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Think In a recent article, The New York Times explores the newest explosion of vanity sizing (the adjusting of measurement scales so that a woman who once wore a size 10 can now, arbitrarily, wear a size 8) and its footprints on the American retail scene.  MyBestFit, a full-body-scanner that calculates the circumference of your various appendages, can now specify what clothes to grab according to the brand you’ll be buying, cutting back on time, energy, and supposed humiliation. While the issue of rotating between a small, medium and large can be perplexing in a mall, it’s exponentially more frustrating for online shoppers, who often need to order (and thus return) multiple items at a time in order to discover their true size. As the author explains, ”Take a woman with a 27-inch waist. In Marc Jacobs’ high-end line, she is between an 8 and a 10. At Chico’s, she is a triple zero. And that does not consider whether the garment fits in the hips and bust. (Let’s not get into length; there is a reason most neighborhood dry cleaners also offer tailoring.)”

Because none of us have a MyBestFit located in our own home, here’s what to consider when wavering between a size 6 and a size 8: Parlez-vous le français? Pay attention to the country of origin. All 40′s were not created equal (a 40 UK runs smaller than a 40 FR). Silhouette Is Everything You might be a size 4 in every Ann Taylor shift you’ve ever owned, but what about an empire waist? Chances are that you’ll want to go a size down, because the lines are more forgiving. Textile Mistake Similar to silhouette, unusual fabrics should always be taken into account. The habitual medium buying a spandex top without giving herself room to breath is a recipe for disaster. Measure-Up When in doubt, consult the site’s convenient chart and double-check. If you’re borderline, always order up. It’s better to cut out a tag to hide a number than to end-up cutting yourself out of a too-tight leather skirt. Seeing Double If you must have it, order your two best guesses and return the one that doesn’t suit you. However, be sure to verify policies with a sales representative. Depending on the season, you could have more wiggle room (or less).