Waist sizes for skirts

[andrew72]

A query, when buying skirts for my waist size, which is 34 inches. Would it be best to go a size smaller to get the best fit? For example, I recently bought an Alsharifa skirt with a 34 inch waist but found that to be loose, even with a belt. I bought one which has a 32 inch waist and that is a nice and snug fit. Any useful tips would be much appreciated so I can buy with more confidence.

[Sinned]

You are in the lap of the gods here, particularly if the skirt was originally a "female" one. I look at it this way you can always put a small dart or two in a skirt that is marginally too big but it's more difficult to alter a skirt that's too small. When I buy a skirt ( off ebay ) I always ask for the waist measurement and the length. I'm a 34/36 waist ( I have some abdominal fat that comes and goes ) and I find that a women's size 14 or 16 fit me although I have one that's a size 12 and that fits perfectly.

[crfriend]

"Lap of the gods" indeed! Women's sizing is a black art at best and a complete and utter waste of time, ink, and effort at worst. First and foremost, "sizes" vary from manufacturer to manufacturer: any notion of "standard sizing" went out the window years ago so one manufacturer's size 16 may we another's 12. Also, and this is slightly newer, is the notion of "vanity sizing" where sizes are quite deliberately misrepresented to allow women to think that they're closer to the impossible "size 0" than they really are.

The only rational answer is to either try the garment on (or at least hold it up to yourself to see if it's close) or ask explicitly for measurements of waist and length. Anecdotally, I've had decent luck by basing "size" from not my waist size but rather my hips; by getting something that'll just clear my hips I usually wind up with something that'll fit my waist.

[couyalair]

"Women's sizing is a black art at best"

That is one reason why I intend to buy only wrap skirts. They adapt to your waistline and also to the day-to day variations that are a consequence of the exercise/food ratio.

Martin

[crfriend]

"Women's sizing is a black art at best"

That is one reason why I intend to buy only wrap skirts.

Elastic-waist skirts are pretty good, and if they have a tie as well work very well on guys. They're forgiving size-wise and, as mentioned, adapt nicely to day-to-day (and hour-by-hour sometimes) size-changes due to food intake.

On my recent trip I bought two (photos to follow once the outside temperatures will allow) of such design and they're delightful.

[Sarongman]

I always give great attention to waist sizes, trying them on in stores and double checking an eBay offering before bidding, as the mistake of getting a size too small is greatly disappointing. A size too large is no big deal, as I always have skirts with belt loops and a belt fixes the oversize problem. Any bunching is minimal and can be distributed around the waistline.

I still have my first two skirts, bought from LL Bean through mail order nearly 30 years ago. these skirts have two side elastic pieces and, though I bought size 18 at the time (I am a size 12U.S.) fitted due to the quality elastic and the belt. Alas, these skirts were loved to death and now are stored awaiting careful dismantling as patterns for replica skirts in either denim, twill, corduroy or moleskin.

[Sinned]

Using hip measurements works better for men as the waist and hip measurements theoretically more closely align than in women.