Should you size down for a Disney Spirit Jersey?

are one of the most popular items at Disney parks these days. And now that the weather has turned cooler, it seems like they’re rolling out new styles every day — , , or a fleece Spirit Jersey that will make you look like your own winter wonderland.

Fortunately, you don’t need to actually visit a Disney Park to get your hands on a Spirit Jersey. Unfortunately, you don’t get to try them on before you buy online.

Lots of people wonder what size to order, since the jerseys are designed to be loose and long. Before you hit “add to cart,” we have some advice.

First, sizing for Spirit Jerseys can be tricky. The size charts on ShopDisney and the Spirit Jersey website are slightly different. Complicating matters: The size link on each style goes to the women’s size chart. As far as we can tell, though, there is no difference in measurements between “adult” and “women.” If you’re going by the size chart, I recommend basing your choice on the hip measurement.

The makers of Spirit Jerseys have the following suggestions:

• Men and people with larger builds should order their normal unisex t-shirt size or size up for an oversized fit.
• Women and people with smaller builds should size down for a classic fit or order their normal size for an oversized fit.

I’ve found that their advice for men is spot-on. The jersey will be a tad loose, but it’s designed that way. For women, though, I don’t think it goes quite far enough. I would suggest going one size down if you want a loose fit, and two sizes down if you want a slimmer fit. I find ordering my normal size is much too large. I normally wear an XL t-shirt, but an XL Spirit Jersey looks more like a dress on me.

The shirts don’t shrink much if you wash them in cool water, so you’re pretty safe ordering a slimmer fit if that’s what you like.

If you still can’t decide, there’s another option: You can order both from ShopDisney.com and return the one that doesn’t fit within 30 days, at no cost to you. (They won’t take returns for items bought at Disney Parks, though.)

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