Comments on: Spain’s government sizes the nation http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/ Free advice from a fashion pro Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:52:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: jaded http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-6108 jaded Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:52:32 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-6108 I'd love it if we took on the same idea, and added more info. Resorting the sizes and improving labelling to do a better job of building clothing sizes to create pear, hourglass, ruler and apple clothing. Being one size or another doesn't determine curviness or lack thereof, I agree Maya. But personally I have a tone of trouble finding clothes since I am short waisted, well endowed, and unfortunately have muscular quads. So its a crapshoot finding pants and other clothing for my body type. I'd be happy if they created clothing with an average D-Cup bust in mind, since the average American is a C+ and my other busty friends...whether size 2 or 20 have so many problems finding shirts and jackets that fit. I’d love it if we took on the same idea, and added more info.

Resorting the sizes and improving labelling to do a better job of building clothing sizes to create pear, hourglass, ruler and apple clothing. Being one size or another doesn’t determine curviness or lack thereof, I agree Maya. But personally I have a tone of trouble finding clothes since I am short waisted, well endowed, and unfortunately have muscular quads. So its a crapshoot finding pants and other clothing for my body type. I’d be happy if they created clothing with an average D-Cup bust in mind, since the average American is a C+ and my other busty friends…whether size 2 or 20 have so many problems finding shirts and jackets that fit.

]]> By: cathy http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4423 cathy Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:14:31 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4423 I was just thinking tonight while having my nightly chocolate that I really need to go on some kind of serious crash diet, like maybe total starvation, and then I could be as bone thin as I was before I went on the pill. I am still much thinner than average but even I feel the pressure. The whole society seems bent on making anyone who has curves feel guilty. A decade ago I never worried about my figure; it wasn't a source of pressure then like it is now. I'm not sure who really started the whole skinny thing but it does seem to be here to stay. I was just thinking tonight while having my nightly chocolate that I really need to go on some kind of serious crash diet, like maybe total starvation, and then I could be as bone thin as I was before I went on the pill. I am still much thinner than average but even I feel the pressure. The whole society seems bent on making anyone who has curves feel guilty. A decade ago I never worried about my figure; it wasn’t a source of pressure then like it is now. I’m not sure who really started the whole skinny thing but it does seem to be here to stay.

]]> By: Angie http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4418 Angie Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:56:12 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4418 A size 10 then was not the same as a size 10 now. A size 10 then was probably the equivalent if a size 2 or 4 today as sizes got bigger over time. A size 10 then was not the same as a size 10 now. A size 10 then was probably the equivalent if a size 2 or 4 today as sizes got bigger over time.

]]> By: Fran http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4417 Fran Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:46:40 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4417 When I worked in a department store in 1978, the mannequins only wore Size 10! What happened? When I worked in a department store in 1978, the mannequins only wore Size 10! What happened?

]]> By: Yvonne http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4408 Yvonne Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:47:45 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4408 I think it is a wonderful idea what Spain is doing. While there is a need for "plus" sizing and "petite" sizing. Let us not forget the "tall" sizing. I have a hard time finding long enough pants. Jeans can be found fairly well, but try finding very many dress pants in long lenths! And then there are those of us who have no tush, or very broad shoulders. That makes for hard to fit as well. It isn't only the manequins that have the clothing pinned up, I have seen the models being photographed for catalogs being "pinned" up or "pinned in" and that also can mislead how an article of clothing should fit, or drape as it should. I think it is a wonderful idea what Spain is doing. While there is a need for “plus” sizing and “petite” sizing. Let us not forget the “tall” sizing. I have a hard time finding long enough pants. Jeans can be found fairly well, but try finding very many dress pants in long lenths! And then there are those of us who have no tush, or very broad shoulders. That makes for hard to fit as well.

It isn’t only the manequins that have the clothing pinned up, I have seen the models being photographed for catalogs being “pinned” up or “pinned in” and that also can mislead how an article of clothing should fit, or drape as it should.

]]> By: Angie http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4397 Angie Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:56:28 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4397 You make excellent points Maya and thanks for your great perspective. From what I can gather from the article, the aim of the undertaking is to make sure that Spain stocks sizes to clothe all it's people despite their size. But that "the national averages" would be reflected in the majority of the clothing that was available in Spain's stores. Optimal clothing sizes is tricky territory and it's hard to be unbiased about this subject. In an ideal world, the aim remains to find a way to give us as much clothing and footwear variety in as many sizes as possible. You make excellent points Maya and thanks for your great perspective. From what I can gather from the article, the aim of the undertaking is to make sure that Spain stocks sizes to clothe all it’s people despite their size. But that “the national averages” would be reflected in the majority of the clothing that was available in Spain’s stores.

