Many voyagers like to shop for clothes abroad. Some types of clothes might be significantly cheaper in another country, and often you can find things that you're unable to find in your home country.

When buying clothes abroad (or from a foreign online store) you may however run into a number of different systems for clothing sizes. In some stores (let alone in open-air markets and similar places) there are not facilities available for trying clothes, so having a reference of the local size system at hand can be useful.

In some cases clothes are marked by letters like S(mall), M(edium), L(arge), XL (extra large) and so on — souvenir t-shirts are often marked this way. However these do in practice vary — for example clothes of a certain size sold on the Asian market are often a bit smaller than American equivalents. Finally, clothing markings may be faulty or entirely missing.

Women edit

Comparison tables edit

Women's dresses and suits
United States 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
UK 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
Germany 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
France 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
Italy 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60
Korea 44 44 55 55 66 66 77 77 88 88
Women's clothing sizes
USA 4 6 8 10 12
UK 8 10 12 14 16
France 36 38 40 42 44
Japanese 7 11 15 17 21
Bust 32" 34" 36" 38" 40"
81 cm 86 cm 91 cm 97 cm 102 cm
Waist 24" 26.5" 29" 31" 33"
61 cm 67 cm 74 cm 79 cm 84 cm
Hip 35" 37" 39" 41" 43"
89 cm 94 cm 99 cm 104 cm 109 cm
Women’s blouses and sweaters
EU 40 42 44 46 48 50
UK 34 36 38 40 42 44
US 32 34 36 38 40 42
Children’s junior misses dresses and coats
EU 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
UK 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
US 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
Korean casual / underwear (KS 051 - 2009)
Dress size 3XS XXS XS S M L XL XXL 3XL 4XL
Bust (cm) 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110-115 120-125
Japanese dresses sizes (JIS L 4005 - 2001)
Dress size 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Bust (cm) 74 77 80 83 86 89 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120 124
Japanese dresses length modifiers
Modifier PP (double-petite) P (petite) R (regular) T (tall)
Subject Height (cm) 142 150 158 166
Additional hip girth (cm) 0 0 2 4
Japanese dresses fit modifiers
Modifier Y A AB B
Additional hip girth (cm) 0 4 8 12

e.g. a dress marked 13-Y-PP or 13-Y-P would be designed for someone with an 89 cm bust and 89 cm hips, while a dress marked 13-B-T would be targeted at a taller individual with 105 cm hips, but the same 89 cm bust. The B fitting adds 12 cm and the T height modifier 4 cm to the base hip measurement 89 + 16 = 105 cm. Additionally there are a set of age based waist adjustments, such that a dress marketed at someone in their 60s may allow for a waist 9 cm larger than a dress, of the same size, marketed at someone in their 20s. The age based adjustments allow for up to a 3 cm increase in girth, per decade of life.

Italian sizes (ITA) edit

Dress sizes are calculated as follows:

  • Standard dress size = (Bust Circumference cm / 2)

French sizes (FRA/BEL) edit

Dress sizes are calculated as follows:

  • Standard dress size = (Bust Circumference cm / 2) - 4

Germanic sizes (DE/AT/NL/SE/DK) edit

Dress sizes are calculated as follows:

  • Standard dress size (Height 164–170 cm) = (Bust Circumference cm / 2 ) - 6
  • Short dress sizes (Height <164 cm) = Standard dress size / 2
  • Tall dress sizes (Height >170 cm) = Standard dress size * 2
Women's clothing sizes (DE/AT/NL/SE/DK)
Short Size codes
< 164 cm
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Standard size codes
< 170 cm
32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Tall size codes
170 cm
64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108
International XS S M L XL XXL
EU Tops 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 105 110 116 122 128
EU Bottoms 60 63 67 70 75 80 84 88 94 100 106 112
Shoulder Width (cm) 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14
Arm length (cm) 58 59 59 60 60 61 61 61 61 62 62 62
Bust (cm) 74–77 78–81 82–85 86–89 90–93 94–97 98–102 103–107 108–113 114–119 120–125 126–131
Waist (cm) 58–61 62–64 65–68 69–72 73–77 78–81 82–85 86–90 91–95 96–102 103–108 109–114
Hips (cm) 80–84 85–89 90–94 95–97 98–101 102–104 105–108 109–112 113–116 117–122 123–128 129–134
Inside Leg (cm) 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114
BH-Größe 65AA 70AA 70A 75A 75B 80B 85C 90C 90D 95D 100E 105E

