Checklist when changing size

Short answer: Measure yourself again, compare with the shop's size guide, and change only what you wear every day first. That way you find out whether the new size is really right before you replace everything.

Measure before you decide

The feeling of having gone up or down a size can be misleading. Clothes that feel tight may have shrunk, and clothes that hang may have stretched. Take a tape measure and measure chest, waist and hips, ideally in the morning over thin clothing. A bamboo undershirt for men may fit well even if an older one feels tight.

Compare with the guide

The numbers from the tape only make sense next to the shop's size guide. Check whether the guide lists body measurements or the measurements of the garment itself. If you fall between two sizes, think about how you like clothes to sit. Closer or looser is a choice, not a mistake.

Change the everyday pieces first

Underwear and T-shirts show fastest whether a size fits, because you wear them every day and feel them all the time. After a week you know whether the waistband sits right and the shoulders have enough room. The same goes for bamboo socks for men, where the right size shows at the heel and toe.

Buy a few pieces first

Two pieces in the new size are enough for a test. Wear them, wash them a few times and see whether they still fit afterwards. Only when you are happy does it make sense to buy more. This also applies to larger pieces such as a bamboo sweatshirt for men, where sleeves and length matter a lot.

Why not change everything at once

Sizes vary between styles, even from the same shop. A T-shirt and a sweatshirt in the same size rarely sit exactly alike. If you change everything at once, you may end up with a whole drawer that does not fit. A small test first is cheaper and easier to put right.

Wash the new size before you judge

New clothes can feel different after the first wash. Wash the test pieces following the care label and try them on again once dry. Tumble drying can make clothes shrink, so line drying is the safer choice. Only after a few washes do you know how the size behaves in daily life.

Write the new size down

Once you have found the right size, write it down with your measurements and the date. Note it too if a particular style fits differently from the rest. Next time you shop you will not need to guess, and you can quickly see whether your body has changed since.

Sort out the old size

Clothes in the old size fill the drawer and make it hard to see what you actually have. Once the new size is tested and approved, put the old pieces aside. Anything still in good shape can be passed on. Anything worn out can serve as cleaning cloths at home.

Frequently asked questions

How do you change size sensibly

Measure yourself again, compare with the guide, and first buy two pieces in the new size as a test before you replace anything more.

What should be changed first

What you wear every day. Underwear and T-shirts show fastest whether the new size actually fits in practice, because you feel them daily.

Why not change everything at once

Because sizes vary between styles. Two pieces in the new size are a cheap test of whether the choice holds before the rest is replaced.