Before you even think about buying a garment, you should know your own size. No, that does not mean knowing whether you wear a medium T-shirt or a large—though, depending on the brand and fit, that can help. Rather, it's about knowing your actual body measurements. More importantly, knowing how to accurately measure your body (and which figures apply where) is crucial to navigating any size guide. So, before you try comparing a Japanese size 27 shoe to an EU 41, let’s break down the basics.

Where to Begin

First things, first, you’ll need to buy a tape measure. While you already may have the rigid metallic sort you use to figure out if a couch will fit in your living room, in this case you should purchase a soft vinyl tape measure, the sort tailors and pattern cutters use daily (also sometimes referred to as measuring tape). Though you can technically deduce nearly all the most useful measurements yourself, it is extremely helpful to have some assistance, as the more precise the measurements are the better.

Now that you have your tools in order (and hopefully a friend or family member by your side), it’s important to take correct measurements. So, some ground rules. Please note that you should always try to use the metric system. While many of you in the US may be more comfortable with our inches-based measurements, the rest of the planet works in centimeters and an outsole length (among other measurements) recored in inches is all but useless. Put another way, unless you measure in centimeters you will constantly be forced to convert, and considering many measurement systems are originally based in centimeters anyways—in Japan, for instance, shoe sizes are literally from your heel to your longest toe in centimeters—its an exceedingly easier measurement system to choose from the jump.

Next, all measurements are for essentially flat garments, so get as close to the body as possible, make sure the tape is tight (but not restrictive), find your mark and lay the tape out flat to figure out the accurate length. Apart from your neck size—used for dress shirts and necessitates the full 360 degree length—every measurement relates to clothing laid flat on the ground, so be considerate while measuring.

Basic Measurements

While there are dozens of more specific measurements, there are approximately six main measurements that allow you to purchase just about anything. If you have an accurate gage on the following and corresponding size chart, you should know within a relatively negligible margin of error whether or not an item of clothing will fit.

1. Neck Size

As already mentioned, neck size is critical for dress shirts. Historically—at least, in Europe, the UK and the US—dress shirts come with two size demarcations, one for the neck, the other for the sleeve length. If using traditional measurements (e.g. 15 x 30) the first measurement is for the neck circumference, while the second is for the sleeve length from collar to shirt cuff. Please note that in the US, these measurements are always in inches, the one exception to the rule.

2. Sleeve Size

As mentioned above, the sleeve size is from the collar to the base of the cuff. However, in this case, it is used for pretty much every top and outerwear, outside of short sleeve T-Shirts. For accurate measurements, start at your collar bone and measure with your arm lying flat to the base of your wrist. Then, consider adding a centimeter or two for mobility and comfort.

3. Chest Width

This measurement is particularly important for fitted outerwear and tailoring. Taken from one armpit to the other across the widest part of your chest, chest width is crucial in determining how wide a garment should be to comfortably fit across your body. Often referred to as “pit-to-pit,” chest width, and to a lesser extent shoulder wide, are critical for tops. Most often letter and numerical sizing are directly correlated with chest width, so accurately measuring your own is immensely helpful.

4. Waist

Critical for jeans, trousers, shorts and any other sort of bottoms, a waist measurement dictates whether or not pants will fit—despite the fact that most pairs sit well below your natural waist. By wrapping a measuring tape around your “true” waist—essentially your belly button, you can determine what waist size you should be searching for. When wrapping, however, make sure to hold the tape tight and leave enough space for a finger between your body and the tape to compensate for the increasingly popular low-rise.

5. Inseam

Measured from the groin to the lower ankle, inseam is arguably the least important measurement, considering that, as long as the prospective pant is, well, longer than your inseam length, you can always have them altered–hence a need for that good tailor we mentioned earlier. That said, it’s important to have a rough idea so you don’t accidentally purchase cropped pants. Of course, modern taste and personal preference heavily dictate the category, as many men prefer their pant “break” (the bottom of the inseam) to hit at their ankle or above, where others prefer a traditional break, allowing for single fold stacking at the base of the pant. For those purchasing any slim or skinny silhouette, consider the hem width, or the horizontal length across the bottom hem, as well. It’s a more useful barometer as far as fit is concerned.

6. Outsole

Lastly, there is the outsole. While many of you may be used to the strange, metal foot measuring contraption at every sporting goods store that never seems to work quite right, the most effective way to ascertain your true shoe size is by measuring one of your own shoes. First, find a pair that you love and then measure on the underside of the sole from heel to toe. The measurement (alongside with footbed width) in centimeters will tell you all you need to know. Sizing between brands—in particular US brands–varies greatly, with men often reporting they range between two full sizes. Knowing your accurate outsole measurement will circumvent size discrepancies.

