What do you do when the only size chart is clearly not made with my body in mind?
Size charts are frustrating and one of the most humbling things I have experienced. When it comes to dress sizes, I am almost always a 12. Of course, this depends on the fabric. If it's cotton or another stretchy fabric, size 12 almost always works. If it's leather, or something similar, I will usually go to a 14. And! It also depends on the designer. Without naming specific stores, there is a boutique in almost every mall in the country that thinks I am a size 20.
Please keep in mind that the number on a tag means nothing and it is not something you should base your sexiness or self-worth on.
So, if a boutique thinks I am a size 20 and the boutique next door thinks I am a 12, does it really matter?
Size charts are frustrating and one of the most humbling things I have experienced. When it comes to dress sizes, I am almost always a 12. Of course, this depends on the fabric. If it's cotton or another stretchy fabric, size 12 almost always works. If it's leather, or something similar, I will usually go to a 14. And! It also depends on the designer. Without naming specific stores, there is a boutique in almost every mall in the country that thinks I am a size 20.
Please keep in mind that the number on a tag means nothing and it is not something you should base your sexiness or self-worth on.
So, if a boutique thinks I am a size 20 and the boutique next door thinks I am a 12, does it really matter?
When shopping for clothes, know your measurements. Get a measuring tape (not a tape measuring, you're not building a house, after all), and measure your chest and waist. If you are shopping for clothes that are designed for cisgender women, knowing your chest, waist, and hips are important. For most people assigned male at birth, we usually don't have hips, so you can usually assume that your waist and hips are the same. Once you know these numbers, shopping for clothes becomes much easier.
If you are shopping online, read the reviews (if available) for the item. Oftentimes other buyers will report that the item runs small or large, or if it's stretchy for form fitting. These comments are very helpful.
People come in different shapes and sizes and no size chart is perfect. A lot of this is trial and error. If you can try something on before purchasing it, do that.
Also, if you wear shapewear or forms (I wear breast forms and a corset), try on clothes with these items. I have several dresses that fit fine, but when I wear my forms and my corset (which shapes my body and redistributes parts of my torso but adds an additional layer to my body), the dress no longer fits.
Love, Hannah
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of XDress
5 comments
If you’ve got a few beers around your belly and not much in the way of boobage going on, like me, but want to try dresses, some magic words to look for are fit-and-flare, empire waist and skater/hoop/circle dress. That’s the closely fitted up top and more circle-y flouncy at the waist-y style and it flatters a lot of us chubbier people more. Hope that helps someone out, lol. x
This is all great advice. I only wear lingerie and for me sizing doesn’t really cause too many problems, particularly with xdress items. My only difficulty comes with bras. I don’t wear breast enhancers, and don’t want to. Finding a flat bra seems almost impossible, and I’m normally left unsatisfied because of the excess material from the bra cups, even if it’s an a-cup bra. I’d like to find a sexy bra that is underwired and sits flat on my masculine chest. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Nice advice! I often forget to take my measurements with my enhanced breasts installed, Leaving me tight up top. However, I also agree that online comments are very helpful!
I’m a Man, taking Estrogen Pills to develop my Boobs. So I can look more feminine. As I want to also be able to wear a dress in public. I love how a dress feels on my body. And I love to flash everyone my panties when U’m wearing my dress. I love also how I cut breath better when I’m wearing a dress.
Thank you for another interesting blog Hannah. I think that knowing your measurements is all important as you say.
Luckily my wife is a keen swimmer and so has quite broad shoulders and so we wear exactly the same sizes ( 12 skirts etc and size 14 tops) This means that we can share our wardrobes. She often borrows one of my skirts or tops and I will borrow hers too.
I always have to buy a longer cut top as quite often women’s tops are a little too short for my longer torso but most stores have longer options in their range.
Lingerie as far as panties and nighties go is easy as I find the XD range just so comfortable and easy to wear as well as being very sexy. However personal preference dictates that I drop down a size from the size guide recommendation in panties to a small,as I just find the fit better:
When it comes to Bras, my preference is for an underwired bra, and so have measured myself to make sure I get the right cup size etc. I have settled on a size 38b which I can fill ok and is comfortable to wear all day. I have found that some designs however are only available in a 38c upwards. If I really like the bra ( it’s just too pretty not to have) I’ll buy this size and use my breast enhancers to fill the cups. This gives me a curvier shape too which is great under tight sweaters.