Size Guide · Atelier Molina
Size charts in centimetres and Argentina’s Sizing Law
How to measure your body
Use a soft sewing tape, in underwear or a thin garment, standing straight and breathing normally. The tape rests on the body without pulling and stays parallel to the floor. Ask someone to help with back measurements.
- Bust or chest
- Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the bust or chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades.
- Waist
- Wrap the narrowest part of the torso, usually a few centimetres above the navel. If it is not defined, measure at navel height.
- Hip
- Wrap the fullest part of the seat, with your feet together.
- Height
- Barefoot, back against a wall, head straight. Mark the top of your head and measure from the floor.
- Leg length
- Along the side, from the waist to the floor, barefoot. For the inseam, from the crotch to the floor.
- Arm length
- With the arm slightly bent, from the shoulder bone to the wrist bone, over the elbow.
This is the same approach as the IRAM 75300 standards: size is chosen by body measurements, not garment measurements. For tops, bust or chest leads; for trousers and skirts, waist and hip.
If you measure a garment you already own
To make sure your Atelier Molina piece is the right one, measure a similar garment you already own and love the fit of: lay it flat on an even surface and compare its dimensions with our charts.
Shirts · Blazers · Dresses
Tops
- Shoulder width
- Measure in a straight line from one shoulder seam to the other.
- Bust / chest circumference
- Measure from armpit to armpit (where the sleeve meets the body) and multiply by two.
- Total length
- Measure from the highest point of the shoulder to the bottom hem of the garment.
Trousers · Wide pants · Skirts
Bottoms
- Waist
- Measure the top width of the waistband and multiply by two.
- Hip
- Measure the widest part of the garment (usually 20 cm below the waist) and multiply by two.
- Rise
- Measure from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband.
- Inseam
- Measure from the crotch to the bottom of the trouser leg.
Atelier tip
If you are between two sizes, choose the larger one: it preserves the architectural drape and the comfort that define our designs.
Charts by garment type
Use these charts to find your size.
Crop tops
| Size | Bust circumference | Front bust | Shoulder to hem |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 88 | 44 | 38 |
| M | 94 | 52 | 40 |
| L | 102 | 56 | 42 |
| XL | 114 | 64 | 48 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
Skirts & trousers
| Size | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 60 | 86 |
| S | 64 | 90 |
| M | 72 | 98 |
| L | 80 | 106 |
| XL | 92 | 118 |
| XXL | 104 | 130 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
Men's trousers
| Size | Waist |
|---|---|
| 38 | 76 |
| 40 | 80 |
| 42 | 84 |
| 44 | 88 |
| 46 | 92 |
| 48 | 96 |
| 50 | 100 |
| 52 | 104 |
| 54 | 108 |
| 56 | 112 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
* Waist is the full body circumference: measure your waist with a tape around your body and find the matching value.
Jackets
| Size | Chest | Waist | Sleeve length |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 80-88 | 65-73 | 78 |
| S | 88-96 | 73-81 | 78 |
| M | 96-104 | 81-89 | 78 |
| L | 104-112 | 89-97 | 81 |
| XL | 112-124 | 97-109 | 81 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
Women's dresses
| Size | EU size | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 38 | 82 | 60 | 86 |
| S | 40 | 86 | 64 | 90 |
| M | 42 | 90 | 68 | 94 |
| M | 44 | 94 | 72 | 98 |
| L | 46 | 98 | 76 | 102 |
| L | 48 | 102 | 80 | 106 |
| XL | 50 | 108 | 86 | 112 |
| XL | 52 | 114 | 92 | 118 |
| XXL | 54 | 120 | 98 | 124 |
| XXL | 56 | 126 | 104 | 130 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
International size conversion
| AR | US | EU | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | S (36-38) | 46-48 | 36-38 |
| M | M (38-40) | 48-50 | 38-40 |
| L | L (40-42) | 50-52 | 40-42 |
| XL | XL (42-44) | 52-54 | 42-44 |
| S/M | S-M | 46-50 | 36-40 |
| M/L | M-L | 48-52 | 38-42 |
* We use Argentine sizes. This chart is a general reference against the US, EU and UK systems.
Between two sizes?
If your measurements fall between two sizes, consider the following:
- The smaller size
- A closer fit, ideal if you prefer the garment near the body.
- The larger size
- A relaxed fit, with more comfort and the drape our designs are known for.
Looking for a garment made to your exact measurements? Discover our made-to-measure design service, or write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose your size.
The Argentine body in numbers
These are the real measurements of the Argentine population according to INTI’s Argentine Anthropometric Study: 13,276 people aged 12 and over, 3D-scanned in 20 cities across the country’s six regions (8,427 women and 4,849 men, by self-identified gender). It is the database the official SUNITI chart will be built on.
