Is size 12 seen as "big" generally?

[piperoo1095]

Hi all,

Not trying to cause controversy here as I am genuinely interested. But do most people consider a UK size 12 to be "big"? I only ask because I see a lot of posts online at people "horrified" that they reached a size 12 and to me it's never seemed bad at all. Perhaps I've been living under my nice little rock of ignorance. Of course I'm sure height and build plays a massive role too!

@Usedphone where are the clothes from?

I love the pink dress, where is it from, if you don't mind?

@Ineffable23 I THINK I got that from Ax Paris

Trousers are Reiss, cardigan is Scotch & Soda, body/top is Victoria Secrets (a 32 band)

@ohime I'm 5'7" and weigh 143lb (erm can't ever really figure out how to calculate stone, sorry.

10st 4
Divide by 14 (what genius decided to set up U.K. imperial units using 12 for ft and inches, 14 for stones, 16 for pounds and 20 for fluid ounces to pints?!).
Obviously few people learn the 14 times table but for numbers in the 140s it's very easy, just 10x14 and then whatever is left over in pounds.

Rational people use kg nowadays, obviously!

The perception of size between the US and U.K. is interesting...the average height of women is currently the same at 5'3.5". However, there are stats for different racial groups in the US with 'Non Hispanic white' women averaging 5'5"

So perceptions in the US may vary depending on whether you're in a predominantly white or Latino area perhaps.

When I was in my teens in the 70s, I measured 34-24-36 and was a size 12. My best friend measured 32-22-34 and was a size 10. Dress sizes have changed so much over the intervening decades, and here I am, quite a bit bigger than I was then, yet still buying a 12.

Size 12 is as average as it gets, just like size 5 feet. That's why you won't find anything size 12 in a sale or outlet store.

You are definitely not big

I know not everyone is comfortable posting photos, but I think it’s useful to show how much variance there is within a label size, due to height, build, style of dress etc which makes it a fairly meaningless measure of “big”.

Here’s me in my size 12 jeans (from Gap). Excuse the crappy photo quality; I hardly ever take selfies!

You are very slim. No one could say you're big.

Well exactly! As I said in a pp, I’m tall so my pelvis and shoulders are probably proportionally bigger than someone who is 8 inches shorter, but I don’t think I’m carrying too much weight. I know lots of people are critical of BMI, but it does at least take height into account and so is a better measure than dress size, which has changed over time and varies wildly from shop to shop (or even within a shop: Hello H&M!)

I don't get this thread.

Everyone seems to agree that for the woman of average height a size 12 is not big.
Some shorter people said they would look big.
Small framed people have said they would feel big.
It's accepted that there is huge variation in sizes of people.

What are we even talking about?

It's simple size 12 isn't large unless you're short.

Size 12 is literally “medium”. I don’t think it’s big.

This a million times over. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there was no size 8 or size 6 back in the 70s?

For comparison, nowadays in my 20s, I'm 30B-22-36, and I'm a UK size 4-6 on top and 6-8 on bottom. So in the 1970s I'd have been a size 10.

One thing I will say though is that people have gotten taller over the last 50 years....there are now lots of girls who are 5ft 7 +

@bjkhilg890 no, there was no size back then. My sister who was teeny tiny had to have size 10s altered to fit her.

@bjkhilg890 no size 6 or 8 I meant.

Nice to look back 6 months ago on this thread when I only dreamed of being a size 12 and now I'm a size 12-14, medium, after spending my whole adult life in sizes 16-20.

I’m 5ft 2 and would look huge as a size 12. I’m petite and work out so maintain a size 8. So women around my height and a little taller a 12 is bigger yes and I have never been that big and wouldn’t want to be. However women taller and broader who are a 12 are absolutely not bigger, so it really depends on height !

What’s your BMI? I’m 5’ 2.5” and my BMI is 21/22 and I’m a 10-12 and not huge at all.

Of course not. Only in fashion and Hollywood.

I'm 5ft2.5 BMI is like 28.5 these days.... And I'm a size 10, granted I'm muscular

I've been a size 12 forever - but dream of being a size 10! 😄

Can't see that happening anytime soon

Where are you buying your clothes? I’m a similar height with a BMI of less than 21 now and wear a size 10, sometimes a 12.

If you are over 5’4 I think a size 12 UK is the perfect size. It’s healthy and normally within BMI and slim but not boney.