At Rolling Stone Vintage Clothing, we pride ourselves on our stock of hand-picked, luxe vintage clothes from around the world. When buying vintage clothes, there are many things to look for. To help you in your search for the perfect vintage fashion, we have put together a comprehensive "Vintage Clothes Guide" which we hope will answer all your questions and help you to make the right choice when shopping.
Rolling Stone Vintage Clothing sells vintage clothes, shoes and accessories. This means pre-worn and pre-loved. As a result, there may be some minor natural wear to garments. We check our items carefully and will always list any major imperfections in the description of the item.
We will always try to list the fashion era that our vintage clothes date back to. Occasionally, we sell vintage-inspired and contemporary, used clothing. Should your item be a contemporary/modern piece, this will be noted in the description.
We always describe our items in detail and include measurements and approximate sizes. These should be used as a guide only. At times, we may clip larger items to our models. Please always refer to the approximate size and measurements.
If you are unsure about anything, please read through the Vintage Clothes Guide below and, if you have any questions, please ask!
CHOOSE A SECTION:
When you come across the perfect vintage clothes for your wardrobe, you definitely want to make sure they fit. The sizes on vintage clothes, as opposed to modern clothes, are very different. At Rolling Stone Vintage Clothing, we will always provide you with detailed measurements. We will also estimate the approximate size of any piece, as well as providing you with the named size on the care tag.
For more information, read through our comprehensive guide to make sure you know just what to look for when buying vintage clothes.
MEASURE YOURSELF
Before you begin to think about vintage fashion, you need to determine your body measurements. Take your bust, waist and hip measurements, and any others that may be necessary (this will be dependent on the specific item you are interested in).
MEASURE AN ITEM OF CLOTHING
Next, take a piece of your own clothing. Try to find an item that is similar to what you want to buy. Using a tape measure, measure the garment while it is laying flat. Follow these general rules:
| Bust: |
Measure from underarm to underarm, and double. If an item has an elastic bust, try to measure the item while it is stretched. |
| Hips: |
Measure approximately 8" below the waist. Double this measurement. |
| Inseam: |
Measure from crotch seam to ankle. |
| Length: |
Measure from the top of the shoulder seam, to the hem. |
| Rise: |
Measure from crotch seam to waist. |
| Shoulders: |
Measure across the shoulder seam. |
| Sleeves: |
Measure from the shoulder seam to the wrist cuff. |
| Sweep: |
Measure along widest part of hem. Double this measurement for skirts, capes, etc. |
| Waist: |
Measure at the most narrow part of the waist. Double this measurement. Empire waist measurement is taken across the garment, under the bust. | This should give you a further idea as to what size you are. Make sure to allow some extra room for a comfortable fit, especially when buying stretchable items, such as a vintage swimsuit.
COMPARE YOUR MEASUREMENTS
Now, compare the two sets of measurements and take note of the difference between your body's measurements and the measurements of the garment. This will give you a guide as to how much room to allow for a comfortable fit. Once you know your approximate fit, you are ready to jump headfirst into buying vintage clothes!
MODERN SIZING CHART
The following chart is based on modern clothing sizes. We try to give an approximate size to all our items based on the US Named Sizes below. If you want to see the equivalent for your country, please refer to this chart.
|
USA |
USA (NAMED) |
UK |
FRANCE |
AUSTRALIA |
JAPAN |
|
2 |
XS |
4 |
32 |
6 |
5 |
|
4 |
XS/S |
6 |
34 |
8 |
7 |
|
6 |
S |
8 |
36 |
10 |
9 |
|
8 |
M |
10 |
38 |
12 |
11 |
|
10 |
M |
12 |
40 |
14 |
13 |
|
12 |
L |
14 |
42 |
16 |
15 |
|
14 |
L/XL |
16 |
44 |
18 |
17 |
REMEMBER! The above guidelines are intended to help you find the perfect fit, but they are not a guarantee. However, following them will give you the best chance at ensuring a good and comfortable fit when shopping for vintage clothes.
If you are on the hunt for the perfect pair of vintage shoes to complete your outfit, there are a few things to consider. Here is a comprehensive guide to making sure you know what to look for when buying vintage shoes.
MEASURING YOUR FEET
First, you need to find out what size your feet are. To measure your foot, get a large piece of blank paper and tape it to the floor. Trace the outline of your foot onto the paper. You can ask a friend to help you with tracing your foot. Try and keep the pen upright at all times. Using a ruler, you can now ascertain the approximate length and width of your foot, by measuring the outline on the paper. Follow these tips to get the most accurate measurements:
-
Measure both feet. Often, one foot is slightly larger than the other. Base your search for the perfect vintage shoe on the larger of your two feet.
