In 1958, a woman who had a 34-inch bust and a 25-inch waist was considered a size 12 ... among the most fit women in the population. Between then and now, clothing brands have either decided ...

The standard included the first modern women's clothing size charts, and it provides the first data points in the charts above. Women's sizes ranged from 8 to 42. A size 8 woman had a bust of 31 ...