Sizing!!! Grrr!

[silver]

I'm so frustrated about sizing. I can't find a winter clothes to fit. The tights are all too short. I've tried tons, including all the long sizes. the tops are sooo inconsistent in the sizing. I ordered two items from Terry's 50% off sale. The small jersey that I bought was too small....sleeve's too short, shoulders too tight, chest too tight, too short over all, but the sleeves were baggy and the torso was baggy too.

I ordered a Gore jacket in Small and it's just too big everywhere. I followed the sizing charts.

I ordered the Zoot Silver jacket in Medium and it's a tight fit. haven't yet decided whether I will keep it.

why is this so hard?

I just want some nice fitted winter clothing that doesn't blow around in the wind.

[makbike]

Silver - I'm right there with you. I've come to the conclusion that the sizing charts are designed to the woman who is the perfect shape - certainly not the norm.

[silver]

Silver - I'm right there with you. I've come to the conclusion that the sizing charts are designed to the woman who is the perfect shape - certainly not the norm.

yes! But just what is the perfect shape? I've met you and I'd call you Perfectly Shaped!!

with my implants my measurements are 34-25-34. (I requested the doctor to make me proportional) and still the cycling stuff doesn't fit me. With my implants I'm a 34 B/c. to be honest I find that when I find tops that are small enough for the rest of me, that the chest is too tight. I have looong arms and legs. My arms are freakishly skinny.

I was looking for jeans yesterday and today. I should wear a 2 or 3 Long/tall. At one store the 3's were all too tight to button. At Gap, the 2's were too big. Most of the jeans that came close to fitting were too big in the bum and waist and too tight in the thighs (cycling thighs)

Ok, probably one of my problems is looking for bargains.

I did find some tights at D*ck's, their store brand, activa, that are nice and long. They are not cycling specific but they are workable.

Mr. SR500, I'll check out the assos and thorn, I'll check out the Boure tights.

[makbike]

Thanks Silver but I'm far from "perfectly shaped." My legs are really short so even petites are too long! My arms are too long for petite tops - can't purchase a petite suit because of this. Women jerseys typically don't fit - not wide enough in the shoulders - gosh I don't feel like a line backer!

I also have problems finding jeans that fit. If I fit them to my thighs they are typically too big in the waist. If I size them for my waist/hips the legs are too tight. The length is never correct. What is a short, fit woman to do?

[redrhodie]

Thanks Silver but I'm far from "perfectly shaped." My legs are really short so even petites are too long! My arms are too long for petite tops - can't purchase a petite suit because of this. Women jerseys typically don't fit - not wide enough in the shoulders - gosh I don't feel like a line backer!

I also have problems finding jeans that fit. If I fit them to my thighs they are typically too big in the waist. If I size them for my waist/hips the legs are too tight. The length is never correct. What is a short, fit woman to do?

Here's what you do (I know, it's a drag).....you buy the jeans to fit your thighs, and you bring them to the tailor, and have the waist taken in, and the length shortened.

[silver]

Well, here's the thing...I am a seamstress. I've actually taught myself to sew on the lycra/polyester fabrics. but it's a bore. I'd much rather be spending my time riding. I've altered almost every jersey that I have. I've remade shorts.

but some things just don't lend themselves well to altering. Jeans are one example. it's very difficult to work with and never looks right because usually they are dyed/stonewashed after being made, so that the new seams don't look right.

a cycling jacket......too overwhelming.

You can't make things longer.....

I think that there is no perfect body. That's a myth!!!!! but there is such a thing as a fit body and that's what we got!!!

blah...blah...blah.....I'm being really negative....looking at the glass half empty, sorry, there are much worse things in the world.

thanks for letting me vent and for the suggestions on manufacturers.

[redrhodie]

I think in the apparel industry, sizes aren't standardized. One designer's 6 may be another's 4 (or 10, for that matter!).

Another thing that happens is that when the Gap (for example) makes their jeans, they stack the fabric and cut a bunch of patterns out at once. This stacking causes the ones on top to be slightly smaller than the ones on the bottom, even though they are going to be labeled the same size. So, even in one store, two size 3s may fit differently.

How do Calvins fit you, Silver? You sound like his dream girl.

[kelownagirl]

Any tights I ever buy are way too long.

I'm so frustrated about sizing. I can't find a winter clothes to fit. The tights are all too short. I've tried tons, including all the long sizes. the tops are sooo inconsistent in the sizing. I ordered two items from Terry's 50% off sale. The small jersey that I bought was too small....sleeve's too short, shoulders too tight, chest too tight, too short over all, but the sleeves were baggy and the torso was baggy too.

I ordered a Gore jacket in Small and it's just too big everywhere. I followed the sizing charts.

I ordered the Zoot Silver jacket in Medium and it's a tight fit. haven't yet decided whether I will keep it.

why is this so hard?

I just want some nice fitted winter clothing that doesn't blow around in the wind.

[Mr. SR500]

Expensive, but you may want to try some Assos stuff. They have a full line of both mens and womens. The mens seems best fitted for long and lean. I think www.bicyclejerserys.com in Bloomington is a dealer, as well as Indie Bike in Indy. You might ask if they will price match, but it would be nice to try on before buying.

[Thorn]

Amen, sister....I dread clothes shopping. It just accentuates my...uh...uniqueness of frame.

Descente makes things long (at least in tops). I have a long sleeved where the sleeves actually meet my gloves when I'm riding. I just received a pair of Boure tights that surprisingly really did have a 33" inseam, as advertised, in the women's model.

The clothes are out there....but I agree...they make it so hard to find and, then when you do, they change the pattern and you have to start all over again.

[redrhodie]

When I'm ordering from a catalog or online, and I'm not sure whether the sm or med will fit, I order both and send the wrong one back.

[Velobambina]

Silver--I've found Gore jackets to fit larger. The smalls are very roomy. I ended up getting an extra small that fits well and has a little room for layering beneath. Gore jerseys, on the other hand, seem to fit "true to size." By that I mean a small is a small.

I like the sleeves a tidge longer in the winter so I can overlap them w/my gloves and/or glove liners.

Have you tried the T-thermal hoodies (Terry)? I found the sleeves go a little longer than usual and on top of a base layer, they are great at keeping you toasty. Also, some of the LLBean base layers have longer sleeves--look for the ones that have the little thumb notch so you can cover your hands w/the sleeve. I think several of the running gear manufacturers are making tops w/that feature, so the sleeves are naturally longer. The Terry cashmore jerseys also have longer sleeves, and are toasty warm for days when the temps in the mid thirties and below.

Take heart, I think most of us have problems w/sizing and our bodies. Perfect is boring.