Men edit

Comparison tables edit

Men's shirts
UK & other EU / Japan 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
UK / US / AUS 14 14½ 15 15½ 15¾ 16¼ 16½ 17 17½ 18 18½
Japan S S M M L L LL,XL LL,XL LL,XL
Korea 90 95 100 105 110
Men's sports shirts, T-shirts
EU 36 37/38 39/40 41/42 43/44 45/46
UK / US XS S M L XL XXL
84 cm 92 cm 100 cm 108 cm 116 cm 124 cm
Men's sweaters, jackets
EU 38/40 42/44 46/48 50/52 52/54
UK / US S M L XL XXL
Men's suits, suit jackets, blazers, overcoats
EU/Russia 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64
UK / US 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Japan 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52
Korea 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130
SML XXS XS S S M M L L XL XXL XXXL
Men's jeans, slacks, pants, trousers: Waist
EU 64/68 68/72 72/76 76/80 80/84 84/88 88/92 92/96 96/100 100/104 104/108 108/112 112/116
Italy 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
UK / US 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 40 42 44
Men's jeans, slacks, pants, trousers: Length
EU 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
UK / US 25/26 27/28 29/30 31 32 33 34 36

The nominal UK/US size for men's trousers is the garment's waist measured in inches minus three inches of 'ease', so the waistband of a pair of "size 30" trousers measures 33 inches around. By contrast, a medium-sized ladies' garment is no more than a "size 12" due to differences in the US size charts - so a lady "size 30" would be huge.

Men's underwear
EU 1 2 3 4 5
UK / US S M L XL XXL

French sizes (FRA/BEL) edit

Chest / Suit sizes are calculated as follows:

  • Standard Size Code = ( Chest Circumference cm + 1) / 2

Germanic sizes (AT/DE/NL/DK/SE/FI) edit

Chest / Suit sizes are calculated as follows:

  • Standard Size Code (Normale) = ( Chest Circumference cm – 1) / 2
  • Short / Stocky (Kurz / Untersetzt) = Standard Size Code / 2
  • Portly (Bauchgrößen) = Standard Size Code + 1
  • Tall / Lean (Schlank / Lang) = (Standard Size Code - 1) * 2
Men's clothing sizes (AT/DE/NL/DK/SE/FI)
Standard Size Codes 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74
Underwear 4 5 6 7 8
International XXS XS S M L XL XXL 3XL 4XL 5XL 6XL 7XL
Chest (cm) 86–89 90–93 94–97 98–101 102–105 106–109 110–113 114–117 118–121 122–125 126-128 129-132 133-136 137-140 141-144 145-148
Waist size (cm) 74–77 78–81 82–85 86–89 90–94 95–99 100–104 105–109 110–114 115–119 120-124 125-128 129-132 133-134 135-138 139-142
Hip circumference (cm) 90–93 94–97 98–101 102–105 106–109 110–113 114–117 118–121 122–125 126–129
Height (cm) 166–170 168–173 171–176 174–179 177–182 180–184 182–186 184–188 185–189 187–190 191-192 193-194 195-196 197-198 199-200 201-202
Short / Stocky
(untersetzte)
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37
Chest (cm) 89–92 93–96 97–100 101–104 105–108 109–112 113–116 117–120 121–124 125-128 129-132 133-136 137-140 141-144 145-148
Waist size (cm) 81–84 85–88 89–92 93–96 97–100 101–106 107–110 111–114 115–118
Hip circumference (cm) 97-100 101–104 105–108 109–112 113–116 117–120 121–124 125–128 129–132
Height (cm) 163-167 166–170 169–173 172–176 175–178 177–180 179–182 181–183 182–183 184 185 186 187 188 189-190 191-192
Portly
(Bauchgrößen)
51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 71 73
Chest (cm) 100–103 104–107 108–111 112–115 116–119 120–123 124–126 127-130 131-134 135-138 139-142 143-146
Waist size (cm) 102–107 108–111 112–117 118–121 122–125 126–129 130-132 133-136 137-140 141-146 147-150 151-154
Hip circumference (cm) 108–111 112–115 116–119 120–123 124–127 128–132 133–137
Height (cm) 168–172 170–174 172–176 174–178 176–180 178–182 180–184
Tall size
(schlanke)
90 94 98 102 106 110 114 118 122
Chest (cm) 88–91 92–95 96–99 100–103 104–107 108–111 111-114 115-118 119-122
Waist size (cm) 74–77 78–81 82–85 86–89 90–93 94–98 100-104 105-109 110-114
Hip circumference (cm) 92–95 96–99 100–103 104–107 108–111 112–115 116-119 120-123 124-127
Height (cm) 175–179 178–182 181–185 184–188 186–190 188–192 193-197 196-200 199-203

Shoe sizes edit

Mondopoint conversion
Mondo EUR UK US men US women
215 34 2.5 3.5 4.5
220 35 3 4 5
225 35.5 3.5 4.5 5.5
230 36.5 4 5 6
235 37 4.5 5.5 6.5
240 38 5.5 6.5 7.5
245 38.5 6 7 8
250 39.5 6.5 7.5 8.5
255 40 7 8 9
260 41 7.5 8.5 9.5
265 41.5 8.5 9.5 10.5
270 42.5 9 10 11
275 43 9.5 10.5 11.5
280 44 10 11 12
285 44.5 10.5 11.5 12.5
290 45.5 11 12 13
295 46 12 13 14
300 47 12.5 13.5 14.5
305 47.5 13 14 15
310 48.5 13.5 14.5 15.5
315 49 14 15 16
320 50 15 16 17


See also edit

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