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One of the challenges of purchasing clothing online is that you can't try it on. This makes it very important to know and obtain your measurements prior to ordering. The best way to provide good measurements is to have a friend finding out your dimensions!
You will need a flexible tape measure and a full length mirror. You may also need a pair of well-fitting pants to help with your inseam calculation.
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Measuring yourself for clothing sizes
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Bust : Measure your chest (bust) by holding the tape firmly and levelled just under the arms and around the shoulder blades. Be sure to include the fullest part of your chest. Make sure that the tape measure remains parallel to the floor.
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Waist : While standing, wrap the tape measure around your natural waistline. Keep the tape comfortably loose.
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Hips : While standing with your feet together, wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your body between your waist and your knees. This is approximately 8 inches below your waist. Make sure that the tape measure remains parallel to the floor.
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Inseam : Lay out flat a pair of pants that fit you well. Using a measuring tape, measure from the crotch seam to the bottom of the pant along the seam.
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Sleeve : is measured with the elbow slightly bent and taken from the center of your neck over the point of the shoulder, around your elbow and down to your wrist. |
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Conversion Table
Size conversion is not an exact science. The numbers below are general, and come from a variety of sources.
Moreover, clothing sizes are not measured in the same units around the world. The following tables demonstrate another aspect of globalizing products.
The best measurement is obtained by trying clothes or shoes on in the store. Please use the tables below as a guide when selecting your size. |
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Women's Sizes:
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Dresses, Suits and coats |
USA &
Canada |
- |
- |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
- |
|
British |
- |
- |
30 |
32 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
- |
|
Europe |
- |
- |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
- |
|
Blouses and Sweaters |
USA &
Canada |
- |
- |
32 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
|
British |
- |
- |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
|
Europe |
- |
- |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
52 |
|
Dresses and Coats
(Children's and Junior Misses) |
USA &
Canada |
- |
- |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
15 |
|
British and
Europe |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
|
Stockings |
USA &
Canada and British |
- |
- |
8 |
8½ |
9 |
9½ |
10 |
10½ |
11 |
|
Europe |
- |
- |
35 |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
|
Shoes
|
USA &
Canada |
5 |
6 |
6½ |
7 |
8 |
8½ |
9 |
9½ |
10 |
|
British |
2½ |
3½ |
4 |
4½ |
5½ |
6 |
6½ |
7 |
7½ |
|
Europe |
35 |
36 |
37 |
37½ |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
|
|
 |
 |
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Men's Sizes:
|
Suits, Sweaters
and Overcoats |
USA &
Canada and British |
- |
32 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
|
Europe |
- |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
52 |
54 |
56 |
|
Shirts |
USA &
Canada and British |
- |
- |
14 |
14½ |
15 |
15½ |
16 |
16½ |
17 |
|
Europe |
- |
- |
36 |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
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Socks |
USA &
Canada and British |
- |
- |
9½ |
10 |
10½ |
11 |
11½ |
12 |
12½ |
|
Europe |
- |
- |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
|
Shoes
|
USA &
Canada |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7½ |
8 |
8½ |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
British |
4½ |
5½ |
6½ |
7 |
7½ |
8 |
8½ |
9½ |
10½ |
|
Europe |
37 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
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