What size am I in vintage clothes? Finding your perfect fit!

Few things sting like falling for a vintage piece, hitting "buy," and then… it doesn't fit. Good news: vintage sizing isn't random. Once you know how to read it, you'll shop with way more confidence. Here's the no-stress guide.

First, ignore the size on the tag

Seriously. Vintage runs small compared to modern sizing thanks to decades of "vanity sizing" (the numbers shrank over time while bodies didn't), and there was never one universal size chart to begin with. A vintage 12 might fit like a modern 6. The label number is a clue, not the answer.

Know your own measurements

Grab a soft measuring tape and write these down in inches: bust (around the fullest part), waist (the narrowest part), and hips (the fullest part). For bottoms, add your inseam (inner leg, crotch to ankle). Save them in your phone notes — future you will thank you.

Then read the garment's measurements

Good sellers (hi, that's us) list garments measured flat: lay the piece down, measure straight across the bust, waist, and hips, then double it for the full circumference. Compare that to your body and leave a little wiggle room — woven vintage fabrics don't stretch like modern knits, so you usually want an inch or two of ease.

When in doubt, tailor it

A piece that's a touch big is a dream — taking something in is easy and cheap. Too small is the tricky one (there's only so much seam allowance to let out), so when you're unsure, size toward "slightly roomy." A good tailor turns "almost" into "made for me."

The golden rule

Measurements over tags, every single time. We measure every piece in the shop and carry inclusive sizes from XXS to 5XL, so you can shop by the numbers that actually matter — yours.

Ready to shop with confidence? Browse the shop — every piece measured, inclusive sizes XXS to 5XL.

Keep reading: Were people really smaller in the past?