Sizing Help For American Women Shopping Plus-Size in the UK
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Are you an American woman on a holiday in the British Isles with a mind to sample the plus size UK fashion scene? Or are you browsing UK-based online clothing stores selling plus size UK clothes from the comfort of your home? One of the few things that may confuse you when it comes to buying clothes in the United Kingdom, online or otherwise, is the sizing.
There are a few differences on how sizes are determined in the United States and in the UK. It is important for you to be aware of the difference if you intend to buy clothing from a plus size UK fashion store on a regular basis. Otherwise, you may find yourself saddled with items that you can not actually wear.
Converting Plus Size UK from US Sizes
If you are going to shop for clothes in a store in Britain, you need to know that what are considered as plus sizes are size 16 and above. The rule of thumb here is to add two to the sizes that you normally wear in the US. For instance, if you wear size 16 dresses according to American measurements, you should look for size 18 dresses when you go shopping for clothes in the UK.
When you go shopping for jeans and slacks, you should add four to your American size instead of just two. For example, if you wear pants sized 18/20 in American measurements, you should go look for size 22/24 when you happen to be on a shopping trip at the British Isles.
Of course, sizing is more or less arbitrary, no matter what country you are in at the moment. It is common practice for high-end boutiques to be generous with their sizing in an effort to make their customers feel thinner and encourage them to buy from their store. Thus, you should not rely on clothes size too much. If you see something in a store that you really like, you should not just ask for the size. You should go to the dressing room and try the garment on to see how it really fits your body.
Also, you should not hesitate to ask for help from a sales attendant. She will be more than happy to help you find the right size for you, and most stores train their sales employees to approximate the size of their clients with just a single glance.
What If You Are Shopping For Plus-Size UK Clothes Online?
If you are simply shopping online, it is more than likely that such assistance as you will find inside the physical store may not be available at the website. So, if you are browsing an online catalog, make sure that you consult their sizing guide before you make your purchase.
A good clothing website will have a sizing guide that would detail which sizes will fit with which measurements. To make it easy for you, you should go ahead and measure your bust, your waist and your hips before you consult the sizing guide. This will give you a clear idea of what size you really need.
And because you are shopping online, it is also possible that the garment you saw on the website may not be what you actually expected. So, before you make your purchase, make sure that you understand the website's return policy so you will be able to send back the items you bought if they are not to your liking.
If you are an American woman buying clothes from plus size UK stores, it will help a lot for you to know the difference between American sizes and UK sizes. This will make your shopping much, much easier.
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