Why waist and hip can fit two different sizes
Short answer: Size charts are built on fixed relations between measurements. If your body does not follow that relation, two measurements point to two sizes, and that is perfectly normal. Choose by the measurement that is hardest to change.
The chart assumes a shape
A size is made from an average body, where the gap between waist and hip is a set number of centimetres. Any departure from that gives you a choice between two sizes. It is not a sign that your body is wrong, only that the chart is made for an average body.
Two measurements can point differently
If you have a wider hip in relation to the waist, or the reverse, the two measurements can fall in different size columns. Then you hold two numbers and must choose. That is perfectly normal, and most people meet it at some point, whatever height and weight.
Choose by the larger measurement
In trousers you normally choose by the hip and have the waist taken in, because it is easier to make trousers narrower than wider. If you choose by the waist, the trousers become too tight over the hip. Too large is easier to fix than too small.
Tops follow the chest
For tops you normally choose by the chest and have the waist taken in. Chest and waist can point to two sizes the same way hip and waist do. Choose the one that leaves room over shoulders and chest, since that is harder to change than length. See bamboo polos for men.
Stretch fabric evens out a little
If the fabric has five percent elastane, it can cover a difference of one size. Without stretch the difference shows at once. Look at the fabric composition before you choose between two sizes, and see how much stretch it really gives you.
Loose clothes forgive more
With a loose cut, a one size difference shows less than in close fitting clothes. See home and homewear in bamboo for clothes meant to sit loosely, and bamboo sheets for items that need not follow body measurements at all.
The tailor can take it in
If you are unsure, choose the larger of the two sizes and have the waist taken in. It is often a small cost at a tailor, and it changes the whole fit. It is easier than having clothes made larger, where the fabric is often not there.
Why brands do not make more cuts
Brands could offer more cuts, but every extra cut needs its own patterns, samples and stock. That leaves a few cuts that must cover most bodies. It is a trade-off between fit for the individual and a range that can be run at all.
Use clothes that already fit
Measure a pair of trousers or a top that fits well and compare the measurements with the chart. It is often quicker and more exact than measuring the body. The chart then shows which size comes closest. Lay the garment flat and measure where the chart measures.
Frequently asked questions
Does this apply to tops too
Yes. Chest and waist can point to two sizes in the same way. Choose by the measurement that is hardest to change, and have the rest adjusted if needed.
Is it expensive to have the waist taken in
Often a small cost at a tailor, and it changes the whole fit. Ask about the price first, since it depends on the type of garment and how much is taken in.
Why do brands not make more cuts
Because every extra cut needs its own patterns, samples and stock. A few cuts therefore cover most bodies, and the rest is solved with stretch or a visit to a tailor.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
