Size Guide

The number in the collar is a relic.

It was sized for a body from another time, by arithmetic that shifted with every passing decade. A vintage twelve, a forties fourteen, an eighties ten: none of them mean what you imagine, and none of them mean each other.

This is why we do not rely on the label.

We measure each garment as it lies, flat and truthful, and we give you the real numbers. You bring the body you have now. We will tell you, gently and honestly, whether the two will meet.

Ease

Ease is the difference between your body measurement and the garment measurement: the space that allows you to move. How much you need depends on the garment and how you like to wear things.

For a fitted blouse or dress: allow 2 to 5cm of ease over your bust and waist measurements.

For a relaxed or oversized fit: allow 8 to 15cm or more.

For structured pieces, blazers and coats: allow 5 to 10cm over your chest, more if you plan to layer.

For skirts and trousers: allow 2 to 4cm at the waist and 4 to 8cm at the hips.

These are guidelines. The fit photographs in each listing will show you how the piece sits on a body, which is always more useful than numbers alone.

Still not sure?

Write to us before you buy. Tell us your measurements and what you are considering, and we will tell you honestly whether it will work. We would rather answer the question than have you buy something that does not fit.

Vintage baby and toddler

Vintage baby and toddler sizing is, if anything, less reliable than adult vintage sizing. A 1960s 'newborn' runs considerably smaller than a contemporary newborn, and sizing conventions shifted dramatically across decades and countries.

We do not rely on label sizes. Every piece in this section is measured and listed with:

Chest: measured flat across the front, doubled for the full circumference.
Length: from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem, or from the waistband for separates.
Sleeve: from the shoulder seam to the cuff.
Rise: for rompers and overalls, from the centre front waist to the centre back waist, through the crotch.

We also give an approximate contemporary age equivalent, but please read the measurements rather than the age label. A piece listed as 'approximately 6–12 months' will fit a child whose measurements match, regardless of what month they were born in.

If you are buying as a gift and are not sure of the child's measurements: buy a size up. A slightly large beautiful thing is always better than a slightly small one.