What are your vital statistics?

[Cloudminnow]

I'm having trouble with dress sizing - fit and flare style. My bust 34D is too small for a size 12, but waist 30 inch is too big for a size 10. Is this a common problem or do most people fit within actual dress size limits?

Also, just wondering if anyone knows where you measure to get hip size - where hip bones are, or around bottom?

With jeans where should you measure, as few jeans are actually on natural waist and above hips?

Thanks

Yes it's a very common problem! I am a 6 waist but closer to an 8 on top. If I wear a 6 in some stores then the boobs can loo squashed but the waist looks great. If I wear an 8 then boobs look great, waist not so. I wear a lot of dresses and tend to go for stores where either their 6 is generous on top or their 8 is more tightly cut or go for a style where it is less obvious that the cut isn't perfect.

Have you looked on the dressipi website? If you put your measurements there you will find which store/brand will have a dress that's closest to your exact measurements.

Yep, I'm the same. I have broad shoulders and f-cups but am otherwise petite.

I've given up trying to wear fitted clothes like shirts. I wear wrap tops and jersey tops that are stretchy.

Oh,I have huge problems.12 waist,14-16 hips,18-20 chest!!!

A 34D shouldn't be small for a size 12 dress at all though

I hate buying dresses as my top half is much bigger than my bottom half. I am a 10/12 on top but an 8/10 bottoms. I have broad shoulders but slim hips and no bum. For trousers I have to stick to shops where the cut is quite boyish as otherwise I have loads of excess fabric on my hips.

I will check out dressipi.

Yep, I'm the same. I have broad shoulders and f-cups but am otherwise petite.

I've given up trying to wear fitted clothes like shirts. I wear wrap tops and jersey tops that are stretchy.

I'm a carrot.

32ff, 28inch waist, 36inch hips.

I hateeeeeee shopping as squeezing these bad boys in to something when I have a weirdly small waist for my size is a pain the the arse

Honestly, my conclusion these days is that most size charts have no resemblance to the actual garment sizes and trial and error is the only way. I bought a dress a couple of months ago - checked size chart and my measurements suggested I needed something like a 20-22. Ended up the 12-14 fitted me

PS. hate to be a bra bore, but are you SURE you are actually a 34D?

Yes def 34D - measured in M&S (non wired)!

Yup, not a chance. M&S are awful at fitting, absolutely ghastly. As a rule, they tend to put you in 2-3 back sizes two big, and at least the same number of cup sizes too small. To give you an idea, I am a 30HH. M&S fit me as a 36F.

Have a loot at the fitting info here

Best guess - based on knowledge of how they fit - is that you are more like a 30FF. Honestly.

It's a common problem, particularly as you hit middle age. I'm 40-32-37. Top half a definite size 14, but most trousers bag around my where my hips should be area. I don't wear skirts, but have had a lot of success with the fit of Next skinny chinos and cords. A 14 fits comfortably around the waist and thighs without too much saggy or baggy arse.

Statistically while you're here can I just hijack to ask if freya swimwear comes up big or small in cup and back size?
Sorry op, I am a pear and have the opposite problem- 8 on top 6 waist and 10 occasionally even 12 hips.

Years ago in the 50s and 60s when my mum was a 'gel' the ideal measurement was a waist that was 10 inches smaller than your bust and hips- so ideal was 36-26-36, or 34-24-24.

Nowadays most designers have accommodated women being bigger so the waist-bust ratio has decreased. But if OP your waist is really just 4 inches smaller than your bust there lies the problem.

I can sympathise- 32D bust and a 28 waist, and 35 hips. I get into most 10s but sometimes the waist is a bit tight in trousers depending on the cut. I used to have a 24 inch waist.

You need to measure under your bust tightly - if it is 34 then you are around a 12 and possibly even a 10.

I tend to find Freya swimwear about right in the back but quite big in the cup. the fabrics are quite stretchy and the balcony shapes have quite an open top which makes them very flexible IMO

miss bust measurements on size charts are normally based on over bust. if marks have put op in a 34d she probably measures around 38 over and closer to 30 under