How to Measure for Proper Fit

Below we've included helpful hints for determining proper fit and instructions on how to measure yourself,  in order to save you the inconvenience of having to return your purchase and incur a restocking fee. These guidelines can be applied to most vintage clothing and vintage style clothing you may wish to purchase. So printing and keeping a copy handy while online shopping could prove to be very useful.

Vintage clothing sizes differed quite a bit from the sizing of today. To complicate matters even further,  many modern clothing designers and manufacturers have their own standards for grading their patterns. So a specific size from one designer can fit you very differently than the same size produced by another.

That is why we include the actual garment measurements in the descriptions of our authentic vintage clothing, reproduction and  retro clothing, making it easier  for you to select something that fits properly.   Then you can compare your own measurements to that of the garment, allowing some room for movement, depending on the style of the outfit and give of the fabric. This is very important,  as the majority of our returns are for dresses that are too tight. Most of the time, if your own measurements are the same as that of the dress, you should order the next size up. You can always have an item altered to fit smaller, but most styles can't be altered to a larger size.

HERE ARE SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR FITTING INTO SPECIFIC STYLES-

*With many one of a kind authentic vintage dresses in a non-stretch fabric, if you measure the same as the dress,  it will most likely be too snug and you will put excessive stress on the garment.

A common example are dresses with fitted bodices and/or pencil skirts. With these styles, if there is no stretch to the fabric, i.e. taffeta or silk, then your own measurements need to be smaller than the garments in order to breathe and move in it.

*Strapless bodices on formal wear can be close to your own bust measurement, as you need to fill it out in order to hold up the dress! But be aware of ribcage and waist measurements though. This is where you'll need some breathing room.

*Stretchy fabrics are more forgiving, but keep in mind how snug you like to wear your clothing. Again, when in doubt,  order a size up if available.

*In the case of shirtwaist style bodices, they are usually designed to fit somewhat loosely. So a shirtdress measuring 40" in the bust will fit someone with a bust measurement between 36 and 38".  If it is dolman sleeved, it may even look fine on someone with a 34" bust. Basically,  you always need to keep the style and fabric in mind. 

Now for the actual measuring. First off, you will need a tape measure.  The kind from the sewing store, not the hardware store! 

Please refer to the chart below and if you still have questions on proper fit, please don't hesitate to contact us. We'd be happy to assist you. There are also additional helpful hints below

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

*Your bust measurement is not your bra measurement!  Though you must measure your bust while wearing a bra.

*For bust, ribcage, waist and hips, remember not to pull the tape measure too tightly.

*Shoulder measurements should be taken from the outside edge of one shoulder to the other.

*For inseam measurements, measure from the crotch to hem of one leg of a pair of pants or shorts you already own that fit you correctly.

*For bathing suits or dresses with molded cups, we provide an approximate cup size or the exact measurements of the width across of each cup and what it measures down one side of the cup and up the other. You can measure one of your bras and compare.

*For fitted bodices we also provide the measurements across the widest part of the back(just below underam area). The measurements for the front will include the cup area for the bust.  These are important measurements, because someone with a 36" total bust measurement could have a narrow back and ribcage, but a D cup, or a wide back but  wear an A or B cup. This could make a huge difference in whether a specific bodice style fits or not. So the total bust measurement doesn't always tell the full story.

*Another important measurement is the shoulder to waist measurement. It determines torso length, which in turn, tells you where the waistline of a particular garment is going to fall on you.  For example, if your waist measures 28", and the dress you're interested in has a waist measurement of 29", it won't necessarily fit your waist unless your own shoulder to waist measurement is close to the one in the description. You could be longer or shorter waisted compared to how the garment was designed.  So even if a waist measurement appears to be your size,  check that shoulder to waist measurement to see where the waistline will actually fall on your body.  If it falls at or close to your natural waist,  then compare the waist measurement to your own.  Most vintage dresses with a shoulder to waist measurement of 15" or less will usually be shortwaisted on the average woman, or be an empire style.

AT NOTE ABOUT FORMAL WEAR AND GOWN LENGTHS-  

It is quite common to have to have formal dresses altered for fit.  If ever in doubt about what size to purchase, please contact us first. But in most cases, with dresses in a non-stretch fabric you're better off buying the next size up if you are between sizes. It's easy to take something in. There usually isn't enough seam allowance to let something out.

Also, gowns are usually made 56-60" long.  This means anyone 5'5" and under will probably need to have their gown hemmed.