Know Your Vintage Size: Measurement Averages By Era

We all know how hard it is to judge clothes online, let alone vintage

​and handmade clothing. 

Think you already know your waist & bust measurements?

Maybe you do... if not, employ this little time saving trick.

The one, seven, and fourteen test:

Dress makers make rough measurements based on averages. You are not average, but your clothing has mathematical averages all over it.

So start at the pit of your arm with a measuring tape.

Don't have one, use a bit of string. I think it's more reliable anyway

Mark your sizes on a piece of string with permanent marker, stash it in your purse and use it when shopping in places you can not try clothes on

So .. have your string, marker? Go to your starting point near your armpit and...

1: Move one inch down from the crux of your underarm. Now measure across armpit to pit, and then completely around for your bust size.

*Remember* Padded bras can alter your measurements.

7: move 7 inches from the same underarm spot, moving down to measure completely around your waist.

14: move 14 inches down from the same underarm spot and measure the circumference of your hips

There is your "average"

only you can determine if the length of a garment is right for you!

In reality, the 1,7, 14 measurement trick may not be the best way to measure

YOUR body. So go get your string and your marker, and do it once again,

but this time...

1: Move to the thickest part of your chest and measure around till your string meets at both ends. Make a mark on your string

*Remember*Bra sizes can change, and can really alter your measurements.

Make sure you are wearing the bra you wear most often. Padded, underwire bra's did not exist until recently. So many clothes I have do not even fit with most of my modern, padded, undergarments.

September Blog Post "How to choose undergarments for vintage clothing."

2: Move down 6-10 inches, to the natural place crux of your waist is... the smallest inward curve of your frame. Wrapping your string till both ends meet, and make 2 marks on your string with a permanent marker.

3: To measure your hips, do the same, find the thickest area and measure your true circumference.

Ever heard the term "34, 26. 34" ? A phrase coined in the 1950's, those are measurements of what was considered perfection -by male standards.

Made popular by insinuating famous women like Marilyn Monroe had these measurements.. which isn't true by the way.

our undergarments are so much better since women started burning bra's

Want to know more? To understand sizing differences by decade, check out my blog post

"Knowing Your Size: Vintage V Modern"

Ever wonder why that dress your mom gave you that says size 12, fits you like a glove and you wear size 6? Another Fashion History Mystery solved.

As always, thank you for shopping sustainably and spreading the joy of earth-friendly vintage.