Job Discussion Forums

[gwynnie86]

Ok, I'm working with UK sizes here... what are the largest sizes of
a) clothes
b) bras
c) shoes
that I'm likely to find (easily) in Japan? I'm wondering how many of the aforementioned items I'm going to need to take over with me, and how many I'll be able to buy over there. I'm probably quite big by Japanese standards (definitely in the (b) section!) so I worry that all the clothes I wear for the entire year are going to have to come over with me.

[LadyK]

From the information that my company sent me (I'm heading over in May) you will have problems with shoes, bras, and pants if you are over 5'5". I don't know about sizes in the UK, but as an American I will have to buy ALL my shoes before going over, and if you're over a size 7 in the U.S. (4.5 in U.K according to http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/shoes.html) you will too.
As for clothes in general, shirts are a problem as well if you're big in the (b) area, and as I said, pants are a problem if you're tall (or even average). From what I've read, internet shopping is your friend, and you can just bring over two seasons worth of clothes at first, and have someone ship the rest to you as you need them. Just box them up ahead of time to save them the trouble.
I'm just relaying info I've read from my research, but I haven't been over there yet, so others might have different opinions. Good luck! Where are you headed?

[seklarwia]

I'm a UK shoe size 5.5 and I can just about buy shoes here. If you are much bigger, you'll likely have problems.

I'm about 5'6", size 10/12 and 34DD/E. Where I live, I can't normally buy women's clothing: The trousers are often too short, the shirts only close half way and I stopped looking at bras long ago.

I have a large Uniqlo near my school, which is pretty much the only place that allows me to buy anything. I was told to try GAP which I did when I was in Tokyo, but their sizes didn't seem to go passed size 6/8.

At least I can buy tights here since I fit in L-LL which is the largest regular size that shops here stock.

Luckily, you'll be arriving the beginning of spring, so you won't need to bring a lot in the way of heavy winter clothes. Posting stuff from the UK is crazy expensive, but it's always an option if you really need it. I went home in the summer holidays anyway, so I could bring a second case of stuff when I returned.

[ShioriEigoKyoushi]

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[Apsara]

I second Zara- for years I would have had virtually nothing to wear if I hadn't had access to Zara!

I recently made it to H&M in Ginza and was overjoyed to find that their trousers and jacket sleeves are long enough for me (175cm/5'9" tall)- finally another choice! Gap, Benetton, Next and Topshop are all too short. H&M's sizes go up to a European 42, but seem to run a bit smaller than Zara's- I'm a 38 in trousers at Zara, but a 40 at H&M.

I take 25.5-26 in shoes and buy most of mine when I'm visiting NZ or Australia. There are specialist shops in Tokyo but they tend to be really expensive and not have a lot of choice anyway.

[norwalkesl]

China you will have the same problem. All the women here are a US size 0 or 2, and I swear some of them are smaller than a 0! Shoes will be very hard to find in anything larger than a womens USA 6, and a men's 10.

[seklarwia]

Actually, I had less problems buying clothing and footwear in China. I could buy most everything apart from bras. And I lived in Shaoxing which isn't even a major city and had about 40 foreign residents at the time.

I was famous for seemingly having a new set of almost thigh high boots every other week. They actually had boots that were narrow enough for my calves, which is a huge problem I had with boots in the UK.

And because my city was in the silk and textile province, I had a field day buying lots of pretty new style and imperial collared dresses.

Since the dress code isn't often as strict there, shopping was a whole lot easier. And I don't think I saw even one suit in any of the conversation schools I substituted at.

[lisa111082]

For larger sized clothing, http://www.nissen.co.jp is a good place. Their shoe sizes are a bit strange sometimes, though. I usually take a 27 but their 27s are too big for me.

As for bras... you can buy from there once you're confident in your size, but if you're in a bigger city you can go to Amo's Style and they have larger cup sizes. I'm a 38D and can find bras easily in Osaka. Beware, a lot of larger sizes are ugly and padded like crazy, so you may find yourself walking out with a G or H cup :/

Izumiya and Life also have bigger sizing. I haven't had problems finding clothes that fit here... just shoes!!

[Apsara]

My problem is that the big sizes at specialist shops tend to be too big overall- I'm tall, but a fairly light build, so all I really need is more length, which is hard to find in Japan.

Luckily choices seem to be increasing- I have high hopes of Forever 21 in Harajuku, but they are always just so crowded that I can't be bothered waiting to try anything on.

[gwynnie86]

Yeah, I think internet shopping shall be my friend. I'm a 7(UK) in shoes, anything from 12-16 in clothes and my bra size is 34GG (that's right, gentlemen) so there's no way I'll get hold of them! My suitcase is going to be HEAVY! I'm not a big clothes shopper, but for work clothes I'm going to need to do some shopping before I go over. Is it true that the style in Japan (at the workplace) is to wear formal wear but casual shoes? I will be so happy if I can do that... wearing anything other than my Skechers makes my feet sad!!!

[Glenski]

Not knowing a thing about women's clothing, I usually suggest this web site:
http://www.being-a-broad.com/
and the related book that started it all.

[seklarwia]

[Apsara]

[papergirl]

I don't think UNIQLO has been mentioned yet, but they were all over the Kansai area (not sure about Tokyo). The clothes are cheap, solid prints, bright assortment of colors, and Western sizes. Good for work.

As far as shoes go, it depends on your school, but at my eikawa we were not allowed to wear open-toed or open-heeled shoes, no boots, and no casual shoes. What I did was wear my comfy shoes for the commute, while carrying my work shoes in a plastic shopping bag. You do so much walking in Japan, that wearing heels will destroy your feet--I know from experience!

[Glenski]