In pre-industrial America, most clothing was crafted at home or by professional tailors or dressmakers from individual measurements taken of each customer.
In the early Twentieth Century, the growing urban middle class began to purchase the affordable and fashionable ready-to-wear merchandise which new technology and industrialized production methods had created the means to manufacture.
At the request of the Mail Order Association of America (MOAA), between 1949-1952 the National Bureau of Standards (NBS, now NIST) conducted a comprehensive study of women's body measurements to develop a sizing standard for women's ready-to-wear clothing
There are five main types of female body shapes:
Apple shape (or round), Pear shape (or triangle/
bottom heavy), Strawberry shape (or
inverted triangle/ top heavy),
Hourglass shape (or curvy) and
Banana or Rectangle shape (also known as straight, ruler, or boyish) women.
Apple shaped : women will see that their upper body is noticeably larger than their bottom half.
Pear shape : If the chest and arms are noticeably smaller than the lower body, indicates a pear shape form. The hips, buttocks and thighs will be larger than the upper body. A majority of women fall into this body shape.
Hourglass: shaped women are very curvy with a well defined waist. A larger bust and bottom with a clear indentation at the waist, fits this body shape.
Rectangle/banana shape:For bodies that are basically straight up and down figure, with little to no curves or indentations and possibly a small bust, you are a rectangle/banana shape.
ISO 3635:1981 Size designation of clothes -- Definitions and body measurement procedure
ISO 4416:1981 Size designation of clothes -- Women's and girls' underwear, nightwear, foundation garments and shirts
ISO 5971:1981 Size designation of clothes -- Pantyhose ISO 8559:1989 Garment construction and anthropometric surveys -
- Body dimensions ISO/TR 10562:1991 Standard sizing systems for clothes EN 13402: EUROPIAN Union has produced to replace existing
standards BS 3666:1982 :The United Kingdom has an existing standard for
women's clothing US standard clothing size: were developed from statistical data in
the 1940s-1950s. They are similar in concept to the EN 13402 European clothing size standard
Types Description
Misses sizes 5'5"5'6" (165-168 cm) tall, average bust, average back
Miss Petite 5'1"5'3" (157.5-160 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back
Junior sizes 5'4"5'5" (162.5-165 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back
Junior Petite 5'1" (155 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back Young Junior sizes 5'1"5'3" (155-160 cm) tall, higher bust,
shorter back Womens sizes 5'5"5'6" (165-168 cm) tall, fully mature figure Half sizes 5'2"5'3" (157.5-160 cm) tall, lower bust, shorter
back
JUNIOR - customers sizes 1 to 13, have a less developed figure and a shorter back waist length (a higher waistline) than missy figures. This figure is usually equated with a slim, young customer.
MISSY - sizes 6 to 16 (or 4 to 14) are for the mature female figure, usually based on a height of approximately 57. For missy separates, some blouses and sweaters are sized 30 to 36 (8 to 14); others may be sized small, medium or large.
PETITE - sizes are created for the woman who is less than 54 tall. Size ranges from 0 to 16. Most manufacturers limit the size range to 4 to 14.
LARGE OR WOMENs - size ranges from 14 W to 32 W but are usually limited to 16 W to 26 W. Sometimes these sizes are represented as 1X (16 to 18), 2X (20 to 22), and 3X (24 to 26). Large sized petites are marked as WP .
MENS SUITS - range in size from 36 to 44 (with additional large sizes to 50), originally based on chest measurements. Lengths are designated after the size number: R for regular, S for short, and L for long.
European sizes are 46 to 54 (add 10 to each American size). Young mens sizes have a narrower fit in the jacket and hip than regular mens sizes. There has been an attempt to simplify mens sizing because traditional sizing requires a huge inventory of many combinations of chest and length measurements.
DRESS SHIRTS - are sized by all collar measurement (inches in America and centimeters in Europe) and sleeve length. Sport shirts and sweaters are sized in small, medium, large and extra large.
Trousers are sized by waist and inseam measurements. Dress slacks are left un hemmed to be finished by the stores tailor as customer service.
Childrens wear sizing is separated by age groups.
NEW BORN - sizes are layette (0 to 11 pounds), 3, 6, and 9 months.
INFANT sizes are based on age in months, usually 12, 18, and 24 months. In Europe, sizes are based on the length of the baby or the height of the child.
TODDLER apparel for the child who has learned to walk are sized 2T, 3T and 4T. At this point sizes are separate for boys and girls.
GIRLS - apparel is sized 4 to 6X, 7 to 16 (some companies manufacture sizes 2 to 10 or extra-small to extra-large), preteen sizes are 6 to 14; and the young teen wears yougjunior sizes to 3 to 13.
BOYS - sizes are 4 to 7 and 8 to 20.
