Body Measurements and Sizing Charts HELP!!!

OK, ladies, I am really going to put myself out there with this question. I took my measurements this morning with hubby's help. If you ever look at a sizing chart, it lists the measurements for a particular size. Well, I was on a modest clothing website looking at a size 14 denim skirt (usually my size). Well, it said size 14 is a 30" waist!!!!!! What???? Am I crazy? The last time I had a 30" waist I wore a size 7/8. My 15 yr old daughter's waist measures 28"ish and she wears a 6. Now, my size really varies.....some skirts are size 12, I have a 14 skirt that fits perfect, a 14W skirt that is HUGE, but the other day I couldn't even squeeze into a "so called" 18 skirt....get this: I held it up to a size 12 skirt and it was EXACTLY THE SAME, in the waist, hips, everything!!! What the heck is that about? So, in tops I pretty much wear an XL or 14/16 across the board. Anyway, my measurements:
47" around shoulders, 36" waist, 47" hips/bum...a perfect (er, full) hourglass...yay!!! Let me add that my bust is 43" so I guess a DDD or G cup? So, would anyone mind sharing your measurements/ size??? I don't mean to be so personal or nosy, I'm just trying to wrap my head around this crazy sizing issue, it truly drives the females in this family NUTS!

14 years ago

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Veteran

Maybe the chart was for UK or Aus sizing? I agree that sizes in general are not standardized as they should be. It's crazy.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....you/page/3 You might find the thread helpful.

Queen Mum

I never look at those sizing charts... they would always have me buying a size or 2 larger than what actually fits me. I'm not sure what the discrepency is, but I don't give them a 2 second glance.

rosee

Repeat: "there is no consistency in sizing".
I can currently wear size 8 to size 12, size S to L.
Mo probably hit on the head with the idea that it might be UK or AUS sizing. But even if is wasn't, different manufacturers have different sizing standards. A lot of this has to do with how sizing has changed over the years. Vintage sizing is radically different: a size 12 in the 1940s is about a size 6 in the 1960s and about a size 2 today.

qfbrenda

What they said... no consistency. I have a 30 in. waist and wear size 4 jeans in a couple of brands with no trouble. When I look at size charts, my hips put me in a size 2 (too small) and my waist puts me in a 12/14 (way too big). I do find that I have to get skirts in a size bigger than I do jeans, maybe because skirts tend to sit on the waist while most of my jeans are mid-rise bootcuts.

I've had better luck with shirt measurements, but I don't know why. Usually if a company's chart says I'm X size according to my bust measurement, then that's the size that works best. I'm guessing others find it easier to follow charts for lower body, while their upper body sizing is a challenge.

Aziraphale

Oh, honey. This is my gripe exactly. My top and bottom halves don't match, and my midsection is not nearly as narrow as you'd expect it to be based on the size of my hips. My bust is 34" (size small/medium), my waist is 28.5" (medium), and my hips are 34" (extra small). I'm 5'1".

This isn't a huge problem when it comes to separates (I was so happy when they started selling bikini tops and bottoms separately!), but it's a bugger when it comes to dresses. I posted a question about this a while back. I was told by the lovely ladies here to buy for my clothes to fit my waist, and have the rest tailored in.

As far as my clothing goes, the sizing is all over the place. For example, I've got jeans in sizes ranging from 24 to 27 and they all fit. It doesn't bother me because I don't buy stuff online. I only buy things I can try on in a shop, so the size is kind of irrelevant -- I just get what fits best. Hope that helps!

anne

I have also often find sizing charts inaccurate and often wear sizes smaller than what my measurements should warrant. Perhaps you could email the site and ask... what should she ask, everyone?

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