While Americans have statistically gotten larger, women's clothing has gotten smaller—that is, if the numbers on the size labels are to be believed.
Vanity sizing is a marketing tactic that retailers, designers, and manufacturers use to sell more clothing. The maneuver operates on retailers making larger clothes with smaller sizing, which has proven to be effective in getting women to buy more clothing.
Today's standard clothing sizes are vastly different than they were 50 years ago. For instance, "a size 8 dress today is nearly the equivalent of a size 16 dress in 1958," according to the Washington Post.
Size 14 is not a plus size. It is the size of the average Australian woman.
As Americans have grown physically larger, brands have shifted their metrics to make shoppers feel skinnier—so much so that a women's size 12 in 1958 is now a size 6. Those numbers are even more confusing given that a pair of size-6 jeans can vary in the waistband by as much as 6 in., according to one estimate.
While Americans have statistically gotten larger, women's clothing has gotten smaller—that is, if the numbers on the size labels are to be believed.
In 1958, a woman who had a 34in bust and a 25in waist – much like Marilyn Monroe – was considered to be a US size 12 (equivalent to a UK 16). However, today a size 12 would fit a woman with a 39in bust and a 32in waist.
The average height and weight for a woman in Australia is 70kg and about 161cm tall.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The average Australian woman was 161.8 cm tall and weighed 71.1 kg. On average, Australians are growing taller and heavier over time.
The specific proportions of 36–24–36 inches (90-60-90 centimeters) have frequently been given as the "ideal", or "hourglass" proportions for women since at least the 1960s (these measurements are, for example, the title of a hit instrumental by The Shadows).
Australian sizes are measured the same as the UK. So if you're a 10 in Australia, you'll need a 10 from a UK-based store. If you're purchasing from an American store, you'll need to go 2 sizes smaller. So if you're a 10 in Australia, you're a 6 in the US.
The Average Size for Women in America
The average size of an American woman has historically been reported as a size 14. The clothing industry somewhat took this into account and adjusted its sizes. Though, most labels didn't even do that; the majority of clothing lines still sell up to size 12 and that's it.
In the 1950s, the average woman was even thinner than the average woman is currently. The average weight of a woman in 1950 was approximately 136 pounds, and she had a 27.8-inch waist, 37-inch hips, and wore a size 34B bra.
From toilet paper to yogurt and coffee to corn chips, manufacturers are quietly shrinking package sizes without lowering prices. It's dubbed "shrinkflation," and it's accelerating worldwide. In the U.S., a small box of Kleenex now has 60 tissues; a few months ago, it had 65.
With the following easy tips, you can improve your fashion style, save money, and protect the planet. The number of casual pants you only really need and wear is 4 to 5, even though most women own 7 pairs of pants on average, and men 6 pairs. Add 2 pairs of formal trousers to complete your wardrobe.
Some departments may designate a size 12 as plus-size while others use a size 14. But according to Modeling Wisdom, plus-size models often fall into the range of sizes 8 to 12. Sometimes, even a size 6 can be considered.
These increases correspond with the increasing trend in the proportion of Australians who are overweight or obese as measured using Body Mass Index. See Overweight and Obesity. On average, men aged 18 years and over had a waist measurement of 97.9 cm, while women had a waist measurement of 87.7 cm.
The only factor to be aware of is that a modern day size 12 and a size 12 in the 1950s/1960s are very different things. In today's sizes she'd most likely wear a 6 and maybe even a 4 in certain brands! If you add 6 to your current modern day dress size that's what you'll probably fit in a 1950s/1960s dress.
If majority rules, a size 10 has a 36″ bust, 28″ waist and a 40″ hip. She's five foot five or six inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.
The average woman in the 50s had a 27.5-inch waist and her bra size was 34B; in 2017, women's waists are 34 inches and they wear a 36DD bra.