Clothing sizes

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There are many different systems of clothing measurement around the world.

Contents

Standards

There are several ISO standards related to Size designation of clothes.

  • 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 10652:1991 Standard sizing systems for clothes

The European Union has produced a standard EN 13402 intended to replace existing standards in the member countries. This is not yet in common use.

The United Kingdom has an existing standard for women's clothing BS 3666:1982, however this is rarely followed by manufacturers as it defines sizes in terms of hip and bust measurements only within a limited range. See table of sizes. This has resulted in variations between manufacturers and a tendency towards vanity sizing.

In the US there exists a US standard clothing size.

Women

Women's Dresses and Suits
United States 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Europe (Italy) 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52
Europe (Scandinavia and Germany) 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Europe (France, Spain and Portugal) 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
UK and Irish 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Women’s blouses and sweaters
EU 40 42 44 46 48 50
UK 34 36 38 40 42 44
US 32 34 36 38 40 42
Children’s junior misses dresses and coats
EU 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
UK 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
US 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
Women’s shoes
EU 35 35½ 36 37 37½ 38 38½ 39 40 41 42
UK 3 4 5 6 7
US 5 6 7 8 9 10

Men

Men’s suits, sweaters, overcoats
EU 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60
UK / US 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Men’s shirts
EU 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
UK / US 14 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17
Men’s socks
EU 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
UK / US 10 10½ 11 11½ 12 12½
Men’s shoes
EU 37½ 38 38½ 39 39½ 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
UK 6 7 8 9 10 10½ 11½ 12
US 6 7 8 9 10 10½ 11 12 13

See also

External links

Wikipedia content modification information:

  • This page was last modified on 16 November 2008, at 23:02.

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