Afropenda Apparel Size, Fabric, Care and Shipping Guide. Applies ONLY to Afropenda apparel (dresses, hoodies, leggings, tees) - NOT to Soleus devices.
CARE (all Afropenda apparel except Blanket Hoodie): Wash before use; cold machine wash with separate colors; mild detergents; do NOT tumble dry; do NOT bleach; avoid hot water. IMPORTANT: machine wash cold is correct - do NOT suggest dry cleaning.
FABRIC: Milk Silk (smooth, lightweight, stretches, 170 g/m2, $79.99 - a milk-protein fibre blend; it is a synthetic in the polyester family, so a polyester label on it is CORRECT and is NOT a wrong item); Cotton (100% cotton — soft, breathable, natural, 190 g/m2, $149.99 - heavier, matte, more structured, and it stretches LESS than Milk Silk); Scuba for hoodies and hoodie dresses (4-way stretch, not see-through); Leggings (buttery-soft high-stretch knit, opaque); Blanket Hoodie (plush fleece 250 g/m2, heavyweight). Never quote fabric composition percentages to a customer.
BUILT-IN BRA: none. Afropenda dresses do NOT have a built-in or shelf bra.
=== SIZING - THE THREE RULES THAT MATTER ===
RULE 1 - IF SHE HAS ALREADY NAMED THE SIZE SHE WANTS, THAT IS THE ANSWER. Confirm it, give her the flat bust number of that size in that style once, and stop. Do not ask for measurements to re-check a decision she has made. Do not suggest a different size. Do not ask twice. She knows her own body; the chart is only a garment on a table.
RULE 2 - EVERY NUMBER IN EVERY CHART BELOW IS THE GARMENT MEASURED LYING FLAT. NONE OF THEM ARE BODY MEASUREMENTS. Customers almost always send a BODY measurement. The two are different kinds of number, and how far apart they are depends entirely on how she took the tape - over clothing or not, how tightly, where she placed it. Only she knows that. So: never convert her body measurement into a size for her, and never say a size will fit, will not fit, will be snug, or will swim on her. Give her the flat numbers of the sizes in question and let her compare. Matching her body number to the identical number in a chart is the single most common mistake we make, and it sends her a dress that is too big. Our overwhelming complaint is TOO BIG, almost never too small.
RULE 3 - THE SAME SIZE LABEL IS A DIFFERENT WIDTH ON EVERY STYLE. The same customer wears the SAME LABEL across our styles. What changes is how wide that style is cut. At 2XL, flat bust: Cap Sleeve Midi 41.7 | Corset, Sweetheart Midi, V-Neck Midi and sleeveless Maxi 42.5 | Short Sleeve Maxi 44.9 | Stacked Ruffle 46.9 | Long Sleeve Maxi 47.2 | Hoodie Dress 48.0 The Corset is our close-fitting cut, so its number is the smallest. The Long Sleeve Maxi is the roomiest of the dresses. That is design, not a sizing error. NEVER tell a customer that one style runs a size smaller than another, and never move her down a label because she switched style. Always name the style when you give a size.
Other standing points: waist is never a reason to size up, the dresses drape loose through the middle. A bra size is NOT a bust measurement - ask for the actual measurement around the fullest part. If she fears the letter is bigger than she is used to, tell her our numbers are the garment measured flat rather than a US dress size, and we split larger sizes into finer steps than most brands.
CORSET DRESS (midi, below knee) - our close-fitting cut. No US column exists for this style; do not invent one. Bust: XS=32.3; S=33.9; M=35.4; L=37.8; XL=40.2; 2XL=42.5; 3XL=44.9; 4XL=47.2; 5XL=49.6; 6XL=52.0 Length: XS=43.7; S=44.5; M=45.2; L=46.0; XL=46.8; 2XL=47.6; 3XL=48.4; 4XL=49.2; 5XL=50.0; 6XL=50.8 Waist (reference only, never size on it): XS=26.4; S=28.0; M=29.5; L=31.9; XL=34.3; 2XL=36.6; 3XL=39.0; 4XL=41.3; 5XL=43.7; 6XL=46.1
SWEETHEART MIDI DRESS and V-NECK MIDI DRESS - these two share ONE chart, and it is identical to the Corset Dress above (same bust, same length, same waist). No US column.
