Figuring out the right size clothing is pretty complicated as a woman because the sizes are not at all standardized. But having to try on 3 different pairs of pants at the store isn’t my biggest problem – finding my size at all at an affordable price is.

Because less expensive brands tend to run big, many of the cheaper clothing outlets don’t actually sell things that fit smaller women. For example, the pricier Banana Republic’s size 8 is a size 2 at the cheaper Gap. I wear a size 2 or 4 at Banana Republic, which means I would wear a size -4 to -2 at Gap. Of course, Gap doesn’t actually sell negative sizes and their smallest sizes generally don’t fit me.

Even when brands do carry sizes labeled XX-Small, they’re often shaped for women who aren’t very shapely. Thin doesn’t necessarily mean that you look a bean-pole, but inexpensive retailers don’t seem to have figured that out.

But Gap is much closer to what I can actually afford than Banana Republic. Thank goodness for thrift stores and quality discount sites like 6pm.com!