Shopping Sympatico’s collection of women’s hemp tops, skirts, and pants? Here are some tips to help you find your size.
About Sympatico's fit categories
Ease is personal
How to measure yourself
Bust
Waist
Hips
No Tape Measure?
To determine your Sympatico size, it's important to take your measurements since letter and number sizes vary widely among manufacturers. (The New York Times compared the differences in a size 8 among nine designers and found the variance was so large it rendered numbered sizes useless.)
Brands develop sizes based on their core customers. A medium is the average size of the brand’s customer, not women in general. Demographics have shifted, and brands have adjusted their sizes to match their customers.
Related: The uncertainty of sizes
I cut for real-world, adult figures that tend to be fuller than young bodies. My clothing is designed with ease for both aesthetic reasons and because my fabrics are wovens, not knits, and contain no stretch fibers. I use a soft, yet durable elastic in skirts and pants for comfort.
| XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL | |
| Size | 00-0 | 2-4 | 6-8 | 10-12 | 14-16 | 18-20 | 22-24 |
| Bust | 31-32" | 33-34" | 35-36" | 37-38" | 39-41" | 42-44½" | 45-47½" |
| Waist | 23-24" | 25-26" | 27-28" | 29-30" | 31-33" | 34-36½" | 37-39½" |
| Hips | 33-34" | 35-36" | 37-38" | 39-40" | 41-43" | 44-46½" | 47-49½" |
About Sympatico's fit categories
Our fit categories describe the amount of wearing ease beyond the actual number of inches required to encircle the body at critical points:
- Generous fit garments are cut for layering and measure 4"- 5" greater than the bust or hip measurement on the size chart. Jacket-style tops usually are cut with a generous fit, as indicated, for layering.
- Slightly fitted garments have about 3" ease in the bust or hip beyond the size chart. Includes some tops and skirts, as indicated.
- Trim fit garments have 2" hip or bust ease beyond the size chart. Includes sleeveless tops, pants and skirts, as indicated.
Dig deeper: Understanding ease: Get a great fit shopping for women's clothes online
Ease is personal
In choosing your size, consider your fit preference. If you fall on the small side of a size range, for example, if your bust measures 37" and you prefer a body-conforming fit, order Small rather than Medium. If you have a small waist but wide thighs and are ordering an Angled Skirt, know that the Angled Skirt is fitted through the thighs and order your skirt size according to the hip measurement on the size chart.
Finished garment sizing can vary slightly. We launder each Sympatico item to remove the minimal residual shrinkage in our hemp/Tencel fabric. Because shrinkage rates and dye bath conditions vary, there may be slight variations in the fit from garment to garment. These variations are usually minor.
Questions about sizes? Call 541.899.3988
More: Finding the sweet spot between style & comfort
How to measure yourself
Bust
Measure around the fullest part, holding the tape measure flat. The bust is usually the most significant factor in deciding what size top to buy.
Waist
Measure around the smallest part of your mid-body. Since Sympatico pants and skirts have elastic waists, the waist measurement is usually only relevant if your shape is like an hourglass or an apple.
Hips
Measure around the fullest part of your hips or upper thighs. This measurement is usually the most relevant for selecting skirts and pants.
Do you fall outside Sympatico’s standard sizing? I may be able to help with a custom cut or alteration.