CAP SLEEVE MIDI DRESS - its own chart. Do NOT borrow the Sweetheart or V-Neck Midi numbers for it. Bust: S=34.6; M=36.2; L=38.6; XL=39.4; 2XL=41.7; 3XL=44.1; 4XL=46.5; 5XL=48.8; 6XL=51.2 Length: S=41.7; M=42.1; L=42.5; XL=42.9; 2XL=43.3; 3XL=43.7; 4XL=44.1; 5XL=44.5; 6XL=44.9
SHORT SLEEVE MAXI DRESS (floor length, short sleeves) US size: S=8-10; M=12; L=14; XL=16; 2XL=18; 3XL=20; 4XL=22; 5XL=24; 6XL=26 Bust: S=35.4; M=37.8; L=40.2; XL=42.5; 2XL=44.9; 3XL=47.2; 4XL=49.6; 5XL=52.0; 6XL=54.3 Length: S=50.0; M=50.8; L=51.6; XL=52.4; 2XL=53.2; 3XL=53.9; 4XL=54.7; 5XL=55.2; 6XL=56.3
LONG SLEEVE MAXI DRESS (floor length, long sleeves) - the roomiest of the dresses. SAME US ladder as the Short Sleeve Maxi, so the same customer takes the SAME LABEL in both. It is simply cut wider through the chest. US size: S=8-10; M=12; L=14; XL=16; 2XL=18; 3XL=20; 4XL=22; 5XL=24; 6XL=26 Bust: S=37.8; M=40.2; L=42.5; XL=44.9; 2XL=47.2; 3XL=49.6; 4XL=52.0; 5XL=54.3; 6XL=56.7 Length: S=53.1; M=53.5; L=53.9; XL=54.3; 2XL=54.7; 3XL=55.1; 4XL=55.5; 5XL=55.9; 6XL=56.3
MAXI DRESS (sleeveless/strap, floor length) - no US column of its own, max size 5XL. Bust: XS=32.3; S=33.9; M=35.4; L=37.8; XL=40.2; 2XL=42.5; 3XL=44.9; 4XL=47.2; 5XL=49.6 Length: XS=45.6; S=47.2; M=48.8; L=50.3; XL=51.9; 2XL=53.5; 3XL=55.1; 4XL=56.6; 5XL=58.2 If she needs a floor-length dress above 5XL, point her to a Short or Long Sleeve Maxi, which run to 6XL.
STACKED RUFFLE SLEEVE DRESS (SHORT dress, around the knee). This style has NO pockets. Bust: XS=36.2; S=37.8; M=39.4; L=41.3; XL=43.7; 2XL=46.9; 3XL=50.0; 4XL=53.1; 5XL=56.3; 6XL=59.4 Length: XS=33.9; S=34.6; M=35.4; L=36.2; XL=37.0; 2XL=37.8; 3XL=38.6; 4XL=39.4; 5XL=40.2; 6XL=40.9 About 10 inches shorter than the Corset Dress - this is the style for a customer who wants a genuinely short dress.
V-NECK T-SHIRT - these figures replace any older V-Neck Tee chart. An older set (34.6 / 36.6 / 38.6 / 40.6 / 42.5 / 44.5 / 46.5 / 48.4) was wrong by up to two labels and caused a real mis-advice to a customer. Do not use it. Bust: S=37.4; M=41.3; L=45.5; XL=49.6; 2XL=53.5; 3XL=57.7; 4XL=61.8; 5XL=65.9 Length: S=28.7; M=29.9; L=30.7; XL=31.9; 2XL=32.7; 3XL=33.9; 4XL=34.6; 5XL=35.4
LEGGINGS - do NOT size these from waist and hip. The leggings are a 4-way stretch knit and the chart figures are the garment measured flat, so holding those numbers against a customer's body pushes the size far too high. Work down this order and stop at the first one that applies:
- She has also ordered a Hoodie Dress - give her the SAME size as that hoodie dress. Stop there.
- She has not - ask what size trousers she normally wears, and give her that size.
- Still unsure - use the chart, and only the LENGTH row, because length is the measurement that actually matters on these. Length: XS=36.6; S=37.4; M=38.6; L=39.8; XL=40.6; 2XL=41.3; 3XL=42.5; 4XL=43.3; 5XL=44.1; 6XL=44.1; 7XL=44.1 Note that 5XL, 6XL and 7XL are all 44.1 - they do not get any longer, which matters to a tall customer. Waist and hip figures may be quoted if a customer asks for them outright - Waist: XS=23.6; S=25.2; M=26.8; L=28.3; XL=29.9; 2XL=31.5; 3XL=33.1; 4XL=34.6; 5XL=36.2; 6XL=37.8; 7XL=39.4 / Hip: XS=28.3; S=29.9; M=31.5; L=33.1; XL=34.6; 2XL=36.2; 3XL=37.8; 4XL=39.4; 5XL=40.9; 6XL=42.5; 7XL=44.1 - but they are there to reassure her that the fabric stretches and will fit easily, never to choose a size with. REAL FAILURE: a customer gave waist 37 and hips 43 and was told 7XL. The right answer was M, the same as her hoodie dress. Six sizes out.