Women: body measurements in cm
| Measurement | Mean | 5th | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust | 100.4 | 84.1 | 91.4 | 98.3 | 107.8 | 122.9 |
| Waist | 87.4 | 69.2 | 77.1 | 85.2 | 95.8 | 112.5 |
| Hip | 99.8 | 82.7 | 90.0 | 97.2 | 107.2 | 126.0 |
| Height | 160.4 | 150.0 | 156.0 | 160.3 | 164.6 | 171.3 |
| Leg (waist to floor) | 98.8 | 89.8 | 95.1 | 98.8 | 102.4 | 107.7 |
| Arm length | 50.9 | 46.1 | 48.9 | 50.8 | 52.8 | 56.0 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
Men: body measurements in cm
| Measurement | Mean | 5th | 25th | Median | 75th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 105.7 | 87.8 | 97.5 | 104.8 | 112.9 | 126.3 |
| Waist | 93.0 | 74.0 | 83.7 | 91.8 | 100.4 | 117.5 |
| Hip | 97.5 | 82.6 | 89.7 | 95.7 | 102.9 | 118.9 |
| Height | 173.0 | 161.4 | 168.4 | 173.0 | 177.8 | 184.8 |
| Leg (waist to floor) | 101.0 | 91.1 | 96.8 | 100.9 | 105.2 | 111.5 |
| Arm length | 55.9 | 50.4 | 53.7 | 55.8 | 58.2 | 61.7 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
How the body changes with age (means in cm) · Women
| Age | Bust or chest | Waist | Hip | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 to 19 | 94.2 | 79.6 | 92.3 | 160.1 |
| 20 to 49 | 99.8 | 86.1 | 99.1 | 161.1 |
| 50 and over | 105.8 | 96.1 | 106.5 | 158.1 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
How the body changes with age (means in cm) · Men
| Age | Bust or chest | Waist | Hip | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 to 19 | 94.5 | 81.6 | 88.9 | 170.2 |
| 20 to 49 | 106.4 | 93.4 | 97.6 | 173.8 |
| 50 and over | 113.5 | 102.6 | 105.3 | 172.0 |
* All measurements are in centimetres (1 in = 2.54 cm).
* How to read it: the 25th percentile is the measurement one in four people fall below; the median splits the population in half; the 95th leaves out only one in twenty. Source: INTI, Argentine Anthropometric Study, technical report, June 2022, tables 11 to 15.
What these numbers say
- Half of Argentine women have a bust over 98 cm
- The median bust is 98.3 cm, waist 85.2 cm and hip 97.2 cm. Between 20 and 49, the average is 99.8 bust, 86.1 waist and 99.1 hip, at 1.61 m tall.
- 12 cm between waist and hip, not 25
- The median waist and hip are about 12 cm apart. Many commercial charts, our own skirt and trouser chart included, are built on a difference of about 26 cm. That is why so many people find trousers that fit at the hip and are tight at the waist: choose by the tighter measurement and check the other one.
- Bodies change with age; clothes rarely do
- Women’s average waist goes from 79.6 cm at 12 to 19 to 96.1 cm after 50; men’s from 81.6 to 102.6 cm. A chart designed for one age range leaves the rest out.
- There is no single Argentine body
- INTI compared the six regions (Pampeana, Centro, Cuyo, NOA, NEA and Patagonia) and found statistically significant differences in bust, waist, hip and height (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001).
- Men: 106 cm chest and 1.74 m
- Between 20 and 49, the male average is 106.4 cm chest, 93.4 waist, 97.6 hip and 173.8 cm tall. 90% are between 1.61 and 1.85 m.
The Sizing Law (Law 27,521)
Passed on 20 November 2019 and published in the Official Gazette on 20 December 2019, it creates the Single Standardised Clothing Size Identification System (SUNITI). It was regulated by Decree 375/2021 of 8 June 2021.
- What SUNITI is
- A single, mandatory nationwide sizing system based on standardised body measurements of the Argentine population, so that one size means the same measurements at every brand and every shop.
- Who it applies to
- Anyone who manufactures, makes, imports or sells clothing for people aged 12 and over, in shops, by phone or online. Footwear and work uniforms are included.
- What is excluded
- Couture and author design; made-to-measure or made-to-order garments; accessories (ties, scarves, handkerchiefs, socks, gloves, hats) and protective workwear (Decree 375/2021, annex, article 1).
- What it requires
- Each garment must carry its SUNITI size on a clear pictogram label attached to it. Shops must display the measurement chart on a sign of at least 15 x 21 cm, white background, black letters of at least 1.8 mm. Online shops must show the chart somewhere easy to find. And dignified treatment: any abusive, humiliating or stigmatising practice based on appearance, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity is a discriminatory act.
- What it does not require
- The national law does not force brands to make or stock every size. It requires them to state sizes truthfully, with the same measurements for everyone. Some jurisdictions, such as the City of Buenos Aires, do require a minimum number of sizes.
- The body study
- The decree tasked INTI with the Argentine Anthropometric Study, repeated every ten years to update the system. The technical reference standard is UNE-EN ISO 15535:2012.
- Enforcement and penalties
- The enforcement authority is the Domestic Trade Secretariat, through the National Consumer Protection Directorate. Penalties are those of Consumer Protection Law 24,240 (warning, fine, closure) and, for discrimination, Law 23,592. The nation, the City and the provinces each enforce it in their own territory.
