# Calling all short, stacked women (clothing Q) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039 "2007-03-29T21:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/1 "2007-03-29T21:44:06Z")
Would a standard “medium” t-shirt fit a woman who is 5’3" and 34F? (Not overweight.) Thanks oodles. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/2 "2007-03-29T21:46:34Z")
I am 5’1" and a 34D and a medium just fits me, so the answer is “no.” ---
**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/3 "2007-03-29T21:52:14Z")
Apparently you know her well enough to ask for her bra size, so ask her for her clothing size, or snatch a look at one of her shirt tags. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/4 "2007-03-29T21:54:49Z")
Standard meaning, what exactly? Women’s mediums are much smaller than men’s or what are occasionally called “unisex” or “adult” but are really mens. I’m having trouble quite imagining a 34F, but I really doubt larger than a D would fit a women’s medium anything. As for mens… 34F is what, a 40" bust? If you know the brand of the shirt, you might be able to look up the size chart for that brand [here](http://www.jiffyshirts.com/). From looking at a few body widths, it looks like it might fit. Skin tight, though. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/5 "2007-03-29T22:07:07Z")
Standard meaning unisex/men’s, I guess. It’s sounding like the answer to this question is Probably Not. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/6 "2007-03-29T22:26:24Z")
Not to mention, on average the arms and length of the torso would be too long. This is a problem for me often (5’2", 34C) – a Women’s Medium just hangs off me in every dimension. Bearing in mind that a “unisex Medium” is a Women’s Large – she’s going to be swimming in it, bodacious ta-tas or no. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/7 "2007-03-30T00:16:40Z")
Well, if you know her bra size (which apparently you do) then you know her bust measurement. Find out the dimensions of the garment in question, and compare the numbers. Voila. This is how I order clothing online, as manufacturers have their own size guides. I ignore the sizes, pop over to the measurement charts and order that way. I wanted to add that I’m not short at all, but somewhat stacked, and I have tops which are size S, size M and size L, depending on the cut and manufacturer, so there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/8 "2007-03-30T00:21:24Z")
This might be irrelevant, but one of my nicknames for my wife is “Mrs. Short Stack” (inspired by a meal at an IHOP, I think). 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/9 "2007-03-30T00:31:57Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] Well, if you know her bra size (which apparently you do) then you know her bust measurement. [/QUOTE] Not true at all. At least for my bra size. The “34” (in the OP’s case) is the band size. The “F” is the cup size. Sounds to me like a medium would fit, but it might be close. But the other variable is how she likes her t-shirts to fit. Some people like them to, you know, _fit._ Some like them loose. And you can’t rely on sizes anyway. Make sure it’s returnable. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/10 "2007-03-30T00:56:08Z")
[QUOTE=Hilarity N. Suze] Not true at all. At least for my bra size. The “34” (in the OP’s case) is the band size. The “F” is the cup size. Sounds to me like a medium would fit, but it might be close. But the other variable is how she likes her t-shirts to fit. Some people like them to, you know, _fit._ Some like them loose. And you can’t rely on sizes anyway. Make sure it’s returnable. [/QUOTE] Right…what am I missing here? Her band size is 34. Her cup size is F. Therefore, her around the chest measurement is 40 - 41 (34 + 6 or 7 inches for boobage). S, M, L sizing is done with a range - S = 28-32, M = 32 - 36, L = 36 - 40 for instance. In that case the top needed would be a large. Depending on the sizing of the particular manufacture, you adjust the size needed. I should add that as she is a petite, if the garment is available that way, go for it. Further, no, you can’t rely on sizes, but clothing measurements are usually very accurate, particularly for online purchases. As to the other point of fit - well, that’s certainly true. However, if the OP knows the woman well enough to know her bra size, presumably he knows her well enough to know if she wears her tops tight or loose, yano? ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/11 "2007-03-30T02:07:21Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] Right…what am I missing here? Her band size is 34. Her cup size is F. Therefore, her around the chest measurement is 40 - 41 (34 + 6 or 7 inches for boobage). S, M, L sizing is done with a range - S = 28-32, M = 32 - 36, L = 36 - 40 for instance. In that case the top needed would be a large. [/QUOTE] What are you missing. Let me think… Now, how I got my band size, at a specialty bra shop, was, they measured under the bust and got 26", added 5" (I don’t know why) then rounded it up 'cause the sizes are even only, for a band size of 32. Then they measured around the fullest part of the bust and added (I think) one letter per inch, for the difference between 39" and 32" and came up with a 32G. Now the thing is, with me it’s all in front. So men’s t-shirts I would need a medium, if not larger (and then the thing would be too long). But in things cut for women, I have all sizes from small to XL depending on the manufacturer. (The XL, I belatedly realized, is actually supposed to be a 3/4 sleeve…I got it long enough for the sleeve to come to my wrist, and the rest of it’s just too big, so I probably shouldn’t count that). Anyway, working backwards from this, I would deduce that she’s 34 + 6 but minus the 5" added on for whatever reason, give or take an inch, and mostly in front. That would be 35" and medium ought to work. (In a perfectly sized world.) ---