Optimal clothing sizes is tricky territory and it’s hard to be unbiased about this subject. In an ideal world, the aim remains to find a way to give us as much clothing and footwear variety in as many sizes as possible.

]]> By: Maya http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4395 Maya Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:16:14 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4395 Eh, my response to this scheme is a bit icy. If they did this here, in the US, where 2/3 of the population is overweight or obese, I don't think I would approve of using the average female as the gold standard. I think shape--not size--is key. I am an infamous size 2, but I have curves and belly fat like any other "normal" woman. I am not saying I have the ideal body at all--just that being large doesn't necessarily make you curvy, and being slim doesn't make you boyish. I don't personally judge my own body or anyone else's based on mannequins. I really do think this issue of skinniness has been blown of proportion to a point where it's almost a joke. I agree with Meredith that it doesn't help me visualize how clothes will look on me, but that's going to happen whether the mannequins are a size 2 or a size 12 because they are not ever in a million years going to have my proportions. Also, I have a few classes in the fashion department here at Parsons and I see a lot of dress forms marked as size 8's, 6's and 4's. What I'm saying is that a mannequin size 2 is hugely different from a human size 2. I don't know what sizes are like in Spain, but I can tell you that over here, I'm already starting to feel the heat of being sized out, and I'm not even abnormally tiny. There are plenty of women who are thinner than I am who were sized out long ago, and I don't look forward to being one of them. I think the best and most brainless solution is to start giving a greater range. I was trying to help my plus size friend find new clothes for work and it was really difficult and limiting. I really felt for her. I'd much rather see the market expand to accommodate more sizes rather than just knocking some off the end and replacing them with others (if that makes sense). Eh, my response to this scheme is a bit icy. If they did this here, in the US, where 2/3 of the population is overweight or obese, I don’t think I would approve of using the average female as the gold standard. I think shape–not size–is key. I am an infamous size 2, but I have curves and belly fat like any other “normal” woman. I am not saying I have the ideal body at all–just that being large doesn’t necessarily make you curvy, and being slim doesn’t make you boyish.

I don’t personally judge my own body or anyone else’s based on mannequins. I really do think this issue of skinniness has been blown of proportion to a point where it’s almost a joke. I agree with Meredith that it doesn’t help me visualize how clothes will look on me, but that’s going to happen whether the mannequins are a size 2 or a size 12 because they are not ever in a million years going to have my proportions.

Also, I have a few classes in the fashion department here at Parsons and I see a lot of dress forms marked as size 8’s, 6’s and 4’s. What I’m saying is that a mannequin size 2 is hugely different from a human size 2. I don’t know what sizes are like in Spain, but I can tell you that over here, I’m already starting to feel the heat of being sized out, and I’m not even abnormally tiny. There are plenty of women who are thinner than I am who were sized out long ago, and I don’t look forward to being one of them.

I think the best and most brainless solution is to start giving a greater range. I was trying to help my plus size friend find new clothes for work and it was really difficult and limiting. I really felt for her. I’d much rather see the market expand to accommodate more sizes rather than just knocking some off the end and replacing them with others (if that makes sense).

]]> By: Isabel http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4393 Isabel Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:44:16 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4393 I think this is great news! I lived in Spain and already and a huge fan of the culture, fashion, food, etc. This just adds to my admiration! I think this is great news! I lived in Spain and already and a huge fan of the culture, fashion, food, etc. This just adds to my admiration!

]]> By: Angie http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4392 Angie Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:40:33 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4392 It's such a good point that you make with respect to clothing being pinned to fit mannequins Meredith. Chico's, J Jill and Coldwater Creek are notorious for doing that here in America. But sometimes there isn't a size left in a particular style though. Mannequins end up wearing a size 8 or 10 on their size 2 bodies...which results in loads of pinning and size adjustment. I suppose that isn't really a reflection of the style of the item? So Mannequins should be clothed in apparel that fits them....sans the pinning. Which brings us back to the original question of what the best size of a mannequin should be. It’s such a good point that you make with respect to clothing being pinned to fit mannequins Meredith. Chico’s, J Jill and Coldwater Creek are notorious for doing that here in America. But sometimes there isn’t a size left in a particular style though. Mannequins end up wearing a size 8 or 10 on their size 2 bodies…which results in loads of pinning and size adjustment. I suppose that isn’t really a reflection of the style of the item? So Mannequins should be clothed in apparel that fits them….sans the pinning. Which brings us back to the original question of what the best size of a mannequin should be.

]]> By: Joey http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4391 Joey Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:23:49 +0000 http://www.youlookfab.com/2007/10/29/spains-government-sizes-the-nation/#comment-4391 I like the message this sends. Wish Spain all the luck in the world on this task and hope it revolutionizes body image across continents! I like the message this sends. Wish Spain all the luck in the world on this task and hope it revolutionizes body image across continents!

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