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Original poster

Dress size vs weight?

413 replies

Beth24 · 24/04/2011 09:24

A.I.B.U. To not understand this? - lots of people talk in terms of being a size 16 and that being overweight and others as size 16 as being a healthy weight. Some seem to say that they are maybe 15 stone and a size 16 - I don't understand the parity between weight and dress size that some people have? Do they chose the smallest size they can fit into? Do they declare their dress size as being the largest item they need to buy? Could u please tell me how you judge it - for example - I am 5'4" - 11 stone - I am pear shaped (big bum but smaller waist) skirts I buy size 14 sometimes a 16, tops size 14 (hate anything tight only arms) but trousers always have to be a 16 (sometimes an 18) so they are not tight on my bum and then usually with a belt to stop the waist gaping. I therefore declare myself to be 11 stone and a size 16. - is that right? By BMI I am overweight so from that point not healthy but only a bit (!) so am going to be personal and ask what is your height and weight and what dress size would you declare yourself to be?

OP posts:
flowery · 27/05/2011 09:03

5'6" about 9.5 stone, size 8-10 on top 10 on bottom.

howabout · 27/05/2011 09:06

I am a 5'6" bag of bones (when not pregnant) with a bmi below 20. Due to said bones and commensurate broad shoulders and hips for my build I am a size 12 or above depending on the shop. I think dress size is irrelevant to issues of health and weight and the media's concentration on size 0 etc really annoys me. I had to quote my vital statistics to a distraught fitness mad teenager only last week to reassure her that you don't have to be a 10 and under.

candleduck · 27/05/2011 09:07

5'7" 59kg (9 stone 3?). Size 8. Huge boobs (breastfeeding) but they're hopefully on the way out - was an A/B cup before baby, now am a generous DD (and fed up with them!). Rest of me is very toned though so prob look like I weigh less than I do.

acumenin · 27/05/2011 09:07

5Dollar, I don't think it works quite like that. I'm around 5'9 and maybe 10-11 stone (no scales) and yes, am around a size 12, but it depends on the clothes. I have a broad back with muscled shoulders (I know Blush) and so I sometimes wear up to an 18 in tailored jackets, but down to easily an 8 in skirts because I have a small waist. I have clothing in every size from 8-18 in my wardrobe.

SmethwickBelle · 27/05/2011 09:12

5' 7'
9.5 stone
size 12/14

cushionyet · 27/05/2011 09:16

5'10, 9 stone, size 8-10

fatlazymummy · 27/05/2011 09:19

This is a very interesting thread, great to see all the variations.
My measurements are - height 5' 4'', weight 14st8llbs, wear size 18-20. Although to be honest I usually wear stretchy clothes, so I could be even bigger if I wore more fitted clothes.
Am currently doing something about it though!

BelleEnd · 27/05/2011 09:21

This is a very interesting thread. A couple of people on here who are my height, a few stones heavier than me but in a smaller size. The buggers Wink

5"11, 11st1 (recently come down from 13.5 stone) and a 12-14 (more of a 14 if I'm honest).

OTheHugeManatee · 27/05/2011 09:43

5ft 8, about 12st, size 14-16, but pear-shaped so depending on the cut sometimes size 18 trousers if I want a relaxed fit.

NewTeacher · 27/05/2011 09:47

5 ft 1.5"
9st 5lbs
10/12

Adversecamber · 27/05/2011 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ledkr · 27/05/2011 09:48

I think its how your body is.I was a size 14 pre pg about 12stone but am now a size 14-16 with about 1.5 extra flab baby weight still to lose.I have been a toned flat bellied 16 before but i am now a round flabby one Hmm

MizzyFizzy · 27/05/2011 09:54

5ft 4 - when stood up very straight!

10 st 10 lbs

Dress size - well this is where it gets confusing - size 10 hips - size 12 waist - size 14 bust/shoulders.

If dress buying have to get a 14 for bust/shoulders and take it in for my hips - otherwise I have acres of empty material around my butt!

I did a lot of manual jobs in my yoof so think this attributed to the disproportionate shoulders...am also very muscularly built in general.

Getting jeans that fit properly are a bloomin' nightmare!

rookiemater · 27/05/2011 10:01

5ft 5.5 , 10st 12 lb
I have been doing a lot of running lately ( half marathon last weekend) so lost a little weight but seem to have toned up a lot, size 12 top, size 12 bottoms if skirts, but size 14 for most trousers due to hips.

KristineKochanski · 27/05/2011 10:03

5"3
11st (currently trying to get that down as have piled back the weight I recently lost, oops!)
I'm a size 12 on the top, and a 12 or 14 on the bottom depending where I shop.

BulletWithAName · 27/05/2011 10:10

5ft 6
9st 10lbs (currently 3lbs over ideal weight)
Dress size...a 12 in jeans/anything no stretch, but a 10 in leggings/stretchy skirts.
On top, generally a 10, but anything stretchy an 8. Dresses vary from a 10-12 depending on style of dress and shop purchased.
I'm a 34 D hourglass, toned everywhere but have belly overhang Sad. Also have a 'black' arse (mixed race) and largish thighs which I have to work hard at or they run to fat. I have very slender arms and shoulders though.

BulletWithAName · 27/05/2011 10:11

Ooops that should be 36 D

bonkers20 · 27/05/2011 10:22

5'8"
8st 10lb
I wear mainly a size 10, but have some 8 as well.
Just did my BMI. It's 18.5.

I have been 9st +- ~5lb all my adult life (I'm 40). With both my pregnancies I put on 2 or 3 stone (I can't remember now) and lost it very quickly and then more (BF sucks the life out of me!). DS2 has just turned 2 and it's only in the last months I've crept back up to nearly 9st. I went below 8 1/2 for a while which was not a good look.
I am very toned as I run.

fotheringhay · 27/05/2011 10:28

5ft 4.5
8st 6lbs
size 8 top, size 10 bottom
Body shape is all-important - I've been as low as 7st 5lbs, doing loads of exercise, and still had a hefty/wobby bottom with cellulite (rest of me was very small though).
I wouldn't care what I weighed, if only I was in proportion (not fair!)
One day I expect we'll be able to scan in our body shape and cross-reference it woth online clothes shops, to find the perfect fit.
At the moment, most trousers/skirts are either too tight on the hips or too loose on the waist.

fotheringhay · 27/05/2011 10:29

Wobbly bottom I mean!

annoyingdevil · 27/05/2011 10:29

I have dropped a dress size - to a 16 - since joining the gym, For this reason, I assume for people like me (who do lots of excercise), BMI measurements are total nonsence.

I still as heavy as I ever was 5 '3 (13 stonish) Blush , but at least more of it is muscle these days

Nikkid21 · 27/05/2011 10:31

5ft 9
12 st
Size 12/14

I've got no boobs (36a) but broad shoulders, smallish waist and longer legs which means I always need longer length trousers. I carry my fat on a 'mummy pouch' on my tummy and gym 6 days a week just won't shift it.

milkand2sugars · 27/05/2011 10:50

5ft 2
9st 4
size 8 on top and 10 on bottom half

hiddenhome · 27/05/2011 10:58

5'4"

12 stone

Size 18/20 on top
Size 16 on bottom

(I have big knockers Sad)

Tortu · 27/05/2011 11:06

How interesting is this?

I have no idea what I weigh (phew!), but at 5, 4 I am the following sizes in these shops:

Next (size 8)
M and S (size 10)
Zara (size 12)
Jane Norman (size 14- well, if I was in any doubt before, I'm never going back there again!)