Junior sizes :Junior fashions are for the "still growing" sizes 0 to 15. The sizes for juniors are usually slimmer in the hips and bust than misses sizes. Dimension/Size 5 7 9 11 13 15
Bust 34 35 36 37 39 40
Waist 26 27 28 29 31 33
Hip 36 37 38 39 41 43
Back-waist length 15 15 15 15 16 16
JUNIOR PETITE Dimension/Size 3jp 5jp 7jp 9jp 11jp 13jp
Bust 33 34 35 36 37 39
Waist 25 26 27 28 29 31
Hip 35 36 37 38 39 41
Back-waist length 14 14 14 14 15 15
Women's Dresses and Suits (Junior Sizes) European 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
UK 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
Japan 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
USA 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
Misses are for women with a more slender frame and waistline. It concentrates on the fashion interests of young women usually between the junior's styles and women's styles
Misses: The Misses range is designated by even sizes, such as 0-20, 4-14, etc
Dimension/Size2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bust 32-34 34 34 35 36 37 39 40 42 44
Waist 22-24 25 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 36
Hip 33-35 36 37 38 39 41 42 44 45 47
Back-waist length
14 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 17
European 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
UK 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
Japan 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
USA 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
Juniors is a section made specifically for teenagers and tend to follow younger people's trends. This is in general a tighter fit for shirts and pants for girls and tend to be looser for boys.
Juniors sizes are smaller in the hips and bust. They also tend to run smaller, so a juniors 0 is smaller than a misses 0.
The biggest difference other than possible style differences between juniors and misses clothing is the way the clothing is cut. Misses clothing is generally cut more generously in the bust and hips, where as juniors clothing is generally cut straighter.
The size numbers are also different: juniors clothing is sized in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, etc.), while misses clothing is sized in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, etc.).
Womens: patterns are designes for larger, more fully mature figure, about 1.65-1.68 m Women: Women's sizes are for the older woman with the shapely figure (not to be confused with overweight) Dimension/Size 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Bust 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Waist 35 37 39 41 44 46 49
Hip 44 46 48 50 52 54 56
Back-waist length 17 17 17 17 17 17 18
Petite : well proportioned, about 1.52 m- 1.55m , petite sizes are standard clothing sizes designed to fit women of shorter height, typically 5'3" or less. Miss Petite: Petites are sizes in the misses range for women under 5' 4". Dimension/ Size
0-2mp 4mp 6mp 8mp 10mp 12mp 14mp 16mp
Bust 32-34 34 34 35 36 37 39 40 Waist 21-23 24 25 26 27 29 30 32
Hip 34-35 36 37 38 39 41 42 44
Back-waist length
14 14 14 14 15 15 15 15
Half size: fully developed figure with short backwaist length. Waist and hips are larger in proportion to bust than other figure type, height is 1.57-1.60m Half sizes :many modern "petite" sizes are actually re-named half sizes intended for mature women Dimension/Size 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Bust 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
Waist 27 29 31 33 35 37 40 42
Hip 35 37 39 41 43 45 48 50
Back-waist length 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 16
Large/Plus:Plus sizes are for larger sized women, often designated by a W after the number
Large/Plus
Height: 66 to 69 inches
Sizes
16W 18W 20W 22W 24W 26W
Bust 42 44 46 48 50 52
Waist 34 36 38 40 42 44
Hip 45 47 49 51 53 55
Young Junior sizes Dimension/Size 5/6 7/8 9/10 11/12 13/14 15/16
Bust 28 29 30 32 33 35
Waist 22 23 24 25 26 27
Hip 31 32 33 35 36 38
Back-waist length 13 14 14 15 15 15
Children's Body Measurements and Garment Sizes
Toddler Height:35 to 38 inches Weight: 29 to 35 lbs 2T 3T 4T
Chest 20 21 22 Waist 20 21 22 Hip 20 21 22
Children Height:42 to 44 inches Weight: 38 to 44 lbs 4 5 6 6X
Chest 22 23 24 25 Waist 21 21 22 22 Hip 23 24 25 26
Girls Height:50 to 55 inches Weight:65 to 70 lbs Sizes 7 8 10 12 14 16
Chest 26 27 28 30 31 33 Waist 23 23 24 25 26 27 Hip 27 28 29 31 33 35
Junior Height: 66 to 69 inches Sizes 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
Bust 32 33 34 35 37 38 40 Waist 24 25 26 27 29 30 32 Hip 35 36 37 38 39 41 42
In general, manufacturers do not make their clothing in every standard size. Instead, clothes are often made only for the sizes most common in the general population, presumably for a better profit margin.
As a result, women who wear petite sizes have significantly fewer options for fashionable clothing
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 14 15 15 16 16 17 17
Shirt sleeve 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35
Horizontal torso measurements that can be specified include the neck circumference, the shoulder width, the over-bust circumference, the bust circumference, the bust-point separation, the under-bust (rib-cage) circumference, the natural waist circumference, the upper hip circumference and the lower hip circumference.
