average size woman..

[missjef]

what is the average size of a woman? because last night Gok Wan on "how to look good naked" on channel 4 was saying that the girl was one size lower than the average size of a UK woman (she was a 14), i always thought it would have been a 12 or maybe 14? i work in a clothes shop and we always get i think 1 size 8, 2 size 10's, 3 size 12's, 2 size 14's, 1 size 16, and 1 size 18.... i think we do anyways, its something like that - we usually only get about 1 size 16 &18.
so therefore i was wondering if its true that the average size is a size 16? because most highstreet shops dont seem to do many clothes in that size.

many thanks

[Goodsoulette]

I would have thought it was a 14 or 16

[Dollie]

I thought it was a size 16 in Britain. God I hope so or I'm no average !!! Doll xx

[wonderwoman1]

i have a fashion boutique and we sell more 16s and 18s easily.

[Pippa68]

Apparently 47% of the female population is a size 16 or above. This is all according to Dawn French, who started the clothing line '1647'

or summat....

By the way, I am a size 14 on the bottom & 16 on the top!

[Lore]

The average size is 16 but not many high street shops have a good range of size 16 + clothes, it's typical of fashion trends, if you're not size 10 and below then you shouldn't be in fashion.. that's the message most women are getting.

I've been both ends of the spectrum from an 8 on the bottom and 16 on top, to 16 all over...

Why do they think 16 means cubic?

I managed to get back to a 12/14 and no longer have to buy size 16 tops with the new fashion being long tops - (enough material to stretch over the boobs without ending up with a cropped top!) :o/

[Nummy]

yep the nation is getting larger...and the average size for a woman is size 16

and this raises the question - if the national average is a size 16, why do the likes of Morgan, Jane Norman, FCUK, Diesel, etc not make the larger sizes? it's size and fashion elitism! in some shops size 14 is considered XL, which is ridiculous.

of course, this continues to some shops that do sell 'plus sizes' (which includes size 16!) and they seem to think that you lose all sense of style after a size 14. Have you seen some of the godawful stuff that passes for fashion once you're size 18+?

On a positive note, more high street shops have begun to stock larger sizes...some up to a 22. Still a long way to go tho!!

[Pippa68]

The trouble with me is that I have to get a 16 to stretch across my chest, but the top is usually all baggy in the shoulders and too long in the arms...

A size 16 doesn't necessarily mean big and tall :o(

[Pippa68]

And yes cobra..that is what I am saying :o)

[Goodsoulette]

I think the problem lies in the fact that bigger women cant wear a lot of high fashion clothing, or they can but it doesnt look right, Just because they make it in that size doesnt mean they should wear it.
Fat or thin some women need to look in the mirror before they leave the house.

[missjef]

thats a really good point Nummy shops that do plus sizes tend to include size 16 in with that!! which i think that is ridiculous if that is the size of the average woman!!
most shops only tend to get at least 1 or maybe 2 size 16 items of clothes in each new clothes they get delivered.

in most high street shops you'll struggle to find a size 16 in a lot of styles of things they have. its really stupid!

i wish that they wouldnt mainly cater for the "smaller" women out there!!

[Greedyfly]

You are soo right missjef most stores do stock a size 16 but it is infact a size 14 generally, the high street shops vary so much I am 3 sizes of clothes and it all depends where I shop - it is ridiculous. I thought the average size was a size 16. What makes me laugh is that Topshop etc... on there website have size 16 on display as though they stock it but I have tried a hundred times to buy a pair and it always says thie model/size combination is out of stock. I wrote and complained and there answer was that the stock was limited. So limited it doesnt ever go on the site it would seem. But I now no longer shop there because they never have that size in, its very rare when you see it. It is about time the catered for us curvier women after all there are more of us and we like to look just as good as the next person. There are certain shops I dont even bother to look in these days because I know they wont have my size or they will have a size 16 stocked but its more like a 14 in waist measurement. Its shameful really, should be a definitive size for all shops too make life easier for us consumers.

[n00dles]

Size 16 is the average in Britain.

Pippa wear your size with pride (seriously), the most iconic woman ever Marilyn Monroe was a size 16!!

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And on a completely different note, judging by the women I've seen lately (summer madness) a lot of them seem to be a size larger than the clothes their wearing!! lol ;o)

Maybe they feel better (who are they kidding), when purchasing in a size smaller than they need............

[tradey]

im a 14 top and bottom, but sometimes have to get a 16 to fit my bust in,ive noticed things are getting smaller,the other day i was out shopping picked up a 14 looked like a 10

[Pippa68]

LOL n00dles ~ and thank you :o)

I had read that Marilyn Monroe was a size 16..although I thought she was the American size 16..which is what, a size 12? darn it ;o)

[Goodsoulette]

The whole marylin monroe thing is a myth, she was a size 10 - 12 by todays standards.

[Nummy]

Goodsoulette...bigger women can't wear high street fashion? or if they do it doesn't look right? That is only your opinon (as well as a gross generalisation).

I object to the way that certain manufacturers act as 'fashion police' restricting who can wear their clothes...and giving some godawful offerings for anyone size 16+.

i agree that sometimes people don't wear what suits them...but that's applicable whether you're a size 6 or 16.

style is not restricted to size.

[Goodsoulette]

which nummy if you had read my post properly you would see that is exactly what I had said.... to quote myself " fat or thin SOME women need to look in the mirror before they go out".
Some women especially those who are a curvaceous (not fat) size 16 look the best around, however I dont think short skirts on a size 22 look good there are far more flattering clothes to wear.