![]() A lot of suppliers use generic size charts regardless of the style they are offering. Unlike most retailers we don't copy and paste the size charts other suppliers provide when we buy stock from them. This requires hours of averaging measurements and lots and lots of size comparisons but we are getting there. We would like to reach a stage where buyers can be confident if they buy two Socialite dresses that are a similar silhouette then the fit will be very similar too. For example, the original owner of vintage tea dress A UK 10 might have had broad shoulders, whereas owner of vintage tea dress B UK 10 might have had a large bust. The drawback with that is each one can vary significantly even between two similar styles. Historically we have reproduced our archive garments to the letter including measurements this is because we want to replicate the exact proportions of the original piece. This year we are working to close the gap on the differentials between our different styles. We can process a return for a pair of men's vintage trousers that are 'too large' followed by the same style, same size 'too small' we can only do our best by listening to customers, looking for repeat feedback on sizing and refine our listings and size charts. That said it's still impossible to set a range of sizes that will catch everyone. One of the main reasons we launched a range of replica vintage clothing 15 years ago was to bring period accurate clothing to all shapes and sizes. Where does the bust end and sleeve begin? Reproduction Collections Don't get us started on Batwing sleeves and Trapeze coats! He went on to explain two vintage jackets might be labelled a 42" chest but an example from the 1990s actually measures 46" with one from the 1940s coming up at 41 1/2" at a stretch. New Operations Manager Ben commented that taking measurements and determining the size of a garment has been the trickiest area to master. A jacket chest on the other hand needs an element of ease for comfort, to fit other clothes beneath and so on. Likewise a 16.5" collar should measure exactly that. As an example a garment waist tends to be an exact measurement - a 36" trouser waist should measure exactly that. We use our expertise from our 20 plus years selling vintage clothing to influence our interpretation of the numbers, in simple terms we know when to add a little ease and and when to use an exact measurement. It wasn't until the mid-20th century, we saw the first use of standardised sizing for apparel, limiting the need for alterations and prior fittings. For example the f igure-accentuating bodice popularised by Lana Turner in the late 40s and 50s meant a blouse or dress bodice had to accommodate a bullet bra. Garments were not only made to fit a persons figure and height but also reflected the fashionable silhouette of the era. A large percentage of the mid-century clothing we source has few or no labels. To exasperate the issues already raised, true vintage garments pre-1960s were mostly bespoke tailored for the wearer. So how can we help?īy Helping You Understand Why Sizing Vintage Can Be Tricky If you love to wear true vintage clothing you can multiply those dilemmas by at least three. dancing the night away or family meal, fit preference - figure hugging or relaxed? These other factors influence our opinion of what constitutes a 'good fit'. Sarah works out at the gym so has definition and muscles, Alice has a youthful slim figure, and I am nearly 60 years old so even though we would all order the same size, the fit will change given our unique variations.Īside from our figure types there are other considerations such as posture, where the item will be worn i.e. For example, three of us girls in the office are a UK size 10. Every person can be a completely different shape, despite needing the same dress size. Even when buying from an established store, we can rarely rely on buying the same size each time and consistently getting a perfect fit. Ordering clothes online is always a bit of a gamble.
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