How to find your clothing size without trying anything on

The letter on a label is only a starting point. A large from one brand can fit like a medium from another, and sizes change from country to country. Your own measurements stay the same wherever a piece was made, so they are the most reliable thing to shop with.

What you need

A soft tape measure and a piece of paper. If you don't have a tape measure, use a piece of string and measure it against a ruler afterwards. Measure over light clothing or none, and keep the tape snug but not tight.

The measurements that matter

• Chest or bust: around the fullest part, under your arms and across your shoulder blades.
• Waist: around the narrowest part of your middle, usually just above your belly button.
• Hips: around the fullest part of your hips and seat, with your feet together.
• Inside leg: from the top of your inner thigh down to your ankle. This one decides the length of trousers.
• Shoulders: across your back, from the edge of one shoulder to the edge of the other. This matters most for shirts and jackets.

The shortcut: measure clothes that already fit

Take a shirt, dress or pair of trousers that fits you well and lay it flat on a table. Then measure these:

• Tops and dresses: from armpit to armpit, then from the top of the shoulder to the bottom hem.
• Trousers and skirts: straight across the waist, then the length of the leg or skirt.

Double any width that was measured flat to get the distance all the way around. Compare the flat numbers with what a seller gives you, and you will know how a piece compares with one you already wear.

A shirt that already fits tells you more than any label.

When a label uses a number

Women's sizes are the most confusing, because the same dress can be labelled differently in each country. As a rough guide, a UK 12 is about a US 8 and an EU 40. Brands vary, so treat this as a clue and check the measurements as well.

Clothes made for Asian markets often run smaller than those made for Europe or America, sometimes by one or two sizes. If you are looking at a label you don't know, ask for the measurements.

Think about the fabric and the fit you want

• Stretchy fabrics such as jersey and knits are forgiving, and can sit close to the body.
• Stiff fabrics such as denim without stretch need the right waist size. There is little give.
• Between two sizes? Take the bigger one if a tailor can adjust it. Taking a piece in is much easier than letting it out.
• Want it relaxed? Add a few centimetres to your own measurement. A shirt that matches your chest exactly will feel tight when you move.

Keep your numbers close

Save your measurements in your phone's notes, so you have them whenever you see something you love. Then keep the pieces you like in your favorites, and you will have both your size and your style in one place when it is time to buy.