There are quite a few standard clothing systems around the world – nearly all different! I find that a size 14 in one brand can be considerably different to a size 14 in another and sometimes even within the same manufacturer!  Designer brands are nearly always smaller than the size label indicates.

 

For this reason it is important to check your own personal measurements against those provided when buying clothes without trying them on. Please do remember to allow a little extra on top of your actual body measurements so that you have room to eat, move, sit and breathe…

 

Below is a chart that gives the “standard” measurements that Genevive’s Boutique uses when categorising clothes into standard sizes.

 

Unfortunately most items of clothing do not conform exactly to these measurements and in my experience nor do our body shapes...

 

I have found that the best way to check that an outfit will fit is to compare the measurements given to an outfit (not your actual body) in a similar style that you have that fits you well.

 

Some outfits are structured with no give, others have stretch (usually provided by elastane/spandex in the material content) and some are “cut on the bias” and therefore have some give.  If there is stretch or “give” in an outfit I usually provide the minimum and comfortably stretched, maximum, measurements.