For cross-dressers or male to female transsgenders and transsexuals there is one difficult and confusing hurtle to overcome... figuring out what size cloths you wear in the women’s section! Let’s face it, it can be a real hassle when you are just starting out. What size women’s shoe am I? What size dress? How about Panties? Don’t fear, I will explain how measure yourself and convert your mens sizes over to ladies sizes.
Measuring for Apparel:
As men, it was so easy to pick clothing All we wore was shirts and pants.... Small, Medium, Large, etc. for shirts and one simple waist size and hem length for pants... it doesn’t get much easier then that, does it! When it comes to ladies sizes, that’s a different story all together though. After all, God knows us women are not that simple.
I myself am 5'6" and my measurements are 38-34-37. However, until I learned how to take my proper measurements, I was doing a lot of experimenting with clothing sizes in the begining. With that said, let’s start out by learning how to take your measurements. First of all, it is always best to have someone else take your measurements if at all possible, this will insure a more accurate measurement. If this is not possible, you can measure yourself though.
Using a cloth measuring tape, you will need to measure your bust, waist, and hips. You will also need to know your height as well. When measuring, keep the measuring tape snug, but not tight.
Bust: Measure under your arms and around the fullest part of your chest. It is best to wear your breast forms when measuring. The bust size is the most important measure when buying dresses and blouses.
Waist: Measure around the smallest part of your waistline. Again, measurements should be made wearing the appropriate foundation garments. The waist size is the most important measure when purchasing skirts.
Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips, usually about 7 to 8 inches below your waist.
Height: Most Misses' and Women's sizes are made for ladies that are between 5'4" and 5'7" in height. If you are taller than 5'7", look for styles in Misses' Tall and Women's Tall sizes.
Misses' Sizes (5'4" to 5'7") and Misses' Tall Sizes (5'7½" to 5'11")
Bust Size: Waist Size: Hips Size: = Dress Size:
34" - 34½” 25½” - 26" 36" - 36½” 6
35" - 35½” 26½” - 27" 37" - 37½” 8
36" - 36½” 27½” - 28" 38" - 38½” 10
37" - 38" 28½” - 29½” 39" - 40" 12
38½” - 39½” 30" - 31" 40½” - 41½” 14
40" - 41" 31½” - 32½” 42" - 43" 16
41½” - 43" 33" - 34½” 43½” - 45" 18
43½” - 45" 35" - 36½” 45½” - 47" 20
Women's Sizes (5'4" to 5'7") and Women's Tall Sizes (5'7½" to 5'11")
Bust Size: Waist Size: Hips Size: = Dress Size:
40" - 41” 31” - 32" 42" - 43” 14W
42" - 43” 33” - 34" 44" - 45” 16W
44" - 45” 35" - 36" 46" - 47” 18W
46" - 47" 37" - 38” 48" - 49" 20W
48” - 49” 39" - 40" 50” - 51” 22W
50" - 51" 41" - 42” 52" - 53" 24W
52” - 53" 43" - 44" 54” - 55" 26W
Measuring for Panties:
Panties are usually sold by hip size. Using your hip measurement you already took, follow the chart below to find panties in your size.
If Hips Measure: Wear This Panty Size:
36" - 37" 5
38" - 39" 6
40" - 41" 7
42" - 43" 8
44" - 45" 9
46" - 47" 10
48" - 49" 11
50" - 51" 12
Measuring for Slips & Camisoles:
use your waist size to order half slips
Use your bust size to order full slips and camisoles.
When ordering slips, make sure to check that the length of the slip is appropriate for the dress or skirt you are wearing.
Measuring for Girdles:
Girdles are sold by waist size, however it is also necessary to make sure that the girdle fits you in the hips as well. To insure that the girdle fits properly, subtract your waist measurement from your hip measurement and then, where listed, order a girdle that "fits hips (number of inches)” larger than waist.
Converting shoe size from mens to women’s:
Finding women's shoes in the proper size is only a matter of converting sizes. When using the chart below, make sure to convert your male dress shoe size, which runs about one size smaller than your male athletic shoe size, to the appropriate women's size.
Mens: Women’s:
4 = 5½
4½ = 6
5 = 6½
5½ = 7
6 = 7½
6½ = 8
7 = 8½
7½ = 9
8 = 9½
8½ = 10
9½ = 11
10½ = 12
11½ = 13
12½ = 14
When ordering women's shoes, you also need to take into account your width. Use this chart as a guide:
Mens: Women’s:
AA width = Narrow (N) width
B width = Medium (M) width
D width = Wide (W) width
EE width = Wide Wide (WW) width
The majority of mens shoes are a D width. Due to this, most men will find that a women’s wide width (W) size is the most comfortable to wear.
Remember, Men's bodies are shaped differently then women’s. With that said, all the measurements given above should be used as a general guide to a good fit. However, when a size chart is listed by the merchant itself, you should order according to that merchant's sizes. If you are in between sizes, it is suggested that you always go with the larger size. Also, when ordering a mail order garment where a proper fit is important, make sure that the return policy of the company is well understood before purchasing. This way you can return the item if it does not fit properly.
© copyright 2011 Tammy-Girl Publishing.
Tammy Reed is a national society & culture columnist who writes about transgendered, transsexual, & cross-dressing issues. All articles published in the "Transgender & Transsexual Issues Column" are written by Tammy Reed, and fall under federal copyright laws. Articles cannot be re-printed, re-posted, or re-produced in whole without written consent by the author (Tammy Reed), Tammy-Girl Publishing, or the Examiner.com. Partial re-printing, re-posting, or re-producing with a link back to the original article is permitted. For consent, questions, or comments, please email Tammy Reed at: tampublishing@yahoo.com.
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