Will it fit? Read the numbers, not the tag.
A vintage size label can't tell you how a piece fits today. Measurements can. Here's what to measure, how to read a listing, and how much room you need. Three minutes, once.
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Vintage sizes don't mean today's sizes.
Clothing sizes have shifted over the decades. Brands slowly made the number on the label smaller for the same body, which is often called vanity sizing. So a vintage label usually reads several sizes bigger than what you'd buy today.
Here's one real example. In 1955, a Sears catalog listed these body measurements for its Misses sizes:
| 1955 size | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 34 | 25.5 | 36 |
| 14 | 35.5 | 27 | 38 |
| 16 | 37 | 28.5 | 40 |
| 18 | 39 | 30.5 | 42 |
| 20 | 41 | 32.5 | 44 |
Source: 1955 Sears catalog, Misses sizes, as reprinted by Chronically Vintage. Historical reference only. Every maker and decade sized differently.
Rule one Trust the tape measure, not the tag.
Four numbers, about three minutes.
Use a soft sewing tape. Wear the bra you'd wear with the piece, stand relaxed, and keep the tape snug but not tight, level with the floor.
- Bust. Around the fullest part of your chest, straight across your back.
- Natural waist. The narrowest part of your torso, usually a little above your belly button. Bend to one side; the crease is your natural waist.
- Hips. Around the fullest part of your hips and seat, feet together.
- Shoulders (optional). Easiest from a jacket that fits you well: lay it flat and measure across the back, seam to seam.
Flat × 2 = the real number.
Most sellers lay a piece flat and measure straight across. That's only the front, so double it to get the full measurement. "Pit to pit 20 inches" means a 40-inch bust.
- Bust: armpit to armpit, doubled.
- Waist: straight across the narrowest point or the waistband, doubled.
- Hips: across the widest point, about 7–8 inches below the waist, doubled.
- Shoulders: seam to seam across the back. Not doubled.
- Length: top of the shoulder (or waistband) to the hem.
On our listings the doubling is already done. Every number is the full measurement.
How much room do you need?
Take the garment's number, subtract yours. Here's the rule of thumb our fit check uses. It's a guide, not a promise.
Less than your measurement
Probably won't close, or will pull. Skip it unless the fabric stretches.
0 to 2 in. more than you
Fitted. Right for dresses and tops meant to sit close. Little room to layer.
2 to 5 in. more
Comfortable in most woven pieces, with room for a thin layer under a jacket.
5 in. or more
Loose or oversized. Great for jackets and knits; a fitted dress will look big.
Stretch changes the math. Stretchy knits and elastic waists can measure up to about 3 inches smaller than you and still go on. A slight stretch gives about 1 inch.
Jackets need extra. For anything you'll wear over a sweater, look for about 4 inches or more over your bust.
Shoulders are hard to alter. Within ¾ inch of yours lines up. Bigger reads as a dropped, relaxed shoulder.
Paige's shop: These pieces are from Paige's Closet, Paige's own Depop shop, so she earns the sale when you buy one. How we make money.
Your numbers, checked for you.
- New pieces show whether your bust, waist and hips fall inside the brand's size range, with a link to its size chart.
- Closet pieces list exactly what the tag says, plus full measurements in inches, measured flat by hand and doubled.
- Your fit check appears once you've saved your numbers: each spot shows the difference and what it usually means.
- Fabric and stretch are noted where they change the math.
The 60-second check.
- Ignore the size on the label.
- Find the bust, waist and hips. If they're flat, double them.
- Subtract your numbers. Look for the right room for the piece.
- Check shoulders on anything structured.
- Read the fabric: stretch or no stretch?
- Check the length against something you own.
- No measurements listed? Ask before you buy.
Get the printable Fit Guide.
Everything on this page on two printable pages, plus a fill-in worksheet for your numbers and favorite brands.
Fit questions, answered.
What's the difference between vintage and vintage-style?
Vintage is actually old, usually 20 years or more. Vintage-style is new clothing made in older shapes, often in much wider size ranges. Most of the looks on this site use new vintage-style pieces in today's sizes. The one-of-a-kind pieces in Paige's Closet are true vintage or secondhand.
Why does the size on a vintage label seem so small?
Sizing has drifted over the decades. The same body that wore a 16 in the 1950s often wears a much smaller number today. That is why we skip the label and go by measurements.
Should I size up or down in vintage?
Neither. Compare the garment measurements to yours, then look for the right amount of room for that kind of piece: close for a fitted dress, more for a jacket you will layer.
Do you store my measurements?
No. When you save your numbers, they stay in your own browser on this device. We never receive them. Press Clear any time to remove them.
A piece is borderline. What should I do?
Check the fabric. Stretch knits and elastic waists have give; structured wovens do not. For a piece from Paige's Closet, message Paige on Depop before you buy and she will measure anything you need. For new pieces, the brand's size chart and reviews are your best guide.