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Did you know we offer technical outdoor apparel from extended and women’s plus size options from XXS – 4X to 16W – 24W? These sizes create opportunities to get more people outside, but that starts with finding your best fit. Confused on the difference between size options? We'll cover all of that as well as the reason why we decided to focus more on women's technical apparel. Read on below.
What's A Straight Size?
“Straight” sizes refer to sizes small through large for women, or sizes 0-14. Straight sizes are more commonly found in U.S. retailers than extended and plus sizes, though it’s more and more common for an average adult woman to fall into the plus size range. That’s why carrying additional size options is more important now than ever.What’s the Difference Between Plus Sizes and Extended Sizes?
Extended sizes are built from the base pattern of straight sizes, which is commonly a size medium. Typically, that means taking the base size and expanding it to fit larger or smaller bodies. Extended sizes are written in the form of XS, XXS, XL, or XXL. These sizes will have a shape very similar to straight sizes, with a similar hip to waist ratio in all sizes.
Plus sizes, on the other hand, are built to fit a fuller waist, which is more common in plus size body types. In addition to starting with a different hip to waist ratio, plus size grading also accounts for the way that other proportions and body shapes change as size increases. These sizes are written in the form of 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, and beyond. Numeric sizes are written as 18W-24W.
Outdoor Research Ambassador Megan Banker explains why it’s important to adjust that base pattern to a new person because of how shapes change:
“With all brands, not just outdoor brands, as you start to size away from that medium [base pattern of straight sizes], the proportions get weird. You end up with pants that have huge bottoms or shirts that have shoulders that are too tight.”
Does That Mean an XXL and a 2X are the Same Thing? What About a XXXL and 3X?
Nope! Even though “XX” might seem to mean “2” just as “XXX” could make sense written as “3,” the way these sizes are written are what differentiates their base patterns: Extended vs. Plus.
What Is 2XL or 3XL?
Traditionally, 2XL and 3XL were intended to be shorthand for XXL and XXXL. However, with the increasing availability of plus sizing, these abbreviations led to confusion and are no longer used here at Outdoor Research.
Now That We’ve Launched Plus Sizes, What’s Next?
We’ve had such a tremendous response to the launch of our plus sizes and extended sizes. And, our community keeps wanting to know what’s coming next. Here’s what we know.
Will there be more men’s sizes, petite sizes, big and tall sizes, or maternity sizes? We chose to focus on women’s plus size apparel because we found that this group was drastically underserved when it came to technical outdoor gear. Right now, we plan to continue our focus on this group until we’ve fulfilled their needs.
What about other underserved groups? There’s still so much opportunity to create great gear that gets more people outside. We’re actively looking for ways to do that – whether it’s for people of different genders, ages, abilities, cultures, and more.
Do you have the next great gear idea? Reach out to our customer service team at info@outdoorresearch.com with your product ideas and we’ll make sure it gets in the right hands.
Shop Extended Sizes
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07-Dec-2023 Story by Outdoor Research | 3 Min. Read | Stories
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FAQs
What’s The Difference Between Plus Size, Extended Size, and Straight S? ›
Extended sizes are written in the form of XS, XXS, XL, or XXL. These sizes will have a shape very similar to straight sizes, with a similar hip to waist ratio in all sizes.
Plus-size clothing is generally considered a women's size 18 and beyond. “Missy” or “straight” sizes range from 00–16/18, XXS–XXL whereas plus sizes range from 12W–28W, 0X–4X and greater. You might think plus sizes are just extended straight sizes, but guess again.
What is extended plus-size? ›Extended plus size is designed to provide more inclusive sizing options for individuals who typically have a hard time finding clothing that fits properly. This type of sizing offers an extended range of sizes, usually up to 4X or 5X depending on the brand.
What does "extended size" mean? ›Extended sizes are built based on the straight sizing pattern and refer to sizes XXS, XS, XL and XXL (0-4 AND 16-20). This means that the “base pattern” was adjusted to fit smaller and larger bodies. They will have a similar shape to the straight sizes, with a similar hip-to-waist ratio.
