Agree that if you're particularly short then fitting in to a size 12 may mean you're actually a plus side.
I think we should be quite worried if a size 16 is our average size; that would suggest to me that we are becoming a society that is getting used to seeing overweight as normal; I'm a size 18 in bottoms at the moment sadly but when I was a 16 in bottoms, I knew that this was because I'm overweight for my height (5'6) and I am classed as taller than average I think so if you're smaller and a size 16 or bigger then I think probably you'd be overweight too.
Size 16 has been the UK average for some time now... which is why the stick-thin models used are inappropriate and give the wrong message. Robinia is right - sizing has gone up from in past years.
You can still get 12 in their normal range though. One would hope that this new range will be designed to flatter the fuller figure, even 12s may want to look slimmer. Most of Mango stuff is for really young sticks but is quite stylish.
I think that's an important point too Prudie, depending on who your target audience is then sizing is also important; if you're a girl between 10 - 14 or so, I would expect your figure to look quite different to this 35 year old figure... sadly. :-/
I am a 16 in BHS, a 12 in M&S, a 10 in Dorothy Perkins and a few other shops, and a 6 in Monsoon.
Also, yesterday I bought 2 pairs of shoes - both pairs fitted well, but the pair I am wearing now is 6 and a half, the others were 8. I am normally 8 and a half in shoes.
Make what you like of that.
I call it nonsense
I agree with CD, an average of size 16, doesn't make it a healthy weight, we are just changing what we see as normal. Size 12 could be a plus size, depending how tall you are. I'm 5'6" and went up to a 12 at 9 months pregnant. For me, size 12 would be uncomfortable.
I'm a size 12 and am getting pretty sick of being called plus size. I weigh less than 9 stones and am five feet four inches tall. I would like to lose a bit more weight and get back to the size 8 I used to be 5 years ago, but i'm a healthy weight for my height according to my doctor.