What size am I in bridal?

Negazilla · November 2013

Hey all,

I just went dress shopping for the first time over the weekend and I'm confused as to something the salesperson told me. I was under the impression that you usually went one to two sizes up from your normal dress size to get an estimate of your bridal size. I'm normally a 4-6 so I was expecting to be a 8-10, but she told me that I would more likely be a 14.

I don't have any number hang ups, I just want to be able to shop online and I need this number to do it accurately. Do you think they try to sell you a few sizes bigger in case you gain weight? Or to make it so you have to get a lot of alterations?

Thanks for the opinions

kitty8403 · November 2013

Well that may depend on the designer. It's better to go by measurements. I wear about an 8-10 street but was a pretty consistent 12 at the salon we hit, so that does sound high to me.
Get your measurements taken, then check out the sizing charts. You'll have more accurate results. At a minimum, you should have bust (breast area), waist and hip.

Maggie0829 · November 2013

You definitely need to go by your measurements and not the number on the tag. Each designer is different. In one designer you could be your regular, everyday size, then in another one you could be a size 20.

Get your measurements done by a seamstress and use the sizing chart from the designers website for the most accurate size.

Oh, and also keep in mind that you should pick a size that fits your largest measurement. So if the largest measurement is your hips pick the appropriate size for that area.

misssunshine17 · November 2013

Sizes were all over the place for me. I wear a 00 in jeans and ordered a size 6 dress.

princessleia22 · November 2013

It depends on designer. I'm around size 6 in real life, but in bridal gowns I fell anywhere from size 6 to size 14. For most gowns, I fit perfectly into an 8 or 10, though.

southernbelle0915 · November 2013

Many designers have size charts. E.g. http://www.allurebridals.com/sizechart

Go get professionally measured and then go off the largest measurement to get your size.

mysticl · November 2013

I tried on a 14 and two 16s. They all fit well. The 14 had a corset so it allowed for some adjusting. My dress size at the time was probably a 12 in "regular" clothes.

QueerFemme · November 2013

I'm a street size 14/16 and my wedding gown was a size 20. You will easily be 1 to 3 sizes bigger in wedding gown sizing, depending on the designer. once you decide on your dress, you'll have measurements taken and the salon will order your dress according to that chart, and not your regular clothing size.

Senecaf · November 2013

misssunshine17 said:
Sizes were all over the place for me. I wear a 00 in jeans and ordered a size 6 dress.

This is good for me to hear. I am also a 00 and was afraid wedding dresses would be impossible to find in my size.
I had no idea bridal was so much different than regular clothes!

Negazilla · November 2013

Thanks to everyone who replied. Are measurements something I could just take myself at my bust, hip and natural waist? I will make sure to go by those numbers when online shopping.

I did go to another bridal salon yesterday and once again found them saying that I was fitting into a size 14 so it wasn't just a one time thing.

QueerFemme · November 2013

Negazilla said:

Thanks to everyone who replied. Are measurements something I could just take myself at my bust, hip and natural waist? I will make sure to go by those numbers when online shopping.

I did go to another bridal salon yesterday and once again found them saying that I was fitting into a size 14 so it wasn't just a one time thing.

You can try taking your own measurements, but I wouldn't recommend it. Every time I've done it myself, I'm off by a little bit. If you don't want your bridal salon to do it (I can't imagine why you wouldn't), then have a professional seamstress do the measurements.

southernbelle0915 · November 2013

QueerFemme said:

Negazilla said:

Thanks to everyone who replied. Are measurements something I could just take myself at my bust, hip and natural waist? I will make sure to go by those numbers when online shopping.

I did go to another bridal salon yesterday and once again found them saying that I was fitting into a size 14 so it wasn't just a one time thing.

You can try taking your own measurements, but I wouldn't recommend it. Every time I've done it myself, I'm off by a little bit. If you don't want your bridal salon to do it (I can't imagine why you wouldn't), then have a professional seamstress do the measurements.

This.

Go to a tailor/seamstress and have them measure you. You'll want to go off the largest relative measure to get your size. In other words, if a size 6 is bust: 34, waist: 26, and hips: 38, even if your bust and waist match a size 6 but your hips are a size 8, you want to go with the size 8. When you get alterations, your seamstress will adjust and you always want more fabric to work with than not enough.

Lauderdale Pink · November 2013

You really do want a professional to take your measurements. As for size numbers, the vast majority of gowns are made in China and they are assigned size numbers there. Often, because of this, there is no standard in the industry. I have been to China twice for work and can tell you that most of the women who work in their industrial/factory areas are much smaller than American women, so the size numbers have a whole different meaning.

vmj23 · November 2013

Every designer was different. when i was trying on dresses they were all over the place with sizing, yet when they took my measurement for the dress i was purchasing and looked at the chart for the specific designer (maggie sottero) they ended up ordering me my regular dress size in everyday clothes.

KPBM89 · November 2013

I definitely agree that every designer is different, but I also know the sales consultants aren't always honest. If you can't find the exact dress you like in your size, I'd try to find a dress by the same designer you like in a similar style to be sure of your size.

Last year for my brother's wedding, I was a bridesmaid. I wear a 6 usually (anywhere from 4-8, but usually I average a 6), but the BM dress style we were looking at only had a 4 (too small) and a 14 in store. I tried on the 14 for style to show the bride and it was obviously way too large. The consultant said it looked fine and that I could always get it taken in by them. She said alterations probably 500 times while we were there, obviously pushing the service onto us. Not listening to her, I ordered a 10 (my chest is DD so I knew a 6 wouldn't work and I was worried about an 8 for the same reason because there was a little bit of boning in the chest). It fit pretty perfect, but still a little big at my waist. If it helps, we shopped at David's Bridal and bought DB brand dresses. They barely listened to anything we said (including our sizes) and also their online size chart isn't accurate either.

What size am I in bridal?

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