Forums > Model Colloquy > Dress size?

Photographer

Randall Oelerich

Posts: 295

Ames, Iowa, US

Curious why models do not list their dress size here on MM? I am starting to think about photoshoots and models with the snow finally almost gone where I live, so I find 7 models and look at their stats and only 4 of the 7, roughly half, list their dress size. 3 of 7 do not. I want to start thinking of clothing for shoots, hard to plan/shop when I don't know the dress size. So just letting models know if you do not yet have your dress size (and shoe size) filled out here on MM it would be appreciated by photographers (unless of course you only shoot nudes, then it is all moot, right?). For that matter, some of the models are not even listing their measurements or cup size.
smile randall

Apr 30 13 11:46 am Link

Photographer

Images by MR

Posts: 8908

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Randall_Oelerich wrote:
Curious why llamas do not list their dress size here on MM? I am starting to think about photoshoots and llamas with the snow finally almost gone where I live, so I find 7 llamas and look at their stats and only 4 of the 7, roughly half, list their dress size. 3 of 7 do not. I want to start thinking of clothing for shoots, hard to plan/shop when I don't know the dress size. So just letting llamas know if you do not yet have your dress size (and shoe size) filled out here on MM it would be appreciated by photographers (unless of course you only shoot nudes, then it is all moot, right?). For that matter, some of the llamas are not even listing their measurements or cup size.
smile randall

I just ask llamas to bring there own wardrobe.

Apr 30 13 11:50 am Link

Photographer

Randall Oelerich

Posts: 295

Ames, Iowa, US

Images by MR wrote:
I just ask llamas to bring there own wardrobe.

I am wanting to custom shop for wardrobe/fashion, so I want it to fit the llama. Not knowing dress sizes makes that hard. Of course once I contact llamas I can find out, but I am wanting to do some advance planning now while waiting for the snow to melt.

Apr 30 13 11:52 am Link

Model

Saedcantas

Posts: 445

Saint Saviour, Saint Saviour, United Kingdom

Do these models have their other stats listed?

Apr 30 13 12:55 pm Link

Photographer

Randall Oelerich

Posts: 295

Ames, Iowa, US

Saedcantas wrote:
Do these models have their other stats listed?

Yes.

Apr 30 13 01:07 pm Link

Model

Saedcantas

Posts: 445

Saint Saviour, Saint Saviour, United Kingdom

Then surely that's all that matters?

It's much more accurate to check to stats provided against the size chart used by the individual manufacturer. Different brands often use slightly variable measurements.

I list myself as a UK12 but it's much less than ideal, depending on the material and the type of clothing piece I can fit as small as a UK8! But generally I'm between a 10 and 12 big_smile

Apr 30 13 01:15 pm Link

Model

Sabine Luise

Posts: 890

Boston, Massachusetts, US

Too many sizes to name maybe. I wear at least 10 different sizes depending in wear I shop. This is from lingerie to formalwear. If a designer works with me they measure and do fittings. I put my max number on my profile. My measurements change often to. Plus, I invest in my own wardrobe to avoid any problems.

May 01 13 05:09 am Link

Model

Sabrina Marshall

Posts: 80

Mesa, Arizona, US

You can fit a dress with the other info given... if you have their waist, hips, bust, you're set.

I list mine, but it varies... Some companies use 0, 2, 4 while others are 1, 3, 5. Then some of them run small or large. Jeans are like this too for me, I wear anywhere from a 1 to a 5.

May 01 13 10:00 am Link

Photographer

Randall Oelerich

Posts: 295

Ames, Iowa, US

Selina Lee wrote:
You can fit a dress with the other info given... if you have their waist, hips, bust, you're set.....

So I just returned from scouting out clothing at Target (USA), finding some dresses there are S, M, L, XL so how am I supposed to equate to that Dress Size 4 etc?

May 01 13 01:05 pm Link

Photographer

Carle Photography

Posts: 9271

Oakland, California, US

Randall_Oelerich wrote:

So I just returned from scouting out clothing at Target (USA), finding some dresses there are S, M, L, XL so how am I supposed to equate to that Dress Size 4 etc?

You don't

You can buy 5 size 4 dresses from 5 different companies and they will all be different sizes.

Even S M L is not standard.

If you want to do custom work you need a models exact measurements with a tape measure, on HER, done correctly.

May 01 13 01:08 pm Link

Model

Sabrina Marshall

Posts: 80

Mesa, Arizona, US

^^^ That, precisely.  Even as broad as S, M, L is, there is no guarantee. I can wear a size S or M, depending on brand.

I thought we were talking about things like semi-formal or gowns... not Target.

Aside from custom measurements, your best bet is to ask the model what size she wears in that particular store, or have her come with you, or buy 2 of the same dress and return whichever doesn't fit her.

May 01 13 01:13 pm Link

Photographer

Randall Oelerich

Posts: 295

Ames, Iowa, US

Death of Field wrote:

You don't

You can buy 5 size 4 dresses from 5 different companies and they will all be different sizes.

Even S M L is not standard.

If you want to do custom work you need a models exact measurements with a tape measure, on HER, done correctly.

Probably would be safest to always buy a size or two larger then? After all it is for a fashion shoot, the clothing does not have to withstand the rigor of months of being worn and out at parties, and I can use safety pins to take in a dress a bit too large.

