What size would a vintage 14 relate to in modern sizes? Also, you have multiple sizes for each measurement. Can you explain how that works?
Well, I was gobsmacked. I mean, how does this girl not know this? How can she be shopping on Etsy and not understand how this works? Then it occurred to me.....Oh, right. Not everyone is an obsessive compulsive shopper and vintage hoarder like myself. Most people, in fact, do not understand vintage sizing. And I will bet the farm that there are many of you nodding your heads as you read this.
There are many things to consider when shopping for vintage. You CANNOT just go by the sizing on the tag! You have to take into consideration the era it was produced and always know your measurements. Here is another one that flabbergasts me- how you cannot know your measurements!?! Yes, more head nodding.
So first things first. You must determine the approximate time the garment was produced. In the 80's the US Department of Commerce conveniently trashed a common sizing system to cater to the vanity of the ever expanding US waistline. If you don't want to admit you have gone up 6 sizes in clothing why not just make the old 14 the new size 6? That in a nut shell is what happened. If you are shopping for vintage clothing that was produced pre-1983, a general rule of thumb is that it will be an average of six sizes larger than current sizing. That is to say, if you are looking at a 1960's dress and it is a size 12, you had better minimally be a current size 6 to even think of getting that zipper closed.
To illustrate my point, I will use the ever popular example of Marilyn Monroe. Have you ever heard anyone say, "Well, Marilyn Monroe was a size 12!" Sure you have. Sometimes you even hear that she was a size 16. Well let's just analyze this one shall we?
Marilyn stood at a height of 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall. Her weight fluctuated (as all ours does) but on average she typically weighed in at around 118 pounds. According to her dressmaker, Marilyn Monroe's measurements were 35-22-35- the perfect hourglass shape for which she was widely known. For those of you who don't know your measurements, let me just tell you that you are one svelte b*tch if the circumference of your thigh is 22 inches let alone your waist. A modern size 12- Marilyn certainly was NOT.
Marilyn may have been a UK size 16....which is the equivalent of a vintage US size 12....which by today's standards would actually be about a size 4. There you have it. In fact, the iconic custom made dress that she wore in The Seven Year Itch was actually closer to a 0/2. It could not be zipped on a size 2 mannequin when it sold for $4.6 million in 2011. What dress size Marilyn actually wore is not the point. The point is how sizing in vintage clothing can be a little confusing for those not well versed on the subject.
Now on to the second most important piece of info when shopping for vintage- know your measurements. We have a handy dandy page on our site which gives specifics of how to take your measurements. This is crucial! If you are purchasing online any reputable seller will list these for Bust, Waist, and Hip. If the garment is measured while flat and you have a bust measurement of 17 inches across the front, you must double this to account for the back as well- giving you a total bust measurement of 34 inches. The up side is that once you know your measurements you will know exactly whether or not a garment will fit you properly. It makes buying vintage online a relatively easy and pleasant experience.
Till Next Time,
Tricia
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