Find Your Australian Size: A Guide

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Clothing sizes in Australia can be confusing, and they often vary depending on the style, fabric, and fit of the garment. To determine your Australian size, you can refer to size guides provided by clothing brands, which typically include body measurement instructions. By taking measurements of your bust, waist, hips, and neck, you can compare them to the size charts and find the best fit. Additionally, you can compare the measurements of your own garments to those listed on the website to ensure a more accurate sizing selection. It's important to note that size charts are approximate, and individual body shapes may vary, so using a combination of these methods can help you determine the most comfortable and flattering fit for your body type.

Characteristics Values
Measurement type Approximate
Measurement use Reference only
Bust Measure under arms around the fullest part of the bust
Waist Measure around the narrowest part of your torso
Hips Stand with heels apart and measure around the fullest part of the hip and bottom area
Neck Measure around the base of your neck with one finger between neck and tape measure

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How to measure your bust

To measure your bust, you will need a measuring tape and the well-fitting undergarments that you plan to wear with your outfit. Ideally, have someone else take these measurements for you. If you don't have anyone to help, you can do it on your own by holding the measuring tape in both hands and bringing it around your bust, with your elbows down at your sides.

Stand with your arms resting by your side. Measure around the body directly under your bust, ensuring the tape is straight all the way around, firm but comfortable. This measurement is your underbust.

Now, measure the fullest part of your bust, usually over the nipple. Hold the tape firmly and comfortably, ensuring it is straight across your back and parallel to the floor. The tape measure should be snug around your bust but not too tight or loose.

Read the number on the tape measure and round it to the nearest whole number. For example, if your bust is 34.5 inches (88 cm), then you should round up to 35 inches (89 cm).

If you plan to wear a bra under your outfit, ensure it fits properly. The bra should be unpadded, and your breasts should fill the cups perfectly without any gaping or spilling.

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Measuring your waist

To measure your waist circumference, use a tape measure and place it directly on your skin at the narrowest part of your torso. You should be standing with your heels together. Ensure you are only wearing one layer of light clothing—at most—to get an accurate measurement.

Waist circumference is the length all the way around your body at your waist. This measurement can be used as a guide to how much visceral fat you have. Visceral fat coats your organs and having too much of it can be harmful to your health. Generally, the larger your waist measurement, the higher your chances of developing health problems.

You can use your waist measurement, along with your BMI, to understand whether your weight is within a healthy range.

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Comparing your own measurements

When it comes to clothing, size charts are a useful guide to help you work out which size to order. However, sizing may vary according to the style, fabric and fit of the actual garment, so it's always a good idea to compare your own measurements.

To start, you'll need a measuring tape. For your bust or chest, measure under your arms and around the fullest part, keeping the tape level across your back. For your waist, measure around the narrowest part of your torso. For your hips, stand with your heels apart and measure around the fullest part of your hip and bottom area.

If you're measuring a garment, lay it flat and measure the ½ chest, 1cm below the sleeve join, from side seam to side seam. Then, compare this to the measurements provided on the style page of the item you're looking to purchase.

It's important to remember that these size charts are approximate and for general use. Individual body shapes vary, and different brands and styles may fit differently, so it's always a good idea to refer to the specific garment's measurements and specifications.

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Garment specifications

To start, you should measure the fullest part of your chest or bust. The tape measure should be placed under your arms and kept level across your back, with a comfortable amount of looseness. This is an important measurement as it serves as a basis for determining your shirt or jacket size.

Next, you'll want to measure your waist. Wrap the tape measure around the narrowest part of your torso, or your natural waist. This measurement is crucial for finding well-fitting pants, skirts, or dresses.

Additionally, measuring your hips is important. Stand with your heels apart and measure the fullest part of your hip and bottom area. This measurement is especially relevant for bottoms such as pants or skirts, ensuring they fit comfortably around your hips.

Lastly, for tops such as shirts or dresses, you can measure your neck. Place the tape measure around the base of your neck, ensuring there is a finger's width between your neck and the tape. This measurement can help you determine the appropriate size for collared shirts or dresses with necklines.

Remember, these measurements are meant to guide you in choosing the right clothing size. Sizing may vary depending on the brand, style, fabric, and fit of the garment. It's always a good idea to refer to the individual garment's measurements, which can be found on the style page, to make a more informed decision.

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Industry standards

In Australia, there is a standard sizing system for children's clothing, but there is no standard for adults' clothing sizes. The Australian clothing industry is worth billions, and sizing irregularity is a significant issue. Designers and clothing manufacturers base their sizes on sales history, marketing instincts, and their ideal customer. This means that consumers often have to try on a range of sizes to find the right fit, and it can be challenging to buy clothing that fits well.

For men's clothing, sizes are often named by a measurement, so a pair of trousers with a 38-inch waist will typically be 38 inches. However, men's clothing is increasingly using representation sizing, such as small, medium, and large, or 1, 2, and 3, and disparities between sizes are more common. Sleeve lengths also come into the equation, with short, regular, and long options.

For women's clothing, the situation is more complex. The Standards Australia Size Coding Scheme for Women's Clothing (AS 1344) uses old US data from the 1940s and self-reported measurements from readers of women's magazines in the 1960s and 1970s to create size tables. However, these tables are considered unreliable by the Australian apparel industry, leading to various modifications by producers and retailers. Women's clothing sizes in Australia are often inconsistent, and it can be challenging to find well-fitting garments.

To address these issues, recent anthropometric surveys have been conducted to collect up-to-date data on the body measurements of Australians and improve apparel design. While there is no mandatory sizing standard, there is a consensus that better information about sizing is needed to improve consumer satisfaction and reduce returns and waste in the industry.

Frequently asked questions

You can determine your Australian clothing size by referring to a size guide provided by the retailer. Size guides typically provide body measurements that you can compare to your own. You can also compare the measurements of a similar garment that you already own to the measurements provided on the retailer's website.

To determine your Australian clothing size, you will need to take several measurements of your body, including your bust, waist, hips, and neck. Make sure to follow the specific instructions provided by the retailer, as measurements may need to be taken at specific points on the body.

No, Australian clothing sizes may differ from those in other countries. It's important to refer to the size guide and measurements provided by the Australian retailer to ensure an accurate fit.

The size guides provided by Australian retailers are typically approximate and may vary depending on the style, fabric, and fit of the garment. Therefore, it's always a good idea to refer to the measurements provided and compare them to your own body measurements or a similar garment that you own.

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