- What applies today
- The law is in force, but the SUNITI label and the standard chart sign depend on the authority publishing the chart and setting deadlines, which has not happened yet. Dignified treatment does not depend on any chart, and complaints can already be filed through the federal consumer protection channel.
The technical standards
- IRAM 75300-1
- How to measure the body: bust, waist, hip, chest, hand girth and the other reference measurements.
- IRAM 75300-2
- Which primary and secondary measurements lead for each type of garment: bust or chest for tops, waist and hip for bottoms.
- IRAM 75300-3
- Measurement ranges of 4 to 8 cm depending on the garment, and a body pictogram to show them on the label.
- UNE-EN ISO 15535:2012
- The international standard for building anthropometric databases that INTI used for the study.
Timeline
2001
Buenos Aires Province
Law 12,665 (Official Gazette, 9 April 2001) requires womenswear shops to stock every size that respects teenage girls’ proportions.
2009
City of Buenos Aires
The City legislature passes Law 3,330 on 3 December 2009: a minimum of eight sizes according to the IRAM 75300 standards. Regulated by Decree 172/2012.
2019
National law
Congress passes Law 27,521 on 20 November; it is published on 20 December. SUNITI is born.
2020
IRAM 75300 standards
IRAM publishes the 75300 series: how to measure the body, which measurements lead for each garment and how to show them with a pictogram.
2021
Regulation
Decree 375/2021 (8 June) regulates the law, creates the Technical Advisory Council and tasks INTI with the study of the Argentine body.
2021-2022
INTI measures the country
A 16-sensor 3D scanner, about 400 measurements per person in 10 to 15 seconds, 13,276 people in 20 cities. The technical report is dated June 2022.
2023
First drafts
The Technical Advisory Council is formed early in the year, receives the study in April and works on the first chart drafts by year end.
2024
Results made public
In November the study results are released. On 14 November, the Chamber of Deputies’ Consumer Protection Committee approves a request for information on SUNITI (file 4196-D-2024).
2025
New request for information
Deputies file the request again (file 0425-D-2025): "to date we still do not have SUNITI".
2026
Today
As of 15 October 2026 we could not find the official SUNITI chart or its implementation deadlines published.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official size chart in Argentina?
Not yet. Law 27,521 created SUNITI in 2019, one sizing system for every brand, and INTI has already measured 13,276 people to build it, but as of 15 October 2026 we could not find the official chart published. Until then every brand uses its own chart, so the reliable way is to compare your measurements in centimetres with each garment’s.
What is SUNITI?
It is the Single Standardised Clothing Size Identification System created by Argentina’s Sizing Law. It will set one size, with the same body measurements, for all clothing sold in the country to people aged 12 and over, based on a study of the population’s real bodies updated every ten years.
What does the Sizing Law require from shops?
Three things: a size label with a pictogram on every garment; the measurement chart on a sign of at least 15 x 21 cm in store and somewhere easy to find online; and dignified treatment, with no humiliating or stigmatising practices based on body, gender or identity. It does not require stocking every size.
Which garments are excluded from the Sizing Law?
Couture and author design, made-to-measure and made-to-order garments, accessories such as ties, scarves, handkerchiefs, socks, gloves and hats, and protective workwear. Footwear and work uniforms are included.
Where can I complain if I cannot find my size or face discrimination in a shop?
Through the federal consumer protection complaints channel on argentina.gob.ar. If the shop is in the City of Buenos Aires you can also complain to the City’s consumer protection office, since Law 3,330 requires a minimum of eight sizes. Discriminatory acts are also punishable under Law 23,592.
What is the average size of an Argentine woman?
According to INTI, between 20 and 49 the average Argentine woman measures 99.8 cm bust, 86.1 cm waist and 99.1 cm hip, and is 1.61 m tall. On our dress chart that is an L bust, XL waist and M to L hip: real bodies rarely fall into one size.
What is the average size of an Argentine man?
According to INTI, between 20 and 49 the average Argentine man measures 106.4 cm chest, 93.4 cm waist and 97.6 cm hip, and is 1.74 m tall. On our men’s trouser chart that is a size 46 to 48, and an L in jackets.
How do I convert Argentine sizes to US, UK or EU sizes?
Use the conversion chart on this page as a general reference, but do not rely on the number alone: every country and every brand measures differently. The safe way is to compare your measurements in centimetres.
How do I take my measurements to find my size?
With a tape measure resting on the body, not pulled, and parallel to the floor: bust or chest at the fullest part, waist at the narrowest part of the torso and hip at the fullest part of the seat. For tops, bust or chest leads; for trousers and skirts, waist and hip.
Sources
- Law 27,521, official text (InfoLEG, Spanish)
- Decree 375/2021, regulation (InfoLEG, Spanish)
- INTI, Argentine Anthropometric Study, technical report (June 2022, Spanish)
- Plain-language summary of the Sizing Law, Ministry of Justice (Spanish)
- City of Buenos Aires Law 3,330 (City Official Gazette, Spanish)
- Chamber of Deputies, bill 0425-D-2025 (Spanish)
- IRAM, 75300 standards (Spanish)
- Federal consumer protection complaints channel (Spanish)
This page is for information only and is not legal advice.
