29% say there is no ideal dress size, however the majority (62%) do have a perfect size; the average is 12. The average male chooses 12 while women choose 13. The actual average dress size in the UK is now 16, and both men and women estimate this closely – on average they say 15. The younger generation are more likely to have a lower ideal dress size than their elders. 18-24 and 25-39 year olds choose 11 compared to 40-59 year olds saying 13 and those over 60 saying 14. Reportedly 45% of British women are dress size 16 or more, while the average female waist has grown seven inches since 1951.