The single most common reason people hesitate to buy vintage online is fit. And it's a reasonable hesitation. A size label on a garment from 1992 means something materially different from the same label on a garment made today. Sizing standards have shifted - in most categories, they've drifted larger over the decades, which means a vintage "Large" might fit more like a modern "Medium." Across brands, across eras, and across countries of manufacture, the variation is wide enough that the label alone is nearly useless as a guide.
This is why every listing at VINTORA includes exact measurements in centimetres, and why we'd encourage you to rely on those numbers rather than the printed size. Here's how to make them work for you.
· · ·
Start with a garment you already own and love the fit of. Not one that "kind of fits" or "fits if I wear it a certain way" - one that genuinely feels right. Lay it flat on a table and take three measurements.
Chest: measure straight across from armpit seam to armpit seam, then double it. This gives you the full circumference. If your favourite jumper measures 54cm across the chest laid flat, your target is around 108cm full chest, and you're looking for vintage listings in the 52–56cm range (laid-flat measurement).
Length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder seam (where the seam meets the collar) straight down to the hem. This tells you where the garment will fall on your body. A difference of even 3cm changes whether a jacket hits at the hip or below it.
Sleeve: measure from the shoulder seam down the outside of the arm to the cuff. This is less standardised than chest and length, but it matters for outerwear and knitwear. A vintage coat with sleeves 2cm shorter than your modern coat will feel noticeably different at the wrist.
· · ·
Once you have your reference measurements, comparing them against a listing takes about ten seconds. You're not looking for an exact match - you're looking for a range. Most people are comfortable within 2–3cm either side of their reference on the chest measurement. On length, the tolerance depends on the garment type: a relaxed knit has more forgiveness than a tailored blazer.
A few things worth knowing about how vintage garments tend to fit compared to their modern equivalents. Shoulders were often narrower in the 1980s and early 1990s — structured shoulder pads were doing some of the work that fabric width does now. Trouser rises were higher, which changes how the waist measurement relates to where you actually wear them. Knitwear was frequently cut with more room through the body but shorter in length. None of this is universal, but it's common enough to be worth noting.
· · ·
There's one more variable that measurements alone can't fully capture, and that's drape. A pure wool blazer and a polyester blazer with identical measurements will fit differently because the fabrics behave differently. Wool has weight and structure; it holds a shape. Polyester is lighter and tends to skim. This is why our listings include the fabric composition when it's available - it's not just a material fact, it's a fit fact.
Similarly, the era of a garment affects its silhouette in ways that go beyond raw numbers. A 1970s leather jacket has a different relationship with the body than a 2000s leather jacket, even at the same chest measurement. The former tends to sit closer and shorter; the latter tends to be longer and boxier. You'll develop an instinct for this over time, but at the start, the photos help - look at how the garment sits laid flat and you can usually read the intended silhouette.
· · ·
If you're between sizes or genuinely unsure, get in touch. We can take additional measurements on request - inside leg, shoulder width across the back, rise on trousers - and we're happy to give an honest opinion on whether a piece will work for the fit you're after. We'd rather help you find the right garment than process a return for the wrong one.
The sizing guide on our website has a visual reference for where to measure. And if you're new to buying vintage online, start with something in a forgiving silhouette - a relaxed knit, an oversized shirt, a boxy jacket - to calibrate your measurements against our listings before committing to a tailored piece.
