Why Sizes Vary by Country
Clothing sizes are notoriously inconsistent. A "Medium" in Italy might be a "Small" in the US. This is due to different body type averages and historical measurement standards.
Women's Dress Sizes (Approx)
| US | UK | Europe | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 | 36 | 40 |
| 6 | 10 | 38 | 42 |
| 8 | 12 | 40 | 44 |
| 10 | 14 | 42 | 46 |
Men's Shirt Sizes
Men's shirts usually use neck circumference in inches (US/UK) or centimeters (EU).
- 15 inches ≈ 38 cm
- 16 inches ≈ 41 cm
- 17 inches ≈ 43 cm
Key Takeaways
- Italian sizing runs small
- UK sizes are usually one step up from US
- When in doubt, use a tape measure in cm