size 16?

[Eway]

"The passion for dieting ignores the fact that women are different shapes and sizes (47% of British women take a size 16 or over)."

Does this "size" refer to the size of clothes?

[MikeNewYork]

"The passion for dieting ignores the fact that women are different shapes and sizes (47% of British women take a size 16 or over)."

Does this "size" refer to the size of clothes?

Yes it does.

[Ouisch]

I believe that British sizes run slightly differently, but in American sizing, 16 is the largest that is considered "regular." Anything above that is considered a "plus" size.

To put sizes in perspective, the average size of most actresses today (Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie) is a very petite two. Marilyn Monroe was a size 12, which was considered sexy and curvacious in her day, but would be positively porky by today's show business standards. Of course, there is a vast difference between Hollywood and real life.

[MikeNewYork]

I believe that British sizes run slightly differently, but in American sizing, 16 is the largest that is considered "regular." Anything above that is considered a "plus" size.

To put sizes in perspective, the average size of most actresses today (Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie) is a very petite two. Marilyn Monroe was a size 12, which was considered sexy and curvacious in her day, but would be positively porky by today's show business standards. Of course, there is a vast difference between Hollywood and real life.

It is also true that there has been considerable deflation in clothes sizes. The invention of size zero was ridiculous. Now we have the minus 2.

[BobK]

I believe that British sizes run slightly differently, but in American sizing, 16 is the largest that is considered "regular." Anything above that is considered a "plus" size.

Certainly, as far as shoe sizes are concerned. But I could believe Marilyn Monroe was a size 12. As to your more recent examples, I have difficulty remembering the names of these stick insects. I think women's clothes sizes go up to 18 here, but many shops stock nothing bigger than a 16 (in fact, some boutiques don't stock anything over a 12).

To put sizes in perspective, the average size of most actresses today (Jennifer Aniston, Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie) is a very petite two. Marilyn Monroe was a size 12, which was considered sexy and curvacious in her day, but would be positively porky by today's show business standards. Of course, there is a vast difference between Hollywood and real life.

In a healthy move recently, Marks and Spencer (big clothes chain) insisted that all their models should be a 14.

b