Clothing?

[Snow Lights]

Greetings. ^^ Hope all is well.

So, today I got paid and need help on clothing. I'm male to female and I'm at a dead end when it comes to purchasing women's clothing. I have tried purchasing some in public before but always chickened out as I don't really pass at the moment as a female, and I tend to enjoy wearing the alternative style clothing and there's really nowhere around here for that other than like Hottopic.

I've decided I want to just order it online, I have a found a shirt and jeans that I want as well as a set of undergarments. Now, how do the sizes work? I've looked it up and gotten some different answers. I know it can vary upon where you buy them from. However, the shirt I want is only in stock for small, medium, and large and I wear a large in mens (I can get by with mediums usually). I'm just asking myself, would a small be too small? etc because I have no clue. Then as far as jeans go, I'm waist 32 but I've seen a lot of people say size 12 in women's so I'm assuming that's accurate. And I know nothing on undergarments. Or, if anyone is familiar with Spencer's Gifts sizing, you could probably be a huge help!

But, thank you to everyone who helps and have a good day!

[Jacqueline]

It really does vary.

I find I have to order to the larger side on blouses, shirts, jackets. Because our hips tend to be smaller we go for the waist. If you are really 32 waist a 12 could work depending on the brand a 10 might almost. The challenge with slacks and pants tends to be the length for me.

Because of shoulders, chest and upper body,(unless you are very small) I would go with a large shirt or blouse.

Good luck. Most internet stores let you return stuff so keep the invoice and packing stuff.

With warmth,

Joanna

[Michelle_P]

Just to add to Joanna's good info, some lines of jeans (like Gloria Vanderbilt) have what they call a Missy/Seniora cut, which has a larger waistline for a given hip size.  A 32 waist measured up at the naval would be a size 10 to 8 in this cut.  (I have a 28-29" waist and wear a size 6 in this cut, or an 8 regular.) Missy cut seems to work well for us early-transition types who haven't gained much down there.

For tops I wear a small-medium men's, or a large (10-12) for most women's.  I generally get away with a size 10 blazer or jacket, but that's more a function of shoulder width than anything else.   If you wear a Med-large men's top, then you might land in the XL area for women's tops.

[KathyLauren]

With women's clothes, there really is no substitute for trying them on.  The numbered sizes are so inconsistent that they are close to meaningless.  Add to that the fact that our testosterone-poisoned bodies are not the same shape as cis-women's.

I am pretty much a medium everything in men's clothes.  In women's, I am a large for tops, and a medium for bottoms.  In numbered sizes, I'll try a 10 first, but sometimes I have to switch to an 8.  Sometimes even a large top is too small.

If you order online, make sure they have a good return policy.

Once you get over the fear, shopping in person is fun.  Yeah, you get the odd funny look, but most cashiers will assume that you are buying for a spouse.or girlfriend.  And, even if they don't, their job is to take your cash and give you the merchandise, so ultimately, that is what they'll do.

[Snow Lights]

It really does vary.

I find I have to order to the larger side on blouses, shirts, jackets. Because our hips tend to be smaller we go for the waist. If you are really 32 waist a 12 could work depending on the brand a 10 might almost. The challenge with slacks and pants tends to be the length for me.

Because of shoulders, chest and upper body,(unless you are very small) I would go with a large shirt or blouse.

Good luck. Most internet stores let you return stuff so keep the invoice and packing stuff.

With warmth,

Joanna

Thank you. Unfortunately the website where I want the jeans, the sizing doesn't exist in 12. I can either get 11 or 13. So, I'm debating on that.. But, looking at the sizing charts, I'm just at a complete loss. I have no idea what any of this means. D: But, I don't see why a large shirt wouldn't fit, I'm not big at all.

What size does large usually mean? When I look at my waist for 32, it just says L for large. But, when you I pick the size to buy, its not in "L" just numbers.

[LauraE]

I was in a similar situation, except i decided to not care about what others thought. For my clothes, i go to Kohls, shop around, and then carry my selections to the male dressing room to try on. i've NEVER gotten an odd look and you'd be surprised what you fit or can't fit. I'm 5'8" and 160, but i fit a size 12 dress and size 10 jeans and shorts. Your mileage may vary, so i'd recommend taking the plunge so you can be certain about sizes before you begin ordering online

Laura

[Jacqueline]

11, 13 tend to be juniors sizing. 13's I think seem to be in the 31-32 inch range for waist. However, every brand seems to be a little different.

Not sure if that helps at all. Sorry

With warmth,

Joanna

[LauraE]

Oh, by the way, both Kohl's and Costco have the same jeans on sale (with Costco having the cheaper price). I went to Kohl's to determine the size i really fit (in this case, Size 10 regular) and bought one there. Then i went to Costco and bought another color there. Again, no funny looks. Most people just figure you're buying for a spouse.

Laura

[Snow Lights]

Oh, by the way, both Kohl's and Costco have the same jeans on sale (with Costco having the cheaper price). I went to Kohl's to determine the size i really fit (in this case, Size 10 regular) and bought one there. Then i went to Costco and bought another color there. Again, no funny looks. Most people just figure you're buying for a spouse.

