Why can’t clothes shops sell clothes in sizes in proportion to the population

[noggla]

50% of women are 16-18, so make half the clothes of that size. It makes more sense as Clothes retailers probably get more sales as if make fewer size 8 clothes. As the latter goes in the sale. Same with shoes. Make more 7-8. Also introduce size 9s.

Why can’t clothes shops sell clothes in sizes in proportion to the population?

They stock clothes in sizes proportionate to the analysis of sales. If they sold out of size X last year, they’ll stock more size X this year.

So, actually, they’re selling clothes in sizes in proportion to their customer base - which is probably as close as they can get what you’re suggesting.

I’d just like some enforced standardisation of sizes, though I can’t imagine how it could be managed.
But I see little difference between the importance of this and of having reliably standard weights and measures in every other part of commerce (though no doubt I’m overlooking a lot of common sense)

Wish there was a size 11

And even of maintaining uniformity in their (say) size ten, regular jeans. At the moment you’ll try on all kinds of free interpretations of the sizing.

Yes! Thank you for this thread.

Apparently the average dress size for a UK woman is 16.

So surely that average should be in the middle?

So available dress sizes in shops should go something like 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22

But H&M's biggest size they go up to in my local store, is 16!! the average size!

And guess what sizes were left on the sale racks when I was in there last week? entirely size 6s and size 8s 🙄

This!!! It is almost impossible to find a size 8 or 10 in anything I want in marks and Spencer’s - but they have rails full of larger sizes.

I assume shops stock what sells

I'm a size 8 and almost totally flat chested BUT I'm an inverted triangle shape with broad shoulders. I look terrible in high neck/crew neck tops. I need scoops and Vs and they are so hard to come by! So I sympathise! I found one style of lovely v neck jumper last winter and bought it in three different colours.

See the post above yours. Some people just can't help themselves.

So surely that average should be in the middle?

No, that's the median... and unless there are some unusual niche circumstances causing huge size discrepancy, median is generally what needs to form the middle of the size run, because the other sizes are scaled around it when cutting the material. The average is not usually too far off the median, but it's not the same thing.

If H&M don't go past a certain size then that suggests that plus size simply isn't their customer. If they cater for young people who tend to be slimmer, that would make sense. I don't have the figures to hand to know for sure but if they're not making losses then their business model is working for them. Extending sizes is complicated. New designs (some details don't scale up), new size runs, space taken up in the stockroom and shop floor, advertising campaigns and so on.

This is literally what a buying and merchandising team does, they analyse the sales and then forecast to buy the sizes according to demand

Yes, but as I said, it's the smaller sizes that are left on the sales racks. So surely smaller isn't their customer?

I suspect they simply don't want to be seen to cater to bigger sizes.

Smaller sizes tend to be made even if there's less demand for them because they can be cut from the remaining material after the larger sizes and it's better than totally wasted material. It's all pretty complicated. That's why I was surprised by the poster upthread who was an 8-10 but never finds her size left over. I don't think that's a common experience.

ETA: With the exception of some very high end brands (ie, not high street), I think the stigma of not wanting to sell to plus sizes is largely gone.

I suspect shops don't stock more large sizes because their clothes being seen on smaller people gives the brand more cachet.

A lot of companies don't want to deal with large sizes at all and only do so because of consumer pressure.

Consumer pressure, ie profit, is an excellent reason for a business to provide!

Yes this is whats happened to me, I am particularly annoyed about 'dropped shoulders', which seem to be on everything. Its hard to find a top where the shoulder seam is where its meant to be.

Otherwise I just look a sloppy mess.

It is not too difficult for a seamstress to take shoulders in, or waists. I'd suggest finding a local alterations place.

Very few people have the same proportions as the fit model and you only have to look at a mannequin to see the clothes pinned all over the place. The marketing model (not the fit model) will have the clothes pinned all over the place too. This is mass produced stuff.

Rude. I’m 8.5, hardly massive at 5ft 8 🤣

And why shouldn't we?

The OP is saying there should be even fewer clothes for us to choose from because we're not bigger. My experience (size 8) is the same as others. Unless I'm very lucky and they've only just started stocking whatever it is, I go in a shop, see something I really like, and have they got my size - nope.

I don’t think it would be great if there were more and more larger clothes available, tbh. It normalises being overweight, which isn’t great for the health of the nation. Lots of us could do with losing a bit of weight.

If H&M don't go past a certain size then that suggests that plus size simply isn't their customer.

Too true. H&M operates across Europe, where people simply aren't as huge as Brits.

This conversation has been had, just a few times, since 1995 or so. Almost nowhere went past a 16 in the 90s, and there was very little nice stuff in the places that did, plus endless fat shaming. It didn't cause mass weight loss and health improvement. "Don't give them clothes" isn't a public health campaign. People are more likely to gain weight when they feel crap about themselves. Anyway, if they have to go naked, they'll be housebound so how will they get to the gym and Slimming World?

Wanting better health for people isn’t fat shaming.

Loose fitting summer trousers seem to be an issue this year. I'm 5ft 6 and they tend to try and drag on the ground. My 5ft 3 dd had no chances of a pair fitting

I need size 43 EU, which is really 9.5 but often badged as high as 11. It’s virtually impossible to get size 9s even - those shops who sell them have very few in stock.

So the option is to wander around naked? Or look like a tramp in a binbag?