We already read the news that teen retailers Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle and Aeropostale were facing drops in sales and tough, fickle markets, but I seemed to have missed something way more interesting than the financial news. One of the reasons that American Eagle seems to do better than its competitors is that they offer half-sizes in their clothing.

Brilliant.

We get half-sizes in shoes and even in lingerie, because designers and manufactureres know that people do not come in round number sizes. How annoying is it when you go somewhere and have to buy shoes that only come in whole sizes and end up buying and flopping around in shoes that a half-size too big or grimacing because they're a half-size too tight? Why shouldn't clothing be the same? Granted, clothing that's slightly too big or small isn't as noticeable as it is in shoes, but wouldn't this be great for jeans? Sometimes I really think I am right in between two sizes. So let's not let the brilliance of half-sizes stay with the teens, designers!

[via: WantNeedHave]