Laura

Thank you. I'm more into the darker fashion so I really wouldn't purchase from those places, but I have thought about going to into a larger store like Kohls just to try on a few things. Being it's a larger store, less people should see me. Then, that should maybe give me an idea on sizing.

Really thank you for the response!

[Jacqueline]

Again, no funny looks. Most people just figure you're buying for a spouse.

Laura

Or sometimes they don't really care. A sale is a sale. 

Warmly,

Joanna

[Snow Lights]

11, 13 tend to be juniors sizing. 13's I think seem to be in the 31-32 inch range for waist. However, every brand seems to be a little different.

Not sure if that helps at all. Sorry

With warmth,

Joanna

Luckily the store that has the jeans I want has a return policy on them and the store exists in my mall here so I can just bring those back if they don't fit. But, the store that has the shirt I want doesn't, so I'm more worried about that not fitting. :s Dunno what to do about undergarments as you can't try those on, are they similar to pants?

[Alice-jones]

Hi
I am a size 30 waist and a medium in shirts and tee shirt in mens sizes
When i  buy my female clothes i wear a size 8 in a skirt but becouse i have large shoulders i need a size 12-14 in a dress. sizing does change a lot between brands so trying before you buy is a must unless the internet shop accepts returns.
Hope this helps

Alice x

[Snow Lights]

Hi
I am a size 30 waist and a medium in shirts and tee shirt in mens sizes
When i  buy my female clothes i wear a size 8 in a skirt but becouse i have large shoulders i need a size 12-14 in a dress. sizing does change a lot between brands so trying before you buy is a must unless the internet shop accepts returns.
Hope this helps

Alice x

I ended up trying some on, the size was 9/10 that fit me. I'm going to suppose the 9 is waist? What does the 10 mean? Thanks for your help.

[Dena]

Female clothing comes in 4 sizing sizing systems, juniors, petites, misses, and women's. I think you are dealing with Miss sizes and the 9/10 indicates it will fit a person size 9 or 10.

[Alice-jones]

yes i also think that it will fit a person who either wears a size 9 or a size 10

Alice x

[Snow Lights]

Female clothing comes in 4 sizing sizing systems, juniors, petites, misses, and women's. I think you are dealing with Miss sizes and the 9/10 indicates it will fit a person size 9 or 10.

Thank you, I didn't know what to look for. I didn't know they were four different size categories. The pants I want online come in junior and I took the 9/10 and looked up some conversion to juniors. Saying they convert to sizes 11-13. Thank you again.

[Emileeeee]

Sizing varies from brand to brand and sometimes from item to item within the same brand, but I find for pants and tops it's fairly stable within a specific brand, so I find one I like and I stick with it. There are crossdresser websites that can be a guide for the sizes.

At 5'10" 190lbs, I'm in a size 12 (US) pants, 1X tops, 8 panties. The biggest issue I have is the length and I'm not even that tall. The jeans I get have letters after the sizes. I don't know what they directly mean, but what I've found is S/C = not capris, but they're short enough to qualify, M = could probably get away with it, and probably some other one out there I haven't been blessed with finding that's actually the right length. I have length issues with shirts too.

As far as shopping goes, there are a number of reasons why a guy would be walking around a women's clothing store. Buying a gift, buying clothes for their child, being in charge of costumes for a play. Name it. Nobody there needs to know why you're making the purchase. Relax and stop sweating. Nobody will notice. The salespeople don't care what your reason is. They just want the sale. The other customers don't care why you're there either. They just want to get a good deal.

[CarlyMcx]

I've been where you are.  Here is how to determine your size:  Measure yourself.  First is the bust measurement.  Put the tape measure just under your bewbs, and keep it snug around your ribcage.  If you get an odd number round up to the next even number.  For example, I measured myself as a 37, so that makes me a 38.  This is your bra band size.  I just had to see how this actually worked, so I bought bras in both 36B and 38B, and the 38 is the one that fits.  The 36 is too small and looks awful.  Second, waist.  Measure yourself at the smallest point, which for women is usually an inch or so above the belly button.  This is called the "natural waist."  For example, I am a 33 in men's pants, but I am a 30 in women's pants, and that is my waist measurement in women's clothing.  Finally, hips, and this is the easiest part.  Just measure your hips at the widest point.  I think I am about a 37 there as well.

Now, with your measurements in hand, you are ready to navigate all those online size charts where they translate numbers into women's sizes.  I usually translate to a junior miss (odd number sizes) size 11, or size large, both top and bottom.  In misses sizes I usually am a size 8 or 10 down below, and mostly a 12 up top, because I still have some shoulders going on.  For tops I am always a size large, and for pants and jeans I can be 8, 9, 10, or 11 depending on the maker, but I am always a 30 waist.  If I buy a women's 31 I have to wear a belt.  But wait, there's more!  On anything that has a low waist or hipster waistline, I have to go a little smaller, so my hipster shorts are usually size 8 or 9 or 29 inch waist.

This is a learning experience.  Have fun with it!