- Vanity sizing
Vanity sizing, also known as size inflation is used to refer to the phenomenon of
ready-to-wear clothing of the same nominal size becoming larger over time. Vanity sizing tends to occur in places where clothing sizes are not standardized, such as theUnited States , [US standard clothing size s are no longer used by manufacturers. [http://www.wnwo.com/Global/story.asp?S=1771013&nav=1aI8M8qf] ]It is generally acknowledged that clothing of the same nominal size has become larger over the years. [ [http://www.fitme.com/Fitme/html/PublicRelations/coverage/Vanity_Sizing_AZ_Rep_0104.htm Vanity sizing alive, well] ] In
2003 , a study that measured over 1,011 pairs of women's pants found that more expensive brands tended to be smaller than cheaper ones of the same nominal size. [ [http://ctr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/refs/21/1/19 Clothing Size Variation in Women’s Pants] , Kinley, T. R. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 21(1), 19-31 (2003)]The increasing dimensions of garments of the same nominal size has caused some designers to introduce size 0, 00, or subzero sizes. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15319430/site/newsweek/?GT1=8618 Fashion Designers Introduce Less-than-Zero Sizes - Newsweek Business - MSNBC.com ] ]
Possible Reasons
Many commentators have suggested that "vanity sizing," as its name suggests, is designed to satisfy buyers' wish to appear thin and feel better about themselves. [ [http://web2.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=8741 Study questions the sizing methods in women's apparel] ] [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57672,00.html FOXNews.com - Flattery Gets Designers Everywhere - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment ] ] http://www.wnwo.com/Global/story.asp?S=1771013&nav=1aI8M8qf]
However, other reasons for this change have been offered as well. Designer
Nicole Miller 's spokeswoman has suggested that 00 or subzero sizes were introduced in part because of the rise of Asian markets, where women are generally smaller. It has also been suggested that vanity sizing allows clothing companies to cater their sizing to their demographic, since women of different sizes may be attracted to different brands. [ [http://www.fashion-incubator.com/mt/archives/the_myth_of_vanity_sizing.html#more The myth of vanity sizing] ] . Finally, it has been suggestedcite news |first=Kate |last=Johnson |title=As waistlines grow, clothing sizes shrink incredibly; 0 is the new 8|work=Boston Globe |page=A1 |date=2006-05-05 ] that vanity sizing merely reflects the increasing prevalence of obesity. [ [http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/ The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the past 30 years] ] [ [http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/what-dress-size-or-waist-size-am-i-really/ Vanity Sizing Gone Too Far Creating Health Issues] ]References
See also
*
Dress size
*Size zero
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