Is plus-size 16 the same as normal 16? ›When it comes to the fashion industry, "plus size" generally refers to clothing labeled size 14 and up in the United States, although this varies by brand and may start anywhere from size 12 to 18. In the UK, it's typically size 16 and up, and in Europe, the sizes usually begin at 44 and up.
What is a straight size midsize plus-size? ›Straight sizes are generally considered to be 0 to 8, and plus sizes are conventionally known as 16 and up. That would put the midsize range from 10 to 14.
Is XL a straight size? ›Extended sizes are written in the form of XS, XXS, XL, or XXL. These sizes will have a shape very similar to straight sizes, with a similar hip to waist ratio in all sizes. Plus sizes, on the other hand, are built to fit a fuller waist, which is more common in plus size body types.
What is a straight-sized body? ›Apparently, it means “not fat” or “size US 10 or UK 12 or below” and seems to be coined by the fashion industry, but also seems to be more recently adopted by eating disorder professionals' language in what appears to be an attempt to be inclusive, HAES aligned, and social justice oriented.
What is a 3XL plus-size? ›The Plus 3XL has room for an extra 2 inches around the waist. So, if you are heavier in the waist area go for the Plus 3XL because it will be a looser fit.
Is 2X the same as XXL? ›The sizing of XXL and 2X can vary between brands, but generally, they both refer to larger sizes in clothing. However, some brands might use different sizing conventions. XXL typically represents extra-extra-large, while 2X might signify the same size, depending on the brand's sizing standards.
What sizes are considered plus size? ›
According to PLUS Model magazine, "In the fashion industry, plus size is identified as sizes 18 and over, or sizes 1X-6X and extended size as 7X and up". The article continues "Susan Barone [...] shared, 'Plus sizes are sizes 14W – 24W.
What weight range is plus size? ›Female measurements: Plus-size women working in modeling are usually a size 12 and above. Their weight should typically be between 161 and 205 pounds, with a chest size of 41” to 45”.
Are 3X and 3xL the same? ›A: They are both women sizes: 3x and xxxl are the same except xxxl has longer sleeves and the body of the item is longer because the (l) in the xxxl usually stands for long. Sometimes you will also see xxxl listed as 3xL. Thank you for your feedback! We failed to record your vote.
What is the difference between 16W and 16 plus? ›The W is for Women's, which is another way of saying plus size. The “W” sizes are fitted for plus size specifically, whereas sizes like 14 and 16 in the same brand were likely fitted on a straight-size fit model.
Is a plus size 14 the same as a regular 14? ›14 is misses and 14W is plus sized. 14W is larger and meant for a chubbier build. It is usually fuller in the bust and hips and allows more room in the waist, upper arms, and thighs.
How do you know if you're plus size? ›A plus size is supposed to be anything above size 12. Seriously. That's, like, most of the United States. Yet fashion designers, retail buyers and retail stores have been really slow to catch onto this fact.
Is size 10 or 12 considered a plus size? ›The lack of mid-size women wearing a 10, 12 or 14 is apparent. And if they are there, they're considered plus-size. Ashley Graham, widely regarded as one of the world's most famous “plus-size” models, is a size 14.
How do you know if you are plus size or not? ›Clothing stores can make it difficult to put a number on plus-size. Some departments may designate a size 12 as plus-size while others use a size 14. But according to Modeling Wisdom, plus-size models often fall into the range of sizes 8 to 12. Sometimes, even a size 6 can be considered.
What's the difference between plus size and overweight? ›Body mass index (BMI) is often used to determine if someone is obese, but it is not a perfect measure and can be misleading. Plus-size, on the other hand, simply refers to someone who is larger than the average size for their height.
Is plus size more expensive? ›The cost of bigger clothes
Producing plus-size clothing can cost a little more, but the extra expense isn't as much about additional materials as it is research and development, Downing Peters said.