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The hourglass--many people's
conception of
ideal body shape for
women--influenced
early sizing systems for women's
clothes.
Eventually, sizing changed to
accommodate
reality.
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Vanity
Since commercial standard
CS215-58 was published, its importance
has been debated time and again. At first,
the industry was eager to adopt the new
standard, and major companies such as Sears,
Roebuck and Montgomery Ward began labeling
their products with the new government sizes.
In September 1971, the recommendation in
CS215-58 was updated and republished with the
new designation Voluntary Product
Standard.
However, with the passage of time, the
standard became outdated. Both American men
and women were becoming heavier. Whereas the
average woman's figure once came a little
closer to approaching the hourglass shape of
the fashion magazines, she was now becoming
more pear-shaped, with a thicker waist and
fuller hips. At the same time that the
average woman's body was changing shape,
manufacturers discovered the advantage of
appealing to women's vanity. They began
selling bigger clothes labeled with smaller
size numbers.
The Department of Commerce officially
withdrew the commercial standard for the
sizing of women's apparel on January 20,
1983. Currently, only pattern companies
continue to use the traditional sizing
standards.
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