How to Find Your Size in Women's Clothing — A Complete Guide for Crossdressers and Trans Women

Shopping for women's clothing when you were not assigned female at birth comes with a unique challenge that most guides simply do not address: the sizing systems are designed for cis women's bodies, and they do not always translate directly. But with a little knowledge and preparation, finding your size can become straightforward — and even enjoyable.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to find your correct size in women's clothing, from taking your measurements to understanding UK, EU, and US sizing charts.

Step 1: Take Your Measurements

Before you do anything else, grab a soft measuring tape and measure the following:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape horizontal and snug but not tight. If you wear breast forms or have had breast augmentation, measure over them.

Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your torso, usually a few inches above your belly button. Do not suck in — measure your natural waist.

Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, usually about 8–10 inches below your natural waist.

Write these measurements down in centimetres and inches so you can easily reference both.

Step 2: Understand How Women's Sizing Works

Women's clothing sizes vary significantly between brands and countries. Here is a rough general guide:

UK Sizes: UK 8 = approximately 32" bust / 24" waist / 34" hips. Sizes increase in increments of roughly 2 inches per size.

EU Sizes: EU 36 corresponds roughly to UK 8. EU sizing increases by 2 per UK size (EU 38 = UK 10, EU 40 = UK 12, and so on).

US Sizes: US sizing runs approximately 4 sizes below EU (US 4 = EU 36 = UK 8). However, US sizing can vary wildly between brands.

Always check the specific size chart for each brand or retailer, as these are general guides only.

Step 3: Account for Your Body Shape

Many trans women and crossdressers have a proportionally wider shoulder width or narrower hips relative to their bust compared to the average cis female body the sizing charts are based on. Here is how to work with that:

Tops and dresses: If your shoulders or chest are larger relative to your waist and hips, size up to fit the largest measurement and consider tailoring or choosing stretchy, wrap, or empire-line styles that are more forgiving.

Skirts and trousers: Size to your hips. A larger waist can usually be taken in with a belt or a simple alteration.

Lingerie and underwear: Bra sizing is separate — measure your underbust (just below the bust) for band size and your bust for cup size. Use a bra size calculator for accuracy.

Step 4: Read Reviews and Check Returns Policies

Customer reviews are your best friend when shopping online. Look for reviews from people with similar measurements to yours, and pay attention to comments about whether items run large or small. Always check a retailer's returns policy before ordering — a generous returns window makes experimenting with sizing much less stressful.

Step 5: Build Your Size Reference List

Once you have found your size in a few brands, keep a note of them. Over time you will build a personal size reference — for example, "I am a UK 14 in ASOS tops but a UK 16 in Missguided dresses." This makes future shopping much faster and more confident.

You Will Find Your Fit

Finding your size in women's clothing takes a little trial and error at first, but it gets easier with experience. The most important thing is not to be discouraged by a number on a label — sizes are inconsistent across the industry and mean very little about you as a person. What matters is finding clothes that make you feel wonderful.