Women’s Clothing Size Converter (KR 55/66/77, US, UK, IT, FR)

Understanding the women's clothing size converter — concept and principle

Korean women's clothing is still widely labelled 44, 55, 66, 77 and 88, while US, UK, Italian and French shops each use their own numbers. This converter takes a Korean size and shows the approximate bust measurement it is associated with and the nearest US, UK, Italian and French/EU sizes. It helps when you shop overseas, buy from Korean online stores abroad, or read a foreign size chart.

How it is calculated

There is no single formula; the converter looks up a reference chart:

• 44: bust about 82 cm, US 0–2, UK 4–6, Italy 36–38, France/EU 32–34
• 55: bust about 85 cm, US 4, UK 8, Italy 40, France/EU 36
• 66: bust about 88–90 cm, US 6–8, UK 10–12, Italy 42–44, France/EU 38–40
• 77: bust about 94–95 cm, US 10–12, UK 14–16, Italy 46–48, France/EU 42–44
• 88: bust about 100 cm, US 14–16, UK 18–20, Italy 50–52, France/EU 46–48

The foreign columns keep fixed offsets from each other in this chart: UK ≈ US + 4, France ≈ US + 32, Italy ≈ France + 4.

The principle

Each country's numbers are just labels for a body-measurement range, mostly bust and hip. The Korean 44/55/66 system is an older convention; 55 is commonly explained as coming from a reference body of about 155 cm height and 85 cm bust. Average body sizes have changed since then, and Korean standards now describe garments with actual measurements (for example bust–hip–height in cm), while EN 13402 in Europe pursues the same idea of labelling by body dimensions. Brands still keep the old numbers because shoppers know them.

Worked example

Default: Korean 55.

1. Find the 55 row in the chart.
2. Associated bust: 85 cm.
3. Read across: US 4, UK 8, Italy 40, France/EU 36.

Check the offsets: UK 8 = US 4 + 4; France 36 = US 4 + 32; Italy 40 = France 36 + 4.

How to read the result

Treat the result as a starting point. Measure your bust, waist and hips with a tape and compare with the specific brand's chart, which matters more than any general table. Fit also depends on the cut: loose knits forgive a size difference, tailored jackets and dresses do not. In daily use, Korean 55 is often treated as S and 66 as M, but this varies by brand.

Common mistakes

• Assuming sizes are the same across brands from the same country.
• Converting by number alone without checking the bust and hip measurements.
• Mixing up UK and US sizes, which differ by about 4.

Frequently asked questions

What is Korean 55 in US size?

About US 4, which corresponds to UK 8 and EU 36.

Is Korean 66 a medium?

Roughly yes; it is usually listed near US 6–8 or size M, depending on the brand.

Why do Korean sizes jump by 11?

The numbers 44, 55, 66 are traditional labels, not measurements, so the step of 11 has no physical meaning.

Sources: Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, Size Korea (national anthropometric survey) · EN 13402, Size designation of clothes