies!

[JAM72 16]

@@Heather I - a LB 14 is similar to a BR/AT 16 for looser styles and an 18 for more body-conscious, tight styles. At least that is what I have found based on my body shape. You can find bigger AT and BR sizes online but not always in the store. One way to compare sizing in different stores is to check sizing guides and compare measurements. That has worked well for me. Hope this helps!!

[Heather I 500]

@Jmill72, it helps, but it's so freaking depressing, LOL. Agh, hopefully getting out of plus sizes in LB to only go BACK to plus sizes in regular stores? LOL. Bummer. Oh well. It is what it is. At least I can eventually fit into the cuter clothes!

[Healthy_life2 8,322]

We also have no control of where the pounds come off our bodies. I was smaller in pant size and larger tops. I was a bit disproportionate for a while. But it all balance out later.

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[AvaFern 3,516]

Sizing in stores is so different, even in the same store. Ann Taylor has the most consistent sizing for me, which is a huge plus. I wear the exact same size in their dresses, pants, and most of their jackets, and all of their sweaters are the same size for me too. banana Republic kills me...their pants I can be two different sizes, their dresses I am almost always a size higher than other stores, and skirts vary by 2 sizes. Express I can be 3 different sizes in pants, 2 different sizes in dresses, and pretty consistently the same size in dress shirts. NY&Co has multiple cuts of pants, of which I am 3 different sizes (one is lean cut, one is for bigger butts, and one is slim ankles), I vary 2 sizes in their dresses, 2-3 sizes in their skirts, and usually sweaters and dress shirts fit about the same.

So, my suggestion would be that if you are waiting for after Christmas sales, go to the stores you want to shop at and try stuff on. Most of the time their cuts of clothing (like BR has Avery pants that fit me best) will be the same size across different seasons. When you find the size that fits you, take a picture of the tag, so that when you are shopping online later you know exactly what size to get. I still do this because periodically something fits weird and then if I order it later I know I got the right size.