Discussion on 'How do junior and misses clothing sizes differ?'

(1) On August 18, 2007 at 09:29 am Forher2me [69] said:

Junior sizes are catered toward female teenages, and the "tweenagers". The clothing is cut a little more straight and form fitting, as the age group has not yet developed hips and curves, or is in the process of doing so, and this is the age where they want to start feeling sexy. There are more sizes in Juniors dept (0-16, usually odd numbers until size 12) than Misses, but I figured that's because the bodies in the target audience is continuously evolving, so they need more choices.

Misses usually refers to adult women's clothing; not plus sizes (for larger women). The clothing is cut usually to accompany the shape of a typical woman (breasts, hips, buttocks). Sizes usually start at 2 and go to 16 or 18 (some brands start at 0 or even 00, and 18 has mostly been phased out as women don't want to recognize that they wear a size 18).

Vanity sizing is also a big issue in the market place. Most brands participate in it. Vanity sizing is the marketing technique described as: marking the size a size or more smaller than what the clothes is really cut out to be. It is smart and dirty trick. Women tend to be more self-conscience about their weight and size numbers have a greater value to them than let's say measurements using a tape measure, or their weight in lbs (or Kg). If a women who would typically wear a size 6 find that the size 6 is too big and has to wear a size 4, the typical reaction would be a positive one (ie: Wow, I've lost weight, this is great, I'm now a size 4...). A positive attitude can lead to more spending which leads to more profit and happier investors.

Vanity sizing is there...either that or people are getting FATTER and sizing schedules 10-years-ago are outdated and need to be revised to accompany the growing waist lines.

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