Know Your Preferences

Now that you have your basic measurements down, consider what you’re into. If you prefer oversized silhouettes, buying vintage T-shirts with an additional couple centimeters across the chest is probably a safe bet. For those that prefer tighter fighting garms, veer closer to your true measurements. Knowing not only your own measurements, but how you want your clothes to fit is crucial to buying the right pieces. Sometimes, the numbers alone are simply not enough information and your personal preference is the deciding factor. Of course, there are times when measurements are unavailable, so you must rely on scales.

Regional Differences

While you may be used to the standard "small", "medium", "large" and "extra large" sizing nomenclature, unfortunately across the globe there are numerous different scales of measurement, from a French 38—as opposed to a US 38—to a Japanese 2. While there is some overlap, and in an increasingly global world more brands are embracing standard small through extra large demarcations (of course, fit and brand still play huge factors), many traditional brands prefer to stick to their country’s established systems. So, when you come access a size notation you are unfamiliar with, and specific measurements are not available, it’s time to hit the conversion charts.

While small through extra large are nearly universal—particularly when it comes to cotton basics—other tops and outerwear are more complex. While we already mentioned dress shirts (which have their own unique system), for the most part, the majority of clothes you will see in stores and across our platform fall into four distinct sizing categories: American, European (EU), United Kingdom (UK) and Japanese. In the case of tops (particularly outerwear and suiting), the American and UK system are analogous, while Japan and the EU slightly differ. In general, both the UK and US range from a 34 (XS) to a 42 (XL), likely the same due to their tailoring's overlapping history. While 42 is often the largest size, for particularly large men, both systems go up to 50. Interestingly enough, the EU sizing is exactly 10 digits greater (e.g. US 38 is equivalent to an EU 48), while the Japanese system is just slightly large (greater by two). In general, these numbers are relatively arbitrary, with little relation to actual garment length. In these situations, your best bet is to either ask a seller on our site for measurements or find a similar piece from the designer and scale.

Bottoms, in general, are relatively straightforward. There's only three main measurement systems, one of which is exceedingly more popular than the rest. Largely thanks to Levi’s unrivaled success, the world’s number one denim brand defines how most brands measure jeans (and pants by extension).

Like dress shirts, pants receive two measurements a waist size and in inseam. The format (waist size x inseam) was, historically, the actual width and length of the pants, meaning a 30x30 jean would actually be 30 inches wide and 30 inches long from groin to hem. Today, given people are taller and wider, those restrictive numbers are not necessarily true, and vary greatly from one brand to another. RRL, for instance, originally used “period correct” size notations from mid-century America. Today, however, they use a standardized system, where the actual waist and length are about a half inch greater than the indicated size—a ruse so people feel that they are skinnier than they actually are. As for the EU, they commit to the same system as jackets (44 through 52), however, as mentioned before, the numbers no longer correlate with any direct measurements. Lastly, the Japanese occasionally stick with the chronological size notation, however what a 3 or 4 actually translates to is anybody’s guess, and is almost entirely brand dependent.

Now, here’s where it gets tricky. Footwear, unfortunately, is all over the place. Four major systems (as well as significant variation amongst brands) makes it exceedingly difficult to know how shoes will actually fit—hence why we stressed outsole measurements.

Regardless of the noted size, as long as a shoe is in your range (approximately one full size in either direction), it’s worth asking the outsole measurement, as given the extreme discrepancy between sizes, they shoe just might fit. In the US, men and women have different shoe sizes, with men starting at approximately 6/6.5 (anything below is children’s) and rising all the way up to 15 or greater. Women’s start around 5, and the difference between the two is approximately a size and a half, meaning a women’s 8 is equal to a men’s 6.5. For those searching for vintage sneakers, the difference is important to note, as given the minimal tagging you may just wind up with a women’s pair nearly two sizes too small.

The UK employs a similar system, however one size larger (a UK 8 translates to a US 9), whereas the EU uses an entirely distinct unisex system for men and women, starting at 34 and rising all the way to 45 (approximately a US 13) or above.

Lastly, the Japanese also use a unisex system, one that actually correlates to outsole length, meaning a size 27 in Japan is, hypothetically, 27 cm long. There are conversion charts for all this, but it’s messy, and as we mentioned previously, it’s best to simply email and ask for physical measurements.

If it’s not yet abundantly clear, sizes only tell you so much. While being able to deduce whether you prefer a medium or large T-shirt is something, it doesn't help when the items are grossly oversized (or skin tight, for that matter). So in order to better understand what you are buying, you should first familiarize yourself with how specific labels tend to fit. Again, this is not a catch all solution, particularly when considering different seasons, collections, intended aesthetic and personal taste, however it is a cursory primer on how some of the most popular labels on the website usually operate.

