A size 12 from one label is not a size 12 from another, and pre-loved pieces may be several years old. The most reliable way to buy the right size is to work with measurements.
Measure first
Take your bust, waist and hip measurements once and keep them in your phone. For trousers add your inside leg. For jackets add shoulder width.
Compare with a garment you already own
Lay a favourite dress or blazer flat, measure across the chest and from shoulder to hem, then compare with the measurements in the listing. Remember that flat measurements are half of the full circumference.
Fabric matters
- Stretch fabrics forgive small differences.
- Structured fabrics and tailoring do not. Check the shoulders and bust in particular.
- Linings can affect how a dress sits. A lined dress is less forgiving than an unlined one.
What can be altered
Hems, straps and trouser lengths are easy and inexpensive to adjust. Shoulders, bust structure and waist seams are much harder. If a piece is right across the shoulders and bust, almost everything else can be fixed.
A simple measuring routine
- Measure yourself without tight clothing, keeping the tape snug but not tight.
- Note bust, waist, hips, inside leg and shoulder width.
- Save them in your phone so you can compare quickly.
- When shopping, ask for flat measurements if the listing does not include them.
Reading flat measurements
Garments are usually measured flat, so pit-to-pit for the bust and across the waist are half the circumference. Double them to compare with your own measurements. Allow extra room for tailored pieces so you can move comfortably, and less for stretch fabrics.
Different shapes, different tips
- Wrap dresses are forgiving across the waist and bust.
- Bodycon and fitted dresses need accurate measurements and a stretch fabric.
- Tailored jackets need the right shoulder width first.
- Trousers need the right rise, as well as the waist and length.
Ask the seller
If measurements are missing, ask for them. Our condition guide lists other questions worth asking. For a step-by-step buying process see how to buy on Vinted, or return to the hub.