This was mainly a camping trip with friends. We did go for a tiny 2+ mile hike that starts at the campgrounds and steadily climbs uphill.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Shopping for women's clothes in the US
Shopping for women's clothing in America is complicated business. There is a whole range of sizes to choose from. To make it a more challenging, the same size in two different stores is likely to mean two completely different things. If you're a non-standard size (extra-short, for example) - is it going to be a long day!
Wikipedia has a sizing charts for men and women. The men's shirt sizes are based on four simple factors: the chest size, waist size, neckband and shirtsleeve. This is why Vikram can find and purchase what he needs in less than half an hour. (His being less fussy helps). Vikram doesn't need to try on each size before buying a product. He can make his purchases online, with minimal hassle. He is a happier customer, since he spends no time agonizing over purchases. Once he has narrowed down his size, he can pick a product based on its features: cloth quality, color, etc.
Women's sizes, on the other hand, are complex beyond belief. The following seven tables show the corresponding sizing charts for women.
And that's not all!
Wikipedia has a sizing charts for men and women. The men's shirt sizes are based on four simple factors: the chest size, waist size, neckband and shirtsleeve. This is why Vikram can find and purchase what he needs in less than half an hour. (His being less fussy helps). Vikram doesn't need to try on each size before buying a product. He can make his purchases online, with minimal hassle. He is a happier customer, since he spends no time agonizing over purchases. Once he has narrowed down his size, he can pick a product based on its features: cloth quality, color, etc.
Dimension/size | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Women's sizes, on the other hand, are complex beyond belief. The following seven tables show the corresponding sizing charts for women.
5'5"–5'6" (165–168 cm) tall, average bust, average back | ||||||||||
Dimension/size | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bust | 32-34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37½ | 39 | 40½ | 42 | 44 |
Waist | 22-24½ | 25½ | 26½ | 27½ | 28½ | 30 | 31½ | 33 | 34½ | 36½ |
Hip | 33-35½ | 36½ | 37½ | 38½ | 39½ | 41 | 42½ | 44 | 45½ | 47½ |
Back-waist length | 14½ | 14¾ | 15½ | 15¾ | 16 | 16¼ | 16½ | 16¾ | 17 | 17¼ |
5'1"–5'3" (157.5–160 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back | ||||||||
Dimension/size | 0-2mp | 4mp | 6mp | 8mp | 10mp | 12mp | 14mp | 16mp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bust | 32-34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37½ | 39 | 40½ |
Waist | 21-23½ | 24½ | 25½ | 26½ | 27½ | 29 | 30½ | 32 |
Hip | 34-35½ | 36½ | 37½ | 38½ | 39½ | 41 | 42½ | 44 |
Back-waist length | 14 | 14½ | 14½ | 14¾ | 15 | 15¼ | 15½ | 15¾ |
5'4"–5'5" (162.5–165 cm) tall, higher bust, shorter back | ||||||||||||
Dimension/size | 00 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bust | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37½ | 39 | 41 | 43 | 45 |
Waist | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29½ | 31 | 33 | 35 | 37 |
Hips | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39½ | 41 | 43 | 45 | 47 |
Back-waist length | 13¾ | 14 | 14½ | 14¾ | 15 | 15¼ | 15½ | 15¾ | 16 | 16¼ | 16½ | 16¾ |
5'1" (155 cm) tall, average bust, shorter back | ||||||
Dimension/size | 3jp | 5jp | 7jp | 9jp | 11jp | 13jp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bust | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37½ | 39 |
Waist | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29½ | 31 |
Hip | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39½ | 41 |
Back-waist length | 14 | 14¼ | 14½ | 14¾ | 15 | 15¼ |
5'1"–5'3" (155–160 cm) 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 |
5'5"–5'6" (165–168 cm) 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 |
5'2"–5'3" (157.5–160 cm) 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 |
And that's not all!
- There's no guarantee that a petite size 30 from one brand will be the same as a petite size 30 from another.
- Even women's sizes within a brand change over time - a phenomenon known as "vanity sizing". Manufactures want women to feel good that they still fit into a S dress, even though their actual size is a full two units higher, and they should be wearing a L or XL. In order to fool women into believing that they are size S, the brands relabel the sizes. As a result, a size S in the US might be a size L in Europe.
- Large variations in product batches and store stocking means that sometimes a size S for one brand in one store is size M in the same brand in another store.
It is not hard to have standard women's sizing, similar to the men's standard sizing. There are a small number of dimensions along which sizes can be measured. Europe already has a standard labeling for women's sizing.
Americans are stuck because it is hard to change status quo and manufacturers see no obvious benefits to standard sizing. Here are advantages that manufacturers should consider:
- Standard sizing makes online shopping simpler. E-commerce is growing rapidly. Alienating the online audience is a bad strategy in the long run.
- Standard sizing reduces in-store returns. Lower returns means higher efficiency and lower cost of stocking products.
- Standard sizing makes shopping less stressful and more fun. Shoppers are happier with their purchase when they can make choices quickly.
- Standard sizing saves customers time. They can buy more, instead of agonizing over every product bought.
- Customers can chose brands for the convenience of standard sizing. It is easier to switch to a brand that carries standard sizing.
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