The Average Women in Fashion

A common struggle for women is the inability to find well-fitting clothes. While one might complain that price is a limiting factor, the truth is the fashion world was not built around the average woman.

The average American Woman is said to be a size 16-18 and be about 5’3” tall. Petite sizing is often recommended for women 5’4” and shorter and most plus sizing starts at size 14-16. This means that the average American Woman fits under the petite and plus-size umbrella and is often missed by a large number of retailers. Resources that cover both these categories are few and far between leaving many women left to either tailor their clothes or wear more baggy and oversized styles.

It is no secret that the fashion industry is not always size-inclusive. Most times they don’t aim to be either. Vox.com shares the reality of midsize women (10-14), caught in the “in-betweens” of fashion sizing. These women are often caught with being too large for standard sizing but too small for plus size. Often companies don’t find it worthwhile ever to produce this midsize range due to the need for additional patterns and more size fittings.

There is a need to call out companies for their lack of inclusivity and to include sizes all along the spectrum in the fitting process. Increasing the visibility of mid to plus-size women will increase the conversation about inclusive clothing.