Bloody clothes sizes

[flick]

Women's clothes sizes make no bloody sense, even when you look at them in inches.

There's a top I want to buy, which the designer-maker says is:
- size 12 bust 36/38" waist 26/28" hips 38/40" ("so quite big")
- size 10 bust 34/36" waist 24/26" hips 36/38"

I just measured myself, and my measurements are 38/30/37. I wouldn't say I'm currently bigger than a "quite big" size 12 (the size 10 trousers I bought in M&S the other week are somewhat worryingly baggy about the waist, although they are casual), but I thought she might be basing the size numbers on an old pattern, so I had a look at the M&S website:
- size 10 = 34/27/37
- size 12 = 36/29/39
- size 14 = 38/31/41

So, do I assume that the designer is lying as much as M&S does, and in the same direction, or that her sizes are accurate...?

Sigh.

Comments

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

I've been in a panic because of the way that all the clothes shops say that waist sizes are 8-10 inches less than bust and hip sizes, and I remain determinedly barrel-shaped. But when I actually went shopping I discovered that this was more or less complete nonsense. I also observe that most other people I see shopping do not have the spectacular hourglass figures that standard sizing would suggest.

At any rate, I'd email the designer and ask for the actual size of the garment, which will certainly be bigger than the stated size, and then make a judgment based on the fabric.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

It's jersey, so I'm going to risk the 10. Fingers crossed....