Men's shirt sizes measures the circumference of the neck and are mostly consistent. If a second number is listed, it is usually the sleeve length, and runs from 32 to 36 inches. Men's pants are sized using the waist measurement and the inseam measurement. The inseam is the distance from crotch to hem. Men's coats are measured according to chest size, measuring under the arms.
Dress sizes depend on both height and figure type.
The women's sizes do not correspond to bust measurements. A half size is somewhat shorter than a misses size and a bit fuller and rounder. The more expensive the dress, the more likely the manufacturer is to label the dress with a size or two smaller than its true size. The band size is found by measuring around the rib cage just below the bust line, adding 5, and rounding up to the nearest even number. The cup size is found by measuring along the fullest part of the bust and subtracting the band size.