Vertical torso measurements that can be specified include the back (neck-waist) length, the shoulder-waist length (not the same as the back length, due to the slope of the shoulder), the bust-shoulder length, the bust-waist length, and the two hip-waist lengths.
Sleeve measurements that can be specified include the under-arm and over-arm lengths, the fore-arm length, the wrist circumference and the biceps circumference.
Waist (Relaxed / Extended) On garments with a waist seam, measure from side to side along
the waist seam. On garments with a waistband, measure from side to side along the center of the waistband. Double the measurement. For extended measurements, measure as above with elastic or knit fully extended. Double the measurement.
Hip / seat Lay garment flat with the front of the garment facing you.
Measure up the specified amount on the size specification sheet from crotch point. Measure side to side following the contour of the waist seam.
Thigh Lay one entire leg flat. At the crotch, measure down as specified
on the size specification sheet. At this point, measure across the leg parallel to waist from fold to fold, double the measurement.
Knee With leg flat, locate the knee. Measure up the specified amount on
the size specification sheet. At this point measure across the leg from point to point. Double measurement.
Bottom Opening / Leg Opening (Relaxed / Extended) Lay the bottom of the pant leg flat. Measure straight across the
bottom opening from fold to fold. Double the measurement.
Front Rise Lay garment flat with front of the garment facing you. Measure
from the crotch seam up the center front seam to the top edge of the garment (including waistband.)
Back Rise Lay garment flat with back of the garment facing you. Measure from the
crotch seam up the centre back seam the top edge of the garment (including waistband)
Inseam Lay one entire leg flat with inseam fading you. Measure from where the
crotch seam joins the inseam down to the bottom of the garment.
Out Seam Lay one entire leg flat. Measure from the top of the garment to the bottom
of leg following the contour of the side seam.
Center Back Length (Skirts) Garment is flat with back facing you. Measure from top of waistband
down centre back to bottom of garment.
Trunk Length / Torso Length Measure from the high point of shoulder down the front rise to the fold at
the crotch. Double the measurement.
Front Length (High Point of Shoulder) Measure from the high point of shoulder or from the fold of natural
shoulder to the bottom of garment, keeping the tape measure parallel to the center front
Front Length (High Point of Shoulder) Measure from the high point of shoulder or from the fold of natural
shoulder to the bottom of garment, keeping the tape measure parallel to the center front
Back Length (Center Back Neck) Measure from the joining seam at the neck opening (Collar) to the bottom
edge of the garment.
Chest Bust Lay garment flat. Measure straight across garment from side to side 1
from the bottom of armholes. Double the measurement.
Sweep Lay garment flat, making sure that any pleats are fully extended. Measure
at bottom of garment following the contour of hem. Double the measurement. For extended measurement, measure as above with elastic or knit fully extended.
Across Shoulder Lay garment flat with the back of the garment facing you. Locate the
shoulder points, where the shoulder seams meet the top of the armhole when there is no shoulder seam; measure where the natural fold of the shoulder meets the top of the armhole. Measure straight across from shoulder point to shoulder point.
Across Back Lay garment flat with back of the garment fading you. Measure down to
the center of the armhole. At this point, measure straight across form armhole to armhole seam.
Armhole Circumference Aligning front and back armhole seams and position so that the armhole seam has
no wrinkles. Measure from bottom to top of armhole following seam contour. Double the measurement.
Upper arm With the tape measure at a right angle to the center fold of the sleeve, measure
straight across form underarm to center fold. Double the measurement.
Sleeve Length (From Center Back Neck) Garment with center back seam: Starting where the center back seam meets neck
seam, measure across the back to the point where the shoulder seam joins the armhole, following the contour of the center fold of the sleeve to the bottom. To determine center back neck of garment without center back seam, measure along the back neck seam from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. Half of this amount is the center back neck. Measure as above.
Sleeve Length (From Shoulder) Measure along the outside fold of the sleeve from the armhole seam at shoulder to
the bottom of the sleeve.
Cuff Opening (Relaxed / Extended) Lay the sleeve flat (sleeve closed on button styles). Measure straight
across the bottom of the sleeve fold to fold. Double the measure.
Collar Length (Button to Button) Open collar and lay flat. Measure along the center of the collar stand from
the outside end of buttonhole to the center of the button.
Collar Length (On Seam) With the collar open and lying flat, measure along the collar joining seam
from end to end, following the contour of the joining seam.
Neck Circumference (Relaxed / Extended) Close neckline and lay flat from center back to center front. Measure
along neck seam opening. For extended measurements, measure as above with elastic or knit fully extended. Placket and zipper openings must be included in extended measurement.
Neck Drat Front / Back Measure down from the imaginary line (point to
point) to the neck/collar seam at the center front.
Neck Width Measure from side to side, the inside width of the
neck at the fold.
Collar Point Measure along the collar point edge from the
collar-joining seam to the outer end of the collar.
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