Finding Your Size: A Guide to Getting Well-Fitting Women’s Clothes for Crossdressers

I’m sure we’re all aware of the feeling of buying some women’s clothing, online or in the shop, and then getting home and it not fitting right.  When I started dressing I was too shy to ask to be sized for a bra or to try on a dress.  Getting home or having an order arrive and find that your new bra is too small or your new dress isn’t long enough is frustrating and disappointing.  I can remember when I got the urge to dress up for the first time and grabbed a 36B size bra; I figured that it was a common size and would fit me fine.  Later I’d learn how wrong I was; not only was it too small, but it was painfully small.  None of us should be figuring out our female size by trial and error.

Believe it or not, figuring out your own size really isn’t that hard to do.  All you need is a fully flexible tape measure and some patience.  Keep reading and we’ll discuss how to find your correct size for various types of women’s clothing, and recommend a few retailers to shop in.  Finding well-fitting and comfortable clothes for your female self shouldn’t be a chore, it should be liberating!

1. How to measure yourself properly

The first thing to discuss about sizing is taking measurements.  If any of you have ever been fitted for a suit, you should have some experience of how this goes.  The most important thing you’re going to need is a fully flexible tape measure (Link); try to make sure it is at least 60 inches long; about a meter and a half.  It’s long enough to complete any reasonable measurement on your body and it will remain snug against your body when taking a measurement.  Once you’ve got a tape measure, just remember a pen and somewhere to write down all the important numbers.

Men and women are measured in slightly different places.  When considering your size in women’s clothing there are four basic areas to measure; chest, bust, waist and hips.  To ensure the most accurate measurements, I’d encourage you to keep the tape measure against your skin or just over some thin snuggly fitting underwear.

● Chest

To get an accurate chest measurement, you need to measure the circumference of your chest in a specific spot.  Loop the tape measure under your arms and pull it tight about 2 inches below your nipples.  Make sure that the tape measure is pulled so it wraps snuggly around you, and make sure it is parallel with the ground.  Make a note of the number in inches; common measurements would be between 36 and 42.  If you have ever been fitted for a suit jacket, the number should be similar to your jacket size.

● Bust

Finding your bust size is quite easy; repeat the same procedure as your chest measurement, but directly over your nipples. I’d like to note here that these measurements are meant to be done without any sort of breast enhancement, no breast forms, not even socks.  Chances are the number will be quite similar to your chest measurement.  Women will find out their bra’s cup size by comparing the difference between the bust and chest measurement.  Most breast forms are sold by cup size, so if you’re curious if your breast forms give you the cup size you dreamt of, do this with your forms on.  You’ll need to place them carefully and make sure they are at the same height.

● Waist

Male and female waistlines are very different and they are measured differently.  A male waist is generally measured at the top of our hips, think about your beltline on a pair of jeans.  A female waistline is measured higher, usually belly button height or just above and it will be the smallest measurement when compared to chest and hip measurements.  I think the best way to figure out your waist measurement is to hold your tape measure just under your chest and gently let it fall to halfway between the bottom of your ribs and top of your hips.  Pull it snug and check your measurement.  Remember, don’t suck in your belly, this will give you an inaccurate measurement.

I know that achieving a female figure and svelte waistline are paramount for a crossdresser, and the result of this measurement can be dispiriting.  Don’t be, this information will help you get better fitting clothes.  If you are self-conscious about this measurement, you can try the same procedure while wearing a waist cincher.  A good one can help you cut 3 to 6 inches off your measurement.

● Hips

Once again, you’re going to make a loop with your tape measure.  Wrap the loop around your hips at their widest point; likely just about an inch above your groin.  As with the previous measurements, pull the tape measure snug and take note of the measurement.  Hips are probably the most straightforward measurement to take.  And, as always, remember to keep the tape measure parallel with the floor.

2. Using these measurements to find your size

Now that we know how to measure ourselves, it’s time to discuss using this information to get clothes and lingerie in the correct size.  Before going into how to use your measurements to find exactly your blouse or dress size, there are a few things that I think are important to remember.  Firstly, different countries or brands use different units of measurement, different standard sizing and make clothes for differing clientele.  As someone who’s grown up in the USA, I use inches and I’m familiar with things like bra sizes to be denominated in inches.  But European shops might size their bras in centimeters; and every brand has a slightly different idea about bra cup sizes.  Most good reliable retailers will have a size guide on their website to assist you, they are invaluable.

Also, please do remember that even though we might measure ourselves perfectly, our bodies are just inherently different from a woman’s and there can be sizing issues because of that.  Perhaps consider looking into retailers that specifically cater to the crossdressing community, such as En Femme Style, to mitigate this issue.

● Tops & Sweater Sizes

Blouses and other tops are usually sized according to the bust measurement.  That’s the one that takes your full bra cups into account.  The good news here is that blouses and other tops are usually sized by S, M, L & XL.  Please refer to the following size guide for reference.  Just remember that whatever size you choose does not take your larger shoulders into account; you might have to order a size bigger, if you’ve got large shoulders.

