Today, with stretch fabrics being so popular, many women have lost track of their true size. There's a
many quoted statistic that 80% of women wear the wrong bra size, an
now the same applies to dress sizes - albeit to a much lesser
extent.
Our sizes differ to modern sizes. It's not us that is being
awkward but that shops continually change their sizing to make us
feel better about taking a smaller size. In the US there is already
size 00 and 000 and to us, it's just getting ridiculous!
In addition, manufacturers are
adjusting measurements to suit the ever changing modern figure which
is gradually changing from an hourglass shape to a straight up and
down shape.
A lot of girls we've spoken too got into vintage
fashion as their figures didn't suit modern cuts, and at What
Katie Did we'll continue to concentrate on clothing for vintage
hourglass shapes. We define a vintage figure as one
with a waist measurement 10 inches or more smaller than the
hips. A modern figure is one with a waist measurement less than
10 inches smaller than the hips.
Here's our size chart and also those of TopShop and Marks
and Spencer so that you can compare, measure up, and ensure you
order the correct What Katie Did size for you. If you do feel bad
about having to go up a size remember that back in the 1950s Marilyn
Monroe was a vintage size 16 yet according to modern size
guides today she'd be wearing a size 8 to 12!
WKD
WKD
WKD
T/Shop
T/Shop
T/Shop
M&S
M&S
M&S
Bust
Waist
Hips
Bust
Waist
Hip
Bust
Waist
Hips
87.5cm
62.5cm
87.5cm
87cm
69.2cm
91.5cm
86cm
69cm
94cm
10
92.5cm
67.5cm
92.5cm
92cm
74.2cm
96.5cm
91cm
74cm
99cm
12
97.5cm
72.5cm
97.5cm
97cm
79.2cm
101.5cm
96cm
79cm
104cm
14
102.5cm
77.5cm
102.5cm
102cm
84.2cm
106.5cm
101cm
84cm
109
16
107.5cm
82.5cm
107.5cm
106cm
89cm
114
18
If you're happier working in inches our measurements are as
follows:
WKD
Bust
Waist
Hips
Size 10
35" or 87.5cm
25" or 62.5cm
35" or 87.5cm
Size 12
37" or 92.5cm
27" or 67.5cm
37" or 92.5cm
Size 14
39" or 97.5cm
29" or 72.5cm
39" or 97.5cm
Size 16
41" or 102.5cm
31" or 77.5cm
41" or 102.5cm
Size 18
43" or 107.5cm
33" or 82.5cm
43" or 107.5cm
Fitting notes are included in garment descriptions where needed.
No notes mean there's nothing to worry about and the garment is
suitable for all.
UK dress size 10 = US dress size 6, France dress size 38, Europe dress
size 36
UK dress size 12 = US dress size 8, France dress size 40, Europe dress
size 38
UK dress size 14 = US dress size 10, France dress size 42, Europe
dress size 40, and so on.