Complete Sizing Confusion!

[Guest SoYon Yoo]

Hello, all...

I'm having some serious issues trying to figure out my clothing sizes. Like, I'm finding all the sizing charts and I think I understand them, but when I go to buy clothes (all my shopping is online), their sizes are totally different.

So, I use breast forms, and with them, here are my measurements:

Bust: 42" (107cm)

Waist: 36" (91cm)

Hips: 37" (94cm)

Chest (under breasts): 38" (97cm)

Height: 5'10"

My bra size is 38c, I know.

The sizing chart at Lauras-Playground (http://www.lauras-playground.com/size_chart.htm) tells me that my size is X-Large 18. Is that right? I've seen some charts that say that since I'm 5'10", I should be looking in the 'Tall' section. But, most online stores don't offer 'Tall' as a sizing category. So like, should I just go by "Regular Size 18?" So... would this top fit me most likely (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310278315331&_trksid=p1000007.m2000041)?

And, how about my pants size? I found something online that gave me a formula which told me my pant size is 15x30. I have a pair of men's pants size 36x32 that fit me perfectly without a belt. Ok, so... I go to eBay and browse the Women's Clothing > Pants category. In the left pane, under "Waist Size," should I pick 36? If so, the highest number they have to choose from is 33. I have a pair of jeans that are tight on me, but they fit comfortably. They came from a Japanese girl who wasn't large at all, so it stands to reason that there must be pants in that size widely available. The tag on those pants say "NEWMAX," then has the sizes as "Brazil: 42, USA: 8." What is "8?" I also have a skirt that fits me, and the tag on those says, "11 Junior."

And, I'm totally lost on my dress size...

Please help!

[Guest Opal]

Hello SoYon,

Welcome to Laura's! Nice to have you join here. There is a lot of useful information on site, plus many wonderful people here to get to know through polite conversation.

If you have not already done so, please read through the 'Terms and Conditions' page found near the top of most any Forum page. We are a PG-13 site, and these rules are in place to make it safe for everyone.

Hope you will come over to the Introductions Forum and introduce yourself there. We have cookies and cocoa over there as well!

In answer to your question about sizing, they do in fact vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, plus they can sometimes vary within the same company! Others here have found they have the best luck going in and actually trying something on. Talk about scary!

I have had mixed luck on eBay myself with the sizes presented. Have had really good luck so far with

www.jms.com

and their sizing chart. I am currently between a 16 and 18 and Tall sizes seem to work, but hard to find. Maybe JC Penneys still carries talls.

If you have a Goodwill store nearby, that is a source for inexpensive clothing to try. Again, the sizes printed on the garment will vary. Perhaps you can get someone to go with you.

Again, wish to welcome you!

Huggs,

Opal

[Guest Emily Ray]

SoYon Yoo,

Wecome to Laura's! Womens sizes are all together different than mens sizing. And even if you knew your size manufactures seem to all fit different which makes buying clothing online very hard. The good news is you know your Bra size and I would venture to say that you are a 10 dress size.

Women's clothing is divided into three groups Women's, Juniors, and Misses. These names refer to the age of the person it was intended for. You might find pajamas in misses with a hanah montana theme and in juniors a Mickey Mouse theme and in womens no grafix's at all. The one skirt you have that fits is a size 11 and was bought from the junior department of a store.

Next item the size. Womens clothes comes in three different heights and they are petite, regular, and long. You are 5'10" which means you can wear regular. 5'4" and below are petite. 5'11" and above are long. I am 6' and I can usually buy regular. It is the most common size and if it doesn't say long or petite it is regular.

Women's pants sizes go by you wais t measurement at your natural waist. Which is found by bending to the side and seeing wher the crease forms and taking the measurement there. Now because womens bodies are not straight on the sides as they taper out to the hips the size of the circumfrence grows as you move down the body. Womens jeans and pants have a rise. That is the measurement from the middle of your body between the legs. To the top of the waist band. A high rise will fit around your natural waist or close and will mostly be found in the women's age bracket. As you move to low rise and ultimate low rise the waist moves down the body and it is found in the junior or miss's department. I look young and get my clothing from the junior department. Misses are sized differently because young girls bodies have different proportions

So measure your natural waist and buy jeans in that size in regular. The will be roomier in the hips because you aren't pear shaped on the bottom like a girl.

Also, buy from places that have a good return policy and try them on before you rip any tags off. I have many new tops I don't fit because. I ripped the tags off firs.

Tops are sized petite, small, large, x-large and so on. I am a 34B and I have tops of all sizes small-large. The reason for this is designers might want a loose fit for her design and so the small will be cut larger than a designer who wants a tight fit. And of course I might like a tight T-shirt and a tight sweater but a loose dress shirt.

I hope this helps you figure out what is going on with womens sizes and styles.

Huggs

Emily

[Guest sarah f]

Welcome to Laura's. I am glad you joined the site and asking questions.

I myself found the clothing chart to be off for me. I was always smaller then what the chart said I was. It is best to do what Emily suggested and that is try the clothes on before removing the tags. I would guess you are a size 10 to 12 with your waist size. I would also guess you are probably a large to X-large on shirt sizes. Why I say that is because your height and measurements.

The best option is to try the clothes on at the store before leaving that way you don't have to go back and exchange them.