Differences in sizing...

I haven't been in 'regular sizes' since before I was a freshman in HS so I don't really have a memory of sizing ever being any different. As long as I can remember I've been in plus sizes and they've been pretty much the same across the board.

But now I'm in 'regular' sizes and it seems so weird to me how different shapes/sizes can fit in certain sizes. I know that probably sounds like I'm a moron but I seriously always thought that if you weighed x you wore y size. I knew that if you were different heights what you weighed sat on you differently and that would affect what size you were, but in my head it seemed like if you were 5'5 and 190 and someone else was too you would most likely be wearing the same size.

So it's blowing my mind a little now that I'm in these sizes and how much variance there is! Part of this is me having my head in the sand and not wanting to know what people in these sizes were like and the variation there was. But is this just me or was anyone else surprised to realize this?

I'm finding it fascinating to look at the differences in real people. Like I weigh 164 right now and my size 8 pants are too big on me. I find it bizarre that at that weight I would be shopping for size 6, that seems like a size for a much lower weight person, I know vanity sizing is completely a thing but still!

I went shopping this weekend and found I can wear between a M-XL, depending who makes it!  Like you said, I was so used to going in and knowing that a 4x -5x would just fit that now I have a hard time shopping!

I feel the same way. I have tops that are an XS and small, and pants either a 4, 6, or 8 depending on cut. I'm at 145 and never thought I would be a 6? its so strange.

and I'm thinking, when i get below my goal of 135, what size will it be then? what about at a weight of 120? do I start buying kids sizes? I don't get it.

I think a lot of it has to do with where you shop (a 12 from Macy's is more likely true to size then a 12 from Target); and how people prefer to wear their clothes. Some women like to be comfy and will go up a size, although they probably could wear smaller. Some women will stuff themselves in a smaller size for the privilege of being able to say I'm a size "X". 

I'll say when ever this conversation comes up I'm amazed. For me personally I pretty much the same size everywhere I shop; so I don't experience the "vanity sizing" that I hear folks speak about. (I wish I did-- it would help my ego!!)

I'm 5'6, 195 and am in a 12. I can still wear 14's, but I realized this weekend at the trampoline park my 14's kept falling down as I jumped. I can wear medium tops, but depending on the style I'm going for I may opt for large. 

Generally my sizes of pants are the same everywhere too - tops not so much though. But I think it's for the same reason you mentioned above, some types of tops I prefer a more fitted look and some I prefer a looser look.

 I just had blinders on before and didn't pay attention and now I am. Maybe part of it is that I cannot look at someone and guess their size or even judge if they're bigger or smaller than me if someone would ask - unless there is a large difference. I think it comes from so many years of not wanting anyone to look at me and see my size.

So funny! I'm 5'5, 187 and a 14 it is. I couldn't squeeze into a 12 at this point so I guess it's really all about body shape. 

I'm 5'6".. who'd have thought an inch would make such a difference. 12's are a perfect fit for me now, and since my 14's are falling off, I could probably squeeze into a 110, but would have super sized muffin top LOL. 

When I was in high school, more than 50 years ago, I weighed 132 pounds and wore a size 11/12.  My mom was 143 pounds and she wore size 16.

At 150lb/5'5", pre-baby, I could wear a size 2 from Old Navy or Ann Taylor. I still have NO idea how that happened!