The Commonry Fit Check - your questions answered
What makes a great fit? It’s different for every woman. The same style can fit, feel and look completely different from one person to the next. That’s why we’re putting real women at the heart of the conversation.
A great fit isn't just about measurements. It's about how a piece makes you feel, how it moves with you and whether it feels right for your life.
The Commonry Fit Check is a community of women who come together to try our clothes, share honest feedback and help shape what we create.
Our first gathering brings together our Casting Call finalists to put new styles to the test. It's an opportunity to hear directly from real women about how a garment fits, feels and finds a place in their wardrobes – from the first try-on to how they'd actually wear it.
Clothing can feel completely different depending on your proportions, height, shape and personal preferences. By bringing together women with different bodies and perspectives, we can understand those differences in a much more meaningful way.
The Fit Check gives us honest, real-world feedback on everything from silhouette and sizing to fabric, comfort and styling. Those conversations help us create clothes that work for more women.
Every Fit Check considers fit, fabric, feel and fashion.
FIT — Does it move with you?
How did it feel on your body as you moved through your day - from sitting and standing to walking and reaching?
FABRIC — How did the fabric hold up?
What did you think of the fabric? How did it feel after wearing and washing it? What did you notice over time?
FEEL — What’s the confidence factor?
How did you feel when you put it on - comfortable, confident, something else? Was it easy to wear and why?
FASHION — Is it a keeper?
How did it fit into your wardrobe? How did you style it and make it your own? What new outfits did it inspire?
Your body shape is simply a way of looking at your natural proportions. It can be a helpful starting point when thinking about fit and styling, especially if you find some clothes fit differently across your bust, waist, hips or shoulders.
The five body shapes most commonly used in fashion are hourglass, pear, apple, rectangle and inverted triangle.
But body shape isn't a set of rules. You don't have to dress a certain way because you have a particular shape, and you may not fit neatly into one category. Think of it as a guide to understanding your proportions and discovering the silhouettes you enjoy wearing.
The Fit Check takes that idea into the real world, showing how different shapes and proportions experience the same pieces.
As a general guide:
Hourglass: Your bust and hips are relatively similar in measurement, with a more defined waist.
Pear: Your hips are proportionally wider than your bust and shoulders.
Apple: Your waist and midsection tend to be proportionally fuller, with narrower hips.
Rectangle: Your shoulders, waist and hips have relatively similar proportions, with less definition at the waist.
Inverted triangle: Your shoulders or bust are proportionally wider than your hips.
Remember, these are broad descriptions rather than strict categories. Bodies come in all kinds of proportions, and your shape can sit somewhere between two descriptions.
The best place to start is with what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Understanding your proportions can simply give you another way to explore different styles.
Hourglass: Styles that define your natural waist can create a beautifully balanced silhouette. Think softly shaped shirts, wrap silhouettes and tailored pieces.
Pear: Balancing proportions through colour, texture or detail can help create the look you want. Structured shirts, interesting necklines and relaxed or straight-leg pants are all worth exploring.
Apple: Look for silhouettes that skim rather than cling through the waist. Fluid fabrics, open necklines and relaxed tailoring can create an easy, comfortable line.
Rectangle: Create definition through shape and layering. Tailored pieces, belted styles, curved hems and contrasting proportions can all add visual interest.
Inverted Triangle: Draw the eye towards the lower half of your outfit with relaxed trousers, fuller skirts or interesting details.
But there are no rules. The right style is ultimately the one that feels right to you.
This is what makes the Fit Check so valuable. We’ll share reviews of individual Commonry pieces at different sizes across different body shapes. Look out for honest feedback including what size members chose and how they found the fit.
These real experiences are designed to give you another reference point when you're deciding what might work for you.
Start with your measurements and compare them with the Commonry size guide. If you're between sizes, consider how you like your clothes to fit and check the individual product details for any specific fit notes.
The Fit Check will add another layer of information, giving you real experiences from women wearing the same pieces across different body shapes and proportions.
And remember, two women with the same body shape can wear different sizes, just as two women wearing the same size can have completely different proportions.
The goal isn't to find a set of rules for your body. It's to find clothes that fit, feel and work for you.