-
Measure your feet in the afternoon, when feet tend to be at their largest.
-
If you plan to wear thick tights or socks with your shoes, you might need to buy a half-size larger.
This will give you a basic idea of your shoe size.
MEASURE A PAIR OF YOUR CURRENT SHOES
Next, take a pair of your own shoes. Try to find a pair that feel like a perfect fit. Measure the inside of the shoe, from the heel to the toe. This should give you a further idea as to what size shoe you take. Make sure to allow some extra room at the toe of the shoe.
CHECK YOUR SHOE SIZE ON THE CHART
Finally, check the following chart. You can use your own measurements to find out your approximate shoe size.
|
INCHES |
CM |
US & CANADA |
EUROPE |
UK |
AUSTRALIA |
|
9" |
22.8cm |
5 |
35 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
|
9.125" |
23.1cm |
5.5 |
35.5 |
3 |
4 |
|
9.25" |
23.5cm |
6 |
36 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
|
9.325" |
23.8cm |
6.5 |
37 |
4 |
5 |
|
9.5" |
24.1cm |
7 |
37.5 |
4.5 |
5.5 |
|
9.625" |
24.5cm |
7.5 |
38 |
5 |
6 |
|
9.75" |
24.8cm |
8 |
38.5 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
|
9.825" |
25.1cm |
8.5 |
39 |
6 |
7 |
|
10" |
25.4cm |
9 |
40 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
|
10.125" |
25.7cm |
9.5 |
41 |
7 |
8 |
|
10.25" |
26cm |
10 |
42 |
7.5 |
8.5 |
|
10.5" |
26.7cm |
10.5 |
43 |
8 |
9 |
|
10.75" |
27.3cm |
12 |
44 |
9.5 |
10.5 |
|
11" |
27.9cm |
13 |
45 |
10.5 |
11.5 |
|
11.25" |
28.6cm |
14 |
46.5 |
11.5 |
12.5 |
|
11.5" |
29.2cm |
15.5 |
48.5 |
13 |
14 |
Do not buy shoes based solely on this chart. You should always check the measurements of the item you want to purchase against your own measurements.
When you delve into the world of buying vintage fashion, you are buying a piece of history. You will want to make sure you keep your vintage clothes in the best condition possible. Here are some tips:
CLEANING YOUR VINTAGE CLOTHES
When cleaning vintage clothes, take care. If your item is particularly delicate or old, it will need extra care, as it may be fragile.
If your piece of clothing has a care tag, follow the instructions on the tag carefully. If it says to hand-wash, do not put it in the washing machine. Fabrics such as cotton, acrylic and polyester should be hand-washed with a mild cleanser.
Wool, velvet and silk items should always be dry-cleaned. Any vintage clothing that contains a mixed fabric (e.g. a fur outside with a silk lining) should be dry-cleaned. If your vintage clothes are particularly delicate, or have beading or sequins, they should be dry-cleaned.
Never put your vintage clothing in a dryer. Instead, drip-dry your clothing on a drying rack or washing line. Hang in a shady place to avoid sun-fading. Delicate items should always be dried flat.
Vintage clothes that are delicate (for example, vintage sleepwear), or clothes that are made from wool or silk, should always be cleaned by professionals. However, this can be a risk. Always talk to your dry-cleaner first to see if they have experience with vintage clothing.
STORING YOUR VINTAGE CLOTHES
When hanging vintage clothing in a closet, do not use metal hangers. Use padded hangers only and always remove your vintage clothes from any plastic dry-cleaning bags. Never store a fragile item on a hanger.
If your items are fragile, heavy and/or old, wrap them in acid-free tissue or cloth and store them flat in acid-free boxes. This will help to protect your clothing. If storing for a long time, change the tissue every few years.
Vintage clothing should always be cleaned before storing.
Always store your vintage clothes in a climate-controlled area. Do not store in basements, crawlspaces or similar areas. Vintage clothes should be kept in cool, dark and dry storage areas with mothballs and cedar, for ultimate protection. To avoid the peculiar stench of mothballs sticking to your vintage clothes, store with a scented pouch of dried flowers.
If you have any questions about buying vintage clothes, please do not hesitate to contact us. |
