sizing...

[Kano]

I've had a thought as I was reading in this forum about clothing....

It hit me when I was reading Lisa SH's post, so sorry, Lisa for using you as an example, but it's handy!

You mentioned, in response to how something fits, that you're 5'5 and 140# and medium fits well.

This isn't necessarily bad information, but as a group, our shapes vary. For example, I'm about your height, and significantly heavier. Not up to admitting that number today. "regular" XL fits my bust (plus size XL is often too big), but then I have issues, like the fabric that I'd prefer skims my belly and hips shows off every bump and bulge. When I buy for that part of my body, I've got WAY too much fabric up top. Not that I'm boobless, mind you, but I'm not proportioned the way the charts are written and so many of the garments are cut.

I'd be excited to read that a size medium fits a 5'5, 140# apple comfortably, since I could then guess that the XL might fit ME without showing off my belly button, or popping the zipper! (personally, I've always been a pear, but seem to have reached capacity in the bottom, and moved on to filling up the middle!)

Is this a crazy request?

Karen in Boise

[Bikingmomof3]

Clothing for women has always baffled me. It would be nice to know a size 6 in jeans will always fit me. Sadly that does not happen. Some are too big and some are too tight, at least for my taste-and this can be all in the same design.

Biking clothing is even more confusing for me. I wear a small in shorts. Yet in tops I can wear anywhere from a small to a large depending on designer and fabric. I completely ignore when the size charts list weights, since for me they never correlate.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OK Kano, you are right, of course.
So I am 5'5", 140 lbs, a definite pear shape, with A-B cups. Most times, Medium fits me very nicely and smoothly, if we are talking stretch fabrics.

But alas, if i went by most of the sizing charts for biking pants, I'd be ordering XL(!) and suffering with baggy knees and baggy crotch and loose waists. But the hips might fit "ok". I'll stick to the mediums...

[7rider]

Clothing for women has always baffled me. It would be nice to know a size 6 in jeans will always fit me. Sadly that does not happen. Some are too big and some are too tight, at least for my taste-and this can be all in the same design.

Biking clothing is even more confusing for me. I wear a small in shorts. Yet in tops I can wear anywhere from a small to a large depending on designer and fabric. I completely ignore when the size charts list weights, since for me they never correlate.

Same here - well, not those same sizes, but the same confusion.
DH walks into a store and picks up a size medium shirt or pants in 32/32 and says "Okay, let's go." Don't you want to try that on? "What for?" Me, I have to take two of everything into the dressing room...size M and size L, unless it's some piece of snooty Euro- bike clothing, then I have to grab an XL. Grrrrr....

[Cari]

I'd be excited to read that a size medium fits a 5'5, 140# apple comfortably, since I could then guess that the XL might fit ME without showing off my belly button, or popping the zipper! (personally, I've always been a pear, but seem to have reached capacity in the bottom, and moved on to filling up the middle!)

Different brands have different types of fits, and even within one brand, cuts can vary. I'm a busty pear, so for jerseys, I always go by the chest measurement, and I look for curvy fits. I know how much my favorite jerseys measure across the chest (armpit to armpit) so when I'm shopping, I pay attention to that more than the sizing chart.

If your tummy is bigger than your chest or hips, you may want to measure yourself around the widest point to use that as a guideline, and also look for jerseys that are somewhat long in the body so that you get the coverage you want.

Why don't you call TE and ask them to help? I'm sure that if you give them your chest and waist measurements, and let them know that you're an "apple", they can suggest some brands and styles that will work for you. Off the top of my head, I would suggest the Louis Garneau Silhouette Jersey. It was roomy at the waist and also long. Plus it comes in sizes up to XXL, so you're well within their size range.

Good luck,

Cari

[ima_bleeder]

Wow. I'm 5'5" (okay, 5'4.5") and 140#, and can't comfortably squeeze my giant self into the L Specialized/Pearl Izumi jerseys at the LBS. Very frustrating for me, since I normally fit pretty comfortably into a M when I'm shopping casual shirts.

I haven't had an opportunity recently to try on anything from Shebeest, but I have an old L 'easy v' that fits comfortably (read 'Relaxed'). Shebeest's Spring '07 catalog actually states (and explains) the 'style' of fit(eg: 'Relaxed', 'Classic', or 'Contour') for each of their jersey's. What a great idea! They should go a step further, and allow you to browse Jerseys/Shorts by fit.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ima,
I am your same basic size too, a pear shape. I too tried on some expensive PI shorts in M in a LBS and found them to be way too tight everywhere. Yet in SheBeest and Terry and LouisGarneau brands, their medium shorts and tights all fit me wonderfully. It's not US that's weird!