Originally I ordered the same size that my old Casad Neo Vest was purchased nearly 20 years ago. I am 5' 3", short waisted, have broad shoulders for my size/figure which is 39/25/35, bra size 32 DD. Becasuse my old vest still fits I figured a small or extra small (same size as old vest) surely would fit in a new more modern vest. So I ordered a small and extra small. When it came I was simply agast at how tiny they were. Frustrated I started to read comments on almost all the brands of vests. After MUCH research all I read was more confusion on the fitting process than I. ..."size up", "size down", too small, to large, rides up, my 8 year old cant zip it up.... on an on. Well something obviously has drastically has changed with PFD design and measuring... ..obviously! WOULD I ever find a vest that ACTUALLY fit me? Then something dawned on me. What others said really made no difference! Instructions from the manufacture was the key. When I was a freshman at USC, I was in the purser's office because I was bewildered as to where I was supposed to go. I had what seemed to be a complicated schedule I couldnt understand even though the instructions on how to read the schedule was right there on the schedule! Almost in tears over my days frustration I looked up, and on the wall behind the clerk was a big ol' sign that stated... "When in DOUBT, read the instructions". I chuckled to myself, exceted that long line, sat down, read the instructions and off I went. So with this PFD deal.... I re-read the instructions on how to order the correct size vest. I actually got my tape measure out, had a friend help with the measuring. Even though I only weigh 104lbs, my chest size is 39". Looking at the chart I could hardly believe that I needed to order a Medium. After all my chest measurements are the same as 20 years ago when I bought the Casad Neo Vest and it is an extra SMALL still fitting fine, crushed but fine. So I followed the chart, ordered the Medium and it fits like a charm. This vest is attractive and shaped a bit more like the old style vests (anyone who skied 20 years ago before they changed the type of foam, the positioning and blocking of that new puffy foam knows what I mean.) The vests were smooth in front and back. Small was small and extra large was extra large. In those days you did not look like a circus marshmellow as you do now due to the new fluffly foam positioned mostly in the front, barely nothing in the back. This vest fits like a charm and the most rediculous part is that by following the chartsame for all 4 different brands, all but Body Glove (which was defiantly larger than the others I ordered even though it too was a size 38-40. I found 3 out of 4 vests that fit reasonably simular by following THEIR charts regardless of the "size"s-m-l etc... that didn't matter. The size 38-40 was the key. It looks FANTASTIC! DOES NOT RIDE UP, is tight, very tight so it will work as it is suppose to when I am in the water. The point of a vest is not just to keep your nose and mouth above the water line but stay on top of the water, keep your chest well above the waterline. Fit correctly, and that means tight but not to the point of a potentially collapsed lung. I can safely say that if you are realistic and actually follow the chart with your REAL measurements, not what you think are your measurements, you will not need to "size up" or "size down". It will then just become a matter of what you want your vest to look like on you. I wanted, simple, princess lines without all that puff in the front, and that is exactly what this vest looks like. The straps can give even more customization. Follow the instructions on how to measure, measure correctly, match up the chart with what ever "size" that ends up being....and order it. I'M SURE YOU WILL FIND A VEST THAT FIRS ON THE FIRST TRY. This holds true with probably all the vests here on Amazon.
