Thursday 23 May 2013

Plus size ladies: How big are your thighs?


I hope some of you will do me the favor of answering this quick survey, asking for you height, weight, and thigh measurement, and jeans-size :)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LMDKXNL

Why I'm curious:
When buying tights, it bothers me that they size chart is often based on height and weight (even rarely including hip-measurement) With such diversity in bodies, I feel like this can't possible be accurate size-advice. And I've seen the inaccurcy on my own body too: I know my thighs are proportionally larger than so many other women, so I always make sure to buy at least a size larger than recommended - yet, they are still too small.

For my last 2 tight purchase, I've payed extra attention to how I matched their sizing chart:

I bought pairs from WeLoveColors: I weigh 225lbs, and I'm almost 5'9", so their 3X size ought to be enough - I could even have had 35lbs more on a 2" shorter body (thus, you'd expect the body to be wider), and my hip measurement of 49" was also within the limit - I opted for the 4X, though, which ought to fit someone who is 105lbs heavier than me while being 3" shorter - additionally, the hip-measurement is for "over 50" - they don't state how much 'over', but their other sizes can accomodate a difference between 8"-10", so I'd think these were up to 58"ish, which is much larger than me.

But, you guessed it, when they arrived, they were too small at the thigh.

I also purchased from Evans - their sizing chart puts me in a 'size 2', which is for 49"-55" hips (so I'm the smallest hip they are made for), a height of 5'7"-5'10" (So I'm smack in the middle). Yet again, I opt for a larger size, which is made for hips up to 62" (they even recommend that if you are under 5'4", you should take the smaller size, even if your hip still measures 62")

Yet, again, too small: I couldn't even get them over my knee!

It might just be me who is build in such a way no tight-producer even thought of, but I still find it difficult to believe that they would fit the majority of people they say they do. Thus, I want to use this survey, to see just how different sized thighs we have, even if we fit the same criteria for hip and height/weight!

7 comments:

  1. My measurements for height, weight & hip are exactly the same as yours. My thigh measures 27" around the fullest part, just at the top. And I have exactly the same experience trying to find tights. Going up the size chart only results in longer & longer - but still narrow - tights. It really feels like there is just vertical stretch & no horizontal.My mom is 5'4" & complains of the same fit problem.

    I do not encounter this problem with cotton leggings, so I wear these exclusively, with everything from casual short summer dresses to tailored wool skirts.

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    Replies
    1. My thigh measures 34", also right at the top - so the fact that someone with so much smaller thighs than me have the same problems really show that I will never have much luck!

      I've also found that thicker/wool/cotton tights, rather than nylon, are often larger - I suppose they are actually 'knitted' as a shape of a leg, rather than just hoping the nylon will accomodate both ankle and thigh? Hmm!

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  2. Oh no hon... it is not you. There is something wrong with the way that so many tights-producers identify their sizes. I am not too far off in size from you and I have found that anyone who lists their sizes in a table like the ones you linked to should be held suspect. The only companies that have a remote chance of fitting are ones that make a chart like this http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/donna-karan-sheer-satin-ultimate-toner-hosiery/3036025?origin=sizechart&tn=Sizeandfit_popup and if I am close to the boarder then I need to size up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But even then - I'd expect a 6footer who weights 180 to have a lot thinner thighs than a 5'1" lady who weighs 240 - to put that into perspective of how the height and weight realates, one is in the normal bmi, whereas the other is in class 3 of obesity (as defined by BMI).

      My ideal size chart would be with inseam and thigh measurement. I can't see how much else would truly tell us anything about the leg.

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  3. Oh yes, my dreaded big thighs...I think I was conscious about them even before my big boobs and it's been a looooong time! It's a nightmare trying to find trousers that fit my tights comfortably without a lot of gaping at the waist. Finding tights/stockings is so hard as well! And whilst on the subject, I am so happy I actually decided to start wearing leggings under short dresses and also kind of "short leggings" under any skirt or dress in warm weather because I get really painful chaffing.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, the shorts under dresses is a life-saver! I also love it, as I can then wear extra short dresses, and not worry about exposing my bum if I bend down or something :b But so often, cotton leggins stick to my cotton dresses :/ So unless they have a bit of structure to them, they will stick to my shorts like velcro!

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  4. LOL. This is true mainly when there is some poly in the mix. I bought one pair like this. One. I was at work when 8 experienced this & fixed the problem by rubbing hand lotion lightly over my leggings. Static broken.

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