How to Choose the Right Clothing Size
Most of us, when we go shopping, are confident we know our sizes—for clothes, shoes, and so on. But is this really true? And why is inappropriate oversize just as bad as clothes a couple of sizes too small?
Different Brands – Different Sizes
We’ve already written about how sizing varies by brand: what one brand labels as an S may be another’s XXS. Furthermore, the sizes listed on the tags don’t always correspond to international standards: American and Italian sizes are often slightly larger, while French sizes are the opposite. Therefore, when purchasing clothing, you shouldn’t rely solely on numbers or letters.
In the grand scheme of things, they mean nothing at all: the size we’re used to seeing on clothing is simply a marker of average parameters that doesn’t take into account individual body types and serves as a marketing tool for brands to boost sales (there’s a term for it: “vanity scales”). Furthermore, the actual size of clothing depends on the brand’s target audience—young men and older women require different sizes.
Find Out Your Measurements in Centimeters
It’s a rather tedious process, but once you’ve taken your measurements, you’ll be able to avoid guessing whether the item you’ve chosen will fit. The key measurements you need to know are: chest, waist, and hip measurements, sleeve length, shoulder width between seams, inseam length, and shoe insole length. By the way, you don’t necessarily need a friend to help you—you can use any item in your closet that fits you perfectly as a reference and take your measurements from it. This information is especially useful when buying online: often, the item description includes detailed measurements that aren’t always easy to determine from a photo of the model.
Use Special Applications
Over the past few years, a plethora of apps have emerged to help you choose the right size when shopping online.
Pay Attention to the Shoulder Line
One of the first signs that a garment is too big is a loose shoulder seam. Sometimes this is implied by the cut of the garment, but that’s not the issue here. In most cases, the shoulder seam should fit exactly to your measurements and sit exactly at armpit level. If a garment is too tight in the shoulders, it will simply be uncomfortable to wear and will look unflattering. If, on the contrary, it’s too wide, the garment’s proportions will be distorted, and it will fit poorly. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule—for example, jackets, coats, and other garments with structured shoulders may be slightly larger, as may relaxed-fit T-shirts.
Choose The Right Length
To ensure a good fit, it’s important to pay attention to the length. Sleeves should be neither too short nor too long; ideally, they should reach the wrist or be a centimeter longer. When choosing jackets and coats, ensure the waistline is appropriate for your measurements and that the garment isn’t too short—otherwise, it will look short.
Trouser length varies by style, but if the hem is intended to be somewhere around the ankle, you need to look for a suitable length. Being tall presents the same clothing challenges as being short: while undersized items look like they were stolen from a younger sibling’s closet, short ones can look sloppy. Those who don’t fit these standards should consider the Tall and Petite lines—they are tailored to specific heights and body types.
Be Careful With Oversized Clothes
Like other unconventional design solutions, oversized clothing (clothing that appears several sizes too big) looks natural on tall, thin women. That’s why most fashionable clothes are worn on tall, thin women—it’s easier to sell them when they’re shown on a woman who knows they’ll flatter her. For the average woman, oversized clothing should be chosen carefully. In some cases, it can be slimming and create the desired silhouette, while in others, it can distort proportions, add unnecessary volume, and so on.
Too Small is Evil
Small and overly tight items can look worse than unintentional oversizing. A shirt that’s baggy across the chest, a T-shirt that’s too tight around the biceps, or jeans that dig into the sides—these items can make you look several sizes larger than your actual size.
Moreover, such experiments can be dangerous to your health: jeans that are too tight interfere with normal blood flow, uncomfortable shoes can lead to foot deformities, and poorly fitting underwear can cause discomfort.
