European vs. American sizes

[Moldovandish 0]

I am buying gifts to take back to Moldova for Christmas. My SIL wants pants and she told me that he hips are 103 centimeters wide and she's size 48 back home. Would she be a size 4 or 6 here? Does anyone have an idea?

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Good luck. Sizes mean nothing.

[Jenn! 918]

103 cm is over 40 inches. As a hip measurement, this would translate to around a size 14. Not sure where you are estimating 4/6 from...

[Otto 83]

Could try this LINK

[Moldovandish 0]

Wow, this doesn't make any sense because she's smaller than me and I'm size 8-10. Weird.

[Otto 83]

Good luck. Sizes mean nothing.

This is the most true - after all - how is it possible to be a double-zero (size-zero is one thing..but double zero) if sizes mattered?

[Dr. Obvious 49]

My kid has plenty of outfits where she is wearing 5T tops and 3T bottoms, 5T bottoms and 3T tops. The differences are literally in an inch or more, but they are still labeled X size. I find the same problem myself mostly with pants. I tell people if they want to buy clothes for us as gifts, don't bother. Just get a gift card. It is way too complicated to try to divine what would fit in 90% of cases.

[Lyuba 0]

Russian size 48 will be American 10 or 12. I am 46 in Russia and I wear size 8 in the US.

[TBoneTX 43,290]

One challenge, which likely can never be overcome, is that apparel for sale in the U.S. has been manufactured everywhere in the world, and sizes are not "standard." Sizes haven't been standard since the early 1980s, at least. In my case, I have an approximate idea of my shirt and shoe sizes, but my knowing "exact" measurements does not ensure that any specific shirt or pair of shoes will fit me. I have found that size-differences in items of apparel depend on the country of manufacture, and perhaps even on variances in a given manufacturer's lots (for example, one batch of shirts produced vs. the next batch produced). I concluded long ago that apparel simply must be tried on by each potential wearer to see whether any given item will fit.

The best that I can foresee is that you can try to estimate the size as closely as possible, then take some clothing overseas and HOPE that it will fit. However, don't be disappointed if it doesn't.

[Gemmie 142]

I am buying gifts to take back to Moldova for Christmas. My SIL wants pants and she told me that he hips are 103 centimeters wide and she's size 48 back home. Would she be a size 4 or 6 here? Does anyone have an idea?

48 = not 4 or 6.

*I* am a size 4 in America, and in the UK I'm an 8.

[catrocks 0]

103 cm is over 40 inches. As a hip measurement, this would translate to around a size 14. Not sure where you are estimating 4/6 from...

My hips are slightly bigger that that and I'm an 8-10 in the US! Maybe a 14 UK, but certainly not US... owch!

OP, perhaps taking a tape measure with you when you shop would be a good idea, since sizes vary from store to store, and even item to item. That way you would be sure it would fit your sister-in-law.

[Moldovandish 0]

103 cm is over 40 inches. As a hip measurement, this would translate to around a size 14. Not sure where you are estimating 4/6 from...

My hips are slightly bigger that that and I'm an 8-10 in the US! Maybe a 14 UK, but certainly not US... owch!

OP, perhaps taking a tape measure with you when you shop would be a good idea, since sizes vary from store to store, and even item to item. That way you would be sure it would fit your sister-in-law.

This makes more sense. She's definitely not bigger than an 8 or so. I will most likely get a variety and hopefully something fits and I can return the rest.

[EasyRider 3]

Size converters don't mean anything. The best thing to do is to convert cm to inches. Just go online and search for things you might want to buy and look at the sizes at each store. And even within the store, different brands have different sizes. If you find something online that you like, there's usually a link in the item page to a size chart. Go by your girls measurements not her size. For example, look at this page for this Victoria's Secret jeans.

Under the price there is a link to the size chart in inches. Just convert cm to inches using an online converter and go by that. I think this is the best way to get a better idea of what size to buy. Hope it helps.

[Lyuba 0]

My mom is 48 in Russia and 10 in America.

[Jenn! 918]

103 cm is over 40 inches. As a hip measurement, this would translate to around a size 14. Not sure where you are estimating 4/6 from...

My hips are slightly bigger that that and I'm an 8-10 in the US! Maybe a 14 UK, but certainly not US... owch!

OP, perhaps taking a tape measure with you when you shop would be a good idea, since sizes vary from store to store, and even item to item. That way you would be sure it would fit your sister-in-law.

Yeah, I guess like everyone said, it's so difficult to get an exact match. When my hips were over 40", I was a size 14. But I'm also thick-waisted, so I'm sure that's why...

That Victoria Secret chart implies it would be a size 12, so who knows...

Edited December 8, 2008 by Jenn!