Can't figure out what size to start with, because the size conversions on the back make no sense. I check and it lists "hip size" and pants size, but they don't line up. I have neither hips nor buns nor curves to a ridiculous extent; I inherited my father's body shape in that regard. Men's 40 pants fall off of me and I haven't wanted to see if I fit a 38 yet; I have a 18 skirt and 16 jeggings that fit at my guy style waist.. 38 men's were "just a little bit too tight" before. I have never needed to unfasten pants to take them on or off, even when they fit uncomfortably tightly, without any effort. I have a bit of a belly though, so it throws stuff off to fit things where my husband insists they should rise, which would be... About a 38-40 really.
The sizing charts put that all over the place confusedly. I don't know what size would be "probably about right" to fine tune from and I can't easily try things on.

Sizing is very inexact science, companies do their best but it varies across the board. I'm a size 10 in many jeans and a 12 in others, but i have found a range of 4 sizes can fit me in some instance, which means some 8s will actually work. I look like Mrs Santa Clause on the way to the fitting room with arms full of clothes. I do have the hips and the butt, but i am not sure that helps narrow things down very much.

Panties vary a lot too, a range of about 3 sizes can fit me depending on the brand. What is further maddening is that one type of boy shorts from one brand fits larger, and another type of boy shorts from the same brand fit smaller. (this is the same story for other clothes too)

My best advice is to try things on or get a couple sizes of the same and return the one that does not work. Also check the comments on online stores, often people will say - these run large, small or are true to size. Finally look at the sizing guides for the brand too. Occasionally those are helpful.

Quote from: Nuuni on September 15, 2016, 07:20:07 PM
...I have neither hips nor buns nor curves to a ridiculous extent...

You have hips. You have a waist. Just wanted to clear that up first.  But seriously, you do...

First, are you in the midst of significant weight loss? As I started to transition again early this decade, the inspiration and awakening of what I'd been avoiding was enough to galvanize a diet where I lost about 50 pounds. I mention this because my size changed significantly over the the last several years. So I experimented with a size initially but am down a size or two now, partly because of weight loss, partly because I'm better at measuring and choosing sizes.

Sizes were daunting when I started. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe I focused on waist size while not ignoring hip size, all the while assuming that hip size was not strict due to fabric stretch. I was largely correct about this.

I can't offer any specific opinion without seeing a specific sizing chart and knowing your measurements... both waist and hips. You can search for "how to size for women's underwear" to see tips... if you don't own a fabric tape measure, you may want to pick one up... I must have used mine about 1 million times in the last several years. Things were changing, but I was also forgetting... sizing can be daunting for someone new to it.

So I focused on waist size while not ignoring hip size... I didn't want hips to be baggy yet I didn't want waist to be too tight. Largely I found women's underwear is very stretchable and going on waist size and taking a guess yielded a good size for me initially but I then discovered I could have (should have) gone a size smaller... now I'm about two sizes smaller because I like strong underwear which can work well with a tuck.

I was not tucking when initially shopping for underwear... could never see myself doing that regularly... times change... I've been tucking regularly for a while now... I can't stand using older guy jeans to get by. I rarely wear them... mostly women's INC jeans and skirts, sometimes dresses. For those I must tuck and I like the underwear to be on the snug side. If you see a chart measurement which is borderline, you might want to consider the smaller of the two as all will likely stretch.

Quote from: RobynD on September 15, 2016, 08:01:25 PM
... My best advice is to try things on or get a couple sizes of the same and return the one that does not work. Also check the comments on online stores, often people will say - these run large, small or are true to size. Finally look at the sizing guides for the brand too. Occasionally those are helpful.

Great advice. I started buying underwear before being out so was using online purchases... and a little too timid to return something believe it or not. But after being out I went to local stores... so much easier! ... local stores sell great underwear and allow for returns... I take them home, try the pair I think will work best first... mostly that's been the winner so returns have not been necessary but the avenue of returning was available. In those cases I returned the unopened other sizes (usually larger) was trying.

I'm sure I will be losing weight, but right now, I am not; one of the bigger frustrations I have had is that my dysphoria expanded to restrict my ability to exercise, and I am still trying to get on HRT (things are suddenly moving again, but I still need the consult). I seem to be about 38" in circumference pretty much everywhere between my chest and my legs, though. My father ended up wearing suspenders with everything, then switched to overalls; I have a similar body shape. Curvy like a cardboard box.

You wear a size 8 panty and could probably wear a 7. I've always been a woman's size and men's clothing has never fit,even when I was a 125 lbs and wore size 29 pants I always have had to wear a belt to keep my pants up. I weigh 240 wear a size 16 skirts and pants and a 18 top and size 8 panty and will soon be a size 7 panty. Right now I wear a 36 men's waist.

I wear men's 38 pants, women's 16 shorts or skirts (most styles), women's XL or 18 tops.
And size 7 panties. some styles this is a bit tight. because a thong hits my hips a bit low, I usually get a 6.

Size numbers are rather manufacturer specific. The general rule for women's apparel appears to be that a size ten fits the manufacturer's median customer. Because of this high end lines are usually sized smaller, and those that target the average consumer are in general larger. Also because of this the numbers taken alone can be pretty meaningless.

If the size tag lists actual measurements, they should be a good indication of whether the item may fit. That said, some items will probably be designed to have more ease and others to be tight. Once you know your size for a particular brand it's fairly easy to go back, start with that size and work up or down.

Kathleen Fasanella on Fashion Incubator has written some very informative and thorough blog posts on sizing. I'd need to make another 440 posts or so to offer a link to her site, but it well worth googling for anyone interested in the subject.

I can wear a size 10 or 12 in women's jeans, am 5 ft 5 in tall and about 138 -140 pounds, and wear size 6 panties.

Maybe this will help by example. 

I usually fit a size 16 skirt. Levi's jeans, usually also size 16 in 512, 545, 515 or 505.   My waist measures about 38" and hips about 42-43".

In Bali and Vanity Fair panties, I always comfortably fit XL or size 8, a size 7 is pretty snug btu can be useful when needing to snug things for purposes of needing to more aggressively "tuck."  In high waist shapewear usually 2X in brands that follow typical S,M,L,XL,2X,3X... sizing such as Maidenform.

In Jockey Elance panties of all variants I've tried; bikini, hipsters, french cut, size 7 fits perfectly.

Steph