In the mid-1920s, American clothing manufacturers introduced a new size range they called the “new half sizes.” It was in response to emerging biometric data showing that women were not as tall as the standard sizes designers had assumed. In addition, the new sizes added extra room at the waist and hip, intended to accommodate those who had abandoned corsets. Initially, manufacturers claimed that this new size range would fit the majority of American women better than existing sizes, making ready-to-wear clothes available without costly alterations. However, even as the industry sought to expand its market share, retailers and advertisers did so in ways that limited potential customers. Half sizes quickly gained a reputation of being intended for the stout and old in an era that glorified the slim and young.

在 1920 年代中期，美国服装制造商推出了一种新的尺码范围，他们称之为“新半码”。这是对新兴的生物特征数据的回应，这些数据显示女性的身高没有设计师假设的标准尺寸那么高。此外，新尺寸在腰部和臀部增加了额外的空间，旨在容纳那些放弃紧身胸衣的人。最初，制造商声称这种新尺码范围比现有尺码更适合大多数美国女性，无需昂贵的改动即可提供成衣。然而，即使该行业试图扩大其市场份额，零售商和广告商也以限制潜在客户的方式这样做。在一个崇尚苗条和年轻的时代，半码很快就赢得了专为粗壮和老年人设计的美誉。