Nike

The biggest sportswear company in the world, Nike sets the standard for many things, footwear and clothing included. As such, Nike sneakers are often a reference point for other designers (e.g. “what size Nike do you wear?”). That is to say, if you usually wear a size 9, then chances are you wear size 9 Nike sneakers. Naturally, there are some exceptions—Air Force 1s fit slightly large—but for the most part, the true to size label holds true. As far as apparel is concerned, it is wholly dependent on sector or department, however given the athletic bent most items tend to fit true to size (if not a bit snug), so consider sizing up.

adidas

Like its US competitor, Germany’s number one athletic brand is an international standard. adidas sneakers fit true to size while apparel—outside fashion focused collaborations and special projects—fits true to size. The Europeans like their track warm ups snug, and adidas does not disappoint.

Jordan Brand

A wholly-owned Nike subsidiary, Jordan Brand sneakers fit exactly the same as Nikes. The apparel, however, geared towards basketball and inspired by Jordan’s on-court style, usually fits slightly oversized. Jordan did reintroduce longer shorts into the NBA, so, in retrospect, it makes sense.

Vans

California stalwart Vans has been in the sneaker game for over 50 years, today synonymous with both skate and surf culture, and the sizing reflects as much. While sneakers fit true to size, clothing tends to be more loose in line with the California beach attitude. If you're just looking for a pair of Slip-Ons, though, your standard size will work just fine.

Louis Vuitton

As a European fashion house, Louis Vuitton sticks with the EU sizing notation, the French iteration in particular (which is a subset with a few unique qualities, but for the sake of what we're talking about here, is predominantly the same). While footwear in general tends to fit large (meaning you should size down), as far as ready-to-wear goes, it varies greatly depending on the season, style and desired aesthetic. While under former designer Kim Jones the collections were relatively fitted, under current men's artistic director Virgil Abloh, items range from slim to billowing. Do yourself a favor, and ask a seller for measurements.

Off-White

Virgil Abloh's luxury streetwear label directly reflects what the modern consumer is search for, meaning it follows trends and sizing constantly varies depending on who is wearing it, how it's styled, and the reference from which a specific piece derives. If you're buying Off-White, more often than not T-shirts and hoodies run relatively true to size (if a tad large), while pants sit wide and are cut long—precisely the way Abloh likes them. As for footwear, all silhouettes are produced in Italy as overseen by majority stakeholder New Guards Group, so sizing is slightly large. Size down.

Gucci

An Italian luxury giant, Gucci is best known for its leather goods and footwear, which like most Italian producers, runs slightly large. That said, given this is a century-plus old brand with clientele who have bought loafers for multiple decades, consistency is paramount, so while sizes may be on the large size, they rarely change. Creative director Alessandro Michele's collections may be a mountain of influences, references and embroidery, but the sizing is fairly accurate. As long as you translate from Italian sizing to your preferred method of measurement, you will be just fine.

Balenciaga

This one is hard because under current creative director Demna Gvasalia, anything goes. Balenciaga is all over the place with tight sheer tops and grossly oversized jackets so measurements are crucial but, thankfully, as far as footwear goes, European standard sizes apply. If you are still trying to buy some Triple S sneakers, follow your usual EU size.

Supreme

The pinnacle of streetwear, Supreme has amassed a worldwide clientele desperate to get its hands on every drop. Considering the speed at which it sells, buyers lack the time to read sizing notation so Supreme keeps it simple and consistent. Everything (apart from jeans) is on a small through extra-large scale and it fits exactly like you would expect. If you are ever between a size, just size up.

Saint Laurent Paris

Known for its rock-n-roll aesthetic, Saint Laurent Paris fits notoriously skinny, which narrow shoulders on jackets, tight chest measurements and narrow sleeves. While the aesthetic works great for some, for others, anything that's not two sizes too large simply wont fit. To that end, if you have wide shoulders, you will need to size up. As for the best in class boots and sneakers, stick by your usual European sizing.

Raf Simons

Belgian designer Raf Simons designs collections based on mood, sub-cultural references, his favorite music and artists and the results largely depend on his research and interests, meaning that it varies greatly. That said, while tops can range from one size fits all to impossibly tiny, the coats have always been grossly oversized, and still are to this day. Specific items can be tough, but if you're buying outerwear—which is what most fans of his work are searching for—you could potentially drop down a size and be just fine.

Yeezy

Kanye West's clothing line and she collaboration with adidas transformed from small Nike follow-up project to a multi-million dollar business. While the clothing no longer plays as big a role, Yeezys are a central pillar in sneaker culture, and those who are lucky enough to get their hands on a pair are often disappointed when they don't fit exactly right. So, here's our tip: Buy a half size down. The knit upper stretches, so after a few weeks of wearing they can grow loose and uncomfortable. Yes the first few days are tough, but afterwards you are in the clear. As for the clothes, it always has been oversized, and likely always will be.