Online size guides never work! Am I the only one?

[kittykat7210]

Hello, I want to start off saying I’m fairly short, 5ft2 and weigh 135lbs. I am working on losing weight and aim to be a fit 120lbs within 6 months. When I use Websites size guides I always come out at about a size 16 (42/29/41) BUT I wear size 10-12, 14 is too big, so what gives? Am I bizarre? Are all size guides complete bullshit?

I need to buy clothes online and at the moment even if I went to a shop you can’t try anything on anyway and I am a mother of 2 who can only get to a shop via public transport and I don’t really want to take my very young children on a train or bus at the moment let alone into a shop! It just means that I keep buying things Online that don’t fit and I don’t know what would suit me. It’s just really frustrating!

I find them accurate. Are your size 10 and 12 clothes stretchy? Did you measure your hips with a tape measure and tightly?

Is your rib cage really 42? I'm heavier and shorter and my rib cage is about 10 inches less than that .

That's a heck of an hourglass figure you've got there OP . (I'm built like a stick 🤣). It sounds as though you're only coming out as a size 16 because of your bust and hip size - presumably 42' is the measurement at the fullest part of your bust? Your waist is slim at 29' which would put you exactly between size 10 & size 12 (I owned a dress shop for years!).

But generally yes, online size charts can be complete bullshit. It's worth ringing the customer services number and asking them to measure an actual garment and give you the numbers. (Might not be possible at the moment due to covid, admittedly).

What would suit you? Well, you are petite and curvy with a nice waist, so definitely something with a defined waist would be good and, unless your legs are long in proportion to your body, something that finishes on or above the knee. Jeans-wise I think high-waisted or mid-rise would be good (I'm 5' 4" but with short legs and very low-waisted styles make my legs look even shorter).

Scoop-neck or v-neck tops are flattering on those of larger bust (if that bust measurement you've given us is correct). Don't go for high necks! Or empire line (or tunics unless they've got some shape to them). Go for tops that finish at hip-length at the most (and by hip I actually mean pelvic bone, not hip joint).

1950s styles would look amazing on you (you might want to get them shortened) .... Vivien of Holloway, Collectif, Lady V London ..... Lindy Bop although I think they've gone into administration....

Using your measurements, next thinks your waist is 12 and your hips 12/14.

What shops are you using?

@MrsSpenserGregson haha thank you! Yeh it’s fullest part of my bust (I’m a 28J) you’ve given me food for thought on the style sense. I’ve always loved vintage clothing but never felt confident to pull off the tight bits, I definitely have short legs! I’ll have a look into things. I’ve been living in leggings and baggy tops for years after having my first (pre children I was

@huuunderickssss my ribcage is 27”, for clothing your bust is the fullest part of your breasts xx

@MySweatyPie not really, my tops are baggy but my normal non stretchy jeans are a 10! And yeh my tape measure is tight and accurate (I used a proper builders style tape measure to check my tape was accurate!)

Ah ok .. I just order 10 and 12 and see what fits 😬😬

36/28/41... I've just measured myself and these are my measurements and I wear a 10/12... ive never looked at the online charts because I'm hourglass I don't think they take that into account so just order a few sizes .weird!!