How to pick your clothing size when shopping online

Steps

1. Measure three numbers

   Use a soft tape over the underwear you would normally wear. Bust: around the fullest part of the chest, level across the back. Waist: the narrowest part of the torso, standing naturally. Hip: the fullest part, about 8 inches below the waist.

2. Match them to the chart for that item type

   Charts differ for tops and dresses versus bottoms. PeachSunday's size guide has a standard chart (S to XL) and a numeric chart (2 to 12), each with UK and EU conversions.

3. Read the fabric and fit notes

   A style marked oversized or relaxed fit is cut larger than the chart on purpose. Stretch fabrics such as ponte, rib knit and satin blends forgive more than a stiff woven.

4. Decide which way to go when you are between sizes

   Size up for a relaxed fit, size down for a fitted look. For a dress with a defined waist, match the waist number first.

5. Check the sizes listed on the product page

   Sizes vary by style. Some PeachSunday styles run up to 4XL, and each product page lists the exact sizes it comes in.

6. Try it on the day it arrives

   Try it the way you would in a fitting room, with the shoes you plan to wear. Keep the tags and the original clear bag until you have decided, since returns need both.

Why online sizing goes wrong

A label like "M" means different things at different stores, and sometimes at the same store across styles. Fabric changes it too: a stretch knit and a woven cotton fit differently at the same labeled size. Measurements, not labels, are the stable thing to compare.

The most common mistakes are measuring over bulky clothes, pulling the tape tight, and measuring only the bust. Two minutes with a soft tape fixes all three.

How to take the measurements

Stand relaxed. Keep the tape snug but not tight, and level all the way around. For your waist, do not hold your stomach in; measure how you actually stand. For inseam, which matters for trousers, measure from the top of the inner thigh to the ankle bone, or lay a pair that fits you flat and measure the inner seam.

Write the numbers down once and keep them in your notes app. You will reuse them for every order.

Reading a chart without overthinking it

Find the row where your largest relevant measurement fits. For a dress, that is usually bust or hip, whichever is larger. For trousers it is the waist and hip. If two numbers fall in different sizes, pick the size that fits the larger one and rely on fabric stretch or a belt for the smaller one.

PeachSunday's numeric chart runs US 2 to 12 with UK 6 to 16 and EU 34 to 44. Use the full size guide for bottoms and inseams.

Fabric and cut decide the rest

Satin and other slinky fabrics show every seam, so a close fit helps. Knits stretch, so you can go smaller. Structured pieces like blazers need room across the shoulders and back, so raise your arms when you try one on. For wide leg trousers, the waist and hip numbers matter most; the leg is meant to be loose. The wide leg trouser styling guide shows how hems and shoes change the line.

Plan for a wrong guess

PeachSunday does not swap sizes directly. If you want a size to be safe, order it, and if it does not fit, return it for a refund. US clothing returns must start within 7 days of delivery, unworn, tags on, in the original clear bag, and you pay return shipping. Decide on the first day.

If you are stuck between two sizes, send a message with your measurements and the item, and the team helps you pick.

Two worked examples

Example one: bust 36, waist 28, hip 38. In PeachSunday's standard chart, that is size M for all three numbers (bust 35-36, waist 27-28, hip 37-38). Order M for a dress, top or blazer, and check the fit note.

Example two: bust 36, waist 30, hip 40. Bust falls in M, waist and hip fall in L. Choose by the garment: for a fitted dress with a defined waist, L; for a knit top, M. For wide leg trousers, go by the waist and hip, so L.

That is the whole method. Pick the garment, decide which measurement it needs to fit, and use the larger size when the garment is woven and the smaller when it is stretchy.

What to read on the product page

Look for the fabric content, any stretch, the fit note (fitted, relaxed, oversized), whether the garment is lined, and the sizes listed. Sizes vary by style, so a dress that stops at XL does not mean all styles do.

If a product page lists the model's height and size, compare her numbers to yours, not her size to your size.

When you are still unsure

Send a message through the contact page with your measurements and the item you are looking at. The store helps you choose. That costs nothing and avoids a return.

For general fit tips on layered outfits, see the layering guide.

Bottoms need two more numbers

For trousers and skirts, the waist and hip drive the fit, and inseam sets the length. PeachSunday's standard bottoms chart lists inseams from 30 inches in S to 31.5 in XL. If you wear heels, add the heel height in your head before you decide whether the hem clears the floor.

Wide leg trousers are meant to be loose in the leg, so the waist and hip decide the size and the length decides the shoe.

Keep a record that saves time

Write your measurements and the sizes that worked in a note on your phone, with the store and the item type. After three or four orders you will see a pattern, such as always taking M in knits and L in woven trousers. That pattern is worth more than any chart, and it carries over between stores better than a size label does.

FAQ

Sources

1. PeachSunday size guide (checked Oct 17, 2026)
2. PeachSunday refund policy (checked Oct 17, 2026)