USA vs. European Clothes Sizes

Regular Tops

Plus Tops

● Sizes for Skirts, Slacks or Jeans

I think this can be a tricky one; skirts are sized according to waist measurements, but also account for a woman’s wider hips.  If you buy according to your waist size, you might end up with a very frumpy skirt or a lot of roominess in the hips.  Then again, if you buy according to your hip size, your skirt will not be able to sit properly at your waistline.  My idea here is to buy one size smaller than your waist size; so if a sizing guide suggests a size 10 skirt, I’d buy an 8.  Just be prepared for some slight squeezing around your belly.  That’s just me though, I’m willing to endure a bit of a squeeze to get a flattering fit.

● Full Length Dress and Gown Sizes

This is likely going to the hardest type of women’s clothing to size accurately for you.  A woman’s dress size is determined by height, along with the measurements for chest, waist and hips.  It’s likely that your measurements will not conform those of a typical female so you need to a bit of research at every retailer by using their online sizing tool or guide.

Basically, you’re going to want to work off the measurement that results in the largest dress size.  For example, if you’ve got a chest measurement of 40 and a hip measurement of 38; work off of the chest measurement.  You don’t want to end up with a dress that shows off your waist but then can’t be zipped up because it’s too small for your shoulders.

● Bra & Lingerie Sizes

Sizing lingerie can be quite easy.  Panties are usually sized as S, M, L or XL, and these sizes are usually linked in some way to hip measurements or hip sizes.  A hip measurement of 35 or below usually means you’re an S; 35 to 38 is an M, etc.  Some retailers put their size guides on the packages.

Panties

Bras are where sizing can get a bit more complicated.  I’ve read that something like 60% of women don’t know their true bra size. Basically, if your bust measurement is 1 inch larger than your chest measurement, you’re an A cup; 2 inches larger is a B cup, 3 is a C cup, and so on.  This bra size guide can help you; it even has a link to a handy bra size calculator you can try.  If you’re looking to buy breast forms or a breast plate and get an idea about how much volume they will add to your chest, you can do another chest measurement while leaving some slack in the tape.  An extra five inches, when held taught and parallel with the ground would show you how far a DD cup would look on you!

Bras

Items like chemises or camisoles are also generally measured by chest/bust size.  Whenever I have looked at the tags in shops, I usually see sizes like 36, 38, or 36C, 38D, etc.  Just be mindful of the length of any of these garments.

3. Recommended shops

En Femme Style – A clothing retailer in the Philadelphia area catering to Trans women and crossdressers.  All their clothes are intended for the male body, so are designed with slightly longer sleeves and other small touches to make you look your feminine best.

Dress Tech – Another retailer making clothes for crossdressers.

Marks & Spencer – UK high street retailer.  I’ve always been happy with anything I’ve got from M&S; good quality for a good price with a good selection of all types of clothing.

4. Online shopping site recommendations

Recommended online shops

Janet’s Closet (https://janetscloset.com/): Janet’s Closet is a well-known online store specializing in crossdresser clothing and accessories. They offer a wide range of products, including dresses, tops, skirts, lingerie, wigs, and footwear. The website has a user-friendly interface and provides detailed product descriptions and size charts to help customers make informed purchasing decisions. Janet’s Closet is known for its quality products and has been serving the crossdressing community for many years.

Glamour Boutique (https://www.glamourboutique.com/): Glamour Boutique is another popular online destination for crossdressers seeking clothing and accessories. They offer a diverse selection of feminine clothing items, including dresses, tops, skirts, corsets, and breast forms. The website provides detailed product information, sizing guides, and customer reviews to assist shoppers in finding the right fit. Glamour Boutique focuses on providing a range of styles that cater to the specific needs and preferences of crossdressers.

Cross-Dress (https://www.cross-dress.com/): Cross-Dress is an online store that offers a variety of crossdresser clothing and accessories. Their product range includes dresses, tops, skirts, lingerie, breast forms, wigs, and more. The website is designed to be user-friendly and offers detailed product descriptions, sizing information, and customer reviews. Cross-Dress aims to provide affordable options for crossdressers without compromising on quality.

Comparative Analysis

When comparing these three websites, there are a few factors to consider:

Product Range: All three websites offer a diverse range of crossdresser clothing and accessories. Janet’s Closet has a comprehensive selection that covers various categories, while Glamour Boutique and Cross-Dress also provide a wide range of options, although their product offerings may vary.

Quality and Reputation: Janet’s Closet and Glamour Boutique are well-established in the crossdressing community and have built a reputation for offering high-quality products. Cross-Dress, while relatively newer, also strives to provide quality items at affordable prices.

User Experience: All three websites aim to provide a smooth and user-friendly shopping experience. They offer clear product information, size guides, and customer reviews to help customers make informed choices.

Price Range: The pricing of products may vary across the websites. Customers can explore the options and compare prices to find the best fit for their budget.

Return Policy: It’s important to review the return policies of each website to ensure that you have the option to return or exchange items if they don’t meet your expectations.

Ultimately, the choice of website may depend on personal preferences, specific clothing needs, and budget considerations. It can be beneficial to explore all three websites to find the best selection, quality, and pricing that align with your requirements as a crossdresser.

Now that we’ve covered the basics for finding the size that fits you best, it’s time for you to go and get yourself a tape measure.  I guarantee that once you understand exactly how and where to measure and then apply that information, you’ll be much more satisfied with the fit of your next purchase.

By maproteus