Hello all. My daughter is on the chunky side - not really fat, but too big to wear regular size clothes at the stores. For the last several years we've bought from the plus size girls section at JC Penney. We are looking for a bathing suit, and they've really got ugly stuff this year, so I was thinking of trying to move up to Junior size clothes for her - at least for the suit. So my question is - does anyone know what sizes compare to what? Like if she wears an 18.5 in girls, what size would that equal to in juniors size? We've looked several times, and the girls departments just aren't cutting it this season.....besides what is up with all the hoochie looking swimsuits for little girls!
I don't have a suggestion for the suit, but I definitely agree with everything being so hoochie this year!
You have gotten some good answers for swimwear. As for fitting her in regular clothes, do you sew or know someone who does? I had a daughter that wore DD and couldn't fit into the juniors even size 15 with her size. I went to fabric store and bought the fabric and made the suit to fit. Good luck to you. The other S. I, too, remember be a plus size kid and having problems with clothes and this was back in the 60s - no fun.
That is very hard to figure out! We go to Justice - they have half sizes - if you buy 12 1/2 it is the length of a 12, but the waist of 16, and so on... That is what we found works, swimsuits you just have to try on.
I don't have the issue with my daughter at all, however....
I am very petite and I have natural perky DD's. I have a hard time finding a suit that fits.
My daughter and I go to the mall to the Swim stores that sell pieces separately. I buy a large top for my boobs and than I can get my size 2 for my rear.
These stores have decent suits. We both wear the bikinis and I am not that modest but I have seen suits there which are not "hoochie". My daughter is very picky and she always finds a suit at one of these stores that she feels comfortable in. She likes the bikinis but not too revealing and good for swimming.
Good luck
I'm not shopping for girls that age yet, but a few years ago, I gave up on swimsuits and went to the athletic wear section. I was able to purchase work-out shorts (like bike shorts) and the matching tank top with bra inside, and it has worked GREAT for me for a few years now! Plus, the lines on the design of the work-out gear are constructed to make you look a little slimmer, so it actually helps how I feel I look, instead of showing off every bulge like a swimsuit does.
I also found cute separates at Kohl's one year in the women's section - they had very small sizes too, and they probably have a good selection in the girls and juniors sections too. I liked their tank-top styles, because they actually covered my stomach. Good luck!
The bad thing about junior sizes is 1) the small sizes are for very slim teenagers...so they don't really compare to any of the girl sizes and 2) the higher up in junior size you go the more you get sizes to fits girls with larger breasts and hips. Unfortunately when I first went to a junior size I found the girls sizes didn't fit me at all. It's been many years, but the sizes just are comparable for the most part. You could always just go and try something on, but if you think the girls bathing suits are hoochie, you won't find anything much better in juniors. My sister is a junior size and all she can find half the time is bikini's in the junior department. Sometimes they have the 2 piece ones but most of them are probably going to be just as hoochie as the ones in the girls department. Good luck!
You might try Old Navy, the Gap, or online. You can google modest children's swimsuits and get a fair selection.
Try Land's End. We have the same problem with my daughter and I get almost all of her clothes through their website. Also Old Navy online sells Plus Size girls stuff.
Try Lands End catalog. www.landsend.com
They have a TON of sizes for kids, regular, slim, plus and their clothes are made well. Sometimes you pay a little more, but you are paying for the quality and cut.
My daughter has the same dilemma. I buy juniors as well. I actually found a very cute suit this year at Belk in the ladies sections. However, I have found that I need to buy a 9-11 in juniors. Good luck, I know how hard it is to shop with a little girl that can not wear the things her friends are wearing. It can make for a very long day!
You may want to check out Land's End. You can take your daughter's measurements and then compare it to their chart and order the exact right size. Plus, their suits are conservative (colors and styles). They have the two piece separates - which I love. They also have (for kids) shirts that give more skin protection (which I love for my kids).
Good luck!
L.
A great store for her is CATO! Please take her there. They have trendy clothing, not old lady looking clothes. They have junior sizes and women sizes so she can find what fits best. I love CATO because the pants/shorts seem to be cut for the curvy figure no matter what size you are. They don't carry swim suits, but my daughter found one at Aeropastle that has long shorts and looks cute on her. Best of luck!
I do not have daughters, so I have not tried this myself, but a friend recently told me that she was having trouble finding clothes for her pre-teen "chunky" daughter. She said that the junior sizes were too long. She had more success looking in the women's petite sizes. I think she said that her daughter wore an 8 or 10 petite. I know that swimsuits are often very skimpy and so I usually buy a much larger size than what I wear in regular clothes. The best thing to do is try them on and don't worry about the size, just the fit.
I second the idea of wearing shorts over your suit. It is hard to find a suit that doesn't reveal too much. I see lots of girls (even slim ones) wearing cute gym shorts over their swim suit.
I totally agree with the hoochie suits, we are having a terrible time finding my daughter a suit that covers more than just her nipples!!!!
My daughter wears a size 14 regular or 16 slim, in jr clothes we buy her a 1-3 so I'm thinking you should try a 7 or 9 for your daughter. Last year I had my daughter try on a couple at the store to see what size she needed, then we bought a cute tankini that covered her whole body from shoulders to shorts online in the size we knew she needed. I think we're going that route again this year.
I was watching the Today show on Saturday and they had a sag on bathing suits. They said if your planning to buy a bathing suit you should go two sizes larger due to the suits being so small. I would say buy your daughter a XXL in juniors. Or you can always have her try it on at the store. Good luck.
Have you tried Gymboree I think they have plus sized. Also Gymboree clothes run big. I am not sure what size in juniors are comparable with girls, but you might look online for sizing chart.
Have you tried Lmited, Too? they go up to a 20 in girls. I shopped there for my daughter until she really sprouted. Now, she wears a 12-13 in juniors. Target may have some nice one pieces, too.
Hi: I do know that Justice and Limited Too also carry girls plus size. I didn't know if you knew this or not.
A.,
I have the same problem with my granddaughter. We are now buying her clothes in Jr sizes 9/10. Also, a heads up, Old Navy has clothes that will fit like jeans that have a bigger waste and not so long.
