Understanding Size Ranges
                 -- and using them to advantage

I recently had the opportunity to produce a fashion show at a pageant State finals.  What a joy to work with pageant contestants as models!  These young people work better than many professional models.  They are courteous, accomplished, love beautiful styles, know how to hit a mark on stage and pose to perfection for a camera!

During the pre-fitting session a situation came up more than once that is really very common in and out of pageants.  A girl around age 8 or 9 still retained her egg-shaped "baby belly", which is perfectly acceptable and still rather common at this age.  But girls sizes above size 6 automatically assume that the girl is slimming down, so they weren't fitting her correctly.  Though she was neat and trim and very healthy, she really did belong in Plus sizes for the time being until she began to mature.  But instead her mother kept trying to put her in "bigger" dresses looking at Junior styles which don't have a chance of fitting her at all.

Various size ranges are commonly misunderstood and, therefore, mis-used.  Let's discuss it. Selecting the correct size (which is required to be very happy with your choice and look your best) involves knowing the various size ranges, who they are intended to fit, and most of all – how to use them to our advantage.

In this day of one-size-fits-most it is no wonder that many are completely uncertain about what size they should be looking for.  And since no two manufacturers have the same sizing standard, we’re all confused!

Let’s start at the beginning --

Baby Sizes

Baby sizes are “Months” sizes indicated with an “M” such as 3M, 6M, 18M, etc.  In addition to roughly correlating with an age, they will typically indicate that an “M” size should fit a child in a particular weight range.  Of course, all children carry their weight differently; a child 22” at 11 lb. will be very different from a child who is 25” at 11 lbs., so these weight ranges are only a generalized consideration.  While many children are wearing a size 6M coming home from the hospital, others are still wearing size 3M when they are 6M.  Some companies love to confuse us more by indicating a size 0-3M or 9-12M and many mothers stress over the difference.  But think about that for a moment – if it can fit up to a size 3M, then it really has to be a size 3M.  And that’s only the beginning!

After the “M” sizes come the Toddler (“T”) sizes.  These are usually an extension of the “M” range but the styles are shortened up because the child is expected to be toddling around and should not be tripped by a hemline.  Some companies dispense entirely with the “T” designation and go directly into number sizes 1, 2, 3 etc., while others will offer both like 2T, 3T, 4T, 4, 5, 6.  Confused?  Heck yes!  Think of the “T” sizes as a shorter version of the non-“T” counterpart, so a 4T would be expected to be shorter in length than a size 4.  There are several variations of size ranges for these age groups but this is the gist of the matter.

Children’s Sizes

Then begins children’s sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6X, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and some times 18-20.  

Children come in all shapes and proportions.  It is very common and generally assumed that a child will have the classic egg shaped body in the early years – with a rounded belly and nearly no waistline.  Though this is clearly not the case with every child, you need to understand that most children’s sizes assume this shape.

Then somewhere along the line they begin to slim down and proportions change.  That is generally assumed to be around ages 6-7, which is why the size 6X was developed when it is anticipated that the child’s shape is changing and developing a waistline and hips for girls, but no bust as yet and not necessarily getting taller.  

Everyone’s body has its own built-in schedule that does not necessarily follow this made-up rule. Development does not begin for every child at the size 6-7 level!  Some children skip size 6X altogether.  It is very common for a child in the age range of a size 6-12 to feel that nothing fits right at all if their body is not developing according to the garment industry’s schedule and they have not yet begun to slim down. So we see mothers trying sizes 7, 8, 10 and even 12 on a child who really just needs a little extra width in a smaller size that would otherwise fit them vertically for their age.

And thus is born the plus size.  A plus size is for children (undeveloped girls) and is simply a bit wider than its non-plus counterpart.  For boys it’s a husky size.  It is not designed to accommodate a maturing girl developing a bustline (which is a common misconception).

I fear that some mothers (and possibly their children) feel that it is an insult to suggest that their child would do best in a plus size.  But this shouldn’t be the case.  If you read and grasped how the body’s development is assumed (above) and accept that not everybody’s body is on the same schedule, then it is easier to understand that a plus or husky size may be necessary on a perfectly normal child who is not actually over weight.  

So yes, it IS possible for a pageant contestant to need a plus or husky.  We saw it on both boys and girls that weekend at the fashion show even though the kids looked great.  The tendency, however, is to keep looking at larger and larger sizes instead of slightly wider sizes.  

The opposite situation is the tall slim girl.  We all know the ones – she may wear a 5 in width but needs a size 8 because she’s so tall for her age (or so thin for her height).  This is where garments with optional extra length save the day!  There really aren’t many (if any) options for the tall slim boy other than purchasing larger and altering narrower to fit.

Pre-Teen, Teen & Junior Sizes

Next come the pre-teen and teen sizes often referred to as “Juniors”. Junior sizes assume puberty is in full swing and development of a bust line is taking place along with a slimming waistline and hips that are filling out.  This designation doesn’t really happen for boys, for obvious reasons.  Teen and Junior sizes assume an almost B cup and are designed and proportioned to accommodate it.  So, a Teen or Junior size is entirely inappropriate for a child who is not yet developing, yet we see mothers of children who have not yet hit the slimming stage trying these sizes looking for additional width because their child is not fitting standard children’s sizes any more.  Again, what they may need is a plus size, at least on a temporary basis on until the child’s maturing clock starts ticking.

For the most part, Pre-Teen sizes are actually children’s sizes (no bustline accommodation) but in a more mature style.  This can vary by manufacturer, of course.

Teen/Junior sizes typically run in the odd size ranges of 1, 3, 5 and up.  To confuse matters more, manufacturers may indicate sizes like  1-2, 3-4, 5-6, etc. trying to appeal to juniors and misses alike.

Misses Sizes

Misses sizes are for fully matured figures and assume a bit more height too.  They run in the even sizes 0, 2, 4, 6 and up.  Companies some times offer Petite (shorter in proportion to width) and Tall (taller in proportion to width) sizes.

Women’s Sizes

Women’s sizes are Misses sizes with extra width much like Plus sizes for children.  These are indicated with a “W” such as 14W, 16W and up or with “X” for the less structured sizes like 1X, 2X, etc.  Larger women’s sizes can be indicated as 22 or 22W (the latter having a bit more width and more bust accommodation).  There are even WP sizes made by some progressive manufacturers these days!

Men’s Sizes

Frankly, men have it made when it comes to sizes!  Their sizes come in small increments for chest, waist, neck, sleeve length and even in Regular, Short and Tall!  It’s amazing how many more sizes men have to choose from – women, we should rebel! It’s an easy thing to have a garment altered to perfection when they can choose a nearly perfect base size.

And speaking of alterations – almost everybody can benefit from having a standard size altered to fit their body. This is especially true of the pageant contestant who is being judged on appearance! It is very important to select the correct base size, of course, so the alterations will not drastically change the style.