The definition of junior plus is simple. It's the sizes that can be tricky. The purpose of this guide is to explain the concept of junior plus size so buyers are more informed before making a purchase online.

A Brief History

The base of junior plus is juniors, clothing designed for teen girls. The sizes typically range from 1 to 13 and the styles are usually trendy, body conscious, and often inspired by the "it" girls with hit music videos.

Over the last few years, more companies began recognizing an under served market of teens size 14 and up. These were girls who wanted clothing just as trendy and stylish as those of their smaller sized peers, only in their size. So a new category was created to extend the sizes of juniors appropriately named junior plus.

Junior Plus vs. Women's Plus

The tag sizes of junior plus clothing will often read 1x, 2x, 3x (even 4x-5x) just like that of women's plus size clothing, but the fit of junior plus is generally smaller. For example, a size 3x dress in women's plus equals a size 24 whereas a 3x dress in junior plus may equal a size 22 or even smaller. This is because junior plus garments are usually cut slimmer in the bust and hip areas.

Although junior plus is generally smaller than women's plus size, that may not always be the case. More women in their 20s and 30s are buying junior plus clothing for themselves. This has prompted the plus size market to offer more styles with the trendy and body conscious look of junior plus, but with the sizing standards of women's plus.

Buyer Tips

So what should buyers look for prior to purchasing junior plus items online? First of all, read the item description carefully. A good listing will tell you whether the garment is indeed junior plus and should provide more details than just the tag size. Bust, waist, and hip measurements and any other information about how the garment may fit is always helpful.  Remember, you can also contact the seller with any further questions or concerns you may have regarding size. Lastly, make sure you understand the seller's return policy just in case that perfect item you receive is not a perfect fit.