**Author:** ![justpassingthrough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@justpassingthrough](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justpassingthrough)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/12 "2007-03-30T02:32:27Z")
We’ve had conversations before about bra sizing, and if memory serves, the band size is calculated differently in the US and UK (or possibly Canada or Australia). In the US, I’ve found it to be a straightforward reading of the tape measure; no adding five and dividing by Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/13 "2007-03-30T06:56:40Z")
[QUOTE=justpassingthrough] We’ve had conversations before about bra sizing, and if memory serves, the band size is calculated differently in the US and UK (or possibly Canada or Australia). In the US, I’ve found it to be a straightforward reading of the tape measure; no adding five and dividing by Tuesday. [/QUOTE] I know there’s more than one way to do it. But I’m in the US. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/14 "2007-03-30T13:13:58Z")
[QUOTE=Hilarity N. Suze] What are you missing. Let me think… Now, how I got my band size, at a specialty bra shop, was, they measured under the bust and got 26", added 5" (I don’t know why) then rounded it up 'cause the sizes are even only, for a band size of 32. Then they measured around the fullest part of the bust and added (I think) one letter per inch, for the difference between 39" and 32" and came up with a 32G. Now the thing is, with me it’s all in front. So men’s t-shirts I would need a medium, if not larger (and then the thing would be too long). But in things cut for women, I have all sizes from small to XL depending on the manufacturer. (The XL, I belatedly realized, is actually supposed to be a 3/4 sleeve…I got it long enough for the sleeve to come to my wrist, and the rest of it’s just too big, so I probably shouldn’t count that). Anyway, working backwards from this, I would deduce that she’s 34 + 6 but minus the 5" added on for whatever reason, give or take an inch, and mostly in front. That would be 35" and medium ought to work. (In a perfectly sized world.) [/QUOTE] But you don’t minus the 5 - you just said up there that your around the boob measurement is 39. So, you look at the measurements of the top, find the one that corresponds with 39 and there you go. Obviously, as she’s sort of short, a petite size would work better, but any top that’s sized S, M, L as opposed to 4, 6, 8, etc can’t be super taylored. ---
**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/15 "2007-03-30T16:18:11Z")
I do not believe so. My best friend is 5’3 and somewhat larger than F (she generally wears 34 - 36 H - I, depending on the particular bra and what she can actually find) and cannot get her breasts into a medium anything. Then again, the answer to any “will this size fit” questions is always “Maybe”, so get it in a returnable fashion and go for medium. If it doesn’t work, she can return it, and when purchasing clothing for a lady, erring on the smaller side unless you’re _sure_ is generally wise. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/16 "2007-03-30T16:43:55Z")
Also to emphasis a point touched on above . . . I’m pretty well-endowed in the boobage department (though nowhere near an F). A 34F says to me “petite girl with _gi-normous_ boobs.” A shirt big enough to fit around her chest is going to be way too big through the waist and arms and probably too long as well. I only wear standard T-shirts for working out, sleeping, or extremely casual stuff like cleaning or yard work. For anytime I actually care what I look like, I don’t wear them because if they fit through the chest they are shapeless everywhere else. I know I’m not the only woman who feels this way. So just based on her described figure alone, if you don’t _know_ that she wears T-shirts, you might want to check if she actually does. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/17 "2007-03-30T16:45:56Z")
I can’t really add anything, just to concur that boobs make sizing difficult. I’m 5’3 and stacked but also fat: normally I’d wear L or XL, but because of the boobs I almost always have to wear XXL. The shoulders never fit right and everything’s always too long (I’ve never met a sleeve I didn’t roll), but at least there’s some give around the bust. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Millamant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@Mrs.Millamant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Millamant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/18 "2007-03-30T17:28:01Z")
I’m 5"2’ and wear a 36G. My answer is “Hell no.” ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/19 "2007-03-30T18:24:00Z")
This thread is making me really horny. Sorry, that’s all I had to say. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039/20 "2007-03-30T23:47:24Z")
I’m 5’0" and a 34DD. I can’t really wear standard t-shirts because they are always too long. I hate when t-shirts come down over my butt; looks so shapeless. When I want a t-shirt, I usually buy boys larges. Sure, they’re tight across the chest, but not obscenely so, and they are the correct length and the arm holes aren’t huge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-short-stacked-women-clothing-q/398039.md?page=2)