Damn size differences

Preach it Jenny! This has happened to me more times than i can count especially since I do a lot of online shopping. SO many times, it fits great everywhere except around the area between my bust and my waist. Though I wish I had natural feminine curves(don;t we all 🙂 ), I am unfortunately about 40-40-40 or 42-40-40 figure instead. Depending on the company that can be anywhere from a 16-18 to a 1X or on some of the foreign(Chinese) sites (which often have the best prices) it can even go up to a 3XL or 4XL ! I guess it does let us experience the same frustrations as cis-gendered women as I have heard sisters and female friends complain about this same issue dozens of times!

We seem to be pretty much the same measurements.. Lets open a store for girls our size!

Ive made up my mind tomorrow I am going to get my Little Black Dress come hell or high water. Just have to remember to try it on lol

Store. Yes

Online, I stay away from any Asian sizes as they are a bit too small by a size or two. Unless you get a world size chart - which is semi accueate.

I much prefer the 'trying on in dressing room' approach.

It doesn't specify what you can try on. Take advantage of it. We'll worth it.

And pick dressing roon with good mirrors. Need I say more.

Good luck.

Claudia

Wow you girls are far braver than I am (so far anyway). I don't mind shopping in person but not sure if I have the...guts.. to ask the attendant at the dressing room if I can try on a dress or skirt-much less any intimate items! I love Victoria;s Secret stuff (what girl doesn't 🙂 ?) but have only shopped online for stuff there. Though I don't have any problem walking through the store with my daughter, I don't think I could ask for a bra-fitting or to try something on ( with or without her there 🙂 ).Though I probably am wearing the wrong size bra-as they say MOST women do!

Cynthia

Cynthia.. Ive only had the guts to try on in the store in the past couple years.. Im lucky im in Toronto with 6 million other people and have worked retail in the past and know Im not the only one in this situation. The way I look at it is if you are lucky enough to be near a city (I have found small towns talk to much for those of us that need to stay semi in the closet) go for it and try it on there. More people (especially women) are open to guys dressing than you would think. I have met some really cool people through some sales ladies I have dealt with in the past. To be honest it still took me a couple drinks to get the courage to try on clothes in the store the 1st time. But the employee at walmart (Mary) was so easy going I was hooked and am now able to be myself in MOST places. A key for many of us I have found is if you are at a store that sells both mens and women's clothes grab a pair of jeans and a mens shirt to cover that skirt you want to try on.. I have found most places dont care what the clothes are they just ask how many items and never really look.

Really? Richmond is a medium size cit and I'm not sure I'd want to risk it here yet but MAYBE just MAYBE I can work up the courage to try a nearby city's mall...the drinks idea might be helpful 🙂 Wish I had a female friend that knew about me and would be willing to go with me ..sigh..maybe one day

A drink or 2 does help the nerves the 1st time.. Ive been through Richmond in the past it looks big enough for you to be able to go across town to a Walmart or store you never go to and not run in to people that know you.. I wish you all the luck Hun 🙂 Its a big step and trust me once you get over that step you will be hooked. Remember Halloween is a GREAT time for men to buy women's clothing as a "costume"

I'll think about it 🙂

Jenny I live in peterborough and shop value village here, Oshawa, and Whitby and Talise in Peterborough dressed and in androgynous mode and use the change rooms to try stuff on. No one notices. I carry a 6 foot tape measure and when looking for blouses I need 30" from the top neck seam to the tail. If it doesn't meet this I do not try it on. For Jeans I need size 14/15. My normal leg length is 30" but I look for 32, 33 and 34" so that I can wear them in male mode with 2", 3" and 3.5" heals. No notices me measuring while they are on the racks. I look for lowrise and midrise jeans to fit the male waist which is 2" lower than the female's waist. I do not buy dresses. I buy separates as I take size 14 on the bottom and size 18(xl/1x) on the top. For shoes if one takes say size 10 mens then look for size 11W or 12 in women's.

Good idea bringing a tape measure Dani 🙂 I usually do try on the items in store depending on the location but always seem to find the best stuff when I cant try it on and always have a fit problem..   It seems we are pretty close to each other I lived in Whitby until earlier this year and lived at the Value Village at 5points mall in Oshawa.. The have a great selection most times. Other than heels.. I'm a mens 12.5/13 and its nearly impossible to find in my size with out breaking the bank.

I got a great deal at Macy's today for a beautiful Black dress - V neck and rauched waste line.   Luckily it fits great, but i have had the same size issues in the past so i try to stick with stores (brick and mortar or online) that have good return policies.  I can sometimes cost a few dollars more, but i've found that if you are diligent you can get great deals via sale or clearance.  Macy's, JC Penney and  he Loft are favorite for me.  I have  friend that is plus sized and she does well at JC Penney and Torrid.  She also complains about Layne Bryant prices.

Hugs

Heather.

Oh my I thought I was the only one with size problems ! It seems that sizes can vary in cuts and companies. I, haven't gotten my nerve up yet to shopping in fem and do most of my shopping on line. I am a bigger girl and my sizes can go from 1X to 3-4X depending on cuts and styles.
I, have found some great buys at Target, Macys, Roaman's. Shoes and boots are a whole different story altogether LOL. The only problem is the return process but that okay its just getting to the UPS store or Post Office to send it back.

I know from long experience that even shoes can vary in what size fits comfortably and properly from a single manufacturer, depending on what style.
I buy Homy Peds - http://www.homyped.com.au/
My shoe size has been measured to Australian L 10.5 D, R 10.25 D. Depending on the style, I can use 10 C+ to 11 D. And that's ALL from Homy Peds.
So it's not solely dresses across manufacturers which are a standardization problem. It's an across the board problem for all aspects of fashion.