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 1 Women's sizes 2 Men 3 Girls' sizes 4 Boys' sizes 5 Children's sizes 6 Baby sizes 7 Conversion from catalog sizes 8 See also 9 Bibliography

[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

• International Clothing Sizes
• EN 13402
• Vanity sizing
• Petite sizes

[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.