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Size & Condition Guide


Condition 

If appropriate for the garment, I always wash or dry clean Dressed in History vintage items before offering them for sale and they will arrive with you in clean condition. 

Please do not expect to receive a perfect garment unless otherwise stated. Vintage items have lived a life prior to reaching their new owner. Please be aware that minor imperfections associated with the age of the garment are to be expected and many flaws are usually easily repaired. Try to love your garment’s flaws as these often reflect the items history and help to make it unique. 

I always mention larger flaws in the item description and grade the garment according to the following criteria:     

As New:

Likely to never have been worn, may still retain original tags

Perfect:

No imperfections or flaws, strong seams 

Excellent

Very discreet signs of the restoration process on close inspection, strong seams, appears in excellent condition. Minimal damage/ flaws which to not impact wearability. 

Good:

Some small visible marks/ stains and/or pulls and/or mends to the fabric that do not interfere with the overall function of the garment, strong seams

Fair:

Visible damages and signs of age, weakened seams requiring extra care when wearing the garment 

Flawed Beauty:

Only fit for enjoying as a decorative item, repurposing or used for study purposes

Size 

The precise measurements of the garment are included in the item description in inches. All measurements are exact and provide an indication of the maximum size the garment will fit. Therefore, when buying vintage, please bear in mind what kind of 'fit' you would like the garment to have. If you prefer a looser fit, you would be advised to buy garments that measure a couple of inches larger than your sizes. 

When listing garments, I offer a size based upon the following measurements : 

EUR / UK   BUST / WAIST / HIPS

XXS / 4       31" / 23" / 34" 

XS / 6          32" / 24" / 35"

S / 8            33-34"/ 25-26"/ 36-37"

M / 10         35-36" / 27-28" / 38-39"

L / 12          37-38" / 29-30" / 40-41"

XL / 14        39-41" / 31-33" / 42-44"

XXL / 16      42"+ / 34"+ / 45"+  

 

Precise measurements are included in every garment description. Refund requests based on the size of the garment are not accepted. 

A good way to gauge how a garment will fit you is to measure a like for like garment that you already own. 

The following guide demonstrates how DIH garments are measured. Mimicking these actions should give you the best possible idea of how a garment will fit you.

Measuring Garments

I measure all DIH garments in inches. To measure your garment, first do up any fastenings that the garment has to ensure you take the ‘done up’ measurements.

Lay the garment flat on the floor on a clean smooth surface making sure that you smooth out any creases in the fabric.

To take the measurements:

Shoulders: 

Place the end of the tape measure on a shoulder seam and measure to the opposite shoulder seam.

Cross Back:

On the reverse side of the garment, of the garment, place the tape measure at the point at which the sleeve seam meets the side seam or the ‘arm pit’.

Measure from this point to the same point on the opposite side. This measurement is most relevant for gauging how tailored items and outwear will fit.

Sleeves: 

Place the tape measure at the point at which the shoulder seam and the sleeve seam meet, or at the highest point of the sleeve head, and measure to the edge of the cuff.

Bust:  

On the front side of the garment, place the tape measure on the armpit seam and measure to the armpit side seam on the opposite side, then double the measurements.

Waist: 

Place the tape measure at the point at which the side seam and the waist seam meet. Measure along the waist seam from side seam to side seam then double the measurements

Hips:

The point at which the hip measurement falls is approximately four inches below the waist seam. Think of the hips as being the widest point of your derriere! This should give you a fair idea of the measurement that you should get. Place the tape measure on the side seam and measure to the side seam on the opposite side then double the measurements.  

Garment Length (usually referred to as just ‘Length’):

I measure from the edge of the collar, down to the hem of the garment at its longest point.

Skirt Length:

Measure from the top of the waistband or from the waist seam in the case of a dress, to the hem of the garment at its longest point.

 

Written by Hannah Mays Chandler for Dressedinhistory.com. Please do not cite this work without the explicit permission of Dressed in History. 

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