Comments on: Why retailers change clothing sizes

By: Debbie Soles

Debbie Soles — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:06:29 +0000

“Would it be feasible if clothes sold on-line were marketed with the dimensions of the finished items?”

P; QVC does this on every article of clothing they sell. After giving the basic clothing information there is more detailed finished garment measurements provided by clicking on ‘click here’. Even with providing that excellent information it still amazes me when I read the reviews, I always wonder if any of those gals who buy actually bother to pay attention to that information. I’m always amazed at some women and their inability to use a tape measure. I don’t buy clothes from QVC because I make all mine, and my body type isn’t in favor..tall and thin with a 25″ overarm sleeve length and a 36″ inseam. I love that extra finished garment measurement info when wanting to copy something, that’s my ulterior motive.

By: Eric H

Eric H — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 02:04:35 +0000

Excuse me, but how do we know the FSM is a mythical creature?!

By: Matthew Pius

Matthew Pius — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:33:24 +0000

While some form of standardized sizing may have been in use during the Civil War, I don’t think that the concept reached the general public from many decades after the fact. Standardized sizing is essential for mass production. However, the majority of clothing (especially women’s clothing) was not made by mass production until the earlier part of the 20th c. I recall reading a description somewhere of the “Ladies’ Mile” in Manhattan at the end of the 19th c. It was a stretch of Broadway (similar to 5th Ave and its department stores today). There were milliner’s and glovers and shoemakers and clothiers – sellers of cloth, not clothes – because one would buy the cloth and either sew it oneself or take it to one’s dressmaker. But RTW clothes were still not a common item.

BTW, Kathleen, I’m sure you’ve seen this picture for your file of mythical creatures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster
but how about this one (from an usual source): http://godecookery.com/cocken/cocken.htm

By: dosfashionistas

dosfashionistas — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:15:46 +0000

to p. This is exactly what I do in my online selling. All my listings give the basic measurements of the garment…Bust, Hip, and Length for the tops, Waist, Hip, and Inseam for pants, etc. Not a perfect system by any means, but I get few returns for fit.

By: SarahM

SarahM — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:02:58 +0000

Hi. Going to school in Troy, NY, I remember learning about standardized sizing developing during the Civil War. I googled and came up with this info:

By 1850 New York State had achieved its rank as the Empire State in industry. According to the census of that year, its manufactured products amounted in value to 23 per cent of the goods produced by the Nation. One third of the patents granted were issued to New Yorkers, most of them representing improvements on existing machines, which had not yet become standardized. In this mid-century period the factory system superseded handcraft and domestic production. Corporate organization invited investment capital, resulting in the separation of ownership and management and a sharper division between employer and employee. Workers organized for bargaining purposes and employers counterorganized to advance their interests. The industrialists became a powerful social and political group. The Civil War stimulated improvement and expansion in every field of production. The exportation of foodstuffs increased sixfold; the textile industry expanded rapidly. Elmira turned out large quantities of cloth for uniforms; Rochester filled huge orders for military boots and shoes. The Remington plant in Ilion and the arsenal in Watervliet manufactured arms and ammunition; Troy iron mills produced the plates for the Monitor; the Union Cavalry rode to victory on Henry Burden’s machine-made horseshoes. Out of the experience gained in the production of uniforms and equipment for soldiers came the adoption of a system of standard sizes, which made possible the large-scale production of ready-made clothes.

Here is the link to the site: http://madeinatlantis.com/new_york/new_york_industry.htm
I am not familiar with this site, but I do remember learning this “back in the day.” I’ll see if I can find some other information to back it up.

By: P.

P. — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:20:15 +0000

Thanks for pointing this article out. Would it be feasible if clothes sold on-line were marketed with the dimensions of the finished items? Then, for instance, if you know you you like the feel of a blouse with 44 inches of fabric around you at the bustline, you could order with a greater chance of getting something that fits.

By: ChristineB

ChristineB — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:10:43 +0000

I tripped over the story on NYT and my first thought was, “Hmmmm…bet Kathleen’s got something to say about it,” and of course I had to race…er…, click, over here and see for myself.

Looking forward to those pictures of mythical creatures… :-)