Clothes shopping

There are many ways to shop for clothes in Seoul. You can wander your local streets and browse the outdoor street sellers selling their often sub-standard off-the-back-of-a-lorry (or your grandma) floral garb. You can hit the big market in Dongdaemun and battle the crowds and pushy sellers until way into the night, selling all the latest fashions at affordable prices. If you're not looking for the hard sell you might prefer to browse the high street shops of Myeongdong, or if you really have cash to splash you can hit one of the big department stores (Lotte is always a winner) and check out the big brands under sparkly lights.

Whatever way you choose, there is one thing that really leaves my head scratching. What is with the concept of "free size"?? One size fits all? Doubtful.

Admittedly the average Korean has a smaller frame than what we're used to at home. However, you only need to step on the subway to observe that this is not a nation-wide genetic inheritance. There are many people way above this so-called average size, and just as many scarily below it. I guess I'm lucky that I pretty much take this average size, however having proportionally longer limbs than the average Korean I can't guarantee that what I'm buying is actually going to fit. It's frustrating.

Since so much clothes shopping here is of the market variety, to try-before-you-buy isn't always an option. So how are you supposed to know if this "free size" is going to fit or not? Even in actual shops if there are designated changing rooms, what are you supposed to do when the entire shop only sells one size and it's just a smidge wrong for you? Where do all the non free-sizers shop?

In an environment where it seems everyone loves to clothes shop, I just can't seem to fathom this one out.