# Size of people **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 16, 2000, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660 "2000-02-16T12:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BIGmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@BIGmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIGmatt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/1 "2000-02-16T12:01:00Z")
If what’s being circulated at the moment (and has been for a while) is true, then people get bigger, on average, with every passing generation. If this is the case, then why don’t clothes manufacturers cater for large sizes? If people are in general getting bigger then there must be a market for bigger clothes and shoes etc. ## Just to make sure that this qualifies as a debate; should companies bother with the production of larger sizes, or should they only aim for the ‘bulk market’? “The only good impression he can do is of a man with no talent” - Edmund Blackadder ---
**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/2 "2000-02-16T13:04:00Z")
I have it on good authority that the “bulk market” has taken up the herculean task of designing Hillary Clinton’s dresses for the Spring season. Spring is busting out all over. So, I guess, yes, produce the larger sizes. We need to produce the larger sizes since Mrs Clinton plans to run for the Seante. Ah, Mr Kline, that would be a size 14 elephantine. * * * You can destroy your now by worrying about tomorrow. Janis Joplin ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/3 "2000-02-16T13:04:00Z")
As a rather large fellow myself, I find it quite disturbing that I can’t get anything bigger than a XL at any local discount retailer. It chaps my hide that I have to go to the “Big&Tall” store and pay a 40% markup for a 3X. GGRRRRR :mad: ---
**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/4 "2000-02-16T13:54:00Z")
There’s nothing wrong with wearing a large size (I’ve yo-yo’d all over the scale), but why should it cost the same as a smaller one when it may use twice as much fabric? I think the markups are probably valid. My biggest complaint is that, for women, style ends at size 14. Beyond that, you get tents and florals and disgusting, shapeless fair (not to mention, as you said, the very limited selection). Jones New York and Elisabeth make nice clothes, but they are quite expensive. As a result… I struggle endlessly to keep myself within the lower sizes so that I’m not relegated to designer hell. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/5 "2000-02-16T13:59:00Z")
You guys ought to see my family reunions. The people in their 40’s and up are all relatively normal sized, with a lot of the males around 6’2 or 6’3. Then my generation. I lead the pack at 6’9. Then it ranges down among 20 people with the shortest being 5’11". Of course she is still only 14, so that will likely change. ## I would love for manufacturers to build and create things for taller people (and larger, but that isn’t a big issue in our family), but as long as the average height stays so much lower than the height of our family we will be destined to shop at Big&Tall and to move the driver’s seat all the way back and still be uncomfortable. Have you voted for your favorite, huggable Mullinator today? ---
**Author:** ![Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/6 "2000-02-16T14:48:00Z")
As penance for a past life as a murderous Hun, my wife now works at El Gap (she has on and off for about 5 years). While my lady has remained roughly the same size, it is her (and her co-workers’) observation that Gap sizes have not. To wit, girlfriend used to wear size 3-4; now she wears size **0** -1! In other words, the clothing industry may in fact be catering to larger sized people–only doing it sneaky-like so’s nobody’s the wiser. Come on, did you _really_ think you could still wear the same size acid wash jeans you wore in college? Bwa-ha-ha! (Funny thing is, many Gappers who know they are truly a 6-8 still feel good about sporting a 3-4. They don’t care if it’s BS. How twisted is that?) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/7 "2000-02-16T14:58:00Z")
Thank God for Nordstroms. They actually carry some pretty cool clothes in tall men’s sizes. It’s the only department store that does, to my knowledge. Most stop at a 35" sleeve length, which just doesn’t cut it for those of us 6’4" and over. Someone told me Nordstroms has tall sizes because the family that owns the company has several tall members. Don’t know if that’s true. * * * “Every time you think, you weaken the nation!” --M. Howard (addressing his brother, C. Howard). ---
**Author:** ![diablo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@diablo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diablo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/8 "2000-02-16T16:37:00Z")
Bigmatt- you r asking this because u have size 16 feet. Anyway, I feel that the bulk market should not be catered for more than large sizes. There should be special stores in which prices r equal yet they stock for the oversized people(in all departments) * * * I`m as cunning as a fox who has just been made professor of cunning at oxford university ---
**Author:** ![BIGmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@BIGmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIGmatt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/9 "2000-02-16T16:54:00Z")
That’s why I put the word ‘shoes’ in the OP, diablo, or should I say, LUKE. Fool. 😉 Nice to see that there’s a veritable army of large sized people out there, and not just me! I’m only 17 and I’m already 6’5" with size 16 feet -17 in US sizes - (as mr. diablo so kindly pointed out). Where is it all going to end??? So, Mullinator, 6’9" eh? Good on you! 🙂 I actively encourage anyone who has problem obtaining clothes of the right size to post on this topic, maybe THEN the big companies will get the message! * * * “The only good impression he can do is of a man with no talent” - Edmund Blackadder ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/10 "2000-02-17T06:55:00Z")
> [@](#): > > As a rather large fellow myself, I find it quite disturbing that I can’t get anything bigger than a XL at any local discount retailer. It chaps my hide that I have to go to the “Big&Tall” store and pay a 40% markup for a 3X Amen, rastahomie. I wear a 2x, and those Big&Tall places sure think that ugly clothes are pretty hip. What chafes my ass is the range on mens sizes. What adult man do you know who can wear a size small or medium in men’s clothes? ---
