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:
| Dimension/size | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closest standard size | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | ||
| Est. height | 5'4" (162.5 cm) | 5'4" (162.5 cm) | 5'4.5" (164 cm) | 5'5" (165 cm) | 5'4" (162.5 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) | 5'6" (168 cm) | 5'6" (168 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) |
| Est. weight lb (kg) | 115 (52) | 125 (57) | 135 (61) | 145 (66) | 155 (70) | 165 (75) | 175 (79) | 180 (81.5) | 195 (88.5) |
| 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 |
| Dimension/size | 18W | 20W | 22W | 24W | 26W | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closest standard size | 12½ | 14½ | 16½ | 18½ | 20½ | 22½ | 24½ | 26½ | 28½ |
| Est. height | 5' 1/2" (153 cm) | 5'1" (155 cm) | 5'1.5" (156 cm) | 5'2" (157.5 cm) | 5'2.5" (159 cm) | 5'3" (160 cm) | 5'3" (160 cm) | 5'3.5" (161 cm) | 5'4" (162.5 cm) |
| Est. weight lb (kg) | 125 (57) | 140 (63.5) | 155 (70) | 170 (77) | 180 (81.5) | 190 (86) | 215 (97.5) | 225 (102) | 235 (106.5) |
| 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 |
| Dimension/size | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closest standard size | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 |
| Est. height | 5'5" (165 cm) | 5'5.5" (166 cm) | 5'6" (168 cm) | 5'6" (168 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) | 5'6.5" (169 cm) |
| Est. weight lb (kg) | 145 (66) | 160 (72.5) | 175 (79) | 190 (86) | 205 (93) | 220 (100) | 235 (106.5) | 250 (113) | 265 (120) |
| 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" (163 cm), 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 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.
Read more about this topic: US Standard Clothing Size
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