( 
)
As a seller of custom made vintage clothing, I've noticed a lot of discrepencies between given sizes and actual sizes as well as described garment quality. I've also seen quite a lot of fake items floating around. These sellers often do not provide refunds for misfitting or shoddily made or preserved items, and in order to protect yourself against being landed with a garment that doesn't fit with seams that are falling apart, there are a few simple steps you can take.
IF YOU JUST WANT THE MAIN POINTS SKIP TO THE END
When buying womens clothing, ALWAYS email the seller for exact measurements. If they cannot provide you with any details, steer well clear. Even high-street shops disagree whether a size 10 garment has a 28 or 32 inch waist, and vintage items are often made to less strict specifications as they were often made in small quantities.
When you have the measurements, use a measuring tape, or a piece of ribbon or cord to measure yourself. To correctly measure yourself, the tape or cord should be held flat up against your body, and should not be held very tightly. If you are using cord, wind the cord around your body, and take the measurement by grasping the place where the two ends meet with your finger and thumb. Do not move your fingers from this place. Now use a ruler to measure the length of the cord to the place where your finger and thumb meet.
When you have your measurements, match them up against the garments measurements. As a gneneral rule of thumb, skirts and jeans will usually give an inch on the waist or hips, so bear this in mind.
SKIRT AND JEANS SIZING GUIDE
If a seller says 'Waist' in their description , you usually measure around your bellybutton.
If it says 'hips', measure at their widest point. this will usually be around the area just below your hipbone.
Always measure your inner leg and outer leg when buying jeans, especially if you are tall or petite. Match this up against the sellers measurements.
DRESS SIZING GUIDE
BUST
With dresses, you have two choices. You can ask the seller for an estimated bust size, or exact chest measurements, but the seller will probably find it difficult to give a proper measurement for this. Usually the seller will be able to say 'B - D' OR 'A-C'. With dresses ,you need to know if it is made out of a stretch material or not. Usually synthetics stretch, and natural fabrics wont. With synthetic fabrics, a bust measurement or size estimate isn't too important, unlike natural fabrics.
LENGTH:
Usually a seller with estimate whether a dress is regular, tall, or petite. Either way, i do recommend that you measure the length of any dress you might want as often it doesn't look on as it does on the hanger. And IF you are an inch or two taller or shorter than the original wearer, the skirt may come down to a weird place making you look squat or dumpy.
REFUND POLICYS
Try to buy from a seller that allows refunds for fair reasons. If they have no refund policy, you can email them and ask if they would provide a refund if the item turns up damaged (not by mr. postie- he can only bend and smash. He won't make any holes or worn seams).
FAKE ITEMS:
Usually with vintage clothing, sellers don't know that they're selling fakes as they are often very well made and were sold to them as the genuine article. It's hard to tell, but if an item is over 30 years old with no damage or wear, you'll know it's a fake. If an item from the 50's or 60's is marked as 'in perfect condition', the seller is almost always either misrepresenting or selling a fake imitation vintage item. Similarily, if an item is made out of a 'new' synthetic i.e. a fabric other than nylon or rayon, it is usually a very good imitation. If you don't mind, then fine, but if a seller is trying to raise a higher price by marketing it as the genuine article, you are getting scammed. Always look at the 'fabric' part of the listing, or email and ask.
In summation,
1. Always ask for measurements, and measure yourself correctly. Do not rely on 'will fit size 12'
2. Try to only buy from sellers with a returns policy, or email and ask
3. Only buy from sellers with good feeback ratings, and preferably that have sold vintage items before
4. Check fabric composition. Items made from synthetic fabric other than nylon or rayon will be imitations. If a seller is trying to sell a 'genuine vintage item' for a lot of money, always check the fabric.
I hope this has helped. Please give me a thumbs up if this has helped you.
IF YOU JUST WANT THE MAIN POINTS SKIP TO THE END
When buying womens clothing, ALWAYS email the seller for exact measurements. If they cannot provide you with any details, steer well clear. Even high-street shops disagree whether a size 10 garment has a 28 or 32 inch waist, and vintage items are often made to less strict specifications as they were often made in small quantities.
When you have the measurements, use a measuring tape, or a piece of ribbon or cord to measure yourself. To correctly measure yourself, the tape or cord should be held flat up against your body, and should not be held very tightly. If you are using cord, wind the cord around your body, and take the measurement by grasping the place where the two ends meet with your finger and thumb. Do not move your fingers from this place. Now use a ruler to measure the length of the cord to the place where your finger and thumb meet.
When you have your measurements, match them up against the garments measurements. As a gneneral rule of thumb, skirts and jeans will usually give an inch on the waist or hips, so bear this in mind.
SKIRT AND JEANS SIZING GUIDE
If a seller says 'Waist' in their description , you usually measure around your bellybutton.
If it says 'hips', measure at their widest point. this will usually be around the area just below your hipbone.
Always measure your inner leg and outer leg when buying jeans, especially if you are tall or petite. Match this up against the sellers measurements.
DRESS SIZING GUIDE
BUST
With dresses, you have two choices. You can ask the seller for an estimated bust size, or exact chest measurements, but the seller will probably find it difficult to give a proper measurement for this. Usually the seller will be able to say 'B - D' OR 'A-C'. With dresses ,you need to know if it is made out of a stretch material or not. Usually synthetics stretch, and natural fabrics wont. With synthetic fabrics, a bust measurement or size estimate isn't too important, unlike natural fabrics.
LENGTH:
Usually a seller with estimate whether a dress is regular, tall, or petite. Either way, i do recommend that you measure the length of any dress you might want as often it doesn't look on as it does on the hanger. And IF you are an inch or two taller or shorter than the original wearer, the skirt may come down to a weird place making you look squat or dumpy.
REFUND POLICYS
Try to buy from a seller that allows refunds for fair reasons. If they have no refund policy, you can email them and ask if they would provide a refund if the item turns up damaged (not by mr. postie- he can only bend and smash. He won't make any holes or worn seams).
FAKE ITEMS:
Usually with vintage clothing, sellers don't know that they're selling fakes as they are often very well made and were sold to them as the genuine article. It's hard to tell, but if an item is over 30 years old with no damage or wear, you'll know it's a fake. If an item from the 50's or 60's is marked as 'in perfect condition', the seller is almost always either misrepresenting or selling a fake imitation vintage item. Similarily, if an item is made out of a 'new' synthetic i.e. a fabric other than nylon or rayon, it is usually a very good imitation. If you don't mind, then fine, but if a seller is trying to raise a higher price by marketing it as the genuine article, you are getting scammed. Always look at the 'fabric' part of the listing, or email and ask.
In summation,
1. Always ask for measurements, and measure yourself correctly. Do not rely on 'will fit size 12'
2. Try to only buy from sellers with a returns policy, or email and ask
3. Only buy from sellers with good feeback ratings, and preferably that have sold vintage items before
4. Check fabric composition. Items made from synthetic fabric other than nylon or rayon will be imitations. If a seller is trying to sell a 'genuine vintage item' for a lot of money, always check the fabric.
I hope this has helped. Please give me a thumbs up if this has helped you.
Guide created: 23/01/08 (updated 30/08/08)
Thank you for voting. If your vote meets our 
