Let’s talk about sizing.
You know the drill: you pick your “usual” size online or in the shops, only to find it either suffocating you or hanging off you like a tent. Sound familiar? It’s not you—it’s the clothes.
Here’s the truth: sizing is broken. It was never designed to fit everyone perfectly. It’s based on outdated, inconsistent standards that ignore the beautiful uniqueness of our bodies.
Take two women who are both a size 12: one is 5’3” with a petite frame, and the other is 5’9” with longer proportions, one has a smaller chest, and one is bigger busted. How can we expect the same dress in the same size to fit, flatter, and feel right on both of them? Their height, proportions, and body shapes are completely different, yet the fashion industry tries to fit them both into a single, one-size-fits-all mold.
I see it regularly when I am chatting to girls in the DM’s about dresses. I would much rather they tell me their chest size, their proportions and if they are lucky enough to know their body shape, we are sorted! If not I will regularly ask for a picture, as I can visually see, in 5 seconds, their body shape and proportions, and I will KNOW if a dress will or will not FIT & FLATTER them.
Understanding your own body shape and proportions really is a game-changer. When you know how to dress for your unique figure—whether that’s creating balance, highlighting your favorite features, or using illusion dressing techniques—you can look beyond the tag and choose pieces that truly work for you. For example, a shorter woman might opt for a dress with vertical details to elongate her frame, while a taller woman could look for styles that balance her proportions with defined waistlines or tiered designs.
Sizing will never tell you these details. A number on a tag can’t account for the slope of your shoulders, the length of your torso, or the way a fabric moves on your body. This is why knowing how to dress for your shape, rather than chasing an arbitrary number, is so empowering.
Here’s what I want you to try the next time you’re shopping: ignore the size on the label. Focus on how the piece feels and fits. Does it sit comfortably on your shoulders? Does it hug your waist just right or skim over your hips in a way that feels effortless? Let your body, not the tag, be your guide.
Because at the end of the day, clothes should work for you, not the other way around.
The truth is, your body isn’t the problem—the system is. Don’t give a broken system the power to steal your joy. You’re more than a number on a tag, and you always will be.
Nichola