Clothes size in Women's size range

[Kaiyn]

I've been having a hard time finding out what size I am in Women's size. Think anyone can help me? I wanna cosplay as my favorite characters, but I don't know my size in female clothes.

[Animeisha]

Honestly, it totally depends on the brand/style. With fitted garments like pants and skirts that don't have elastic waistbands, women have to try them on in store to ensure a decent fit. Sometimes it varies even from style to style, a size 8 in one style may fit perfectly, but a size 8 in the same brand and different style would be too small/big. Since a weight gain or loss of as little as 5-8 pounds can be the difference between sizes in women's clothing, there's really no way around this (which sucks, I know, I always hated shopping).

There are some basic standard measurements women's clothes are manufactured to (see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_standard_clothing_size#Women.27s_sizes ), but there's so much variation, that there's usually no knowing if something will fit just from measurements alone.

If the clothing item in question is something custom made, the maker/seller should know what measurements will fit, if it's a mass manufactured store-bought item, you should try it on first, using the chart I linked as a guideline for what size range to grab. Some stores (Wal-mart, Target, sometimes Kohl's) don't watch their dressing rooms so well (especially during non-busy times), so you wouldn't need to have an attendant see what you're trying on, and you could just grab some guys jeans to put the women's clothes between them if you're concerned about getting weird looks.

[Kelley]

If you're making your own costume from scratch - go by your measurements. Go by the waist and pad or go by the chest and adjust.


If you're just buying stuff - look at some brand size descriptions on-line after measuring yourself. You can get a good "ballpark" guess - but you're NEVER going to know for sure unless you try something on since women's clothing sizes aren't standard and there's LOTS of variations in what "proportions" a designer aims for.


I can be pretty sure that in 90% of the clothing I try on at a regular retail level, I should try on a 0-2-4 first, depending on what they look like when I hold them up. In current standard clothing pattern sizes, I'm a 6 - but was a 10 in a pattern from the 60s or 70s.



You will not have "a size" unless you reference a certain brand or house - and they may still change it.