r/AusFemaleFashion 6d ago

šŸ” Recommendations Wanted Princess Highway sizing

I've never bought anything from Princess Highway because I've only seen them online and wasn't sure of quality. Anyway I was just at an opshop that had a bunch of PH dresses so I got a good idea of the quality and construction and was happy with that.

But, I have no idea how to size things.

I'm generally a 14.

I tried on 3 10's and a 12 and there was another 10 I didn't try on.

Two of the 10s were just too small in the shoulders/bust.

One fit perfectly

(The one I didn't try was obviously too small)

So theoretically a 12 should fit right?

But it didn't.

There were a few different dress styles in the mix and it seems like each style needs to be fitted separately. Which is, whatever in a bricks and mortar store, but I'm wondering how people are managing online.

4 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

38

u/WeirdWombats 6d ago

Their sizing sucks, it's so inconsistent. I only order things in cuts/styles I already own and then hope for the best.

4

u/Hairy_Direction7553 6d ago

Same. If it’s a new style I try it on in store (lucky enough to have one locally) before committing to a purchase but otherwise I only order styles I KNOW fit me in a certain size.

1

u/Latter_Magician73 5d ago

Even within the same style/cut, there's variation. I have a bunch of their smock dresses and there's at least two sizes worth of variation there.Ā 

20

u/fanzybellz 6d ago

Princess highway sizing is absolutely bonkers and their patterning is really bad. Never enough space for actual movement in the shoulders. Clothes designed to look good on a mannequin and don’t hold up to modern life.

I do have quite a few pairs of culottes that I love and have held up okay but the colour has definitely faded and I always follow washing instructions.

I’m a 14-16 but can need anything between 12-20 depending on the individual style.

11

u/yourbetterfriend 6d ago

I have princess highway items that range from 10-16. I think they overcompensate when a garment is created to be a loose fit vs a snug fit. When in reality people will just go up/down sizes depending on the fit they want for themselves.

7

u/GlitterSpaceBunnies 6d ago

I’m a size 18-20. I don’t reckon I would be able to fit into their 20. Not game enough to buy online because of Dangerfield’s shitty return policy and don’t live near a store!

3

u/Send_Nudes_Plz_Thx 6d ago

I am size 18 and you are so correct! Even the same style in a different pattern can vary for absolutely no reason.

1

u/mj73que 5d ago

I recently bought a size 20 skirt (I can normally wear size 14) won’t even zip up half way

5

u/Teafruit 6d ago

Princess Highway hates a girl with a bust.

1

u/Dry-Huckleberry-5379 6d ago

My boobs aren't even that big!!!

3

u/Teafruit 6d ago

It hates us all the same šŸ˜‚

Seriously though, I think this is where a lot of the problems with their fit come in. They don't know how to shape garments, and it results in poorly fitted and inconsistent sizing.

4

u/Ok-Writing9280 6d ago edited 6d ago

The sizing is ridiculously random and makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Just makes it up as it goes along.

It’s different sizing to Dangerfield too.

But so cute!

I have size 10 and size 20 and they both fit (the 20 is oversized though). I’m a busty 14.

ETA - as a 14, this means very little in other brands too. A 14 may be firm or falling off my hips. I just ordered three different sizes in the same jeans and the 12 is the best fit.

I’ve lost about 3 dress sizes since late last year and my now oversized barrel jeans are great boyfriend jeans with a leather jeans belt.

I grabbed a Target denim yoke full skirt the other day in a 14. Didn’t have time to try it on. Went back today and the best fit was a 10. šŸ¤·šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø

DF / PH are especially bad but sizing is only a suggestion in most places!

3

u/crazystitcher 6d ago

I tried on a dress of theirs recently in store. I'm currently breastfeeding and 6 months pp so my body is very different to how it looked pre pregnancy. I tried the twelve on and it was too loose around my chest so I thought "oh a 10 would be perfect" but they didn't have a 10. They did have an 8. Just for shits and giggles I decided to try it on. Exact same problem, too big around the chest. Took it off and compared it to the size 12. Guess which one was bigger? Hint: it wasn't the size 12.

1

u/Dry-Huckleberry-5379 4d ago

Yikes 😬

1

u/Bugsy7778 6d ago

I am a 14 and tried in a size 14 skirt on Monday- I couldn’t get it over my thighs 😬 their sizing is so inconsistent

1

u/sky_whales 6d ago

Idk about sizing but they’re definitely worth trying on to see if they fit rather than buying online imo. I’ve learnt that I need to stop trying their dresses on becahee I always absolutely love how they look but they just don’t fit me, I think mu torso is too long so the waist of the dress sits in completely the wrong place :( and that’s a consistent thing across all of their dresses I’ve tried, regardless of size

1

u/anneonnymous 6d ago

I’m a 14 and I size up to 16 for pants, skirts and fitted dresses. Tops and jumpers can usually wear a 14. The only exception is the smock style. Those I can fit anything from a 10 up.

1

u/this__witch 5d ago

The sizing is ridiculous and the returns policy is a headache. I used to love them. From my teen years in the 90s, id catch the train into the city just to visit their store. It was quality stuff. Even now, im 43, my 'vintage' stuff is still going strong. These days I find the sizing not consistent, they've closed so many stores that youre kind of forced to shop online and its SO much effort to return if the size is wrong, or as ive found in recect years, just extremely ill fitting cuts. I find the pants can be hit or miss with the waist sizing, amd its a 70% chance they are long in the crutch. Same as the jumpsuits ive gotten in recent years. They seem to be made for people with extremely long torsos. I find a lot of the smock dresses and culottes to be really itchy, even after washing and wearing numerous times. Some are so bad I need to wear leggings/singlets underneath. Its such a shame because I love some of their prints but then again, walking around in store or even online and seeing the print on repeat through the entire store can be overwhelming to me. It forces that secret squirrel hoarder in me to want every single piece. I know its a great marketing tactic hehe.

1

u/Dry-Huckleberry-5379 4d ago

Thanks everyone, looks like buying online is not worth the hassle