Size Variation in Women’s Pants

Abstract

The U.S. sizing system involves the use of a size code to direct customers to garments most likely to fit their body. The popular press reports expensive clothes tend to run large and there is inconsistency within each size category. The purpose of this study was to determine how much inconsistency there is within size categories, the difference in size of two different price points (inexpensive and expensive), and two different types of label (national and private) of women’s pants. To this end, the waist, crotch, and inseam of 1011 pairs of pants were measured. Inconsistency was found in each size category, expensive pants generally were larger in measurement, and little significant difference was found between national and private label merchandise except for sizes 4 and 6.