Huh, I am size 18 for blouses, because of my shoulders, size 16 is fine for slips and camisoles, (I have a nice pair of 38Bs) and I can find skirts that are fine at size 14, so long as they have 35" waist. That means I have to buy size 18 dresses, but they hang badly because of my lack of "hip". Do others find this difference between men and women as frustrating as I do?

Yes I do too, normally size 12 for skirts, jeans and jumpers and jumper dresses, but for blouses and other dresses and coats I need to get a size 14, recently I bought a size 12 basque from Ann Summers, had to take it back and get a size 14 which was a 42D bust due to my ribcage and bust, but normally I wear a 38D bra, admittly it fitted lovely in all the right places and thankfully no wrong places, yes it is very frustrating, its the same with shos and boots, normally a size 9 but some I have to get a size 9.5 or 10 if no size 9.5, because of the wide bridge of the foot and because my feet are quite square at the front, if I buy high heeled shoes with a point I might have to go up a bit more or squeeze my toes in