May 01 13 01:14 pm Link

Photographer

eybdoog

Posts: 2647

New York, New York, US

just a suggestion, but why don't you contact models that you think would work for your concept, and then hold a fitting day with them where you and they go to wherever you intend on getting your dresses from to try on the dress. Most models that are out there love to play dress up for things. This would give you a better idea of if the dress would actually work out verses trying to guess sizes and such. The only way you would generally need to know exact sizes is if you are a designer who has made a custom dress/garment in a specific size that will only fit one size of person. Most people fluctuate slightly in size anyways over time whether they admit it or not, and having someone try on the dress a short time before you shoot (week or two in advance) would help you to plan for no surprises the day of your shoot. just saying. good luck

May 01 13 01:33 pm Link

Model

Tiffany Bond

Posts: 76

West Jordan, Utah, US

Randall_Oelerich wrote:
I am wanting to custom shop for wardrobe/fashion, so I want it to fit the model. Not knowing dress sizes makes that hard. Of course once I contact models I can find out, but I am wanting to do some advance planning now while waiting for the snow to melt.

The problem is, even if you have "their size" there's only so much that can do for you. Ultimately, you're taking a hit-and-miss chance. Body type plays a HUGE part. Some dresses fit like a glove in that model's size, and others are going to "fit" but are not going to look flattering at all. I can be anywhere from a 6 to an 8 depending on what style or even brand name the dress is, so even though I have "6" listed in my size, that's more or less a rough estimate. Reason being is that I am large-busted AND skinny. The problem is that most designers seem to have the "if you have big boobs, you must be fat, and if you're skinny, you must have no boobs" idea in their head, so while something may fit my bust, it may completely drown me anywhere else, or while something may fit my body, my boobs might be falling out of it. Really, you don't know how a model is going to fit into a dress until you try it on.

May 04 13 01:14 am Link

Photographer

Randall Oelerich

Posts: 295

Ames, Iowa, US

Tiffany Bond wrote:
.... I can be anywhere from a 6 to an 8 depending on what style or even brand name the dress is, so even though I have "6" listed in my size, that's more or less a rough estimate. Reason being is that I am large-busted AND skinny. The problem is that most designers seem to have the "if you have big boobs, you must be fat, and if you're skinny, you must have no boobs" idea in their head, so while something may fit my bust, it may completely drown me anywhere else, or while something may fit my body, my boobs might be falling out of it. Really, you don't know how a model is going to fit into a dress until you try it on.

Music to my ears! I seem to find pants that fit me or do not fit me, vary by 2 inches waist, geesh. I find loose fitting 38 waist, tight fitting 40 waist, wtf? Oh, I am 6'4" and for some reason clothing manufacturers seem to think if you have a 38 or god forbid 40 waist they you must be short and stocky, i can never find long 38w, always like 38waist 30 long or whatever. Or maybe all the other tall men are buying up the very few long 38w pants. Ladies you need to cut some slack to tall men regarding fashion, so hard to find anything good when you are tall, whether pants or shirts. Few stores carry XLT shirts.

May 04 13 09:22 am Link

Clothing Designer

Baanthai

Posts: 1218

Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

Even when I personally measure a model and then make the apparel, I'm not exactly sure how it will fit a model. That's why we have second and third fittings at times. Being good at "fit" takes experience. I would suggest that you begin your learning curve by going shopping with your models. You'll have fun I'm sure. Best of luck.

May 04 13 10:10 am Link

Clothing Designer

GRMACK

Posts: 5436

Bakersfield, California, US

Sizes of clothing is one of my pet peeves.  Women's stuff is all over the place.  If Amazon was actually selling clothing vs. some retailer linking through them and Amazon themselves were getting size returns, Amazon may do something about it.

Maybe they could easily fix the pants issue by doing something like Pants: Waist, Hips, Inseam for men and women?  Some small waists have big butts, and visa versa so another number is needed (Waist & Hip.).

Shirts are another matter.  Maybe they could go Neck, Sleeve inseam, Chest (Bust number for women and maybe even cup size too), Waist, and some sort of length (e.g. Neck hollow to navel or something?).  Maybe some venture idea for someone who could do custom online shirt ordering?  I tried some custom jeans once out of Mexico and it looked like they went to WalMart and tore the label off Wranglers or something and called them custom made.

I ordered a motorcycle vest by phone once.  The guy taking the order wanted to know my 'gut' measurement vs. chest.  Said "A lot of men are fat and gut sizing worked better for them than chest."  He did ask what sort of motorcycle I had too as he said the ones on the Honda Gold Wings tended to have guts bigger than their chest size, verses the slimmer crotch-rocket riders on sportbikes where chest numbers were good to go.  Interesting observation which seemed to work for them.

May 04 13 10:10 am Link

Model

Retiredmodel

Posts: 7884

Monmouth, Wales, United Kingdom

There is often confusion - UK is different to US and Europe different again.
Add to this in the fashion industry sample sizes often conform to a different sizing again which seamstresses and fashion designers sometimes use but outside the industry its unknown. Then also I can fit in some UK 6, all 8's and all 10's. Some 12's are ok and others drown me. But the samples are usually larger sizes made for production so in any case many dresses are often soft bulldog clipped behind us!
But I list 8/10 UK which is about a US 4.

May 04 13 10:43 am Link

Photographer

kollin bliss

Posts: 352

San Francisco, California, US

I'm guessing the OP isn't trying necessarily to go with a 'perfect, tailored fit' every time and just trying to be pro-active with respect to the wardrobe.  To that end, it would be nice if every model filled in their basic sizing info, no matter how much variation is in the real world versions of those sizes, but unfortunately filling out all the fields in your profile are not required and it's easy to say "I'll do it later" and then never do ..

To get around this, when I make contact with a model who has mutual interest in working together, I just ask her smile

May 04 13 10:46 am Link