Clothes sizing is mental

[BorgQueen]

I’m an 18 according to size charts but usually go for a 20 for comfort.
I’ve now ordered seven pairs of cotton cycle style anti chafing shorts , new look size 22 fits so I ordered size 24 and 26 because I bloat up in the heat and hate tight waistbands.
The 24 and 26 from new look are exactly the same waist size as the 22 😡 but 2 inches longer in the leg so touching my knees.
I ordered size 26 from cotton traders and they are unwearable, tiny cut you in half waist, badly cut so they are down at the back and like bump cover maternity wear at the front 😳 and awful scratchy cotton.

I’m waiting on some from curve wow so we’ll see how they fit.
I must have spent £30 on p+p alone.

The only ones that fit in the way I want ( loose, wide waistband I can roll down to hips and loose around the leg ) are ones from Next in a 26 but they aren’t cotton and are quite thick material so I can wear them as shorts but not under a lightweight dress.

Perhaps you’ve put on weight?

I don't think it's the sizing necessarily but how you want them to fit which is unrealistic. I have never owned cycle shorts or leggings which were loose on the leg and where I could roll down the waistband.

Like you, I normally size up for comfort, but not in leggings or cycle shorts.

Snag tights are great

I’ve got 2 different types of cycling shorts from new look, some very short and some longer and haven’t had any issues with my normal size, sometimes a size down.

They’re not meant to be loose anywhere so I think you’re wanting them to fit in a way they’re not meant to.

Popsy anti chafe shorts are great my sizing sounds like yours and I wear the size 4 of theirs and they fit perfect. They’re not cotton but like tights material but I find them great under summer dresses

I think from your description it's bloomers you want! Cycle style shorts are always tight fitting for everyone regardless of size.

I try not to buy online now if I have to pay for returns as women's sizing is so ridiculous. I bought two bras this week, same brand, size and cut, one fits, one is way too small on the band and cup. Size charts say I should be much bigger than I am when I actually put clothes on. One size from the same shop often fit differently it's ridiculous. I can be three different sizes in one shop. Why can't we just have a simple 30" waist 38" chest on clothes sizing like men.

The Next shorts are perfect for my needs fit-wise but they aren’t cotton.

Can’t stand wearing tights, so snag etc. are a no go, no matter how big.

If my New look size 26 ones were sized how they are supposed to be, i.e. bigger at the waist than the 22s, they would be fine - they are at least 10cms smaller at the waist than my Next ones.

I’m wearing them now and stretching the waist in anticipation of the next heat wave!
You can actually get old fashioned bloomers but they don’t have a wide, flat waistband so wouldn’t be any good plus they have wide flappy legs.

I haven’t put weight on, I have a pair of structured trousers with no stretch in size 20 and they are fine, plenty of room at the waist.
I just seem to swell up in the heat and can’t stand anything on my stomach, that’s why the Next ones are so good, I can roll them over to my hips and they don’t show through a dress or top because they’re perfectly flat with no gather.

You say you’re a size 18 but not once do you refer to buying anything size 18

You usually buy a size 20
and in this thread you buy 22 24 26.

All I’m saying is maybe you aren’t a size 18 anymore

Would you be this adamant that the op had gained weight if she had said she was a size 8 but wears a 10 for comfort instead of an 18 who wears a 20?

Op, I know what you mean - I size up too because I have some sensory issues. I don't know if that is the case for you too? It has nothing to do with my weight 🙄. I just cannot bear things like belts or thong underwear <shudders>

Generally the size guides have measurements attached to the item. Just go off your measurements in future.

I’m an 18 according to size charts

First sentence of the op

If I buy a size up they fall down… I think that’s what people are saying. If they stay on normally that is your size as they aren’t too big… shorts that were too big for me would fall off me.

So the Op says she’s size 8
But buys size 10
struggled to fit in to 12,14,16?

well, yes I would

You’re right. I’ve done the thing I hate the most and become one of those redundant commenters who didn’t read something properly.

Sorry Op I’ll go make myself write lines in recompense.

If an 18 doesn’t generally fit you across several stores then you aren’t an 18.

Yanbu i bought 3 pairs of trousers all for work exact same size, style, shop and one pair doesn't fit, one pair fits tight and one pair fits perfectly.

Yes, definite sensory issues.

I can’t wear a bra for the same reason, hate tightness around my ribcage.
I size down to a 16 with ribbed vests to wear instead. It’s rare I can even find a stretchy ‘comfort bra’ that’s comfy.

I literally want the shorts hanging off me, I don’t want them close fitting, I haven’t put on weight and am kidding myself 😉

H&M do free delivery and returns to store, so they might be worth a try.
The XXL here says size 24-26

Would it be worth trying swim shorts instead of cycle shorts as they are usually a loose fit.

Unless you have no hips, something stretchy 2 sizes too big would not ‘fall off’ , because hips are generally 10 inches bigger than your waist.

sizing is ridiculously unconsistent. I gave up odering online, unless I re-order an item.

(I like the uniqlo airism shorts)

The thread’s gone a bit off topic.
Surely people can agree that in no reality should size 26 waistbands be exactly the same size as size 22 waistbands?

Well, Curvewow have actually delivered, I ordered 26-28 and they are perfect for my needs, the waistband is only 1 inch deep but I can forgive that, I can actually roll them down withought stretching the elastic to sit on my hips for when I can’t bear anything touching my stomach and they are nice and loose around my legs so will let the air flow when wearing a dress, they are thick enough to not need knickers as well. I also ordered 2 pairs of boy short knickers and they are equally suitable, shame they aren’t quite long enough to wear under dresses because the cycle shorts are on my knees.
Again though, there is only maybe 3cm difference in the waist to an old pair of size 22 I now use as pj’s - can’t remember where from because I have to cut all labels out of clothes, the joys of having sensitive skin🙄