One size does not fit all

One of the (very few) downsides to shopping vintage and second hand is finding your size. In my experience, a lot of shops don't put sizing information on the tags, so you're left to guessing if that shirt or dress is going to fit you. Label information isn't much help either, since sizing has never exactly been standardized and has changed significantly over time. A size 5 in the 1970s is not the same as a size 5 today. Some stores will write S/M/L on the tags, or sometimes waist size, but either way you're still going to have to try it on, since eyeballing it isn't exactly foolproof. Even if you think just by looking at a piece of clothing that it's going to fit perfectly, the change room often proves otherwise.

Such a dilemma presented itself last weekend when I went home to London for the weekend. I decided to check out the vintage scene in London for the first time, and went with mum to The Sentimentalist Vintage Clothing, a cute and quirky second-level shop right downtown. It didn't take long before mum's keen eye spotted a lovely creamy yellow pencil skirt from the 70s. 

Fortunately for this shop, they actually write the size on the tags. Unfortunately, the skirt had a 24" waist. Now, I can squeeze myself into some small stuff, but this was pushing it. And in a vintage shop, it's not like you can ask the clerk for the next size up. You're stuck with what you get. Being the stubborn determined individual I am, however, I went to the change room anyways to try my luck. 

After a fair amount of wiggling (you know the kind I'm talking about...the THIS-WILL-FIT-ME-IF-IT-KILLS-ME wiggle), I managed to squeeze into it and zip 'er up. Not gonna lie, it was tight. I don't wear corsets, but I can imagine that this is what they feel like. Not uncomfortable, but you don't really have full range of motion (or use of your lungs). But, I loved it. Beautifully made and just too perfect to pass up (and only $20). I just hope I don't pass out wearing it.

So here it is, my one-size-too-small skirt. Ain't she a gem?

Bending and sitting are kind of a challenge. But who doesn't love a challenge?! Mum actually had to move the button over to make it a little looser (so it wouldn't pop off and hit someone in the eye).

Oh, and I also picked up this adorable Parisian purse:

Note the penny farthing

 Just goes to show, you don't know until you try!

THE DETAILS
Skirt:
Era: 70s
Label: Braemar Petites by Jeremy Scott
Material: Polyester and viscose
Made in Canada

Purse:
Era: 60s
Label: La Marquise
Material: made of the finest Italian tapestry! (or so says the label)