Children’s Clothing May or May Not be True to Size
True to what size is really the question?
This past weekend, I randomly selected a number of brands to review. For each of them, I checked out their most recent collection and their size guidelines. What most interested me is that many of the smaller brands do not offer size charts on their websites. I contacted a handful of them to see if they could share a little more information and was told, more often than not, that their sizes run “true to size.”
So, what does it mean when they say kid’s clothes run “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.
This begs a second major question, though:
What are the measurements of the average child?
You might say that the CDC growth charts are the best place to find out average height and weight by age – and the brands will probably tell you that’s what they mean. But, in fact, manufacturers use a variety of sources to define the average range of measurements that each size is designed to fit. Even those that say their sizes run true-to-size may use different information. And, of course, the size of the “typical” or average child has changed over time, but not all brands have kept up.
The short answer to the above question, then, is that depending on what source of child measurement data a manufacturer uses and when they accessed that data, “typical” measurements vary.
Where do measurements used for kid’s clothing sizes come from?
Children’s clothing designers use different approaches to develop their size charts and design standards.
1. Children’s Growth Data: A brand might look at CDC children’s growth chart data and use the 50th percentile for height and weight to determine the average. The data were updated in 2000, but not all brands have updated their pattern grading to reflect the new data. So, true-to-size could be for a pre-2000 or a post-2000 child. As well, CDC data are not always clear about the other body measurements – it’s harder to find 50th percentile for arm or leg length, for example.
2. Kids Clothing Size Standards: A brand might turn to the standards. Organizations such as ASTM periodically create standards for clothing measurements by age, gender, and body type. The ASTM has recently updated their standards for small children and regular, slim, and plus sized girls (boys’ standards to be released soon). These new standards will reflect a new “typical”, but, again, many brands have not had a chance to update sizing to reflect the new definitions.
3. Size Studies: Larger brands may seek the assistance of private companies that specialize in size studies that use biometric, 3-dimensional, body scanning technology. They may also use the results of these studies to design for a specific population or sub-population.
4. Reverse Engineering: It is also possible that a brand bases their size guidelines on the measurements used by a popular brand or brands, assuming that that’s what customers look for.
5. Manufacturer Recommendation: Finally, a brand may leave the size grading up to the facility that manufacturers their clothing for them. The manufacturer may use any of the above data, and state that it is “true to size.”
These approaches are common in the US. Designers in other countries have similar strategies, but child growth data, regional sizing standards and biometric studies will be more reflective of their local population.
Whatever the case, it’s almost impossible to know whether a “true to size” size will actually fit your child unless you know the size’s measurements for key body dimensions or you take your child to try the brand on at a local store.
I’d love your input please.
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?
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