What numeric sizes and 1X–6X actually mean
Numeric sizes (10W-44W) and letter sizes (S-6X) label the same body measurements. Here's how to move between them without guessing.
Numeric and letter sizes are two labels for the same measurements
Numeric sizes (like 22/24) and letter sizes (S-6X) are two ways of labeling the same body measurements. Woman Within sells both across our product assortment. Always check the garment’s own Size Chart before you order, once you're compared your body measurements.
Each label is shorthand for a range of bust, waist, and hip measurements. A garment’s size range is set style by style, not from one master chart across the whole assortment — so a knit tee and a woven pant can define “1X” or “22” slightly differently, even within the same brand.
Why your top and bottom sizes don’t match
Your top size and your bottom size don’t have to match, and it isn’t a sign you’re between sizes. Each style is cut from its own fit block, so the measurement range that becomes a 1X in a stretch knit tee isn’t necessarily the range that becomes an 18W in a woven pant.
That’s why a shopper who wears a 2X on top and a 16 on the bottom, or an 18–20 in one style and a 1X in another, isn’t doing anything wrong — she’s seeing two independently built size guides. Order each piece against its own size chart rather than trying to match a number across categories.
How to find your size without guessing
Work from your unique body measurements first, that garment’s Size Chart second, and your usual size last, as a good rule of thumb when ordering.
Measure your bust, waist, and hip with a soft tape, over the kind of layer you actually plan to wear underneath.
- Compare those numbers to the Size Chart listed on that specific product page — not a chart from a different style or brand.
- If you land between two sizes, size up for a woven style with less give, or size down in a stretch knit; always check the fabric before you ultimately decide.
Your usual size is a useful sanity check on the chart’s answer. It isn’t a substitute for reading the Size Chart, because sizing isn’t identical from style to style — that variation is exactly why the garment’s own numbers win.
What 1X–6X means on a Woman Within label
On a Woman Within tag, 1X-6X may marks a stretch-knit or relaxed-cut size range, and the same size can also offer a different inseam or garment length option too, depending on the style.
Our Stretch Cotton Bike Short is cut S-6X in a cotton-and-spandex knit, with a fixed 9-inch inseam at every size. The Capri Pull-On Leggings are also sized S-6X, but the inseam changes by length: about 18 inches in Average and 16 inches in Petite. The Perfect Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tee is sized by length and alpha-numeric sizes both — Women's runs 28 inches, Petite 26 inches. Length, not just the size on the tag, will help to dictate where this tee will hit on your body.
Many of our knit styles also come in Average, Petite, and Tall options, so the same letter size can sit differently on you depending on which length you pick. That’s the detail our Size Chart states and a size number alone never can. Start with our best-selling styles, which list a size chart on every product page.
| Style | Size Range as listed | What changes by length |
|---|---|---|
| Stretch Cotton Bike Short | S–6X | Fixed 9-inch inseam at every size |
| Capri Pull-On Leggings | S–6X | Average: 18-inch inseam; Petite: 16-inch inseam |
| Perfect Short-Sleeve V-Neck Tee | Regular and Petite lengths | Regular: 28-inch length; Petite: 26-inch length |
| 7-Day Straight-Leg Knit Pant | Average, Petite, Petite Short, and Tall | Inseam runs from 26 to 33 inches depending on length |
Sizing Terms worth knowing
Frequently asked questions
What does 42 or 44 mean exactly? Is it a size?
Yes — 42 and 44 are numeric sizes, the same kind of label as 22 or 26. They correspond to a bust, waist, and hip range set by that specific garment, so check the product’s own size chart rather than assuming the number alone.
Is a 2X the same as an 18–20?
Often close, but not guaranteed. Many Woman Within styles overlap 2X with an 18–20 range, but the exact match depends on the garment. Compare your measurements to that product’s chart instead of assuming the two labels line up.
Does 6X mean the same thing in every brand?
No. A letter size describes a measurement range that each brand — and often each garment — sets on its own. A 6X here won’t necessarily match a 6X elsewhere, so always check the size chart for the specific piece you’re buying!
What size is a 40 DD in an S, M, L, XL sizing guide?
Bra sizing relies predominantly on band and cup measurements, not the numeric or letter sizing used for tops, dresses and bottoms. A 40 DD won’t translate directly to an S–XL scale — always view the bra’s own band-and-cup size chart instead.