The half-size mystery solved
As mysteries go, this will never enjoy a BBC production. After all, it features no bodies, no stolen jewels, and no charismatic detective. Just an aging professor, dressed in well-worn L.L. Bean basics, trying to figure out what happened to the women's clothing range formerly known as "half sizes".
Half sizes were designed for "mature figures" -- women with fuller, lower busts, waists that were larger in proportion to bust and hips than "Misses" sizes, and shorter from neck to waist than "Misses" or "Women's" figures. Half sizes were seldom sleeveless, and the sleeve seam and upper arm were roomier. Skirts were usually longer than other size ranges. Shoulders were more rounded. In other words, half sizes were for postmenopausal women. Until they disappeared in the late 1980s.
Of course, I mean that the size range disappeared, not the women for whom it had been desired. Half Sizes were replaced by Women's Petite by Sears in 1988.
I am still tracking down the exact change in standards, but it is clear that the dimensions and proportions changed, not just the name.
So what? Why should anyone care?
Here's the thing. If sizes associated with age (half sizes) do not exist, women over fifty must select clothing from the remaining size ranges based on the size, shape and proportion of their bodies. This sounds like a good thing, but there's this reality: we are not all Helen Mirren. We are also not 20-something plus-size models. Some of look like this, or will, if we live long enough:
And so, I wonder, how did the elimination of half sizes change the clothing options for older women? What does this tell us about gender expression and identity across the life course? Is anyone studying this? I am not looking for a thesis topic at my age, but maybe someone is…
I remember that my very short maternal grandmother was a size 14 1/2, and it was very hard to find new clothes for her in the last years before she died in 1987 (age 93). She only wanted dresses, no pants or separates, which compounded the problem. For my own shrunken, thickened, 74 year old self, I am going, for the most part, with tops that are a size too big and pull-on pants. If LLBean stops selling Perfect Fit pants in the Original style, I hope they give notice so I can stock up!
Petite is not suitable for me. The size is always too short in length. I'm 5' 5" & alot of women are taller then me!