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-towear 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 Misses sizes Miss Petite Junior sizes Junior Petite Young Junior Womens sizes Half sizes

Description 5'5"5'6" (165-168 cm) tall, average bust, average back 5'1"5'3" (157.5-160 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back 5'4"5'5" (162.5-165 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back 5'1" (155 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back sizes 5'1"5'3" (155-160 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back 5'5"5'6" (165-168 cm) tall, fully mature figure 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 youg junior 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 Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 5 34 26 36 15 7 35 27 37 15 9 36 28 38 15 11 37 29 39 15 13 39 31 41 16 15 40 33 43 16

JUNIOR PETITE
Dimension/Size Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 3jp 5jp 33 25 35 14 34 26 36 7jp 35 27 37 9jp 36 28 38 11jp 13jp 37 39 29 31 39 41 15

14 14 14 15

Women's Dresses and Suits (Junior Sizes)

European UK Japan USA 28 3 0 1 30 5 2 3 32 7 4 5 34 9 6 7 36 11 8 9 38 13 10 11 40 15 12 13 42 17 14 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 Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 32-34 22-24 33-35 14 4 34 25 36 14 6 34 26 37 15 8 35 27 38 15 10 36 12 14 16 40 33 44 16 18 42 34 45 17 20 44 36 47 17

37 39 31 42

28 30 39 41 16

16 16

European UK Japan USA

28 3 0 1

30 5 2 3

32 7 4 5

34 9 6 7

36 11 8 9

38 13 10 11

40 15 12 13

42 17 14 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 Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 38 42 35 44 17 40 44 37 46 17 42 46 39 48 17 44 48 41 50 17 46 50 44 52 17 48 52 46 54 17 50 54 49 56 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 Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 0-2mp 32-34 21-23 34-35 14 4mp 34 24 36 14 6mp 34 25 37 14 8mp 10mp 12mp 14mp 16mp 35 36 26 27 38 39 14 15 37 29 41 15 39 30 42 15 40 32 44 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 1.571.60m Half sizes :many modern "petite" sizes are actually re-named half sizes intended for mature women Dimension/Size Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 10 33 27 35 15 12 35 29 37 15 14 37 31 39 15 16 39 33 41 15 18 41 35 43 15 20 43 37 45 16 22 45 40 48 16 24 47 42 50 16

Large/Plus:Plus sizes are for larger sized women, often designated by a W after the number Height: Large/Plus Sizes 16W Bust Waist Hip 42 34 45 18W 44 36 47 20W 46 38 49 22W 48 40 51 24W 50 42 53 26W 52 44 55 66 to 69 inches

Young Junior sizes Dimension/Size Bust Waist Hip Back-waist length 5/6 28 22 31 13 7/8 29 23 32 14 9/10 30 24 33 14 11/12 32 25 35 15 13/14 33 26 36 15 15/16 35 27 38 15

Children's Body Measurements and Garment Sizes Toddler Chest Waist Hip Height:35 to 38 inches 2T 20 20 20 3T 21 21 21 Weight: 29 to 35 lbs 4T 22 22 22
Weight: 38 to 44 lbs 6 24 22 25 6X 25 22 26

Children Chest Waist Hip

Height:42 to 44 inches 4 22 21 23 5 23 21 24

Height:50 to 55 inches Girls Chest Waist Hip Sizes 7 26 23 27 8 27 23 28 10 28 24 29

Weight:65 to 70 lbs 12 30 25 31 14 31 26 33 16 33 27 35

Height: Junior Bust Waist Hip Sizes 3 32 24 35 5 33 25 36 7 34 26 37

66 to 69 inches 9 35 27 38 11 37 29 39 13 38 30 41 15 40 32 42

Dimension/Size Chest Waist Neckband Shirt sleeve

34 S 34 28 14 32

36 36 30 14 32

38 M 38 32 15 33

40 40 34 15 33

42 L 42 36 16 34

44 44 38 16 34

46 XL 46 40 17 35

48 48 42 17 35

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

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.