A Rose By Any Other Name
When it comes to sizing, you'd think it would be a simple matter of looking at a chart, matching it to your measurements and voila, you are set to start shopping. If only it were that easy.
If you've done any research, you'll have noticed everyone seems to have a
different sizing system. And even then, it does not necessarily apply.
Here is an excellent example from Sears.
Notice that even in this chart, it only applies to specific brands they
carry, not every brand. As a general guide it is fine but certainly not
written in stone.
If you were to look at the above chart you'd assume that some with a 38"
waist (like mine) would wear a 1X or size 18. Not so, I wear a large or
size 16. Below is another example of the confusion that's out there. This
is a sampling of sizing taken from 3 different stores all for (supposedly)
the same size.
Of course, just to make things even more confusing we also have to deal with terms like petites, misses, women's, juniors, etc. It can become a confusing muddle for us poor people who haven't grown up knowing all this. To top it all off, we can't just pop into the change room to try it on. So what's a girl to do?
She's Got Legs
Hosiery, thankfully, is a little easier but can still
be a mess. Again, different brands often have different sizing, especially
when you are dealing with pantyhose. You will see size 1, 2, 3, A, B, C,
Average and Queen. So far, the best site I've found for breaking down the
differences is the JC Penney website.
With Genie, I have tried to avoid this issue by sticking with hosiery that
is designed to fit by weight. These have either a high spandex or lycra
content which allows them to stretch to your size and maintain it.
Steppin' Out
Ahh, high heels, we all adore them and we're all vexed
by it. Unfortunately, as in the other cases, there's more than one answer.
The general rule of thumb when it comes to North American sizing is women's
sizes are 1.5 higher than men's. For example, 8.5 men's becomes a 10 in
women's shoes. So far I have found this to be fairly accurate but if you do
a search you'll find some sites that state there is a two size difference.
Basically I would recommend if you are unsure when purchasing footwear err
on the plus size.
Another thing to keep in mind is our feet actually change size throughout
the day. This is especially true with heels. The more time you spend on
your feet the more your feet will swell so you have to allow for it. Some
also like to wear socks or anklets with their shoes and, again, you have to
allow for it.
One of the things you will find at Genie is there are a large number of
shoes that have ankle straps. There is actually a reason beyond
attractiveness for doing it. It is because if the shoe is a little large
the ankle strap helps to compensate for it.
Shoe width can be another issue but not one that can really be solved on the
internet unless you like spending huge amounts of money. In setting up
Genie, I investigated getting larger widths but as soon as you start getting
into larger sizes with wider widths you pay a premium for it. I personally
decided to avoid this in an effort to bring you lower prices. My experience
is unless you have an unusually wide foot the regular sizes will work,
although there might be a little discomfort with extended use.
Underlying It All
There's just as many confusing sizes for lingerie as
there is for everything else. Add to it the various types of lingerie
available, it becomes enough to make yours eyes glaze over. Rather than
simplifying things the Internet only makes it worse. Just try it here on
eBay to see. Click here to search
for Panties on eBay As you scroll down you will see 3 or 4 different
sizing methods. And that's for something as simple as panties! When you
start getting into bras, corsets, bustiers, camisoles, cinchers.....
As much as I would love to post a chart for you to just look at, the reality
is there's no definitive sizing method. Every place and brand seems to have
their own sizing method and showing them could easily fill 10 pages.
The Answer
I really wish I could put a statement here to give you the exact answer but, to be honest, I can't. What I can do is give a few tips that may help to mitigate errors in your purchasing. Before you do anything, get out that measuring tape and write down your measurements.
Clothing
- Before you purchase anything watch out for the type of sizes that are being listed. On eBay there are 4 size choices for women's clothing, petite, juniors, misses and plus. Be careful to check because a junior large is very different from a misses large. If it is not listed in the item specifics then ask the seller before purchasing or avoid it all together.
- Look in the item description for further information on sizing. At Genie, I always try to provide a sizing chart from the manufacturer. Look for it before purchasing.
- Look for materials with a stretch quality to it. If it contains spandex, lycra or polyester there will be some sort of flexibility to it. When that's the case, precise sizing becomes a little less important. A recent example is a pair of pants I purchased that were listed as a Junior Large. They fit me even though I am on the lower side of a Misses Large. The reason? They were made from polyester.
- Laces are wonderful. Any item that has lacing in it allows flexibility. Pants and skirts with a tie waist can often fit larger than listed (within reason). Tops and dresses with lacing can be adjusted for different size busts. This is an option to keep in mind.
- One size/plus size listings are another option. These are usually made from either spandex or lycra and adjust to fit you body shape and size.
Footwear
Other than what I have said above there really isn't much that can be added. If you are buying anything other than a pair of running shoes expect a little discomfort. The reality is, almost every women suffers this in an effort to look good, just ask your female friends, so don't expect to avoid it.
Lingerie
- Again, watch the sizing. Look at the item specifics at the top and in the description.
- This could easily become the mantra of crossdress clothing purchases, spandex, lycra and polyester. These are very forgiving materials.
- Take the above and put it together with lacing and you have a winning combination. One thing to keep in mind, though, is laces on the back will require a lot of practice (or someone's help) to do it.
- When buying sets, pay attention to all the measurements. I remember one instance of someone purchasing a lingerie set that included a bra, panties and waist cincher. The sizing was based on the bra so, for instance, it would be listed as a Size 38 for someone who wore a 38C bra. They went ahead and bought the set. When it arrived they tried it on. The bra and panties fit perfectly but they couldn't even get the cincher to do up. Why? They didn't pay attention to the waist and hip size measurements listed for the item. They now had a very pretty decoration in their closet.
Final thoughts
- Read through the entire description. You will
notice that I attempt to put a sizing chart on every listing. This is to
help eliminate the discrepancies based on the manufacturer. (if you come
across any item that might be missing one, please let me know so I can fix
it)
- Read the item specifics at the top of the page.
- BE CAREFUL AND DOUBLE CHECK. I cannot say this enough. Before you click that purchase button be as sure as you can. The last thing any good seller wants to for the customer to have a bad experience through carelessness.