Women’s clothes sizing has long been as issue. You're a size 10 in The Limited, but a six in Ann Taylor. You can barely squeeze into a size two Levi's, but can put on a size zero Lucky Brand jeans without breaking a sweat.

According to an article published in the Daily Mail, if Marilyn Monroe were alive today, her clothing size would range anywhere between a double zero to an eight. In 1958, she was considered to be a size 12. For an American woman today, a waist measuring between 26 and 28 inches is considered a size eight. In 1958, you were considered a size eight if your waist measured between 22 and 24 inches.

And how about plus size women? Well, according to the chart in the Daily Mail article, a size 20 measured between a 32 and 34 inch waist. Now, a size 20 measures between a 40 and 42 inch waist.

So why are sizes all over the map? There are a number of reasons for why clothing sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and retail store to retail store:

  • Americans are more overweight than decades earlier.
  • The original clothing chart didn't represent a wide range of sizes.
  • Clothing manufacturers are trying to attract a larger customer base.
  • Vanity might be playing a role.

And despite the fact that Americans continue to grow heavier, plus-size women still have a tough time finding clothing. In fact, according to an article that was published in Glamour in March 2017, only 16 percent of all apparel sales are for plus-size clothing, but considering nearly 70 percent of American women are a size 14 or higher, you would think it would be a larger slice of the pie.

Also from this week's Forever 39 podcast — Dating as a divorcee with children PLUS: Scoring better service at restaurants! Click on the podcast player above to hear the entire episode.

Join us for next week’s podcast when we chat about MLMs, the five foods we could eat FOREVER, and are biggest annoyances about New Jersey when the weather is hot.

Share your thoughts on all of them below, on Twitter, on Facebook or at forever39@nj1015.com.

— Annette and Megan, Forever 39

More from Forever 39:

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM