US standard clothing size

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US standard clothing sizes were developed from statistical data in the 1940s-1950s. They are similar in concept to the EN 13402 European clothing size standard.

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. These are on average 6 sizes larger than the original standard. So, for example, a size 12 on the old standard would today be described as a size 6, while a size 6 on the old scale would be what is today known as size zero.

In the UK, a derivative of the US standard clothing sizes was developed and applied during the 1980s. These sizes are still in use today, although they too have drifted away from the original. UK sizes are roughly 4 sizes out from the original standard. Thus, a UK size 4 is equivalent to a US size zero, or an old size 6.

Contents

[edit] Women's sizes

Women’s sizes are divided into various types, depending on the overall height and the relative heights of the bust and waistlines.

Misses’ sizes
5'5"–5'6" tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/Size 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bust 30½ 31½ 32½ 34 36 38 40 42
Waist 23 24 25 26½ 28 30 32 34
Hip 32½ 33½ 34½ 36 38 40 42 44
Back-waist length 15½ 15¾ 16 16¼ 16½ 16¾ 17 17¼
Miss Petite
5'2"–5'3" tall, average bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 6mp 8mp 10mp 12mp 14mp 16mp
Bust 30½ 31½ 32½ 34 36 38
Waist 23½ 24½ 25½ 27 28½ 30½
Hip 32½ 33½ 34½ 36 38 40
Back-waist length 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾
Junior sizes
5'4"–5'5" tall, higher bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 5 7 9 11 13 15
Bust 30 31 32 33½ 35 37
Waist 22½ 23½ 24½ 25½ 27 29
Hip 32 33 34 35½ 37 39
Back-waist length 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾ 16 16¼
Junior Petite
5'1" tall, average bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 3jp 5jp 7jp 9jp 11jp 13jp
Bust 30½ 31 32 33 34 35
Waist 22½ 23 24 25 26 27
Hip 31½ 32 33 34 35 36
Back-waist length 14 14¼ 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼
Young Junior sizes
5'1"–5'3" tall, higher bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16
Bust 28 29 30½ 32 33½ 35
Waist 22 23 24 25 26 27
Hip 31 32 33½ 35 36½ 38
Back-waist length 13½ 14 14½ 15 15⅜ 15¾
Women’s sizes
5'5"–5'6" tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/Size 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Bust 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Waist 35 37 39 41½ 44 46½ 49
Hip 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
Back-waist length 17¼ 17⅜ 17½ 17⅝ 17¾ 17⅞ 18
Half sizes
5'2"–5'3" tall, lower bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 10½ 12½ 14½ 16½ 18½ 20½ 22½ 24½
Bust 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
Waist 27 29 31 33 35 37½ 40 42½
Hip 35 37 39 41 43 45½ 48 50½
Back-waist length 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾ 15⅞ 16 16⅛ 16¼

[edit] Men

Men’s sizes
Dimension/Size 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
S M L XL
Chest 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Waist 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
Neckband 14 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½
Shirt sleeve 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35

[edit] Girls' sizes

Girls' Sizes
Dimension/Size 7 8 10 12 14
Chest 29 29 29.5 30 32
Waist 23 23.5 24.5 25.5 26.5
Hip 27 28 30 32 34
Height 50 52 56 58.5 61
Back-waist length 11.5 12 12.75 13.5 14.25
Girls' Plus
Dimension/Size 8 1/2c 10 1/2c 12 1/2c 14 1/2c
Chest 30 31.5 33 34.5
Waist 28 29 30 31
Hip 33 34.5 36 37.5
Height 52 56 58.5 61
Back-waist length 12.5 13.25 14 14.75

[edit] Boys' sizes

Boys' Sizes
Dimension/Size 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Chest 26 27 28 30 32 33.5 35 36.5
Waist 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Hip 27 28 29.5 31 32.5 34 35.5 37
Neckband 11.75 12 12.5 13 13.5 14 14.5 15
Height 48 50 54 58 61 64 66 68

[edit] Children's sizes

Children's Sizes
Dimension/Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 6X
Chest 19 21 22 23 24 25 25.5
Waist 19.5 20 20.5 21 21.5 22 22.5
Hip 24 25 26 26.5
Height 31 34 37 40 43 46 48
Back-waist length 8.25 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 10.75
Finished dress length 17 18 19 20 22 24 25

[edit] Baby sizes

Toddlers' Sizes
Dimension/Size 1/2 1 2 3 4
Chest 19 20 21 22 23
Waist 19 19.5 20 20.5 21
Height 28 31 34 37 40
Finished dress length 14 15 16 17 18

[edit] Conversion from catalog sizes

Catalogs have departed from the US standard sizes since approximately the 1980s. Companies now 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:

Catalog Misses' Sizes: 5 ft 5 in-5'6" tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/Size 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Closest standard size 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Est. height 5 ft 4 in 5 ft 4 in 5'4.5" 5 ft 5 in 5 ft 4 in 5'6.5" 5 ft 6 in 5 ft 6 in 5'6.5"
Est. weight (lb) 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 180 195
Bust 34 35 36 37 38.5 40 41.5 43 44.5
Waist 25 26 27 28 29.5 31 32.5 34 35.5
Hip 35.5 36.5 37.5 38.5 40 41.5 43 44.5 46
Catalog Women's Petite (Half Sizes): 5'1/2"-5'4" tall, lower bust, shorter back
Dimension/Size 18W 20W 22W 24W 26W
Closest standard size 12 1/2 14 1/2 16 1/2 18 1/2 20 1/2 22 1/2 24 1/2 26 1/2 28 1/2
Est. height 5' 1/2" 5 ft 1 in 5'1.5" 5 ft 2 in 5'2.5" 5 ft 3 in 5 ft 3 in 5'3.5" 5 ft 4 in
Est. weight (lb) 125 140 155 170 180 190 215 225 235
Bust 36 38 40 42 43.5 45.5 47.5 49.5 51.5
Waist 28 30 32 34 35 37 39 41 43
Hip 38 40 42 44 45.5 47.5 49.5 52 53.5
Catalog Women's Sizes: 5 ft 5 in-5'6.5" tall, average bust, average back
Dimension/Size
Closest standard size 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Est. height 5 ft 5 in 5'5.5" 5 ft 6 in 5 ft 6 in 5'6.5" 5'6.5" 5'6.5" 5'6.5" 5'6.5"
Est. weight (lb) 145 160 175 190 205 220 235 250 265
Bust 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Waist 30 32 34 35.5 37.5 39.5 41.5 43.5 45.5
Hip 39 41 43 46 48 50 52 54 56

With the average American woman's height at about 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 (who should be as numerous as "shorter-than-average", since the distribution of heights follows a bell curve) 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] Bibliography

  • Reader's Digest Editors (2002). New Complete Guide to Sewing. Reader's Digest. ISBN 978-0762104208.  Provides a complete listing of the standard sizes.