Are all vintage sizes different from modern sizes?
Size tags on vintage clothing by todays standards, are somewhat misleading. For example, a 1960s size 12 is roughly equivalent to a modern size 8 or 10. Moreover, fifty or 60 years ago a woman's waist was typically shorter, so a "medium sized" garment might not fit a modern medium sized woman today
How can I be sure your items will fit me?
Due to the fact that vintage and modern sizes differ so greatly Barefoot Vintage has included actual garment measurements as well as the modern size equivalent within every listing to try to help you determine a proper fit
There is also a link to the sizing guide on each product page for immediate reference
Barefoot Vintage highly recommends that purchasers take the time to measure themselves (or perhaps an owned garment) to ensure a proper fit ahead of ordering an item
Self-Measurement Process
Using an owned garment
- Lay your garment flat and measure with a flexible measuring tape at each of the points referenced in the listing
- If preferred you can double the waist, bust-chest and hip measurements to give you the full circumference
- If your garment's measurements are smaller than or equal to our item measurements at each reference point the listed garment should fit
Using Your Own Body Measurements
You will need to use a flexible measuring tape for all measurements and make sure the measuring tape is wrapped snugly but not too tightly as you need the measurement to be accurate
Bust
- Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of the bust and add 1.5" - 2" to this measurement for ease of movement
Please Note For coats add 3" - 5" to the measurement | for strapless items subtract 3" - 4" from your normal bra size for best fit
Waist
- Wrap the measuring tape around the smallest part of your natural waist
- Add 1" to this measurement for breathing room
Please Note Most vintage garments are supposed to be worn at or above the natural waist, not below it
Hips
- Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your hips and bottom (making sure that the measuring tape is snug to your body but not too tight)
- Add 1.5" - 2" to this measurement to account for walking and sitting
Shoulders
- Measure across the back of your shoulders from the mid-point of each shoulder bone (For coats, add 2" - 3" to this measurement)
Please Note Women's vintage clothing can be narrow in the shoulders
Ribcage
- Take a good deep breath to help expand your ribcage and then measure around the fullest part of the under bust
Please Note This will be directly underneath the breasts
Length (Trousers)
- Measure straight down the outside of your leg from the natural waist to the point at which you wish the trouser edge to fall
Length (Dresses)
- Measure straight down from the highest point of your shoulder to the point at which you wish the dress hemline to fall
Inseam
- Measure from your crotch area down the inside of your leg to the point at which you wish the trouser hemline to fall
Rise
- Measure from the crotch area up toward the belly button to your natural waist
Please Note Most vintage garments are supposed to be worn at or above the natural waist, not below it
Womens Clothing and Shoes
Womens Clothing
|
S |
M |
L |
XL |
| Chest |
38" |
39" |
40-41" |
42-43" |
44-45" |
46-47" |
48-49" |
50-51" |
| Waist |
30" |
31" |
32-33" |
34-35" |
36-37" |
38-39" |
40-41" |
42-43" |
| US |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
| UK |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
| EU |
46 |
48 |
51 |
54 |
56 |
59 |
61 |
63 |
(Actual body measurements)
|
XS |
S |
M |
L |
| Bust |
30-31" |
32" |
33-34" |
35-36" |
37-38" |
39-40" |
41-42" |
43-44" |
| Waist |
22-23" |
24" |
25" |
26" |
27" |
28" |
29-30" |
31" |
| Hip |
32-33" |
34" |
35" |
36" |
37" |
38" |
39-40" |
41" |
| US |
0 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
| UK |
6 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
| EU France |
34 |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
| EU Italy |
38 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
50 |
Womens Shoes
| EU |
34 |
34 1/2 |
35 |
35 1/2 |
36 |
37 |
37 1/2 |
38 |
38 1/2 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
| UK |
1 1/2 |
2 |
2 1/2 |
3 |
3 1/2 |
4 |
4 1/2 |
5 |
5 1/2 |
6 |
6 1/2 |
7 |
7 1/2 |
8 |
| US |
4 |
4 1/2 |
5 |
5 1/2 |
6 |
6 1/2 |
7 |
7 1/2 |
8 |
8 1/2 |
9 |
9 1/2 |
10 |
10 1/2 |
Measuring for a Vintage Hat
If you have an old hat that fits comfortably simply measure the inside circumference of the head opening of the hat to establish your accurate vintage hat size
Please Note Vintage hats are not always marked with a size so you really need to know your head measurement and the hat circumference of the hat for sale
- Measure your head with a flexible tape measure to the nearest 1/8" or 1/4"
- Measure the circumference of the head just above the top of the ears
- Wrap tape gently around the head making certain the tape lies midway on your occipital bone (the little bump in the middle of the back of your head)
Please Note Do not pull the tape too tight or it will give you a measurement for a tightly fitted hat
Having finished these steps you will now have your hat size for the normal vintage hat
HAT SIZE 6 7/8 = 21 5/8" = 54.9 cm
HAT SIZE 7 = 22" = 55.8 cm
HAT SIZE 7 1/8 = 22 3/8" = 56.8 cm
HAT SIZE 7 1/4 = 22 3/4" = 57.7 cm
HAT SIZE 7 3/8 = 23 1/8" = 58.7 cm
HAT SIZE 7 1/2 = 23 1/2" = 59.6 cm
HAT SIZE 7 5/8 = 23 7/8" = 60.6 cm
HAT SIZE 7 3/4 = 24 1/4" =61.5 cm
HAT SIZE 7 7/8 = 24 5/8" = 62.5 cm
HAT SIZE 8 = 25" = 63.5 cm
Please Note The sizes taken for hat measurement are the internal hat circumference, hat height and brim size if any
Measuring for Vintage Shoes
How To Measure Your Foot For Vintage Shoes
- Sit on a chair and place your bare foot flat on a piece of plain white paper
- Carefully trace the outline of your foot onto the paper
- Do the same with your other foot
- Compare the two tracings (a good method is to place one paper over the other and hold them up to a source of light) Complete Steps 5 and 6 using the larger/longer foot
- Measure the tracing from toe edge to heel edge to get the inside shoe length
- Measure the tracing from edge to edge at the widest part to get the inside shoe width
Please Note The Shoe length should be about 0.5" or 1.25 cm longer than foot length
Example A 10" foot needs a shoe at least 10.5" long
