Plus Size Clothes | Fashion Passion

Jan. 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Plus Size Clothes | Fashion Passion

Clothing Size Standards
US standard clothing sizes for women were originally developed from statistical data in the 1940s–1950s. At that time, they were similar in concept to the European clothing size standard, although individual manufacturers have always deviated from them, sometimes significantly.

However, as a result of various cultural pressures, most notably vanity sizing, U.S clothing sizes have drifted substantially away from this standard over time, and now have very little connection to it. They now follow the more loosely defined standards known as US catalog sizes.  Fashion Passion Boutique has sizes and style for every shape and type. http://www.fashionpassionboutique.com/plus-size-apparel.html

In the early 20th century for women, using the bust was the sole measurement.  This proved unsuccessful because women's bodies have far more variety in shape. The hourglass figure is frequently used as an industry standard, but only 8% of women have this body shape.  A woman with an hourglass figure and a woman with an apple-shaped figure who have the same bust size will not have the same waist or hip sizes. In 1958, the National Bureau of Standards invented a new sizing system, based on the hourglass figure and using only the bust size to create an arbitrary standard of sizes ranging from 8 to 38, with an indication for height (short, regular, and tall) and lower-body girth (plus or minus). The resulting commercial standard was not widely popular, and was declared voluntary in 1970 and withdrawn entirely in 1983. In 1995, ASTM International published its own voluntary standard, which has been revised since then, but not widely accepted.

There are multiple size types, designed to fit somewhat different body shapes. Variations include the height of the person's torso, known as back length, whether the bust, waist, and hips are straighter, as in teenagers, or curvier like many adult women, and whether the bust is higher or lower.

For example, these two categories are supposedly distinct but the lines are blurred:

Misses sizes
The most common size category. For women of about average height (5'4") with an average bust height and an hourglass figure. Dress sizes may be given as girth at the bust in inches (e.g., 36), but even-numbered sizes from 2 to 16 are more common. Categorical sizes range from XS (extra-small) to XL (extra-large).

Women's sizes or plus sizes
For larger, curvier women of average height, sometimes with lower bust lines. Like misses' sizes, the sizes may be given as a dress size based on the bust measurement, but they are usually given as even-numbered sizes from 18 up. Categorical sizes usually range from 1X (similar to extra-large, but with slightly different proportions compared to the misses' size) up. In many cases today, plus sizes begin at 14.

For plus size clothes Fashion Passion Boutique has you covered (sorry, bad pun).  Online shops like Avenue and Arabella Avehave great looking fashions for the full figured ladies.  http://www.fashionpassionboutique.com/clothing