Clothes sizes - what's below a 16W

I'm down to a 16 womens in jeans - there are no 14 women's sizes (at least I didn't see any at Walmart).  What's the next size down from a 16W in ladies sizes?  an 18?  I tried the 18 and it was still a bit tight.  These were Lee jeans.  There are so many variations, long, average, petite, juniors, ladies, womens, boot cut, straight, relaxed, slimming, stretch.  What the heck??  I hate trying on clothes - pants especially. Shoes off, pants off, new pants on, too tight, too loose, too long, too tight in butt, too loose in waist, found it, old pants on, shoes on, try another brand same size - doesn't fit.....etc etc etc.

So - what size should be below a 16 womens pants?

I went from 16w to 14 junior and they seemed to fit just fine. The name brands will probably all fir different though. I get my jeans from the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I am waiting til I get to my final size before I buy new ones.

 Sorry, there's no easy way around this one.  You have to keep shopping.  The next size down is a 14W.  Depending on how you are built, you may not be able to move into misses' sizes for a bit.   Sizing is not just about mass, but also about shape.   Once some women hit a size 12 or so, they may have bigger hips and booty and need a little extra curve in their jeans.  That's what women's sizes do.  So, a size 14W is not the equivalent of a 14, 16 or even and 18.  It's just cut differently.

That being said, there is no universal size chart.   You may be able to fit into an Old Navy 16 or 18, if it's not cut too straight.   My best luck has been at Talbot's, where clothes are cut for more mature women, but those clothes are too pricy for WLS weight loss.  Right now, my only fitting jeans are 16W's from Talbot's that I bought 6 years ago, but they're too big now, and I don't really know what I'm going to do next.

Probably hit the thrift stores.  I hate shopping.

Usually it's a 14, maybe they didn't have any, from there it goes to 12, 10, 8 and so forth. Petite is if you have a small frame, usually under 5'4. I am 5'4 and I have tried petite and it fits but I like a longer leg, Boot cut is made to fit over boots, it has a wider opening at the foot. I hate straight and skinny jeans, the legs are too narrow, the skinny there is no give and feels like wet clothes stuck to your skin. Slimming usually has some sorta paneling in them to make your stomach and sometimes hips look smaller. Stretch reminded me of leggings that look good on pencil thin woman only, they show every bump and bulge.

I suggest going in flip flops, makes it easier to try on. All brands are different, I find I love the ANA brand from JCPenney. Those fit really nicely, are true to size and not very expensive.

Happy Shopping!

i buy my pants at Goodwill and second hand stores.  When I went from a 16W i went to 18 regular pants then 16 and then 14.  Some of Walmart jeans are made strange.  I have better luck with lee pants.  Try Kmart or JC penny if you want new.  I couldn't afford to buy new because I was always changing sizes.


I am a year 1/2 out and still change sizes.  I recently went from a size 14 to a 10 because i am running.


Tamara

Thanks ladies!

Try Fashion Bug jeans. Sizes vary for body shapes (apple, pear, etc.).

 The true answer to your question is..a million different sizes. Really..you gotta try that stuff on. There is some much variance..it drives me crazy. That's why I think it's a bad idea to have a certain size as your goal because you can "be" many different sizes at the same time!