Height? Weight? Do you feel that online clothing charts match your actual size?

I don't rely much on size numbers because they vary so much it becomes insane. Just to give you an example, today I'm wearing a sports top size XL and a women's t-shirt size S. They both fit perfectly, neither of the two were mislabeled (I checked), and both were bought on the same day, at the same store. It can be *that* laughable.

gana2win wrote: »

wunderkindking wrote: »

I have had to realize that size varies entirely by manufacturer and sometimes even within them - medium means the medium size of that range for a given product. '8' means nothing. I have to use actual measurements. Using those I am usually pretty close to right - and by that I mean my waist/hip/bust/inseam/whatever.

But using that means I have size 8s and size 16s and *they both fit* exactly the same way.

Heck I just bought two pair of shorts with a 32" waist from old navy in different styles. One was a 14, one was a 12.

Yep, that's exactly what I mean. Even within the same brand I can range between 3 or 4 different sizes. I now have to buy multiples of the same top, bottoms or dress just to get the right fit. Then return what didn't fit or didn't work. I really miss shopping and trying on clothes at a Brick and Mortar store.

Me too. Especially now that my size has changed and body is still changing. I don't have the foggiest CLUE what to wear or works anymore. Frustrating as heck.

I don't find that the same size number/letter will be the same between manufacturers. Usually within one manufacturer, a similar style will have a similar fit to something I already have from that manufacturer in the same size number/letter. If the styles differ dramatically, maybe not.

I don't find that the size charts (with body measurements) are particularly accurate, though they can be somewhat close (+/- one size), if I consider:

* Type of clothing. Technical athletic wear often seems to run small, for example. (Why do women's *workout* jackets have sleeves designed for skeletons, though?!).
* Ways in which my body is weird (OK, non-average). For example, I have reasonable lats (those muscles that make a sort of triangle shape between torso/shoulder/arm when one flexes). If a style looks to have closely-fitted upper sleeves where it meets the shoulder, odds are good I'll need a bigger size than bust/waist/hips/arm length kind of measurements suggest.
* Fit of the specific style. For example, if someone has slightly wider hips but not wide shoulders or big bust, a dress with a flared or full skirt, that's not nipped in at the waist, will probably fit even if hips are a bit bigger than charted. If a sheath or pencil-skirt type thing, no way.

This is hard, after weight loss. I was lost, for a long time . . . and I hit goal when we could try things on.

Bathing suits are hopeless, IMO . . . but in my case, I may be biased by having had bilateral mastectomies, no reconstruction, and not wearing prostheses to swim. I can. not. imagine. how I would've bought a swimsuit at goal weight without trying it on. I tried on dozens, I swear. I fell in about a 3-size range across manufacturers and styles, even ignoring the breast problem. Add that, and it was a total crapshoot.

Most of the time I go down 1 size and it fits perfectly.

goal06082021 wrote: »

I generally only buy clothing online that has a size chart with actual measurements in inches or cm, not just size conversions between the brand's size and different countries, but I have done so and been successful. I bought my wedding dress online going off of a size chart and it fit perfectly right out of the box. I've even bought a couple of questionable dresses from Amazon (they kept showing up in Buzzfeed lists of great work dresses, I was weak), and they fit well.

I take measurements regularly, so I have those numbers handy. You also have to look at the ratio of the measurements - some garments are simply made for bodies of a different shape than the one I have, no matter how much I weigh.

This is my strategy. I frequently shop in thrift stores too, so the tags might not reflect how an item may have shrunk due to laundering, too. Then I have to try on. Right now I wear a range that is truly astonishing - medium to XL, 10-18. Some of it might be vanity sizing, I don't know. Nobody's who's looking at me knows what the tag says.

In general, I prefer clothing that is not very tight. I don't mean baggy, I just mean not ultra-fitted. That kind of style is just going to be really difficult to fit well for the vast majority of people due to differences in shape. I plan on wearing that style of clothing when I am lighter too, so it's not a shame thing. Just like to keep a little mystery.

If I went strictly by numbers, then based on what's in my closet I'm a size 6-16..lol. Size charts are your friend and now is a good time to start learning how to measure yourself (I say that because you'd be surprised how many do not know how to find their measurements).

I always check the size charts, but even then I've had some bad experiences. I find most clothing to be cut a little more generously than stated, but once in a while it's the opposite and I get a tourniquet instead of a tank top.