Columbia, MO (WFN) -- A new study has taken the guessing out of clothing sizes for women.

More than a year ago, 10,000 men and women from across the U.S. participated in SizeUSA's study where their bodies were scanned using 3-D measurement technology for the purpose of determining a standard sizing. The participants came from six age groups and four ethnic groups.

Karla Simmons, professor of textile and apparel management at the University of Missouri-Columbia, organized the Missouri branch of the study and says the results indicate that designers are actually fitting clothes to only six percent of all women.

Simmons says historically, clothing has been designed for the classic hour-glass shape, but these days, 64 percent of women are pear-shaped. That means designers will need to alter their clothes to today's female body.

Simmons' says she's already being contacted by department stores asking for an analysis of the results.

She says besides clothing, the data can also be used to design everything from office furniture to car seats to airplane cockpits.

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