To think it’s time to do away with the ‘average size is 16’ fact?

[AnAwesomePossum]

I mean honestly, it’s a “fact” that has been perpetrated since early 2010s (if not before) but I’m struggling to see how it’s supposed to be recorded. Its not the census - which if anything should ask BMI; but it doesn’t. You can’t do it based on viewing a person as a 16 looks different between someone 5’ and 6’. It could be average clothes sales - but it’s not hard to consider that someone at a larger or lower size buys a lot in one go to accommodate their needs - so essentially it will always be skewed.

So, my TLDR - AIBU to suggest that we need to rid ourselves of the ‘average size is...’.

I feel like it’s time to stop thinking that an ‘average’ dress size is even a thing. People are not sizes, and sizes mean absolutely nothing anyway. It’s just another means to validate or shame people with an arbitrary number.

[as an aside, men do not have an ‘ideal’ dress size and as far as I’m aware, I don’t know of any existing ‘average men’s sizes’ “facts”]

I thought it had been done away with?

Isn’t it used as a Mark of overweight as a general population? Rather than that’s the normal way to aspire to?

Very true about men. There is no “the average man is a 38” waist” equivalent that I’d heard! Why is it always women judged on size/weight.

Whose judging ? I assume size 16 is mean dress size sold rather than the mode. However IMO sizes 8,10&12, 14 will buy more clothes each than sizes 18,20,22 &24.

But that’s the thing - I hear it again and again ‘size 16 is average’ - but based on who? What physiological structure? What height? Why do we only care about ‘average’ size of women and not men?

The “average size” for women has consistently been a ‘16’ for women for a long time now but I don’t know how that information is collated and what the purpose of knowing it is beyond a way to validate or beat women with another stick. It’s meaningless.

I think 16 is the mean.

It’s based on the average of sales.

Calculated using the ema wherever I’ve worked.

mean not ema. Although an Emma did do the sums at one retailler.

Based on retail sales average

YANBU
Average size does not mean a healthy one.

The average adult in the UK is overweight (two thirds of UK adults are overweight or obese).

If the most women are overweight and the most common clothes size is a 16, then it's not a huge leap to make a connection between the two.

However, I agree clothing sizes are arbitrary numbers and just because you're a 12 in M&S and a 14 in H&M, it doesn't mean you've gained 15lb crossing the road. Clothes sizes are guidelines only.

Im a 16 and dont feel very average, most people i know are slimmer than me.

Most shops seem to stock from an 8 to an 18 so you would think a 12-14 would be average

It’s not a reliable statistic but it is helpful to describe obesity by average dress size, it’s easily relatable and dress size broadly indicates body size.

Obesity is a problem in the UK, we should be addressing that problem not denying it.

I could say I’m ‘proud’ that since my twenties I’ve gone from a size 12/14 to a size 8/10 now.
It would however disguise the fact that I weigh half a stone more now than then

Clothes sizes are pretty meaningless and are based on vanity selling not body shape

We need to do awsy with sizes and size clothes by reference to waist circumferencr or inside leg and so on.

Even if it’s true I can’t understand why people on here, at least, are so obsessed with saying it.

Unless you’re well above average height then wearing a 16 probably means you’re overweight.

Any discussion of dress size or weight on here leads to things like “size 14 means you’re definitely not big, don’t you know a 16 is average?”

It’s completely meaningless.

Sizes are also mostly meaningless given you can be an 8 in M&S and a 14 in Zara.

One poster said she was a 22 and everyone called her slim, I don’t think she was joking.

Why do we only care about ‘average’ size of women and not men?
It's a statistical fact. If you 'care' about it then you should be asking yourself why.

@Insertfunnyname

Very true about men. There is no “the average man is a 38” waist” equivalent that I’d heard! Why is it always women judged on size/weight.

I can think of one average size measurement that men seem to be quite bothered about...

Oh, by the way, always wanted to ask (not British). I usually wear 8/10 bottom and 10/12 top, but bought a vintage item a couple of years ago (not sure about the manufacturing year, presumably 50s), it was labeled 16 and it was quite tight.
Was there a change in labeling over time? Or just gentle size creep?

yanbu
dress sizes vary so much
I have clothes in my that range from size 10 to 18. all fit well

@forinborin

Oh, by the way, always wanted to ask (not British). I usually wear 8/10 bottom and 10/12 top, but bought a vintage item a couple of years ago (not sure about the manufacturing year, presumably 50s), it was labeled 16 and it was quite tight. Was there a change in labeling over time? Or just gentle size creep?

Very much so. Sizes used to be based on standard measurements, they are now much larger.

There's really only one way to tell size and that's a tape measure, and then working out your hip to waist ratio. Not full proof, but waist size is a much better indicator of health and what actual size you are. You can't hide from the truth!

Have a read of this.

www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/a556302/chart-shows-shocking-change-in-clothing-sizes/