Developing Your
Own Look:
Sizing and other Basics

By Cindy Martin


Everyone has a style, whether they know it consciously or not. Natural, elegant, formal, dramatic, ingenue or conservative, all of us have a special look that suits us best.

But finding what really works best can be a real challenge, particularly if we have no one around to help us evaluate our appearance. Let's face it, our friends can be less than honest about critiquing us: "You look great!" may be the most overused three words spoken when people in our community gather. And it is worse for those of us who are isolated and trying to figure out how to put together a wardrobe that works out in the real world.

What "Style Counsel" hopes to do is to provide everyone, both beginner and "old head", with solid, basic information that includes special tips just for the MTF who has to deal with things like hip and breast pads. Don't expect to see one person writing these articles. Each month we hope to bring in some fashion experts to talk to you about everything from color and fabric to comportment and conversation.

Let's consider some facts: The average man in the West is 5'10" and weighs in the mid-170s (pounds). The average woman is 5'6" and weighs somewhere around 140. The 5'10" man who dresses as a woman still weighs 175, but a woman of that height averages about 15-20 lbs less. Men are simply bigger, on average. But we aren't average are we?

Converting Sizes

A few months ago the Tiffany Club of New England published this excellent size conversion chart. Now I know what my male size is...

The key measurement here is the bust/chest. Measure around your body at the level of your underarms not across where your breasts are. Don't cheat on this because if you undersize here you cannot really repair the garment. You can pad out hips and pull in waists but this area cannot really be manipulated.

Note: Style Counsel writer and fashion expert JoAnn Roberts has advised me that the waist sizes here are off. You can add 2-3" to the waist measurements and still be in the right size. She has informed me that sizes have been revamped a lot in recent years as women have gotten bigger.

    Misses or
    Women's Sizes
     4
    6
    8
    10
    12
    14
    16
    18
    20 (38)
    22 (40)
    (42)
    (44)
    (46)
    Bust/Chest
    (in Inches)
    30-30 1/2
    31-31 1/2
    32-32 1/2
    33-34
    34 1/2-35 1/2
    36-37
    37 1/2-38 1/2
    39-40 1/2
    41-42 1/2
    43-44 1/2
    45-46 1/2
    47-48 1/2
    49-50 1/2
    Waist

    21-21 1/2
    22-22 1/2
    23-23 1/2
    24-25
    25 1/2-26 1/2
    27-28
    28 1/2-29 1/2
    30-31 1/2
    32-33 1/2
    34-35 1/2
    37 1/2-39 1/2
    40-42
    42 1/2-44 1/2
    Hips

    32-32 1/2
    33-33 1/2
    34-34 1/2
    35-36
    36 1/2-37 1/2
    38-39
    391/2-40 1/2
    41-42 1/2
    43-44 1/2
    45-46 1/2
    46-47 1/2
    48-49 1/2
    50-51 1/2
    Men's
    Sizes
     ***
    ***
    ***
    ***
    36(S)

    38(M)
    40(M)
    42(L)
    44(L)
    46(XL)
    48
    50
* Women's sizes are shown in parentheses.
** Waist measurements shown here are Misses sizes.
Men's sizes are approximately 3 inches larger.
*** Not available in men's sizes.

Shoes

A woman's shoe size is usually one size higher than the equivalent in a man's shoe. If you wear a 7 man's shoe, try an 8 in a woman's shoe. A B-width shoe is considered medium for women; for men, a D-width is considered medium. Many men do well with women's extra wide widths.If a shoe is not available in the correct women's width, try a size 2 to 1 size larger.

Bras

Use the method described above to get your bra size: measure across your chest under the arms at the level of your underarms. For cup size measure the fullest part of the bust. If it's 1 inch more than the bra size, you're an A cup; 2 inches more, a B cup; 3 inches mow, a C cup (etc.).

Next Month: Establishing which fabics and basic styles are right for specific body types.

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