# Female Dopers: What is a Junior T-Shirt? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963 "2009-06-07T00:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/1 "2009-06-07T00:23:28Z")
I’m trying to buy my wife a birthday present, but I’m having a hard time figuring out female T-shirt sizing conventions. Over on the [NBC.com](http://NBC.com) merchandise site, they sell regular T-shirts (men’s) and something called “Junior T-shirts.” By the looks of them, these Junior T-shirts are fitted like women’s t-shirts but the name concerns me. Will these shirts fit an adult woman? I’ve also been browsing on CafePress and noticed that there is no apparent standard for women’s t-shirts. What’s the deal here? ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/2 "2009-06-07T01:08:44Z")
Women’s clothing sizes are a nightmare. “Junior” sizes tend to be made for teens – they can run smaller than similar sizes in the “Ladies” department, and the assumption tends to be that someone who wears junior sizes would prefer something that is a close fit. It’s like the difference between “regular” men’s dress shirts and “slim fit” dress shirts. When it comes to t-shirts, if it’s labeled “woman’s” or whatever, then it’s going to be shorter than the men’s/unisex shirts (usually meant to be worn out, not tucked in) and is probably made to be body-skimming rather than baggy. If short-sleeve, it’ll be a cap sleeve rather than a “regular” short sleeve. Any site that sells clothing should have a sizing chart. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/3 "2009-06-07T01:14:08Z")
I’ve found that the women’s t-shirts on zazzle and such run quite small. You have to buy a size up, and it will still be a tight fit. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/4 "2009-06-07T04:12:13Z")
Juniors are for young teens and flat-chested women. I take a small in women’s semi-fitted t-shirts and a large in juniors because juniors are _that_ tight in the chest. I’m only a C-cup so I feel bad for bustier chicks who’d like to wear the vintage Tees that **only** seem to come in junior sizes. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/5 "2009-06-07T04:13:41Z")
Thanks for the responses! > [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > “Junior” sizes tend to be made for teens – they can run smaller than similar sizes in the “Ladies” department, and the assumption tends to be that someone who wears junior sizes would prefer something that is a close fit. It’s like the difference between “regular” men’s dress shirts and “slim fit” dress shirts. Interesting. It’s weird that this particular site only offers men’s and junior’s t-shirts. It leads me to believe that the junior size is a stand-in for the women’s. However, based on what you’re saying, it may be even smaller than that. > [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > Any site that sells clothing should have a sizing chart. You’d think so, but I can’t find it on the NBC website. They’ve really gone downhill since they were acquired by Sheinhardt Wigs (30 Rock joke, since I’m shopping for a 30 Rock t-shirt). > [@dangermom](#): > > I’ve found that the women’s t-shirts on zazzle and such run quite small. You have to buy a size up, and it will still be a tight fit. Hmm. I may buy a size up and see what happens. If I buy two sizes up, I may get more flak than the goodwill the gift would generate in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/6 "2009-06-07T04:23:39Z")
Try emailing the site owner. I’ve had good luck with getting quick answers when ordering clothing online. FWIW, I’ve found that t-shirts from CafePress are true to size and of good quality. ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/7 "2009-06-07T07:51:09Z")
I’m female and even I don’t get what the heck they’re trying to do with our clothes sizing. 😛 But you could also do what I do, which is breaking out the measuring tape. Measure one of your wife’s favourite shirts and check it against the size chart on the site. A lot of sites that I’ve seen have diagrams that show where the measurements are taken on the clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/8 "2009-06-07T07:56:56Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Juniors are for young teens and flat-chested women. I take a small in women’s semi-fitted t-shirts and a large in juniors because juniors are _that_ tight in the chest. I’m only a C-cup so I feel bad for bustier chicks who’d like to wear the vintage Tees that **only** seem to come in junior sizes. Juniors sizes are also shorter than missy sizes. I believe that the average junior is supposed to be about 5’4", and the average missy is 5’7", but it’s been a while since I looked at the size charts. Then there’s women’s and women’s petite sizes, but I’m not even going to go into that mess. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/9 "2009-06-08T01:06:05Z")
According to CSGNetwork’s [Women’s Clothing Converter](http://www.csgnetwork.com/clothingwomenconv.html), Dress sizes depend on both height and figure type. A junior size corresponds to a height between 5’2" and 5’5" with a slender figure. A misses size corresponds to a height between 5’5" and 5’7" with a well proportioned figure. A women’s size corresponds to a height between 5’5" and 5’8" and a fuller and rounder figure. A half size is somewhat shorter than a misses size and a bit fuller and rounder. A petite size is somewhat shorter than a misses size, with heights running from 4’8" to 5’4". ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/10 "2009-06-08T03:31:42Z")
I wrote to the NBC-Universal customer service, like many of you suggested, and they got back to me in under two hours. Unfortunately, this is what they said: > [@](#): > > Since our clothing is produced by many different manufacturers, I’m afraid there is no single size chart which applies to all items. We apologize for the inconvenience. Ummm, thanks? It sounds like they just don’t care enough to bother with sizing charts. Anyway, thanks to everyone here. You were actually much more helpful than their customer service! ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/11 "2009-06-08T04:14:48Z")
Another thing to keep in mind is that junior sizes tend to be odd numbers: 5,7,9,11 etc, while misses and womens (cut even fuller, I think) are the evens: 4, 6, 8, 10 etc. So if you do happen to run across just numbers, you can tell them apart. It is goofy. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/12 "2009-06-08T06:58:43Z")
I wear a small in regular ladies’ shirts and an XL in juniors, hope that helps! ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dopers-what-is-a-junior-t-shirt/498963/13 "2009-06-08T14:46:53Z")
It depends. Does she wear her t-shirts fitted? I have a bigger chest and I still can wear the larger junior Ts. Just means that the shirt stretches over the boobs. Oh noes, a shirt shows off my curves! 😉