Measuring for Tops

The key to finding your perfect vintage piece is knowing your measurements. Once you know your basic measurement combination preferences, you can switch things up for a desired fit or style of jean you would like to add to your collection.

We have two types of measurements when fitting vintage: “actual measurement” and “wear measurements”.

Actual = the accurate measurement of your body.

Wear = the measurements of the clothing item that fits you best.

ACTUAL MEASUREMENTS

PIT-TO-PIT/BUST: Run the measuring tape under your arms, and measure the circumference of your bust at the fullest point.

• WAIST: Measure the circumference of your waist at the narrowest part. This is your waist measurement.

• SHOULDER: Stand up straight with your feet together, and your arms relaxed down at your side. Imagine a line rising straight up from each armpit. Measure across the top of the back of the shoulders, between these two imaginary points. This is your shoulder

• ARM LENGTH: Standing tall, bend one arm at a 90 degree angle and place it on your hip. Locate the shoulder (as described above), and measure down the arm over the elbow, and down to the wrist bone. This is your arm length.

WEAR MEASUREMENTS:

Once you find a piece that fits you perfectly, you can take the “wear measurement”. This combination of measurements is “how you like your clothes to fit” and are taken of the clothing piece itself.

• PIT-TO-PIT/BUST: Measure across from armpit to armpit with the top laying flat. Pull the material taut but do not overstretch; double this number to determine this measurement. If the top is a knit or if it has a significant amount of stretch in the material, take another measurement with the material reasonably stretched and double it to determine the max bust circumference. A comfortable fit should fall somewhere between the two, and should not pull or gape in the front if the top has buttons.

• WAIST: Take this flat across the narrowest part of the waist of the garment.

• SHOULDER: Locate the shoulder seams on the back and measure between the two across the top edge with the material laid flat.

• ARM LENGTH: Simply measure from the top of the shoulder seam down in a straight line to the bottom of the cuff.