I was going to write about another topic today, but felt that I had to get this out of the way first. I recently received a very late anonymous reply/comment from a post dated June 22 where I wrote about size zero and its "curvyness." In this reply, the poster called me an "idiot" and went on to say that the reason why larger sizes are "less curvy" was because it's a "time- and cost- effective method." OK, fine. It's pretty obvious, based on the size charts that I posted up. But did she (I'm assuming that the poster is a she) have to call me an idiot? I'm open to debate, but I think it could have been written another way. So yes, I am re-opening this topic for debate. On June 22, I posted sizing charts from several different stores, comparing a smaller size (size 0 or 2) with size 12 and the waist-to-hip (WHR) ratio of these sizes. According to many studies, the "ideal"/"curvy" WHR is approximately 0.7 (which many actresses and female icons have).
Here are the size charts I posted up (you can also find them by clicking here):
J. Crew:
Size 0 is: 24" waist; 34" hips. 24/34= approx. 0.706 WHR (At J.Crew, a 0P is 23" waist, 33" hips, which works out to approx 0.7!)
Size 12: 31" waist, 41" hips. 31/41= approx. 0.756 WHR (12P is 30" waist, 40" hips or a WHR of 0.75. J.Crew does not make 14 or 16 in petite (neither does Banana Republic)).
Jenny Yoo: (bridesmaids dresses)
Size 0: 25" waist; 35" hips. 25/35= approx. 0.714 WHR (no petites)
Size 12: 32" waist; 42" hips. 32/42= approx 0.762 WHR
Talbots:
Misses and Petites:
Size 2: 24.5" waist; 34.5" hips. 24.5/34.5 = approx. 0.71 WHR (in petites, the waist is 24" and the hips, 34". Therefore the WHR in petites is approx. 0.706)
Size 12: 30" waist; 40" hips. 30/40= 0.75 WHR. (In petites, the waist is 29.5" and the hips = 39.5". 29.5/39.5= approx. 0.747 WHR.
Talbots Woman and Woman Petite:
Size 12W: 30.5" waist; 41.5" (lower) hips. 30.5/41.5=0.734 WHR (Unlike non-plus petites, the waist and hips have the same measurements. Therefore the Woman Petite WHR is also 0.734)
So based on the size charts, would you say that size 0 is curvier? Do you think manufacturers should do a better job when it comes to sizing? In other words, rather than adding one inch to the waist and hips (and bust if it is a dress) as the size increases, should they try to keep the ratio as close to the sample size as possible (I also realize that sample sizes aren't necessarily the smallest size a company makes)? Why do you think larger sizes are "less curvy"?
