To ask if you go to charity shops do you always go for the same size?

[Charityshopqueen]

Just been out today shopping with a good friend who's really honest about everything including clothes. She finishes early and I was off work. So had a day out. Popped into a charity shop that's known for being cheap.
I tried on half a dozen dresses in my size. Non were fab. 1 was ok. I had another look at the rails and noticed a nice designer one in a size up. But looking I said it looks like it'll fit me? So tried it on and it's gorgeous. Friend was gobsmacked how good it looked. Cost a fiver! There was another nice designer one didn't suit me that was £4. I almost bought it to sell on Vinted but thought that'd be wrong. Hopefully someone buys it that wears it.

So if you shop in them do you ever look at different sizes? I never have but will now.

I bought a size zero and a size 14 on the same day. Different shops... don't look at labels.

I am a size 10 but used to be an 8, so I look at all the sizes from the smallest up to 12. A lot of the more expensive clothes have quite generous sizing in the tiny numbers - I think because the difference between each of the sizes is quite marginal (i.e. a 6 is only a tiny bit smaller than an 8 which is only a tiny bit smaller than a 10 in some brands. But then the 12 is only a tiny bit bigger than the 10 and so on, so if you are larger than that you would think the sizing runs small).

Also many charity shop staff don't know the difference between French, German and Italian sizes and treat them all as 'European'. (Actually a size 10 is roughly 36 in Germany, 38 in France, and 42 in Italy). High end designers often use Italian sizes, so these get mislabelled as being larger sizes - I have a lovely Armani jacket that had been labelled a 14 but no-one could get into it.

I try on different sizes in all shops, not just charity shops! They can vary wildly. Even within one shop/brand they can be different, if one batch of, say, white T-shirts was made in one factory and another batch was made in another.
Having said that, I can normally pretty much tell by eye/by handling the item a bit if it seems like my size. It's always worth trying on though, as I am sometimes surprised.

Yikes!

I think I've been pretty vain thinking if it says a certain size that means I'm bigger. I'm not bigger just different shape now.

I do look at one size up and down but it never occurred to me to look any further. Ill try the next time im in a charity shop though as i do get hung up over the label size even though i shoukd know better.

For the more generous figured one tip ive often used for tops when i cant try on ( hate trying on clothes in shops) is to keep the top on the hanger ,turn the hanger so the top is facing you and put both your arms up inside the top all the way to the armholes. Keeping your elbows tucked into your waist area push your hands outwards so the top is tight against your arms. There should be room for your arms to move a little more sideways at this point and if so the top will be comfortable . If it is taut on your arms it will be tight on your body.

Thanks for that @Qashgal . Good tip.

I look for jeans by length, I’m tall so grab the longest pairs to try on.

I also look at menswear, I’ve found some great v neck wool jumpers, cord blazers etc.

Nowt wrong with buying from Charity Shop to resell elsewhere. The charity still gets its money and the item can then reach a wider audience

I usually hold the garment in front of me, making sure it's well up on my shoulders, and pull it against myself to see if it will go more than half way around my body - if it will, I should be able to get into it! Unless it's very expensive, I re-donate anything that doesn't fit me - the money is going to a good cause - I'm usually a good judge of whether it will fit or not though.

@PerfectTuesday that's how I knew this bigger dress would fit. I just looked and knew. It fits perfectly. It's so gorgeous. I could wear it for a special occasion or going to the pub. It's such a versatile dress. I had a Google and new similar ones are 150ish.

I give loads of decent stuff to charity shops and donate cash when I can.

I could not sew. The teacher at school requested I be allowed to do woodwork instead 😂 but I love clothes. I started with small repairs like replacing zips, followed you tube videos and kept doing it and ripping out until I had achieved perfect invisible zips.
Then I bought some large mens cotton shirts, on these I learned how to do button holes on the ladies side, close the existing button holes and add buttons, add in darts for some shaping and finally shorten the sleeves and make the cuffs turn back.
There are loads of videos. I found doing small alterations lead to increased motivation so that now I am taking apart and remaking so many things. I do wish I had the benefit of in person lessons though. Go for it!

@JillMW you've inspired me. I'm going to have a look on YouTube thanks.

You need to remember that clothes in charity shops may have got stretched with wear or shrunk with frequent/incorrect washing. If you're buying new the sizing of women's clothes varies so much between brands that it's possible to have 2 or 3 different sizes in your wardrobe that all fit properly. When I'm shopping in charity shops or on Vinted I always look at the sizes either side of my 'usual' size and if I really like something will try it on (or take a risk with Vinted, if it doesn't fit I can often pass it on or resell) if you stick religiously to your usual size then you might miss a fantastic bargain or perfect outfit.

I volunteer in a charity shop and have lots of clothes from there. I am a size 14 but have recently bought a dress which was a 12 and a bit big on me, a size XS Zara puffer coat which may have been oversized but fits well, and things which are all other sizes too. We see a lot of 1990s or 1980s brands where the sizing is different - not just smaller but just a different fit - and American brands. Or brands which don't use a standard sizing which are labelled as 1, 2, 3, 4.

As you've found, you have to try things on!! Congrats on your bargain.