How to Understand Women's Sizes

Make dressing rooms less intimidating by figuring out your correct size.

No matter how much you love an outfit on the rack, the top priority is finding a flattering fit for your body type. For many women, choosing the perfect size is tricky. Women's clothing sizes change drastically from store to store and brand to brand. Fortunately, it's easy to learn the differences between various sizing systems. Once you understand women's sizes, you can find more flattering outfits for your figure, even when dealing with different stores and brands.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Pay attention to whether the size is considered Women's, Misses or Juniors. These sizes are designated with a W, M or J, and provide an important hint about how clothing will fit. Women's clothing often refers to plus sizes, intended for women with fuller figures. The clothes have generous space in the hip and stomach area. Misses sizes, which are evenly numbered, are intended for adult women and have slightly more room in the bust and hip areas. Juniors sizes, reflected by odd numbers, are designed with teenagers in mind. Juniors sizes have a shorter and slimmer cut than clothing designed for misses.

2. Convert alphabetical sizes. Some brands attempt to make sizes easier by dividing clothes into Extra Small, Small, Medium and so on. The typical abbreviations are XS for Extra Small, S for Small, M for Medium, L for Large and XL for Extra Large. Typically, XS includes sizes 1-4. S includes sizes 5-8. M includes sizes 9-12. L includes sizes 13-16. XL includes sizes 17-18, and XXL includes sizes 19-20. Keep in mind that these sizes may change from one brand to the next.

3. 

   Use a flexible cloth measuring tape for easiest results.

   Measure yourself to ascertain your best fit. Measure your bust around the fullest part of your chest. To measure your waist, measure at the natural crease right above your hip bone, typically at navel level. Measure your hips at the fullest point. Measurements should be done without clothing, to get more accurate results.

4. Understand numeric sizing for different clothing items. Pants are often sized by waist measurements. For instance, size 26 jeans correspond to a 26-inch waist. They also follow 0-20 or XXS-XXL sizing systems. Dresses are sized by the bust, waist and hips, and are usually sized by numbers 0-20 or letters. Tops are sized by the bust and waist and also follow 0-20 and XXS-XXL sizing. Unlike pants, dresses and tops rarely use exact measurements to determine size.

5. Watch out for vanity sizing and other considerations. Some clothing brands list sizes that are several sizes smaller than standard clothing measurements. While it can feel good psychologically to wear a smaller size, clothes will look more flattering if you choose items that fit, regardless of what the label says. If you have a fuller or shorter figure, look for Plus and Petite sizes.

Tips & Warnings

• Most brands offer size charts that explain how their specific sizing system works. Look for your measurements on the chart, and find the corresponding number or letter.

References

• eBay Guides: The difference in Women's, Misses, Juniors, & Girls sizes
• Measure Waist
• Womens Size Chart
• Apparel Search: US Standard Clothing Sizes

Resources

• USATourist: Women's Clothing Size Conversions