In these days of a global economy, it's hard to ignore the selection and options offered by overseas mail order. With global credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, the problem of converting currency is eliminated and overnight express delivery eliminates the weeks of waiting for shipments to arrive.

     One problem that remains is sizing. Even average size people have a problem with this, and in the case of talls you may not even know if the supplier carries clothing in your size if you can't convert it.

     Sizing varies from country to country, as well as from manufacturer to manufacturer, so exact size conversions are really not possible. Local conventions should also be considered, such as shoulders are cut wider in Scandanavia, narrower in France. The size conversions below should be considered just a starting point then, not an absolute.

     The best bet is to provide as much info as possible to the supplier when ordering. Include measurements, your local size, in the case of shoes and gloves send a tracing of your hand or foot. The more they know about you, the more likely they are to get the size right.

Misc. Conversions-

1 kilogram is 2.2 pounds
I stone (UK) is 14 Lbs. (US)
1 inch is 2.54 centimeters
1 Yard is 0.9144 meter
1 meter is 39.37 inches/1.09 yards

To convert prices, use the
 currency conversion page

 Clothing Size Conversions-

Women's Dresses

 U.K. size is 2 more than U.S.
 European size is 28-30 more than U.S.
Japanese size is one less than U.S.
Example: UK 8 = US 6 = Euro 36 = Japan 5

Women's Suits (formal)

U.S use dress size
U.K. size is 22-24 more than U.S.
European size is 28 more than U.S.
Japanese use Dress size
Example: UK 28 = US = 6 = Euro 34 = Japan 5

Men's Suits and Coats

U.K. sizes are the same as U.S.
European sizes are 10 more than U.S.
Japanese sizes are in letters, see below 
Example: UK 36 = US 36 = Euro 46
US/Japan = 34/S 38/M 40/L 44/LL

Women's Shoes

U.K. sizes are 1.5 less than U.S.
European sizes are 30 more than U.S (Round UP)
Japanese size add 17 to U.S
Example: UK 5 = US 6.5 = Euro 37 = Japan 23.5
Note: Japanese normal sizes are the same UK/US/Euro narrow sizes

Men's Shoes

U.K sizes are 1/2 less than U.S.
European sizes are 33.5 more than U.S.
Japanese sizes add 19 to U.S. size
Example: UK 5 = US 5.5 = Euro 39 = Japan 24.5

Men's Shirts (collar size)

U.K. sizes are the same as U.S.
European sizes are 22 more than U.S. (round UP)
Japanese sizes are the same as Euro sizes
Metric Sizes are 2.54 times U.S.
Example: UK 16 = US 16 = Euro 40 = Japan 40

Mondo Point/US conversion

Mondo Point sizing is used mostly in sporting goods like Ski Boots andInline Skates. Mondo Point is unisex, there is no male or female size. The largest standard Mondo Point size is 32, about a US size 15 men's. abovethat most manufacturers use US or Metric/Euro sizes. (conversions aproximate, provide local size as well when mail ordering)

Men's sizes- Mondo/US
23/4.5 - 24/5.5 - 25/7 - 26/8 - 27/9 - 28/10.5 - 29/11.5 - 30/12.5 - 31.0/13 -
31.5/14 - 32.0/15

Women's sizes- Mondo/US
23/6 - 24/7 - 25/8 - 26/9.5 - 27/10.5 - 28/11.5 -29/12.5