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Clothing Size Guide

Clothing Sizing: The Real Issue

Sizing in clothing is a growing problem, and the most common question I’m asked is, “Is this true to size?” What the customer really wants to know is, “Will this fit me?” If it doesn’t fit, they consider it not "true to size," regardless of the label.

Men's vs. Women's Clothing

  • Men's Sizing: For the most part, men’s clothing sizes are fairly standard. A 40-inch chest is generally consistent across brands, so you can order with confidence.
  • Women's Sizing: This is where things get tricky. Each brand has its own interpretation of what a size means. The High Street has only made things worse, as clothing sizes have quietly increased over time, while the labels stay the same.

Why Are Women’s Sizes So Inconsistent?

Many retailers have adjusted sizing over the years, so customers don’t have to buy a larger size as they get older and softer around the middle. For example, a size 14 in one store might have a waist measurement of 32 inches, while in another it could be 40 inches—an 8-inch difference! This inconsistency makes it difficult to know what size will actually fit.

Ski-Wear Sizing

Unlike the High Street, ski-wear tends to stick to more historical sizing standards. Here's a quick guide to the brands we stock:

  • DARE2B: The most "true to size", similar to M&S sizing.
  • ICE PEAK: Runs small. A size 20 in Ice Peak is comparable to a size 16-18 in Dare2b.
  • FIVE SEASONS: Similar sizing to Dare2b.
  • PROTEST: Slightly smaller than Dare2b, but larger than Ice Peak.

To help, we measure all garments and suggest you do the same at home to compare.

Leg Lengths

We’re called the "Short Ski Shop," not because we sell only short-leg ski pants, but because we started by selling short skis in 2005. Over time, we noticed shorter people were underserved, especially in ski pants. The average men’s ski pant is now 32-33.5 inches in length, while for women it’s 31-33 inches. We carry one of the largest selections of short-leg ski pants for those who find regular sizes too long.

Plus-Sized Ski-Wear

  • Men: Plus-sized ski-wear for men is generally consistent.
  • Women: Women's plus sizes are another challenge, as many brands have created their own sizing breaks, making it difficult to rely on size charts. Some brands increase waist sizes by 2 inches between sizes, while others increase by 3 or even 4 inches for larger sizes, making the size labels unreliable.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, a size label is just that—a label. If something fits, it fits, regardless of what the tag says. The truth is, some High Street retailers manipulate sizing to make customers feel like they’re wearing a smaller size as this creates a loyal customer base who think they are the same size as when they were younger/fitter. They are kidding themselves but it works! A size 12 in most shops today in 2024 is several inches larger in the waist that it was 30 years ago. Strangly shoe sizes are identical, so pick the bones out of that!

In contrast, ski-wear sizing is more in line with traditional or historic standards, if you're familiar with M&S sizing. The Dare2b brand clothing is comparable to that. E.G. If you’re a size 14 there, chances are our size 14 will fit similarly (except for European brand like Protest & Ice Peak, which run smaller).

To summarize: sizing is a mess, and the only way to be sure is to measure and compare.