US standard clothing sizes for women were originally developed from statistical data
in the 1940s–1950s. At that time, they were similar in concept to the EN 13402 European
clothing size standard, although individual manufacturers have always deviated from them,
sometimes significantly. However, as a result of various cultural pressures,
most notably vanity sizing, North American clothing sizes have drifted substantially
away from this standard over time, and now have very little connection to it. Instead,
they now follow the more loosely defined standards known as US catalog sizes.
Body measurements below are given in inches.
History Men's standard sizes were probably developed
first during the American Revolutionary War, and they were in regular use by the American
army during the War of 1812 for ready-made uniforms. These were based on the chest measurement,
with other measurements being assumed to be either proportional or easily altered.
As this was largely successful in men, the same approach was attempted in the early 20th
century for women using the bust as the sole measurement. However, this proved unsuccessful
because women's bodies have far more variety in shape. The hourglass figure is frequently
used as an industry standard, but only 8% of women have this body shape. A woman with
an hourglass figure and a woman with an apple-shaped figure who have the same bust size will not
have the same waist or hip sizes. This was a significant problem for mail-order
companies, and several attempts at predictable, standard sizing were made. In the 1940s, the
statisticians Ruth O'Brien and William Shelton received a Works Progress Administration grant
to conduct the most ambitious effort to solve this problem. Their team measured almost 15,000
women across the US. After discovering the complex diversity of women's actual sizes,
which produced five to seven different body shapes, they proposed a three-part sizing
system. Each size would be the combination of a single number, representing an upper
body measurement, plus an indicator for height and an indication for girth. The various combinations
of height and girth resulted in nine different sizes for each numerical upper-body measurement,
which was highly impractical for manufacturing. As a result, O'Brien and Shelton's work was
rejected. In 1958, the National Bureau of Standards invented a new sizing system, based
on the hourglass figure and using only the bust size to create an arbitrary standard
of sizes ranging from 8 to 38, with an indication for height and lower-body girth. The resulting
commercial standard was not widely popular, and was declared voluntary in 1970 and withdrawn
entirely in 1983. In 1995, ASTM International published its own voluntary standard, which
has been revised since then. It has not been widely adopted.
Women's sizes Women’s sizes are divided into various types,
depending on height. These charts give an indication of size only and are by no means
exact as they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, sometimes by a full inch up and down.
Overview There are multiple size types, designed to
fit somewhat different body shapes. Variations include the height of the person's torso,
whether the bust, waist, and hips are straighter or curvier, and whether the bust is higher
or lower. These categories include: Misses sizes
The most common size category. For women of about average height with an average bust
height and an hourglass figure. Dress sizes may be given as girth at the bust in inches,
but even-numbered sizes from 2 to 16 are more common. Categorical sizes range from XS to
XL. Junior sizes
For short women with higher busts and fairly straight bodies. Junior sizes are commonly
given as odd-numbered sizes from 1 to 15, which correspond to the next number up in
misses' sizes. Women's sizes or plus sizes
For larger, curvier women of average height, sometimes with lower bust lines. Like misses'
sizes, the sizes may be given as a dress size based on the bust measurement, but they are
usually given as even-numbered sizes from 18 up. Categorical sizes usually range from
1X up. Misses petite
For short women with average busts and more hourglass body shapes. Sizes follow the misses'
standard and are marked with a P, as in 10P. Junior petite
For very short women with average busts and fairly straight bodies. Size may be denoted
as "5JP" or as "5P". Women's petite
For larger, curvier, shorter women, sometimes with lower bust lines. Sizes are marked the
same as women's with a P, as in 20P. Young junior
For short women with high busts and fairly straight bodies.
Tall sizes For taller women, usually with a proportionately
average bust height and an hourglass figure. Sizes are usually written with the corresponding
misses' size and a T to indicate tall, as in "10T".
Half sizes For short women with lower busts and more
hourglass body shapes. Sizes are written with a ½, as in "10½".
Details Please compare to your favorite fit charts.
These measurements conflict with many other size charts. These charts are significantly
smaller than many current US clothing companies.http:www.landsend.comsize_charts/?rd=true, http:www.gap.comsizeChart.do?cid=2082, http:www.bebe.comcustserv.jsp?pageName=SizeChart
Men's sizes
Girls' sizes
Boys' sizes
Children's sizes
Baby sizes
Conversion from catalog sizes Companies who publish catalogs may provide
the measurements for their sizes, which may vary even among different styles of the same
type of garment. The sizes seen in catalogs generally have roughly the following measurements:
With the average American woman's height at about 63.8" or approximately 5'4", both standard
and catalog size ranges attempt to address a variety of weights / builds as well as providing
for the "shorter-than-average" height woman with "petite" and "half-sizes". However "taller-than-average"
women may find their size-height addressed by manufacturers less frequently, and may
often find themselves facing issues of slightly too short pant legs and sleeve cuffs, as well
as waist lengths. See also
Clothing sizes EN 13402
Vanity sizing Petite size
References Felsenthal, Julia. "A Size 2 Is a Size 2 Is
a Size 8: Why clothing sizes make no sense.". Slate.com.
Reader's Digest Editors. New Complete Guide to Sewing. Reader's Digest. ISBN 978-0-7621-0420-8.
Provides a complete listing of the standard sizes.
Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2007–2010, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, October 2012