What does a size 13 mean?

[Catlady711]

And I know i can never trust the numbering, since I don't think its based on anything in particular

That is so true! Each clothing manufacturer seems to have their own basis for size. I have to try on each and every thing I purchase and have even been known to walk out of a store with 3 different sizes of clothes. I have also noticed that over the years they downsize the numbers to appeal to people's vanity. For instance what 15-20 years ago was called a women's plus size 20, is now called a ladies size 16 or 18, when actually they are the same size. It's a way for them to make more money selling people clothes so they think they're slimmer. Which in my opinion just makes clothes shopping downright frustrating at times.

[mruffruff]

Uneven numbers in the sizes are for body shapes that are shorter in the shoulder-to-waist or waist-to-crotch than the even numbered size. Sometimes and odd-number sized person can wear an even-number size, depending on style or manufacturer (and vise versa).

Of course, no two manufacturers use the same size chart!

I can wear a size 8 in pants if the manufacturer is a high class one and a 12 if I go to K-Mart. Same butt.

[Cataholic]

Uneven numbers in the sizes are for body shapes that are shorter in the shoulder-to-waist or waist-to-crotch than the even numbered size. Sometimes and odd-number sized person can wear an even-number size, depending on style or manufacturer (and vise versa).

Of course, no two manufacturers use the same size chart!

I can wear a size 8 in pants if the manufacturer is a high class one and a 12 if I go to K-Mart. Same butt.

M- where did you get this from? I really have always thought it was a distinction in misses/mrs...(so to speak) types of clothes. Just curious, as I would want to change my opinion!!

I did just take a 'poll' in the office (four other women), and they all seemed to think it was the junior/misses(womens) distinction. Maybe it is an Ohio thing? LOL.

[mruffruff]

I don't know where I learned it. I've always been short-waisted. If a normal person measures from the bottom of their neck to their waist, they usually measure about 14 inches (an even number). I measure 13 (an uneven number). Blouses have darts in the wrong place for short-waisted gals and are too long. The crotch on a size 12 pants hang too low for comfort so I really need an 11. Small, Medium and Large don't do very well on me, either. Tank tops need to be taken up at the shoulder seams to avoid a droopy cleavage.