How to find your size across brands
A medium isn't a medium. When your cart spans four labels, one size never carries across all of them — here's how to get it right the first time and stop sending things back.
Why sizes don't match between brands
There's no enforced standard for clothing sizes. Each brand picks a “fit model” and grades the rest of the range around that body, so a label's medium encodes that brand's house silhouette as much as any measurement. Add vanity sizing, different target markets, and fabrics with different stretch, and the same number lands differently on every rack.
The fix isn't memorising a dozen size charts. It's knowing your own body measurements and reading each brand's chart against them — the number on the tag matters far less than the centimetres behind it.
Measure yourself once
Spend five minutes with a soft tape and you'll never guess again. Record four numbers and keep them in your notes:
- Chest / bust — around the fullest part, tape level.
- Waist — at your natural waist, roughly at the navel.
- Hips — around the widest point, feet together.
- Inseam — from crotch to ankle on trousers that already fit.
Match those to each brand's chart at checkout. When you fall between two sizes, size up for structured pieces and down for anything with stretch.
Brand-by-brand fit notes
Category-specific tips
Denim stretches with wear — buy snug at the waist for rigid styles. Knitwear relaxes, so avoid sizing up out of caution. Outerwear needs room for layers; check shoulder width first, since it's the hardest thing to alter. Shoes vary most between sportswear and fashion brands — read the length in centimetres, not just the EU number.
When in doubt
Check the product reviews for “runs small / large” patterns, favour the measurement chart over the size label, and lean on free returns for your first order from an unfamiliar brand. Once you've nailed your size with a label, it tends to hold across its range — so the work pays off every order after.