Clothing Sizes
Finding the Average
According to Susan Ashdown, a professor in the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design at Cornell and a leading researcher on improving apparel fit, there's no such thing. In a recent piece by Virginia Postrel, Ashdown is quoted as saying: "The average takes you to nobody."
If there really is no average child, why do clothing designers and manufacturers use averages to make clothing for them, then? Read the rest of this entry »
Children’s Clothing May or May Not be True to Size
As a parent, I would hope that if something is true to size, it means that I should be able to buy the size that matches by child's age. So, if my kid is 3 years old, I should be able to buy size 3 or 3T, right? Of course, this assumes that I know if my kid is average for their age in terms of height and weight and that both I and the brand have the same idea of what that is.
The problem is that, children's clothing designers use different approaches to develop their size charts and design standards. And, depending on what source of child measurement data a manufacturer uses and when they accessed that data, "typical" measurements vary.
What has your experience been with different brands? What brands do you find run true to size - and if they do, does your child have typical measurements? Any designers out there that want to weigh in on the subject: what data do you use? Read the rest of this entry »
MYSIZE – Malaysian Sizing Survey addresses childrens clothing sizes
Starting in July of this year, children, teens, and adults across Malaysia will be recruited to have their body surface measurements scanned with the X-16 3D Body Scanner. While this sounds pretty daunting, the goal is actually to collect enough measurement data to be able to propose a Malaysian national size designation and standard for clothing, as well as other industries that rely on size information when designing products. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Clothing Sizes, From the Industry, Growth & Development, Keeping up Appearances | 
Tags: sizes, standards, studies | 
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Tips for buying baby clothes that fit
I ran across the question about the accuracy of baby clothing sizes on Yahoo! Answers a while back and have to say that sizing has to be one of the most frustrating things about finding baby clothes that fit. Not only can it make you wonder whether your baby is growing properly, but it can make it difficult to shop. Here are some reasons why you shouldn't rely on the size listed on baby clothing labels and tips for finding clothes that fit your baby well. Read the rest of this entry »
What if kids shoes weren't gender-specific?
While the idea of a gender-neutral, universal-style kid's shoe can offer freedom from having to make certain choices, it may not be popular with everyone, given our culture's desire for options and clarity. But, style is a different issue from size, and the notion of simplifying shoe sizes across ages and genders seems reasonable right now. Read the rest of this entry »
The Battle Between your Child’s Growth and the Sizes they Wear
A former statistics professor of mine had a favorite saying: "Stuff varies." The same can be said of children. Children grow frequently, and they do it in different ways and at different rates from each other. Yes, you can find typical growth trends when you look at a whole bunch of kids. But, when you're shopping for your own kid, his or her measurements are all that matter.
Child development, then, can cause frustration when shopping for children's clothing because there are bound to be:
* Mismatches between the age your child is and the size your child wears
* Mismatches between your child's growth and the measurements a piece of clothing is designed to fit.
What's the deal with sizes anyway? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Clothing Sizes | Tags: age, children's growth, shopping, size chart, sizes | No Comments »
How accurate are baby clothing sizes?
Sizing has to be one of the most frustrating things about finding baby clothes that fit. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are buying clothes for your baby. Read the rest of this entry »
Buying Clothing Gifts for Kids
Baffled by children's clothing sizes? Here are some tips for finding a clothing gift that's the perfect fit. Read the rest of this entry »
