Western sizing on an Indian body.
A US Large is not a Large. Four measurements decide everything.
Vintage sizing lies. Decades of washing, different eras, different countries. Measurements don’t.
SHOT: TAPE ACROSS CHEST OF FLAT-LAID TEE
Pit to pit
Lay it flat, measure armpit to armpit. This is the number that decides fit. Know yours from a shirt you love before you leave the house.
SHOT: SEAM-TO-SEAM ACROSS THE BACK
Shoulder seam
Seam to seam across the back. Chest can be roomy on purpose. Shoulders can’t. Wrong shoulders are unfixable, and your darzi will tell you the same.
SHOT: TAPE FROM COLLAR TO HEM
Length, front
Collar to hem. Nineties cuts run long, Y2K runs short and boxy. The label’s decade changes what “M” means more than the letter does.
SHOT: GARMENT HELD AGAINST FOREARM
No tape? Use your arm
Fingertip to elbow is roughly 45cm on most adults. Calibrate yours once at home. At the stall, your arm is the tape and nobody looks twice.
| Size | Body chest (in) | Body chest (cm) | Garment pit to pit, laid flat (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 34–36 | 86–91 | 48–51 |
| M | 38–40 | 97–102 | 53–56 |
| L | 42–44 | 107–112 | 58–61 |
| XL | 46–48 | 117–122 | 63–66 |
| XXL | 50–52 | 127–132 | 68–71 |
Typical US/UK sizing, approximate. Vintage and Y2K cuts vary by brand and decade, so always check the listing's measurements.
- 01Pit to pit first, always.
- 02Shoulders are unfixable.
- 03The decade changes the letter.
- 04Calibrate your forearm.
Questions people ask.
Is a US Large the same as an Indian Large?
Usually not. US and UK sizes often run about a size bigger than Indian high-street labels, and vintage pieces may have shrunk or stretched over the years. Compare the measurement, not the letter.
How do I measure pit to pit?
Lay the garment flat and buttoned, then measure straight across the chest from one armpit seam to the other. Double that number for the garment's full chest, and compare it with your own chest plus a little room.
How do UK women's sizes convert to US and EU?
Roughly: UK 8 = US 4 = EU 36, UK 10 = US 6 = EU 38, UK 12 = US 8 = EU 40, UK 14 = US 10 = EU 42. Brands and decades vary, so go by the measurements in each SZN2 listing.
Your own wardrobe
Tonight: measure the three pieces that fit you best. Write the numbers in your phone. That note is now worth more than every size label in India.
Know your numbers? Use them.
Every listing on SZN2 carries real measurements: pit to pit, shoulder, length. Search by your numbers, not the label’s mood.
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