Beauty standards are changing, especially because of social media. Women are now confidently showing off their natural looks, no matter their shape or size. A new study in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology, and Education shows that the average American woman has moved from a size 14 to a size 16 or 18 in recent years.
A study that looked at data from more than 5,500 women in the U.S. discovered that the average waist size has gone up from 34.9 inches to 37.5 inches in the last twenty years. Susan Dunn, one of the main experts on the research, points out how important this information is: “Knowing the average size can really affect how women see themselves.”
Dunn and co-author Deborah Christel urge the fashion industry to adapt to these changes. “These women are here to stay, and they deserve clothing that fits them,” Dunn asserts.
The message is clear: clothing designers need to update their sizing standards to accurately reflect the modern American woman’s true shape and size.