Find your fit while saving your sanity

There is nothing more demoralizing than getting into a fitting room and finding that all the clothes you try on are too small. The key to saving your self-esteem is being able to estimate your size, which is way easier said than done. Sizing varies widely from store to store, and even within the same store. What then, is a girl (or guy) to do? Follow these easy steps to keep your confidence in tact and look like the best possible you:

1) Don't pin your self-identity down to a size number.
Beautiful women come in many different shapes and sizes. Size 00 is just as beautiful as size 16. Instead of being concerned with a number, concentrate on what looks best on you. Fit is the most important part of style - no matter how nice your clothes are they will never look good if they don't fit well.

2) Determine what age bracket the store is geared towards.
Does the store seem to cater towards the younger crowd (15-25), young adults (20-30), or adults (25-40)? For the most part sizing is smaller the younger you go. Another hint is that European sizes are smaller than North American sizes, so any clothes designed or made in Europe will generally fit 1-2 sizes smaller than their North American equivalents. Another thing to keep in mind is the fabric - materials that lack stretch, or are very rigid (i.e. 100% silk, 100% polyester) fit in general fit a size smaller. Let's look at some examples starting with a size large in a younger crowd store:

• Younger crowd, ages 15-25 (Urban Planet/Outfitters, Dynamite, Zara, Guess, Le Chateau, Off the Wall, Sirens, Mariposa). Size large.
• Young adults, ages 20-30 (Smart Set, RW & Co., Mexx, Jacob). Size medium.
  
• Adults, ages 25-40 (Reitmans, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Eddie Bauer). Size small.

3) Take multiples of everything into the change room.
If you've narrowed yourself down to a size medium, take the same item with you in a size large, or even a large and an extra-large. This will prevent those inevitable waiting times when a sales person has to retrieve a different size for you.

4) Try on the largest size first.
Trust me, this has saved my ego many a time. Even though you are 100% sure that you are a medium, try on the large first (or extra-large, if you brought one). How clothes look on the hanger is never the same way they look on your body, and you may be surprised. And it is always a better feeling to find that you need to go a size down!

5) Be honest with yourself.
I have tried so hard to fit into mediums when I knew deep down I am a large. If you really think the next size up is too big, experiment. Try pinching in the clothing where you think it is too big, and see how much you could reasonably take in before the clothing would become too tight/too uncomfortable. If there isn't much room to spare, chances are you're just not used to seeing yourself in clothes that fit close to the body, but aren't tight, and/or it's painful to think about going up a size. If you're not happy with the fit of say either a medium or a large, consider the cost of going to a tailor. Or skip the item all together, and try searching for the same thing at a different store where it may be sized or cut differently.

6) Keep the receipt.
Make sure you know the stores return policy, and hang on to your receipt. Try on your new purchase at home with some of the items you already own that you intend to wear it with. Aim for using a full-length mirror in natural light if you can get it, or bright light. Lighting in stores is notoriously bad, and you may notice the fit isn't quite right after all, the colour isn't what you thought, or there are some inconsistancies/discolourations in the fabric that you didn't notice in store. Don't be ashamed to return a purchase you aren't 100% happy with - you paid the price, and you deserve to be happy with your purchase!