**Author:** ![PTVroman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bb73d2/32.png) [@PTVroman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PTVroman)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/11 "2000-02-16T19:03:00Z")
It’s not just clothing. I realize I am a bit overweight (215lb) and a tad over average in height (6’), but I’m not huge. When they first came out with the Geo Metros, I tried one. I had to wedge my head against the roof to sit upright in the drivers seat. * * * _“The large print givith, and the small print taketh away.”_ Tom Waites, “Step Right Up” ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/12 "2000-02-16T19:11:00Z")
Try being a “petite” woman. Not only is it difficult to find smaller sizes (they make so few) but in the catagory of petite (I think it’s 5’5" and under) there are few choices, 'specially in pants. I end up getting a pair of pants that have to be altered, sometimes by 5 inches in length. This really sucks because the alterations always look altered, you pay the same for a larger size and then some to get the freakin things shortened so yeah, us smaller people have the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/13 "2000-02-16T19:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by techchick68: > Try being a “petite” woman. These sentiments might not be met with much empathy by some of the “differently sized” people here. However, this is also definite problem with the creative sizing schemes employed by The Gap (which I mentioned somewhere up there). What if you’re smaller than what they’re currently calling size 0? Will they introduce a double-aught? Or is it off to the Garanimals rack with all shrimpy adults? [BTW, I assume this does not count as a hijack, since the title of the OP refers to size without identifying any specific one. Sorry if wrong.] ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/14 "2000-02-16T19:27:00Z")
Dirt, Petite, in the clothing world, refers to those of us that are short in hieght, not necessarily skinny. You can be a petite but purchase a size 12. Even though there are few of us “petite” people, we still have the same problem in finding clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/15 "2000-02-16T19:29:00Z")
As long as I’m talking about the OP… I suspect the market would not reward a mainstream clothing maker for trying to liberally cover all sizes. The Gap, for example, has a hard enough time getting rid of bright orange t-shirts, and I think there are a lot more orange-lovers out there than six-foot-niners. That leaves the job to “specialty” manufacturers and outlets, many of whom seem to think of “special” in terms of “special Ed” and design their lines accordingly. The good ones, representing the smallest niche of a very small niche (stylin’ threads for extra-value people), charge a lot cuz there ain’t as much demand. BTW, the same thing goes for maternity clothes. You end up spending your unborn’s college fund just to avoid looking like Mama Cass for nine months. Blah. ---
**Author:** ![Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/16 "2000-02-16T19:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by techchick68: > Petite, in the clothing world, refers to those of us that are short in hieght, not necessarily skinny. You can be a petite but purchase a size 12. Check. I guess I just really love talking about The Gap. Anyway, it probably bears noting that _I’m_ the dumbshit buying up all those bright orange t-shirts, so what am I gonna know about fashion? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/17 "2000-02-16T19:34:00Z")
I think it’s ridiculous that petite is 5’5" and under. The average height of women is around 5’5", so how can you be so close to average and have to buy clothes in a special section? If you’re smaller than a size 0, you have to hit the kiddie section. Another pain in the ass is the fact that dresses are cut to generic bust/waist sizes, and if you don’t match up you may have to go considerably out of your usual size range to finds something that fits. I got a bridesmaid’s dress and although the bottom fits me perfect in a size 3, I had to go up to a size _9_ to accomodate my chest. My breasts are not that frickin’ big! I think they need a little more realistic cuts. ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/18 "2000-02-16T19:45:00Z")
We have double this roblem at our house. I almost five feet tall in shoes, and Hubby is 6’3". I was hoping our kids would be about average, but our 3 year old is so short her doctor had her tested for lack of growth hormone. It is difficult on both sides of this fence, but we seem to have better luck finding clothes for him, at least pants. I can wear a shirt from anywhere, but my mom always has to alter my jeans and pants. I’d rather buy them a little long than a little short, though. I have noticed that departent stores like Penney’s have started carrying more men’s 2X and 3X. I had less trouble shopping for Christmas last year than I have had in the past. To answer the OP, certainly stores should carry the larger sizes. There is a demand for them and they arejust missing out on the revenue if they don’t. * * * Careful with that axe, Eugene. ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/19 "2000-02-16T19:46:00Z")
Yikes. Those first two sentences are what NOT proofreading will get ya, kids. * * * Careful with that axe, Eugene. ---
**Author:** ![Felice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@Felice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felice)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660/20 "2000-02-16T20:40:00Z")
What I find interesting is the inverse relationship between cost and size in womens’ clothing. If I buy a $20 dress from Ye Old Generic Department Store (Walmart/Target/Sears/Shopko/Pennys etc) I wear a size 6. If I buy a $200 dress from Ye Expensive Petite Specialty Store I wear a size 2. So, I wear smaller sizes in more expensive brands. There is, therefore, a huge incentive for those who are insecure about their size to buy the more expensive brands, because they wear a smaller size. Get a clue, folks. Your waistline does not change just because the tag in your skirt says 4 instead of 8. * * * Felice “There’s always a bigger fish.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-people/17660.md?page=2)