How do you convert men's shirt size to women's size?

Answer 1

Try measuring your bust at the fullest point around with your arms at your sides, that should give you a number to start with. (Note: you may want to add 2" to 4" to this number to give you a little extra room. (Also note that if u are giving this measurement to your seamstress be sure to tell her that you've already added the "recommended ease" of X").

Men's US shirt sizes usually follow the chest measurement (ie., 44 = 44in. around the chest etc.) But the shoulders on men's shirts are normally made wider and the sleeves are usually longer also (starting at 33" from center of neck to wrist, to about 39"). (Women's shirts normally come in one standard sleeve length.) So you may need to have them tailored.

Also the hem length is longer on men's shirts, so this may need some alteration too. To find your hem length measure from the neckline (collar bone) down to the length you feel most comfortable with (usually about parallel to the center to bottom of the buttocks).

To measure your sleeve length either measure a shirt that fits by first measuring across the shoulders, from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, and dividing by two (this is an easy way to find the center of the back of the collar). Then measure from the shoulder seam down to the end of the cuff. Add the two numbers together and you have your sleeve length. ie... If your shoulders measured 22" across you would divide by 2 giving you 11", then down the arm is 23", so your sleeve length would be 11"+23"=34".

Or, you can have a friend measure you by standing with your arm at your side and bent so your forearm is parallel to the floor. They then place one end of the measuring tape at the center of the back of your neck and measure out along the shoulder, down the back of the arm, around the bend of the elbow and to the wrist.

Here's a chart of US shirt sizes:

Men's Tops

Sizes.........Chest (in)

XS..............35-36

S................37-39

M................40-42

L.................43-45

XL...............46-48

XXL.............49-51

XXXL...........52-54

Note: Men's numerical sizes usually match the chest (in) measurements.

To get your chest measurement, use a tailors' measuring tape to measure around your chest just under your arms.

Women's Tops

# Size......Letter size...Bust (in)

00 ........ ..XXS/XS............31

0 ...............XS..................32

2 ............... S...................33

4 ............... S...................34

6 ............... M...................35

8 ............... M...................36

10 .............. L...................37.5

12............... L...................39

14 ............. XL..................40.5

16 ............. XL..................42

18 ............XXL..................44

Note: Women's letter sizes usually cover about two numerical sizes.

To get your bust measurement, use a tailors' measuring tape to measure completely around your bust at the fullest point with your arms relaxed at your sides.