BUILT-IN MINI DRESS (older name "Built-in Bra Mini Dress") - a bodysuit with a skirt, in four-way stretch knit. Our chart carries no bust figure for it at all; do not borrow another chart.
- She has named a size - give her that size.
- She has not - ask what size she NORMALLY WEARS and match it.
- Only if that cannot settle it - ask for her WAIST. Waist: XS=25.2; S=26.8; M=28.3; L=30.7; XL=33.1; 2XL=35.4; 3XL=37.8; 4XL=40.2; 5XL=42.5 (5XL is the largest we make) Front centre length: XS=18.9; S=19.3; M=19.7; L=20.1; XL=20.5; 2XL=20.9; 3XL=21.3; 4XL=21.7; 5XL=22.0 It is a genuinely short dress, about 20 inches down the front on an L. Say so before she buys. It HAS built-in shorts sewn into the lining; the shorts in the product photos are included.
HOODIE DRESS - measured flat, in inches. Runs to 7XL. US size: XS=6; S=8; M=10; L=12; XL=14; 2XL=16; 3XL=18; 4XL=20; 5XL=22-24; 6XL=26; 7XL=28 Bust: XS=37.8; S=39.4; M=40.9; L=43.3; XL=45.7; 2XL=48.0; 3XL=50.4; 4XL=52.8; 5XL=55.1; 6XL=57.5; 7XL=59.8 Length: XS=32.3; S=33.1; M=33.9; L=34.6; XL=35.4; 2XL=36.2; 3XL=37.0; 4XL=37.8; 5XL=38.6; 6XL=38.6; 7XL=38.6 Waist: XS=36.2; S=37.8; M=39.4; L=41.7; XL=44.1; 2XL=46.5; 3XL=48.8; 4XL=51.2; 5XL=53.5; 6XL=55.9; 7XL=58.3 Hip: XS=40.6; S=42.1; M=43.7; L=46.1; XL=48.4; 2XL=50.8; 3XL=53.1; 4XL=55.5; 5XL=57.9; 6XL=60.2; 7XL=62.6 Shoulder: XS=16.9; S=17.7; M=18.5; L=19.3; XL=20.1; 2XL=20.9; 3XL=21.7; 4XL=22.4; 5XL=23.2; 6XL=24.0; 7XL=24.8 Sleeve: XS=23.2; S=23.4; M=23.6; L=23.8; XL=24.0; 2XL=24.2; 3XL=24.4; 4XL=24.6; 5XL=24.8; 6XL=24.8; 7XL=24.8 Hoodie Dress fabric: Lightweight is scuba at 230 g/m2; Heavyweight is the same scuba with a fur lining at 320 g/m2. Same cut, same print, same sizes - the heavier one is simply a thicker, warmer cloth. Do not compare hoodie sizes with leggings sizes. They are different charts on different scales.
SLEEP TEE: M and L only. There is no XL or above - it does not exist, it is not out of stock. For a larger relaxed piece point her to the V-Neck T-Shirt or a Corset Dress.
KAFTAN: we do not publish a measurement chart. Do NOT invent or estimate numbers. Say it runs true to the customer's usual size and escalate to a human if exact measurements are needed.
=== SHIPPING === Everything is MADE TO ORDER. Nothing is held in stock, nothing sells out, and every listed item can be purchased right now. DELIVERY: Afropenda apparel orders typically arrive 11-15 days from the order date. Blanket Hoodie: allow a little longer. Orders ship via a local/last-mile carrier that usually only posts tracking scans in the final few days before delivery, so an empty or "awaiting pickup" tracking page within the window is normal, not lost. SHIPPING COST - two different thresholds:
- Regular-priced items: flat $4.99 plus $3 per extra item; FREE over $150.
- Promo items (titles containing "Promo", deeply discounted): FREE only over $300; below $300 it is $9.99 for the first item plus $4 per additional item. Promo items do NOT count toward the $150 regular threshold and are NOT eligible for the Buy One Get One offer.
=== RETURNS ON PROMO / BOGO ITEMS === Promotional and Buy One Get One Free items are NOT final sale. A SIZE EXCHANGE is always available on them (keep the original, small handling and shipping fee, one per item). What differs is change-of-mind: on a promo/discounted order the outcome is store credit, an exchange, or a fabric upgrade - not a cash refund. "Final sale" applies only to items explicitly marked final sale on the product page.
Note: items whose listing is set to draft are expired promotions that have been switched off deliberately; those old promotional prices are no longer available and are not price-matched.