Help With Sizing & Alterations

Wedding Dress USA & International Size Comparison Chart

Ask the seller questions about the item before making a purchase - you cannot return an item because it doesn’t properly fit.

There are two sizes that describe a wedding dress:

1. The size on the dress label.

2. The dress owner's typical or "street" size - this is the size the owner would purchase most often if shopping at stores such as The Gap or Nordstrom. This does not guarantee size or fit for an item - every "body" is different. Be sure to confirm the sellers measurements and any alterations done so that you don't buy an item too small for you.

Because wedding dress label sizing varies greatly among designers, all wedding dresses on POWD are listed by the seller's estimated street size to help guide your search.

Buy Within Your Size Range

It is very important that you buy a dress within your size range - ask the seller about the fit, her measurements, and any alterations done.


It is much easier to take a dress in up to 2-3 sizes (without compromising the look or design) than to try and let it out. Especially if the dress has already been altered.

Most manufacturers only leave 1/2-1" of materials to allow for letting a dress out. 

Often, wedding dress sizing is smaller than regular dresses. This means you may wear a size 6 when you shop at the mall, but your wedding dress label may be a size 10.

Look Up The Designer's Sizing Chart

Every designer will fit differently - try to find the size chart for the dress you are buying to confirm if an unaltered version of the size you are looking to buy would fit, then consider the alterations the seller has done and determine if the dress will work for your body.

How Do I Measure Myself?

US Street Size Chart

Size

Bust

Waist

Hips

00

31.5

23

34

0

32.5

25

35

2

33.5

26

36

4

34.5

27

37

6

35.5

28

38

8

36.5

29

39

10

37.5

30

40

12

39

31.5

41.5

14

40.5

33

43

16

42

34.5

44.5

18

43.5

36

46.5

20

46

37.5

48.5

22

48

42

50

24

50

44

52

26

52

46

54

28

54

48

56

30

56

50

58

32

58

52

60

International Size Chart

US / Canada

UK

Europe

Australia

00

0

28

2

0

2

30

4

2

4

32

6

4

6

34

8

6

8

36

10

8

10

38

12

10

12

40

14

12

14

42

16

14

16

44

18

16

18

46

20

18

20

48

22

20

22

50

24

22

24

52

26

24

26

54

28

How do I explain my dress alterations and size?

If your dress has alterations we recommend you include details in your listing to ensure all buyers know what they are purchasing:

1.

Include your measurements on the listing (bust, waist, hips, height).

Tallest wearable height = your height plus the shoes you wore. If your dress is brand new and regular length, it should fit a bride thatis at least 5'11".

2.

Call the store that did your alterations and see if they have notes on what was taken in, let out, added, or removed, and by how much.

3.

If #2 does not work, note basic things like "the dress is a size 10 but modified closer to an 8 because my bust/hips only fit the size up, they had to shorten the hem because I am 5'2 and I wore inch heels etc for my wedding"

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