Question:
What's the difference between a 1X and a XL?
I am in that awkward stage of buying clothes where I am leaving Plus sizes! Yeah! However since most of my clothes come from thrift stores or consignment they are used and may have been shrunken or stretched by the previous owner. Sometimes shirts like XL fit great while othertimes a 1X is snug. What gives? Is there a difference in sizes between the two. The only way Icould think of comparing would be to go to Target or something, find a shirt in 1X and find the same shirt in a XL and compare them on top of eachother, but the odds of me doing that are slim to none. Anyone have anything to contribute? — Heather M. (posted on April 25, 2004)
April 25, 2004
Don't let this drive you crazy. Hold it up to your body. I have XL that are
too tight and S that are too big. In numbers, I have 2-14 in my closet and
they all fit. I have 2 pairs of jeans that are identical, but color, 5
& 7, the 5's are looser. This drove me completely insane for 2 yrs.
Now, well, only slightly insane. You can try on 3 XL at Target and they'll
fit differently, even. And here we are, not really able to
"eyeball" stuff. You HAVE to try stuff on, miserable as that
might be. I bought most of my first couple years at thrift stores, BTW.
— vitalady
April 25, 2004
You can look at it like this--
XS,S,M,L,XL(being 1X), XXL(being 2X), XXXL(being 3X), etc. Panty girdles
are ususaly sized with all the X's showing. Now as for what fits you at
this time, that is the million dollar question. Hold stuff up against you
in front of a mirror. If it looks like it might fit, try it on. It's
about all we can do while losing. Even when you are at goal and wearing
clothes that are more fitted, sizes vary with the manufacturer like the
previous poster said. Try everything on unless you can easily return it
like at Walmart or Sears.
— mary ann T.
April 25, 2004
Girl! I have a Youth's large, a teeny-tiny shirt (especially in the eyes of
someone formerly morbidly obese!) that fits AND I have extra larges in
junior's tops that fit as well! It's an odd thing. I'm having the same
"ordeal" with pants. I can wear a 12 from New York and Co and The
Gap, and yet am just zipping up a size 14 jean from Old Navy...the Old Navy
one must be cut smaller than the 12's from the other stores, but you'd
think it'd be vice versa. I think the difference in 1X and XL is that the
1X is still a woman's size and therefore cut larger than the XL, which is a
misses and junior's size. ie: 1X fits sizes 14-16, whereas XL fits 12-14.
However, just as the situation with the pants, brands kind of go by their
own measurements and so there may be some discrepancies along the way.
— jenn_jenn
April 25, 2004
Well first off dont get hung up on the number on the size of the clothes...
I too am stuck between two dept... 1 x look like maternity tops and the xl
fit me like a sausage... since I work retail part time, I can tell you
that the more expensive clothes seem to run larger than things you find a
target, wally world, or kmart... so while going to goodwill (my favorite
place to shop) look for liz and higher end price clothes .... they will fit
better, and you usually can get a smaller size... good luck with the
hunt... remember by next year they will be to big anyway!
— paulsgirl
April 25, 2004
Clothing sizes are not stanardized, they can vary wildly even in the same
store. Don't worry about the tag, just go with what fits. I am too
getting in that area between misses sizes and plus, but it's actually not
bad at all since more stores cary misses up to XL or a 16 or 18 and the
pluses start at a 14 or so, now they actually overlap. So I feel like I
have even more choices right now. Too bad I am only allowing myself the
bare minimum to get by.
— Patricia T.
April 25, 2004
In answer to your question, a XL is a misses size and a 1X is a women's or
plus size. They tend to be cut quite different and usually are not
interchangeable in how they fit. But like the others said don't sweat the
tag just get what fits. I bought some medium tops/jacket this weekend yet
I also have XL's in my closet. Most things a L fits. If I am buying new
pants/jeans I wear a 12 or 14. I went to Good will yesterday and both pair
of jeans I bought at 16's. I have found that before than the older the
clothes, the bigger the size I need. Over the years the pysical sizes have
gotten larger but the tags remained the same. I guess it's so the world
doesn't realize they are getting bigger. I know I was still wearing old
22's when I was buying 18-20's of new stuff.
<p>Like you said sometimes the old stuff gets stretched out, but
things like jeans etc. seem to shrink from all the washings. Obviously the
cut of the shirt has a lot to do with it.
— zoedogcbr
April 25, 2004
It's been my experience that the 1X is usually larger in waist by about 2
inches and hips and bust by at least one inch.
— Cathy S.
April 26, 2004
I used to work in the women's clothing field the difference is more in the
manufacturer than the size. The retailer gives the maker a reference of
what each size represents in measurements. Also more expensive clothing
usually runs smaller. Hope this helps...sharon
— Sharon L.
April 26, 2004
All clothing designers make their clothes in different sizes. Like
Michelle and some of the others, I have a closet ranging from extra small
to large, and from size 6 tops to size 14. Pants from size 8-12.
Designers will make clothing sizes smaller to try to get you to buy more,
after all, if I had a choice of a size 8 or 12..hmmm..which one would I
rather wear??! And as for consignment/thrift stores, even tho my weight
stablized over a year ago, I still shop there regularly for some great
designer bargains!
— Cindy R.
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