How do eurpean sizes compare to UK sizes? I tried on dresses in Italy and an now depresed...

[LavendersBlueDillyDilly]

I am usually a 10/12 on my bottom half and 12/14 on my top half, but in Italy the shopgirl estimated I was a 44 which I tried on and it was too small!

I've now just discovered that this is a 16! I never take a 16 in UK and it was too small in Italy.

Are their sizes comparable?

Or is the sad truth, I may be slim/average here, but compared to Italian women I'm a bit on the porky side??

There are no "European" sizes.

An Italian 44 is a UK 12. Don't let anyone tell you different.

A French 44 is a UK 16.

Don't worry this happens alot in Germany too! My mum came over to visit and she refused to buy anything because of the size ticket - they were giving her clothes to try on that were 2 or 3 sizes bigger than the UK size would be. Very depressing and probably one of the reasons why I try to get all my clothes in UK when on holiday!

No, the Italian sizes are completely different. Don't panic!

I find the sizing in Europe to be completely random. I am normally a size 14 and wear a size 44 in most clothes but sometimes even the 46 is a bit tight. (Living in Germany)

Some companies translate 44 as a 14 and some as a 16, I do not know why.

German sizes are different still. A German 38 is a UK 12.

Oh that is a relief.

I did eat rather alot of pizza and ice cream, but was still shocked to find I'd gone up 2 dress sizes in a week!

Relax

An Italian size 44 is perfectly respectable. Try Marni (my fave designer as Cod knows - the sizing is even more generous than usual...

Hey, Kindersurprise we've missed you on the German thread where have you been?

Don't forget it could also be the shop - some shops have what I call good sizes (they fit me) and others like C+A's I nearly always need a bigger size.

Hi Admylin,
I had a bit of stress with DH about my excessive (in his eyes) internet usage. So I promised to stay off MN for a while.

But he is off in Berlin till tomorrow so I decided to see if I could MN without being on here night and day.

Will pop onto the German thread later. Must put the DCs to bed.

I think the shop I was in was Sussanne Feronne, or something, I think it was a chain as I saw a couple in the city (Rome). They had lots of great dresses at reasonable prices, but I was so distraught at realising i was heading for a size 18 I left the shop teary eyed.

Loads of lovely clothes shops in Rome though, unlike here there was much more individuality. I find here all the shops sell the same thing. Some shops were very pricey though.

I will look at Marni, is it very expensive?

OK great. when the cat's away the mice do play eh!

Italian and french sizes do come up small compared to English sizing, so I find the best thing to do is to buy the one that fits and igonre the size label!

Coolmama is right. What it says on the label doesn't change the size of your love handles. And it would be sinful not to have at least one ice cream per day in Italy.