Twelve is not a plus size, if things aren’t radically different from a few years ago. The average American woman is typically now a size 16, which make the 12 to 16 range normal. Not plus. I find this wordplay insulting to the consumer, who is no fool. For a good many women getting to a 14 or 12 would be heaven if they are on a reduction program. I’ve been an 18, no stranger to this. We women tend to obsess about our size number even as designers fiddle with actual garment measurements , making it damned near impossible to figure out what you’re up against. If you find a line you love, if it gets bought out, all bets are off.

As a species we are trending larger. You would think that manufacturers would smell the money, rather than pinch their noses and their out a few selection s. Every woman I know large, small or anything else wants to think what she’s wearing isn’t going to also be on six other women in the room. Being large doesn’t kill off fashion sense, a love of fine fabric and a flattering drape.